“Since we’re out, shall we tour the territory? All of Sachsen’s lands are now yours.”

Edith obediently followed Leonard’s guidance to tour the Sachsen territory.

Since Hector Mayer was secluded in a mountain village, Leonard entered a town in the territory by carriage and suddenly covered Edith’s head with a large hood that had been in the carriage.

“I thought you might want to move around comfortably.”

Though escort knights followed behind, the two of them, wearing deep black hoods, smiled at each other as they pushed through the crowd.

A market was in full swing in the town, allowing Edith to pass through a marketplace for the first time in her life.

“This is truly my first time in such a place. Being somewhere so bustling with people makes me feel more vividly alive.”

“Seeing you happy makes bringing you here worthwhile.”

Leonard took her hand. At the end of the market, work was in full swing at a printing house producing books.

“I have something to show you, Edith.”

As Leonard entered the printing house and said a few words to the man at the entrance, the man quickly ushered the two inside.

Then he brought out a small booklet that didn’t yet have its cover fully decorated.

“This is…”

Edith was surprised to see the booklet. The writings she had jotted down were well organized with detailed references.

“It’s not quite finished yet. I’ve made it this length for now, planning to publish it as a series depending on the response.”

“Did you edit it yourself?”

The content had been smoothly revised. Accurate references were also attached.

“I polished the sentences a bit, and Daniel added the references. Do you like it?”

“For both of you to take time for me like this. Thank you, both of you.”

Twenty-three-year-old Daniel was talented but had been caught by Leonard secretly taking the High Court judge exam, which commoners weren’t allowed to take, and now worked under Leonard.

Edith had only written down her thoughts casually, but with specific citations and references added, quite an impressive book had been completed.

“It takes longer than expected to spread among the public. So I handled things quickly, but if you’re not ready to publish yet, we can delay it.”

“No. I want to publish it as is.”

Edith spoke with emotion as she opened the booklet.

All her life, she had only read books written by others, but now her own writing was being formally made into a book. Overwhelmed with emotion, Edith was absorbed in examining the book the man had given her.

“I’m glad you like it. For now, let’s see the market’s response before proceeding with the rest of the work.”

After finishing his words, Leonard took Edith’s left hand and turned toward the market with stalls.

“And this hand…”

Leonard carefully held Edith’s right hand, which hung down and which he hadn’t been holding, then said:

“I’ll definitely get it fixed. I’ve sent someone to Ra, where they say there’s a talent who can fix it.”

Would she ever find someone else who would care for her so attentively?

Edith’s heart fluttered, but she carefully replied that it didn’t matter if it couldn’t be fixed. Though revenge was inevitable, she didn’t want to burden Leonard any further.

Entering the market, they began to look around slowly.

The streets were lined with merchants selling fruits and various foods. Edith was so fascinated by everything that she was completely absorbed in looking at them. They also bought and ate some simple snacks.

After wandering around for a while, they discovered a place at the end of the street where people, especially children, were densely gathered. Edith pointed to it and asked.

“What’s that? Why are people…?”

“Hmm? I’m not sure either. I don’t come to places like this often. Shall we go see together?”

Edith nodded readily. Holding Leonard’s hand, Edith followed him with light, sprightly steps toward where the people were gathered.

“Now, where has the silver coin gone?”

At the place where people had gathered, a simple stage was set up, and a child who looked like an errand boy was moving among the people collecting money.

On the stage, a man was performing. The man showed his empty palm, and moments later, he opened his fist that had clearly been holding nothing.

Though he had clearly not held anything, coins appeared from his open palm, and sometimes small rosebuds popped out.

Seeing this strange sight, people cheered for the man and applauded, beginning to shower the collecting child with silver coins.

“That’s called magic, Edith. Usually magicians perform in circuses, but they sometimes do outdoor performances like this.”

“Magic…”

Edith watched the man’s actions carefully. The rose he had been holding vanished in an instant, then suddenly popped out from his chest. It was truly mysterious.

“Is that man using magic?”

Edith, who had no idea what magic was, asked Leonard with wide eyes.

“Haha, Edith.”

Leonard couldn’t hold back his laughter as he gazed lovingly at Edith, who knew nothing of the ways of the world.

“It’s an illusion. He does it through technique and repeated practice. That’s why magicians have apprentices. Apprentices who inherit what they’ve researched.”

“I see. But from what I’m seeing now, it’s impossible to tell it’s a trick.”

“That’s why it’s a trick. If you want, shall I invite a magician to Sachsen Castle?”

“Right now…”

Edith was concerned about the Duke’s opinion. Would inviting a street magician damage a noble’s dignity?

“Why, are you worried about my grandfather?”

Edith silently bit her lip and lowered her gaze. A wordless affirmation.

“Then today, let’s go to a nearby villa instead of the ducal residence. I have some business there anyway.”

“Business?”

Would she have to meet someone else? She felt a mixture of anticipation and fear. If it was a collateral noble of the Sachsen family, how negatively would they view her…

“It’s a very important matter. We need to create an heir.”

“What?”

It was broad daylight. The audience watching the performance was packed closely together, and someone might have heard Leonard’s voice. Edith was so embarrassed that she staggered.

Leonard calmly caught the woman who was collapsing like a flower swaying in the wind.

With the woman tucked into his arms, he began to move away from the crowd while she flushed red with embarrassment all the way to her neck.

“Are we going right now? Is it far?”

“No, it’s right next door. Less than an hour by carriage.”

The sunlight was bright and far too revealing for showing bare skin. Edith began to mumble in a voice just loud enough for Leonard to hear.

“I think it would be fine to look around a bit more before going.”

“We’ve already seen everything worth seeing. I want to see the prettiest thing.”

Leonard was truly a man faithful to his instincts.

“It’s still daytime. Shouldn’t such things be done… at night?”

“It’ll continue into the night anyway, so what does it matter?”

This man, with such tremendous passion, claimed he had never been with a woman before—it seemed implausible.

“I heard you weren’t interested in women.”

“Because that woman wasn’t you.”

Edith suddenly recalled Ludwig’s words about Leonard being famous for his chastity.

“But I didn’t have any interest before. Are you curious about the reason?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Well. When I was young, the maids found me very adorable. Then when I entered puberty, some maids my age began to develop feelings for me. My grandfather fired them all. So at some point, I stopped talking to women altogether. I couldn’t let women suffer because of my grandfather’s overprotection.”

“I see.”

Edith bit her lip tightly. Perhaps the man before her showed interest in her simply because he hadn’t had lengthy conversations with many women.

That’s what Edith wanted to believe. After all, it would be better if the poisoned version of herself was less likely to become a burden to Leonard.

“You’ve made a lot of progress. You’re even curious about me now. From now on, feel free to ask anything you’re wondering about. I’m giving you alone permission to ask anything about me.”

Leonard raised the corners of his mouth in a bright smile.

Though her heart melted at the refreshing, pleasant scent emanating from him, Edith felt a deep sinking in one corner of her heart, as if she had fallen into a trap.

⁕⁕⁕

[I can’t pay you back immediately, but I once worked under His Highness Joachim, didn’t I? I’ll give you valuable information. It’s worth far more than the debt I owe.]

[Information?]

[Yes. Well, let me whisper…]

The man carefully looked around to ensure they were alone, then whispered cautiously to Count Bomer.

[Well… His Highness Joachim established an assassin guild. The director runs it, with His Highness Joachim providing the sponsorship.]

[An assassin guild?]

[Yes. They’re extremely skilled. Of course, the fact that I told you must remain secret. It can’t be known to anyone. They say the guild takes orphans and teaches them assassination from a young age, and they’re incredibly talented…]

[What does this have to do with your debt?]

[You need power, don’t you, Count? It’s all over high society. They say the ducal household killed Evelyn to marry her to the Princess… And Lady Köhler is going around badmouthing Evelyn as an immoral woman…]

Though he seemed to be gauging the Count’s reaction, the man said everything he needed to say.

[They say if you just bring them money, they’ll kill someone for you. I understand that currently, His Highness Joachim has to be mindful of His Highness Ludwig, so he can’t support the assassin guild. So if you bring them money…]

Count Bomer found the man’s words tempting, but he was a merchant, not a knight. Though he had played with money, he had never killed anyone.

Despite hearing plausible information instead of collecting the debt owed to him, Count Bomer couldn’t easily make a decision.

[This is different from hiring mercenaries. Because even if the assassin fails, His Highness Joachim will try to cover up the matter at his level. To prevent the assassin guild from being exposed. They’re more skilled, and there’s no chance of punishment.]

[Why are you telling me this?]

[Because everyone knows that the former Grand Duchess Köhler goes around badmouthing Lady Bomer every other day. And it’s information worth canceling my debt.]

“Evelyn…”

Count Bomer hesitated, muttering to himself while holding the paper with the address the man had given him.

If he were caught… As his certainty that Evelyn was dead grew stronger, he became angrier, but he was still worried about his sick wife.

“Evelyn? Is Evelyn here?”

Countess Bomer, whom he thought was asleep, suddenly sat up in bed after hearing the name Evelyn that he had muttered to himself.

“No. Just go back to sleep. I accidentally said…”

“Aah… Evelyn. Where on earth did our Evelyn go? Those damned Köhlers, our Evelyn, aah…”

Unable to contain her anger, the Countess began tearing at her hair and fell off the bed. Rolling onto the floor, she couldn’t get up and crawled across it, sobbing.

Having already clawed at the floor with her nails multiple times, the bedroom floor was marked with her nail scratches in various places.

“Evelyn… Evelyn… All because she wanted to save our family… poor thing… huh-huh-huh…”

After tending to his suffering wife for a long time, the man finally made a firm decision.

Count Bomer began to memorize the address he held in his palm.