“How come your skin is so fair?”
“You don’t have any dust on your body.”
“It’s a great honor to have the duchess here.”
The maids were rather talkative.
Agnes was going to tell them to keep quiet, but she changed her mind and asked a question.
“Does a man with blond hair and navy eyes come to this castle often?”
“Navy eyes? Are you talking about Robert?”
“Well. A man with a wound on his chin.”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s Sir Robert. It’s not often, but sometimes he comes to go hunting with the count.”
“Really? Does he just hunt and leave?”
“Well. Horseback riding and playing card games. Oh, they play chess in the Pavilion at the central garden these days.”
“Right, right.”
The other maid nodded.
“Duchess. Give me this arm.”
“Here you go.”
Agnes smiled generously and gave her her arm.
* * *
The next morning, Agnes headed to the Pavilion, which the maids said, as soon as she finished eating.
Several knights were guarding the entrance to the garden.
As Agnes tried to go inside, they blocked her with a troubled face.
“I’m sorry, Duchess. You can’t go inside here.”
“Why are you blocking me?”
“This garden is not open to outsiders.”
“As far as I know, there is no place in the castle where the count put restrictions on me.”
“I haven’t received any other orders from my master. I’m sorry.”
The knight did not back down.
Agnes pressed him several times with a stern tone, but it was useless.
Eventually, she had to step back biting the inside of her lips.
Other evidence is clear, but there was insufficient evidence that Count Cellon communicated with the pirate king.
So, before meeting him tomorrow, she was going to sneak to the place where the pirate king is and have a conversation.
As soon as she was about to return to her room, a person popped out of the garden wall.
“Oh, I overslept!”
A young servant ran recklessly.
Agnes looked at the garden wall where he popped out after the servant disappeared.
It’s hard to see because it’s covered with bushes, but there was definitely a gap in the garden wall.
It was cramped for an adult man to pass by, but Agnes seemed enough.
“That’s Good.”
She confirmed that there were no people around and tucked herself through the gap.
she felt glad she left Ney behind. It would have been difficult if they were together.
Agnes squeezed through the gap. There was nothing special inside the garden.
“They said he’s in the Pavilion.”
Usually, a Pavilion is built large and high, so it will easily bloom in the eyes.
As expected, as she walked a little, she could see the magnificent Pavilion from afar.
There was the pirate king and an unexpected person sitting in it.
“Miss Vasa?”
Of course, she thought Emmerich would be with him, but it was an unexpected combination.
She can’t hear their voices because she’s too far away.
Agnes hesitated a little and moved to the bushes behind the Pavilion.
“…It’s too expensive to do that.”
“But think about it. If it’s not now……”
“….. I’m still…..”
Most of the conversation was not understandable because the voices of the two were not loud.
‘Should I go a little closer?’
Anyway, the two of them were so immersed in their conversation that they didn’t even think about looking around.
Agnes moved more boldly than before.
“Do you think I’ll give the ranunculus?”
“I’m not asking for it right now. But if you think about the future, it would be wiser to hand it over to me.”
“Is it a threat?”
“It’s a suggestion.”
“…it’s too early to release the ranunculus.”
“I know, but the right time is not fixed.”
‘Ranunculus?’
She tilted her head at the familiar name. If what they were talking about was not the name of a flower, then I have no idea what it is.
In addition, even Vasa, who she thought would have nothing to do with this, seems to be somewhat related to the pirate king.
“What on earth is this family?”
When she saw her yesterday, she thought she was an innocent person who didn’t know anything.
As expected, it is foolish to judge people by their appearance.
“I can’t wait any longer. It’s better to start the production as soon as possible.”
“I don’t know why you’re trying to push it so hard.”
“It is……”
The sound of talking decreased sharply.
Agnes lowered her body deeper.
But soon after, she had to get up from her position because someone tapped her shoulders.
She got goosebumps on her spine. It took her a long time to have the courage to look back at the person who tapped her shoulder.
“I went to your room to have lunch with you, but I couldn’t find you, turns out you were here. Duchess.”
Emmerich said with a big smile.
“Oh, that’s. I’m ……. Well. I mean, I got lost.”
Agnes stuttered and made absurd excuses.
“You’re lost? Oh no. I’ll take you to your room.”
Emmerich reached out his arm with an indifferent look.
Agnes was agonizing if she should put her hand on his arm.
‘Did you really believe what I said?’
“Why is the duchess here…….”
Vasa and Robert came down from the Pavilion and stood in front of Agnes.
“Oh, Ms. Vasa. I got lost while taking a walk in the garden.”
“This is a prohibited place.”
“Oh my, Is it? I didn’t know. Forgive me.”
Agnes tried hard to pretend to be calm. But her heart has been beating hard since earlier.
“Emmerich.”
Vasa’s face turned cold in an instant. Emmerich said to his sister with a light smile.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
“Don’t waste time on useless things, just take care of it.”
“Okay, Robert.”
“Take Vasa and go first.”
“Yes, count.”
Vasa’s tone was so cool that I felt cold even in the hot summer.
Agnes realized then that the situation is not normal.
She tried to pull out her hand on Emmerich’s arm, but it was hard as if she had been caught in a snare.
“Shall we go now, Duchess?”
Emmerich took a small bottle out of his arms.
Agnes glared at him with great nervousness.
“Where are you taking me?”
However, as soon as Emmerich opened the lid of the bottle, she lost consciousness.
* * *
When I opened my eyes again, I had a terrible headache.
“Ugh.”
She felt like someone hit her head hard.
It was so painful that she can’t even raise her eyelids.
“Are you in pain?”
Someone asked affectionately. Agnes shed physiological tears because of the terrible pain.
“Oh my”
The stranger’s finger touched her wet cheeks.
“I didn’t know the side effects were so severe.”
“It hurts.”
Agnes sobbed. It hurt so much that I didn’t want to feel anything.
“Then sleep a little more.”
At the end of the words, she fell asleep magically.
* * *
The second time she woke up she came to her senses and her headache had disappeared.
Agnes grabbed her head and got up from the bed
“Oh my. You’re awake.”
When she opened her eyes and looked, there was one of the maids who attended Agnes’ bath at that time.
“I’ll bring the count. Please wait a moment.”
It was only after she left that Agnes could afford to look around.
It was a very colorful and spacious bedroom.
Because of the sculptures and paintings placed everywhere, it was not like a bedroom, but an exhibition hall.
Not long after the maid left, Emmerich came in.
“How are you feeling, Duchess?”
“Where am I now?”
“It’s my bedroom.”
“Why am I in your bedroom?”
“Don’t you remember?”
She remember clearly.
Hiding in the garden to overhear the conversation of the pirate king and being caught by Emmerich near the Pavilion.
“I remember”
“Then you know why you’re here.”
“It’s my fault to sneak into the garden where access is prohibited.”
Agnes tried to talk calmly, swallowing saliva in her mouth.
“No, you can go in.”
“……I didn’t mean to hide behind the Pavilion, but a bee suddenly flew in.”
“Did you get stung by a bee?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
Agnes was more awkward and scared because Emmerich’s attitude was no different from before.
“That’s a relief.”
“Hmm. Then can I leave now?”
“Where?”
“The room where I stayed.”
“Oh. I’ve already cleaned it up. The Duchess can rest here from now on.”
“Clean up? What does that mean?”
Emmerich’s voice was so peaceful that Agnes did not understand for a moment what it meant.
“It’s literally the same. I’ve moved all the luggage in your room here, so you can stay here.”
“Why am I resting in your bedroom?”
Agnes jumped up and down.
“Put my luggage back to my room right now.”
“This room will be more convenient to stay in than that. It’s the coolest place in the castle.”
“Count. I warn you, but if you don’t move my luggage right away……”
“What are you going to do if I don’t?”
He asked with a sweet smile as if he had honey on his mouth.
“Will you threaten me with such a piece of paper?”
A bunch of documents flapped and fell on Agnes’ leg.
These were data from Roland’s investigation of Cellon, which had been hidden in the room.
Evidence of the count’s double ledger, smuggling, and trafficking is written in detail.
“Yes! Do you think this is the only evidence? I’ve already secured all the evidence that you communicated with the pirate king.”
Agnes deliberately laid her voice dignified and erected his back firmly, but it was of little use.
This is because Emmerich burst into laughter immediately.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m serious, I already have all the evidence in my hand that you communicated with Robert, the pirate king.”
“How come your skin is so fair?”
“You don’t have any dust on your body.”
“It’s a great honor to have the duchess here.”
The maids were rather talkative.
Agnes was going to tell them to keep quiet, but she changed her mind and asked a question.
“Does a man with blond hair and navy eyes come to this castle often?”
“Navy eyes? Are you talking about Robert?”
“Well. A man with a wound on his chin.”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s Sir Robert. It’s not often, but sometimes he comes to go hunting with the count.”
“Really? Does he just hunt and leave?”
“Well. Horseback riding and playing card games. Oh, they play chess in the Pavilion at the central garden these days.”
“Right, right.”
The other maid nodded.
“Duchess. Give me this arm.”
“Here you go.”
Agnes smiled generously and gave her her arm.
* * *
The next morning, Agnes headed to the Pavilion, which the maids said, as soon as she finished eating.
Several knights were guarding the entrance to the garden.
As Agnes tried to go inside, they blocked her with a troubled face.
“I’m sorry, Duchess. You can’t go inside here.”
“Why are you blocking me?”
“This garden is not open to outsiders.”
“As far as I know, there is no place in the castle where the count put restrictions on me.”
“I haven’t received any other orders from my master. I’m sorry.”
The knight did not back down.
Agnes pressed him several times with a stern tone, but it was useless.
Eventually, she had to step back biting the inside of her lips.
Other evidence is clear, but there was insufficient evidence that Count Cellon communicated with the pirate king.
So, before meeting him tomorrow, she was going to sneak to the place where the pirate king is and have a conversation.
As soon as she was about to return to her room, a person popped out of the garden wall.
“Oh, I overslept!”
A young servant ran recklessly.
Agnes looked at the garden wall where he popped out after the servant disappeared.
It’s hard to see because it’s covered with bushes, but there was definitely a gap in the garden wall.
It was cramped for an adult man to pass by, but Agnes seemed enough.
“That’s Good.”
She confirmed that there were no people around and tucked herself through the gap.
she felt glad she left Ney behind. It would have been difficult if they were together.
Agnes squeezed through the gap. There was nothing special inside the garden.
“They said he’s in the Pavilion.”
Usually, a Pavilion is built large and high, so it will easily bloom in the eyes.
As expected, as she walked a little, she could see the magnificent Pavilion from afar.
There was the pirate king and an unexpected person sitting in it.
“Miss Vasa?”
Of course, she thought Emmerich would be with him, but it was an unexpected combination.
She can’t hear their voices because she’s too far away.
Agnes hesitated a little and moved to the bushes behind the Pavilion.
“…It’s too expensive to do that.”
“But think about it. If it’s not now……”
“….. I’m still…..”
Most of the conversation was not understandable because the voices of the two were not loud.
‘Should I go a little closer?’
Anyway, the two of them were so immersed in their conversation that they didn’t even think about looking around.
Agnes moved more boldly than before.
“Do you think I’ll give the ranunculus?”
“I’m not asking for it right now. But if you think about the future, it would be wiser to hand it over to me.”
“Is it a threat?”
“It’s a suggestion.”
“…it’s too early to release the ranunculus.”
“I know, but the right time is not fixed.”
‘Ranunculus?’
She tilted her head at the familiar name. If what they were talking about was not the name of a flower, then I have no idea what it is.
In addition, even Vasa, who she thought would have nothing to do with this, seems to be somewhat related to the pirate king.
“What on earth is this family?”
When she saw her yesterday, she thought she was an innocent person who didn’t know anything.
As expected, it is foolish to judge people by their appearance.
“I can’t wait any longer. It’s better to start the production as soon as possible.”
“I don’t know why you’re trying to push it so hard.”
“It is……”
The sound of talking decreased sharply.
Agnes lowered her body deeper.
But soon after, she had to get up from her position because someone tapped her shoulders.
She got goosebumps on her spine. It took her a long time to have the courage to look back at the person who tapped her shoulder.
“I went to your room to have lunch with you, but I couldn’t find you, turns out you were here. Duchess.”
Emmerich said with a big smile.
“Oh, that’s. I’m ……. Well. I mean, I got lost.”
Agnes stuttered and made absurd excuses.
“You’re lost? Oh no. I’ll take you to your room.”
Emmerich reached out his arm with an indifferent look.
Agnes was agonizing if she should put her hand on his arm.
‘Did you really believe what I said?’
“Why is the duchess here…….”
Vasa and Robert came down from the Pavilion and stood in front of Agnes.
“Oh, Ms. Vasa. I got lost while taking a walk in the garden.”
“This is a prohibited place.”
“Oh my, Is it? I didn’t know. Forgive me.”
Agnes tried hard to pretend to be calm. But her heart has been beating hard since earlier.
“Emmerich.”
Vasa’s face turned cold in an instant. Emmerich said to his sister with a light smile.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
“Don’t waste time on useless things, just take care of it.”
“Okay, Robert.”
“Take Vasa and go first.”
“Yes, count.”
Vasa’s tone was so cool that I felt cold even in the hot summer.
Agnes realized then that the situation is not normal.
She tried to pull out her hand on Emmerich’s arm, but it was hard as if she had been caught in a snare.
“Shall we go now, Duchess?”
Emmerich took a small bottle out of his arms.
Agnes glared at him with great nervousness.
“Where are you taking me?”
However, as soon as Emmerich opened the lid of the bottle, she lost consciousness.
* * *
When I opened my eyes again, I had a terrible headache.
“Ugh.”
She felt like someone hit her head hard.
It was so painful that she can’t even raise her eyelids.
“Are you in pain?”
Someone asked affectionately. Agnes shed physiological tears because of the terrible pain.
“Oh my”
The stranger’s finger touched her wet cheeks.
“I didn’t know the side effects were so severe.”
“It hurts.”
Agnes sobbed. It hurt so much that I didn’t want to feel anything.
“Then sleep a little more.”
At the end of the words, she fell asleep magically.
* * *
The second time she woke up she came to her senses and her headache had disappeared.
Agnes grabbed her head and got up from the bed
“Oh my. You’re awake.”
When she opened her eyes and looked, there was one of the maids who attended Agnes’ bath at that time.
“I’ll bring the count. Please wait a moment.”
It was only after she left that Agnes could afford to look around.
It was a very colorful and spacious bedroom.
Because of the sculptures and paintings placed everywhere, it was not like a bedroom, but an exhibition hall.
Not long after the maid left, Emmerich came in.
“How are you feeling, Duchess?”
“Where am I now?”
“It’s my bedroom.”
“Why am I in your bedroom?”
“Don’t you remember?”
She remember clearly.
Hiding in the garden to overhear the conversation of the pirate king and being caught by Emmerich near the Pavilion.
“I remember”
“Then you know why you’re here.”
“It’s my fault to sneak into the garden where access is prohibited.”
Agnes tried to talk calmly, swallowing saliva in her mouth.
“No, you can go in.”
“……I didn’t mean to hide behind the Pavilion, but a bee suddenly flew in.”
“Did you get stung by a bee?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
Agnes was more awkward and scared because Emmerich’s attitude was no different from before.
“That’s a relief.”
“Hmm. Then can I leave now?”
“Where?”
“The room where I stayed.”
“Oh. I’ve already cleaned it up. The Duchess can rest here from now on.”
“Clean up? What does that mean?”
Emmerich’s voice was so peaceful that Agnes did not understand for a moment what it meant.
“It’s literally the same. I’ve moved all the luggage in your room here, so you can stay here.”
“Why am I resting in your bedroom?”
Agnes jumped up and down.
“Put my luggage back to my room right now.”
“This room will be more convenient to stay in than that. It’s the coolest place in the castle.”
“Count. I warn you, but if you don’t move my luggage right away……”
“What are you going to do if I don’t?”
He asked with a sweet smile as if he had honey on his mouth.
“Will you threaten me with such a piece of paper?”
A bunch of documents flapped and fell on Agnes’ leg.
These were data from Roland’s investigation of Cellon, which had been hidden in the room.
Evidence of the count’s double ledger, smuggling, and trafficking is written in detail.
“Yes! Do you think this is the only evidence? I’ve already secured all the evidence that you communicated with the pirate king.”
Agnes deliberately laid her voice dignified and erected his back firmly, but it was of little use.
This is because Emmerich burst into laughter immediately.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m serious, I already have all the evidence in my hand that you communicated with Robert, the pirate king.”
