Chapter 31

Baron Arnold's townhouse was quiet.

It was a rare peace felt after the carnival season.

The townhouse's employees were all overcome with exhaustion and languor.

The Baron, who had come up to enjoy the carnival, invited acquaintances almost every week for festivities.

The Baroness dressed up every day to attend social events available in the capital.

But this carnival season had been a bit better.

Because the Baron and his wife were less sensitive than before.

Perhaps the rumors circulating in society had died down?

Or perhaps the Baron and Baroness's "only concern" had been resolved?

Either way, it was fortunate for the employees.

The butler managing Baron Arnold's townhouse was satisfied with the quiet atmosphere of the house.

Preparing for banquets was becoming strenuous at his age.

He touched his graying hair.

The butler surveyed the peaceful mansion and headed to his office.

Having spare time like this was rare.

So he wanted to use this time wisely.

Reading a book, or checking the ledgers.

But before the butler could climb the stairs, a maid who had been outside ran to him.

"Butler, there are visitors."

"There shouldn't be any scheduled visitors today. Are they looking for the Baron, perhaps?"

"No. Not the Baron, but..."

After hesitating, the maid finally confessed.

"Someone from the Hartmann ducal family is looking for Miss Amelia."

From Hartmann, for Miss Amelia?

The mention of these two names together was like a bomb.

The butler instructed the confused maid.

"I should greet them myself. Show them to the reception room."

It seemed today was not a day for rest after all.

* * *

Arndt and Leandros were guided to the reception room.

Considering just their status, Leandros should have taken the lead instead of Arndt, who had no title.

But now he was just an escort knight guarding an attendant sent directly by the "Duke."

The servant standing in front of the reception room politely said to Leandros.

"Sir Knight, would you please wait elsewhere for a moment? It's just next door, so you can come immediately. We will serve refreshments."

"If that's the case."

Leandros headed to another room that had been prepared separately.

Arndt watched Leandros's retreating figure.

He was certainly annoying, but looking at his straight back and posture, he seemed dignified.

Watching him, Arndt smoothed his neat clothes and squared his shoulders.

I'm here today on behalf of the Young Master.

Honor rests on my shoulders!

Arndt, not knowing that Arenheit was currently eating apples with a horse on the ground next to the inn, strengthened his resolve.

As soon as the reception room door opened, Arndt automatically put on a smile.

The butler sitting inside likewise wore a kind smile.

"Thank you for such a warm welcome despite our sudden visit."

"How could we turn away a guest sent directly from the ducal family? By the way, belated congratulations on the Duke's reinstatement."

"Not at all, sir."

The two were cordial, as if they had known each other for a long time.

But the butler's eyes weren't smiling at all, and Arndt's fist remained tightly clenched.

"I heard you were looking for Miss Amelia."

"Yes, that's right."

"I regret to inform you that the carnival season ended some time ago... and Miss Amelia has been recuperating in the territory for the past few years due to poor health."

"Oh dear. I wish Lady Arnold a swift recovery. Is her health very poor?"

"Haha. No. Thank you for your concern."

Arndt got the impression that the butler was skillfully avoiding giving specific details about Amelia.

But pretending not to notice, he asked again.

"Is it serious? When returning to the territory, we could donate to the monastery and offer prayers for Lady Arnold..."

"With such concern, she will recover soon."

As expected.

Arndt tried to remember the butler's expression and atmosphere while making small talk.

"Of course she will. I remember the Lady as a person of great determination."

"Is that so? If it's not too intrusive, may I ask why you came all this way? Perhaps you have an urgent matter to discuss with Miss Amelia?"

"Ah, well."

The offensive and defensive positions had instantly switched.

The miserable circumstances of Hartmann would be known to everyone in the kingdom.

But Arndt had to package it well.

Protect the Young Master's honor, Arndt!

Sweat gathered in his palm.

Meanwhile.

In the waiting room prepared next to the reception room.

A teacup was placed in front of Leandros.

Along with refreshments that were a bit excessive for an escort knight.

"If you need anything, please let me know."

The maid who had brought the tea and refreshments said with a flirtatious smile.

Her still youthful face was flushed.

Though a man might have felt flattered, Leandros nodded without interest.

"Thank you."

"Yes, yes! If you need anything, please be sure to call!"

After emphasizing this several times, the maid gracefully left the room.

But the sound of her quickly running down the corridor after the door closed couldn't be hidden.

Nor could the "kyaa!" mixed in.

Just being served tea is already tiring...

Leandros rolled his shoulders once, uncomfortable in the unfamiliar clothes.

But he shouldn't just sit here.

That was because Arenheit had earnestly requested before they came here.

-Arndt will try his best, but I'd like you to help out if possible.

-What would you like me to do?

-Who would know the rumors circulating in a family best?

-Who would that be?

-The maids.

-Then.

-Try to charm a maid or two.

Arenheit, to put it nicely, didn't discriminate in his methods; to put it harshly, he was the type to use people indiscriminately.

He didn't seem to be like this in the past.

Was this temperament inherited from his mother?

Leandros deliberately got up slowly and slightly opened the door.

The corridor he looked out into was quiet, but from behind a corner, suppressed giggles could be heard.

Not just one, but several.

"Is there anyone there?"

When he pretended not to know, after a moment, a maid came running from where the laughter had been heard.

Her face carried a shy smile and mischief.

"Yes, Sir Knight. Do you need something?"

Beyond the maid, Leandros could see several other maids peeking their heads out and smiling at him.

It's certainly an age when they'd be interested in the opposite sex.

Trying to appear as friendly as possible to the maid, Leandros said.

"I'm alone and don't think I can finish all this. If it's not too much trouble, would you mind keeping me company?"

At this unexpected request, the mouths of the maids watching from behind fell open.

The maid in front of Leandros was on the verge of fainting.

"M-me?"

"You can refuse if you're busy."

"No, no! Not at all. I'm... I'm not busy at all. Oh my. What a surprise. Of course, I should at least keep you company..."

The maid, whose face had turned red, was fanning herself and glancing at Leandros's face.

Stories of maids and lower knights falling for each other were common.

But he had no intention of making that happen here and now.

"In that case, why don't you invite your friends behind you as well? There's plenty of refreshments."

This time, the expressions of the maids behind and the one in front of Leandros changed.

They rushed forward, twisting their bodies.

"I never expected to hear such a request while passing by."

"The more people there are, the more enjoyable it is when one is bored!"

"What's good about talking alone, you? Isn't it better if we're all together? Don't you think so, Sir Knight?"

"Sir Knight, you're so handsome. I heard you came from the Hartmann ducal family."

"Where did you order this outfit from? Shall I embroider your cloak for you?"

"Don't try anything strange, Marta! Sir Knight, your shoes are a bit dirty. Shall I clean them for you?"

Looking at the maids surrounding him, Leandros raised his twitching lips.

A cheer of "kyaaa!" erupted among the maids.

Leandros thought.

If not for the Duchess, it might have been better to leave Hartmann.

* * *

Arndt and Leandros returned sooner than expected.

He had been sprawled on the ground sharing apples with the black horse, but went out to greet them.

The two got out of the carriage with tired faces, then were shocked at his appearance.

"Young Master! What have you been doing while we were gone!"

"Nothing. Just ate some apples."

"Did you wrap the apples in straw for yourself?"

"Ah, this is because I was sharing with the horse over there."

"Horse? What horse? Surely not our horses?"

"No one saw me. There was no one around, so I was just sitting."

Arndt, with a face that looked like he wanted to faint, picked off the pieces of straw stuck to his clothes one by one.

Leandros also had quite a sullen expression.

Why are they looking at me like that?

"Anyway, how did it go?"

"We'll tell you once we're inside. No, we'll tell you after you wash up first, Young Master."

Arndt insisted that he needed to wash since he had been rolling around in a dirty place.

In the end, he was only able to hear the story after scrubbing himself with cold water.

"First, the butler at the townhouse said that Amelia Arnold's health was poor and she was recuperating in the territory. Though he didn't specify exactly, it seemed like it wasn't simply a matter of poor health. It's just my thought, but perhaps she developed a shame that couldn't be told to others?"

"For Amelia Arnold?"

"Otherwise, there would be no reason to hide it from outsiders."

Perhaps she met with an accident after leaving the ducal residence.

That could be possible.

As he was thinking, Leandros continued.

"According to rumors among the maids, there's talk that the Baron and his wife may have directly confined Amelia to the territory."

"Why would they do that?"

"They say the Baron and his wife became very sensitive after the ducal family's downfall. They usually came up to the capital according to the event schedule every year, but I heard they stayed in their territory for two years."

"And that's Amelia Arnold's fault?"

"As Your Grace would know, the Arnold baronial family has one son and one daughter, with the Arnold young lord being quite a bit younger than Lady Arnold."

Ah. He didn't know that.

Since the setting wasn't mentioned, he had just assumed she was an only daughter.

Leandros continued.

"When they came up to the capital after two years, they only brought the Arnold young lord with them."

"Leaving Amelia in the territory."

"That's right."

Something was strange.

"Arndt, what do you think? Could she have gotten married and that's why she's not being seen?"

"If she had married, rumors would have been unavoidable, whether good or bad. The Information Guild would have known too."

He pulled over the parchment placed at his bedside.

On it, Amelia Arnold's whereabouts were clearly written.

[Amelia Arnold]

[Age 32, Notable characteristics: Eldest daughter of the Arnold baronial family, Unusually for a woman, registered at the Academy for 1 year]

[Confirmed to have learned some territory management within the family.

Later moved to the Hartmann ducal family as the Duchess's dedicated maid.

After about 6 years, promoted to Assistant Head Butler...]

A career woman, literally.

He knew about women's lives in this era.

In a class-based society, women's lives were predictable.

In light of that, Amelia's career was unusual.

As the eldest daughter of a baronial family, after her brother was born and she couldn't inherit the family, she moved to the ducal residence.

And from being the Duchess's dedicated maid to Assistant Head Butler.

A straightforward person who designed her own future had suddenly disappeared.

He had a feeling that if they could just catch Amelia Arnold, many things would come to light.

If they focused on this, they might be able to find out what happened between these people and Yurik.

Then they could use that as leverage to demand compensation, or uncover Yurik's weaknesses!

As he was pondering, Leandros, who had been watching him, opened his mouth.

"It may not be marriage, but there seemed to be a story about Lady Arnold's love life as well."

"Love life?"

"It's just the maids' speculation, but they say Lady Arnold had someone she loved. And that might have been the cause of her shame."

"Why would that create shame?"

"The partner was."

Arndt quickly intercepted Leandros's words.

"Not a noble... or perhaps someone even lower!"

What?