“That’s true.”
Ayla quietly stared at the Baron.
In response to the Baron’s words, “What can you do?”, Ayla seemed to agree, but,
“I can’t harm you, Baron. But, what can you do here, Baron?”
In reality, that’s not the case at all.
Her attitude was a little different from what I had first seen when I came here. It wasn’t a desperate, resigned look as if she had given up on everything, but rather a face that seemed to want something.
“Just as I can’t do anything to you, Baron, you also can’t do anything to me.”
The Baron quietly stared at Ayla.
Then he slightly raised one side of his lip.
“I see. That’s right. Even though you’re my daughter, I won’t do anything to you. I was just curious, as a father, whether my daughter, who is left alone in the Count’s house, is safe.”
“If you came because you were concerned about your daughter’s safety, isn’t this enough?”
“But, daughter, the world has its interests. No noble can survive alone. One cannot live solely on their own domain. Domains that provide everything needed for survival are rare.”
“The Count’s land is fertile. It’s a safe place that has never been involved in a war since the founding of the country. Of course, there won’t be a shortage of food in the future. But in these complicated times, can we live solely on food? It’s not even a time of war.”
If a person isn’t starving, they can survive, but no one just wants to stay alive.
Even commoners can enjoy many things in this world. It’s very different from the time when people were strictly categorized as “serfs.”
Even if a dissatisfied commoner doesn’t start a rebellion, it will surely have a significant impact on the Count’s land.
“Are you saying the Count’s land will become isolated?”
“That’s just what I’m saying. But after the Count passed away, has anyone come to offer condolences here?”
“Of course, the Count is still at the royal capital. He hasn’t been buried yet. But those people aren’t the ones who have the Count’s child, nor have they ever shown themselves as proper husband and wife to the Count. They’re just deciding who to mourn for.”
“If that’s the case, then they made the wrong choice.”
“Ayla, do you really think the commoners will fully follow you? To them, you are just someone who suddenly appeared and is pretending to be the master of this land. Of course, I don’t expect the commoners to fully understand the complexities of politics, but because they are weaker, they are also good at choosing ‘someone who will be more helpful.’ If they are going to depend on someone, wouldn’t they prefer someone who will properly cultivate this land rather than someone who will wither away?”
“It seems you think the Baron would fit that role.”
“Hm.”
Ayla didn’t hide her displeasure, and when she spoke, the Baron also didn’t hide his displeasure.
“Baron, there is one thing I would like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Are you drunk?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You’ve been drinking continuously since a while ago. I know you like drinking, but I’m curious about the mentality behind your decision to seat another noble lady beside you while discussing what will happen to the Count’s land.”
The Baron’s gaze shifted to the shadow next to him.
As expected of her nickname, the shadow was smiling coyly next to the Count, completely hiding her presence.
The shadow isn’t called a shadow for nothing. Whether it’s the deep shadow cast by a massive building or the faint shadow caused by a trembling candle, the shadow always confidently blends in and disappears within the shadow.
She sneaks into gatherings of people she doesn’t know, gathers information while laughing coyly, and always gets close to people, extracting information. She even infers information from boastful stories told by people who are moderately drunk.
Whether she came to find evidence that the Baron killed the Count, or for some other reason, that was this woman’s specialty.
Hmm.
The shadow’s face seemed to be blushing a bit more. She had been drinking with the Count earlier, so it was understandable that her face would be a little flushed.
Her somewhat goofy expression almost made her look like an innocent fool.
“Luna!”
The shadow suddenly called my name.
“So, where is the room I’ll be staying in?”
Well, of course.
It’s customary to offer hospitality when a guest arrives, but…
A wry smile spread across the Baron’s face. In his mind, the shadow’s evaluation had definitely dropped slightly. Pretty and sociable, but thoughtless. That must have been the impression he got.
“We’ll continue this discussion later.”
Ayla didn’t seem to have that kind of expression, but she nodded as if she had already expected the Baron wouldn’t leave immediately.
And then, she glanced at me once.
I had no words to say.
The Baron’s room was designated as the guest room. Naturally, it was far away from Ayla’s room.
“Why is my room so close?”
Seila spoke, almost on the verge of tears, making the situation a little awkward this time.
“If you wish, you can stay in another room for a while.”
I thought about it for a moment and spoke to Seila.
Seila looked like she had a lot to say, but she soon sighed deeply.
“I see. Luna, you’re in a position where you are forced to show loyalty to the lady. I can understand that.”
Sometimes, it’s a bit awkward, but there’s a certain honesty in believing everything with the innocence typical of a child.
“Well, then I’ll move to another room for a while.”
No, it doesn’t seem very comfortable.
Children can be stubborn in many ways.
“I’ll prepare the room right away.”
“It’s fine. If you do that, it’s obvious Luna will end up suffering.”
If I’m being honest, it’s not just me who’ll suffer.
“I’ll stay with Daisy for a while.”
As Seila spoke, she placed her hand on her waist and puffed out her chest, as if she had said something very mature, and I found myself momentarily at a loss for words.
“………..Seila, I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
“Daisy is staying with her father in the annex in the forest.”
“…Ah.”
“There is a separate room for Daisy, but would that be fine with you?”
“Hmm.”
The forest might be a scary place for a child, especially with tall trees where the sky might be hard to see at night.
“Fine!”
But to my surprise, Seila immediately shouted.
“Then we can spend a night in the forest! Elizabeth’s family is there too!”
“Elizabeth…?”
I asked, forgetting to use formal speech, as a noble name I didn’t recognize came up, and Seila just smiled brightly and said:
“She’s my precious friend who guards my room!”
Ah, right.
Under Ayla’s orders, those… carnivorous plants had been transplanted into the forest.
By the way, during times when the sunlight isn’t too hot, the roots planted on the ground seem to move like legs, coming out of the earth for a brief moment.
Then, as if exercising, they wander around before returning to where they were planted and quietly enter the soil to rest.
I know this well, as sometimes the ground in the forest is softened like a plowed field, or soil is found near Seila’s room’s flowerpot.
“Is that so? That’s a good thing.”
After thinking for a while about what to say, I spoke.
After having a conversation with Seila that didn’t feel much like a conversation, I stepped outside and encountered the shadow this time.
…Heh.”
The shadow, who had been staring at my face for a moment, laughed like that.
The blush on her face had already disappeared. By the time the Baron entered his room to rest, she had already removed her makeup.
“Indeed. You’ve become a loyal maid. I heard the witch gave you that chalk?”
“Yes.”
“My goodness. You’re speaking so formally to me now.”
“Isn’t that the reason you came all the way here?”
“Ah, of course. Isn’t it obvious? How could I pass by without seeing such a wonderful sight!”
The shadow tried to grab my hand, but I quickly stepped back.
“How prickly. Does this mean you won’t allow your body to anyone except the ‘lady’?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not into shady and secretive people like you.”
“Yes. You prefer men with upright and proper personalities, who wake up early, eat dinner, and go straight to bed, like a puppy.”
After hearing my response, the shadow stared at me for a while.
“It seems you really are the one who’s right.”
“I’m indeed right, Lady.”
The shadow stared at me for a while, then made a strange sound.
“Heh.”
“Heh, heh, hahaha!”
It was the first time in a while that I heard the shadow’s hearty voice.
She had reacted like that when I brought the dragon’s scales. And also when I brought the potion.
“If you’re laughing here, the Baron will hear everything.”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. The Baron’s drink had a strong sleeping pill in it. I also gave a snack to the Baron’s guards earlier. They’ll probably be out cold for a few hours.”
“The remaining servants are still outside the mansion, so there’s no problem. Alright, then should we go meet the Countess? I have something to discuss.”
The shadow spoke to me.
“Or do you not want to?”
“Of course I don’t want to.”
“Should I tell you? How much invisible loyalty you’re showing to the person who will become the master of this place. The Baron mentioned it earlier, ‘isolation’. It’s absolutely impossible, isn’t it? As long as the witch is here.”
“That wasn’t my intention.”
But I decided to just go along with it confidently.
Anyway, I said I’d help. It seems like the shadow wants a deal too.
Alright.
From now on, I’ll never call her the Empress.
I made up my mind after observing the reactions of the two eccentric people.