Chapter 30

It was easy to know the royal palace's event schedule.

When an event was to be held in the capital, colorful long ribbons would decorate the statues in the square.

If there was to be a parade procession, the streets would be swept until they sparkled, and passage would be forbidden.

If there was a hunting festival, more people would be frequenting the nearby forests.

So it was no wonder that Arndt, having gathered rumors and returned, had been pouring out the event schedule for a full 20 minutes.

"...and after that, a celebratory reception will follow. I'm not sure if the royal family will attend. They usually don't! And after the reception ends, it seems there will be a rest period until winter."

"Finally finished."

Leandros muttered to himself in a tired tone.

They were huddled together in a small inn room.

There had been suggestions to move to a larger place since they had money now, but he rejected the idea, not wanting to stand out by wasting good money unnecessarily.

Everything Arndt had mentioned so far was about the regular events throughout the year.

It was now the time transitioning from spring to summer.

This meant that all events from the beginning of the year, including the New Year's Festival, to early spring had already passed.

Events like Debutante, Spring Grand Festival, and Carnival were skipped.

"The carnival ended before we came to the capital. So what's left now."

"The pre-summer Hunting Festival and Schützenfest honoring marksmen, the Consecration Ceremony, Corpus Christi, the King's Birthday Celebration, and the Erntedankfest commemorating the autumn harvest."

Arndt recited proudly.

The timing seemed good.

According to Arndt, the carnival was a long festival period that began in late autumn of the previous year and lasted until early spring of the following year.

The nobles who had been reveling in the capital during this time would return to their respective territories after the carnival ended.

They needed to care for their territories, which had been neglected during the festival period, and look at the land to be given to tenants in spring, as the long winter had passed.

They needed to check if the territory residents were yearning for spring and deserting,

Or if demonic beast offspring born in spring were entering the manor.

There was much to do in the territory.

This meant that the townhouses would be empty, with only employees remaining after the owners had departed.

"It shouldn't be difficult to find the location of a townhouse owned by a family."

"But visiting won't be easy either."

Leandros was right.

If they were hiding their identities, they wouldn't even be able to enter.

It was impossible for a mere commoner to visit a noble family as they pleased.

But if he, as a Duke, went directly, it would only have the counterproductive effect of increasing wariness.

"I have a good idea."

"What is it, Your Grace?"

"Just the two of you go."

Arndt and Leandros looked at each other without understanding, then spoke to him simultaneously.

"It won't do."

"It won't do."

"No, why are you speaking so firmly? Weren't you two close?"

"Sir is a knighted person, so isn't it a bit inappropriate to discuss friendship with a mere attendant like me, Your Grace? Sir must be surprised by what he's hearing."

"The one I serve is Your Grace. It's unthinkable for an escort knight to be absent."

He was startled by the words bursting from the two.

In his past life, he had thought they had grown quite close since they were always stuck together.

Well, those events hadn't happened yet in this timeline.

He firmly held one hand of each person.

"I understand both of your feelings."

"Then..."

"Then shall I go myself and return bringing rumors about how the Duke came to the capital and stirred up people who used to hold key positions in Hartmann, including the former head butler? Wouldn't the royal palace also wonder what this maneuvering is about? Should we all go together and be heavily slandered as the new Duke harboring resentment and plotting treason again?"

"..."

Arndt failed to maintain his composure.

Leandros was relatively successful, but he couldn't hide his twitching lips.

These guys were throwing tantrums.

When he tightly gripped the hands of both men, Arndt trembled.

"Go along nicely."

Just do as you're told.

You little thundering rascals.

* * *

With funds, everything moved swiftly.

Since the two were visiting in the name of Hartmann, they needed to dress formally.

Instead of shabby, greasy clothes, they were outfitted with new armor and cloaks, along with clean and dignified attire.

Instead of using the horse with a thug-like temperament, they also rented a carriage to ride to the townhouse.

To think they could prepare money by selling information gained from dying in their previous life.

Perhaps dying once more wouldn't be so bad.

While having such frivolous thoughts, he saw the two off.

After the carriage had departed far away, he returned to the inn.

After grabbing a few apples he had bought for breakfast, he went next to the inn where the two horses were still tied.

The brown horse was dozing, but the black horse blew out a breath as soon as it heard footsteps.

"Isn't it stuffy being here?"

When he sat down heavily next to the black horse, it bent its knees and knelt as well.

One apple for the horse, and one for himself.

As he chewed on the apple with the crunching sound as a background, he organized his thoughts.

The eastern pit - he had sold that information, so it seemed he could turn off his interest in it now.

Aiden would handle it adequately. He had also taken out an insurance policy.

The merpeople of the south - he didn't know much since he hadn't found out anything before dying. There was no information to sell either.

But it seemed like he might be able to find someone who knew well.

This was classified as something that could be dealt with later.

Lastly, the background of the extermination of the Hartmann ducal family.

Since he had sent Arndt and Leandros, this was an issue to consider once they returned with news.

With the protagonist gone, there shouldn't be any major problems.

Everything had to move in a direction Yurik couldn't anticipate.

In his past life, Yurik had told him several times,

"Not the same as before," "changed a lot."

Now that he had returned once, Yurik would still think of him as Arenheit.

So he needed to think of ways to protect himself by moving in directions Arenheit wouldn't choose.

"Yurik... that bastard."

-Snort.

"You think that's right? Oh, you're so smart."

He threw another apple to the black horse.

Looking at the red-eyed black horse chewing on the apple, he leaned back and thought.

The eastern pit.

People jumping down.

The demonic beast revealed to investors.

How on earth could Yurik den Menadia tame a demonic beast?

* * *

A rattling carriage.

Inside sat two people.

One was a knight with neatly tied black hair.

Wearing what appeared to be new armor and a dark cloak, he looked like a young lord who had just left a noble house.

This was due to his face, which made even the flowing hair seem like meticulous design.

He had an impression both as cold as ice and as firm as a massive iceberg.

Opposite him sat a person with a completely different impression.

Slightly curly brown hair was trimmed just enough to not be unsightly.

Green eyes were as fresh as early summer leaves, and the face had a generally round impression.

If viewed as young, that's all one could say.

But his gentle eyes and friendly facial contours didn't reveal the immaturity typical of children.

These two, with their remarkable impressions in various ways, seemed like they should exchange a few friendly words.

But the inside of the carriage was only quiet.

The only common denominator between them was Arenheit.

But excluding Arenheit, the two had no official relationship whatsoever.

Arndt secretly pouted.

'Your Grace is too much.'

When Arenheit had been seriously ill, he had been worried and had passed on news to Sir Leandros.

But now there was no such issue, so there wasn't even small talk to share.

Swordsmanship?

The difference in skill between Leandros and Arndt was too extreme to discuss swords.

Life in the castle?

It was just Leandros hunting and Arndt making it edible.

The destination they were heading to?

Wasn't that why Leandros was keeping his mouth firmly shut?

In the awkward air pervading the carriage, Arndt wished he could just walk instead.

He was thinking about opening the carriage window and jumping out.

"His Grace."

"Yes?"

"His Grace seems to have gotten thinner."

What are you talking about?

As Arndt blinked several times, Leandros added more.

"Are you making sure he eats?"

"No... Of course I am. It's my duty. His Grace has always had poor digestive organs, so he's eaten less for a long time."

"Then shouldn't you prepare meals he likes to increase his food intake?"

Are you picking a fight? Is this a challenge?

Although Arndt was just the single remaining servant of a fallen noble family, he had confidence in his duties.

The young master he had personally cared for since he was young.

So it was natural that he knew Arenheit best.

Arndt answered, pretending to be nonchalant.

"You might not know this, Sir, but His Grace... our Young Master's health deteriorated during the period he was in hiding. I know his preferences well, but what he can eat and what he likes are different."

"Hmm."

"Thank you for your concern about our Young Master. The late Madam would be pleased if she knew."

"Is that so."

"It's good that there are many people who care. I hope your burden as an escort knight will be lessened later, Sir. You often look tired."

Leandros, who had been looking out the window, turned his gaze to Arndt.

"Burden?"

"I say this because normally one doesn't have just one guard. Of course, you would want to fulfill the late Madam's request."

Arndt cleared his throat.

"Even if you don't have to be by the Young Master's side, wouldn't there be many things you could do for the Hartmann ducal residence in the future? That would also be for the Young Master's benefit."

You're getting older, how long will you stick right by His Grace's side?

There are plenty of young and enthusiastic knights with high reputations in the kingdom.

Hearing Arndt's indirect suggestion, Leandros still showed no expression.

"If a knight who could replace me comes to the ducal residence, that is."

"I think that will happen soon. The Young Master is exceptionally clever."

After the ducal couple died, Arenheit, who had been like a walking corpse, regained his energy after being severely ill.

Had he changed his mind while lying in bed?

There are many stories about sick people having a change of heart.

Arndt only believed this much.

"I am curious about how you heard the news from the east, though."

You must have heard it from somewhere.

But had there been anyone who had conveyed such rumors all the way from the capital to the castle...?

Arndt tilted his head for a moment, then shook it.

"Your determination to carry on the late father's wishes. How admirable is that?"

Although Arndt spoke with certainty, Leandros's expression was subtle in contrast.

A look that wanted to say it wasn't so, but couldn't.

Finally, Leandros opened his mouth.

"More than that..."

At that moment, the carriage stopped.

The voice of the coachman could be heard shouting from outside.

"We've arrived. Should I wait here?"

Leandros swallowed what he was about to say.

There must be a reason Arenheit hadn't told Arndt.

Someday Arndt would find out too.

Leandros opened the carriage door first and got out.

Though curious, Arndt didn't ask and followed him out.

In front of the two,

Tall iron gates and guards standing in front of them.

And behind a quite beautiful garden stood a gray mansion.

Assistant Head Butler, Amelia Arnold.

It was the townhouse of Baron Arnold.