| Chapter 29

“I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first. I hope everyone will enjoy themselves sufficiently, celebrating the birthday of our lovely child.”

He deliberately didn’t mention the youngest’s name because he momentarily confused it with the second daughter’s name. He strode across the corridor, his clothes fluttering. The study in the west wing, stained with Cecily’s blood, was still his favorite office.

The man standing quietly as if he wasn’t there bowed when he saw Beitram. With long dark brown hair loosely tied back, it was Quido, who worked as Beitram’s right-hand man.

He looked small as he stood next to Beitram, who had a huge build and unusually long limbs, but he was a skilled assassin. He was adept at moving silently and nimbly, and was proficient with many weapons.

The reason Beitram kept him by his side was that Quido was both an assassin and a capable strategist. Quido was one of the few people who could collect information, analyze it, and understand how the world was turning.

Knowing that finding such a person was more difficult than raising a hundred useful subordinates, Beitram was lenient with Quido. That’s why, despite his intense dislike for men with long hair, he didn’t force him to cut it. If it had been anyone else, he would have cut off their head along with their hair.

“I was getting bored so you came at a good time. Why on earth do we have to celebrate the birthday of a two-year-old who might die at any moment?”

“Still, it was a good opportunity to show affection for the young miss.”

“The situation?”

Shaking his head, Beitram took out a bottle of liquor and glasses from the cabinet. Quido, as always with a calm expression, began to speak.

“We’ve detected movements from the Freemont merchant group. It seems they’re preparing to start a new deal.”

Beitram’s eyebrows twitched as he poured the thick liquor into a glass.

“It didn’t end with Christopher Bickman?”

“The one likely to be carrying out the work is Kirhin Bickman, who will inherit the title, but…”

As Quido trailed off, Beitram glanced at him and held out the glass. Quido received the glass politely with both hands and raised his eyes.

“Kirhin was just a playboy who spent his nights lifting women’s skirts. He wasn’t much different from his late father. Christopher Bickman knew that dealing with Freemont would naturally make money, but he wasn’t the type to dare to challenge you, Count, even if it meant rebelling. Because he was getting a decent income just by staying put.”

“Kirhin might have been moved by his father’s death. After all, the one Freemont was expressing gratitude to for saving their lives was Christopher Bickman. Now that he’s dead, maybe they’re moving because they think their income will be cut off?”

Quido nodded as if Beitram’s words made sense, but there was a suspicious light in his round eyes. He moistened his lips lightly with the alcohol and muttered.

“If Kirhin Bickman was smart enough for that, he would have caught our attention long ago. From consistently investigating the Bickman family’s movements, I felt that man was truly, perfectly similar to his father. All he had in his head was fooling around with women. But the recent movements somehow bother me. Something’s different.”

Beitram, sitting on the edge of the desk, raised his glass as if to say ‘continue’. Quido went on.

“Besides, it’s strange that the title succession procedures are happening so quickly. It usually takes more than three months, but they submitted everything needed to the royal family in just two weeks. The succession ceremony will probably be held next week. It’s an unusually fast process.”

“There was no particular reason for him to hide his ambition. The eldest son was a half-wit who couldn’t fulfill his role anyway, so when the baron died, that position would naturally become Kirhin’s.”

“Somehow, it reminds me of a past incident.”

Quido said carefully, watching Beitram’s reaction.

“I’m talking about Prince Pelowic.”

A chill ran across Beitram’s reddish face as he emptied his glass. He understood exactly what his subordinate was saying.

“…You mean that person behind the scenes is now attached to Kirhin?”

“It’s a possibility. They’re both similar in that they’re interfering with what you’re doing, my lord, and the royal family is involved in both cases. Above all, what’s most suspicious is that people who seemed to have no interest in politics suddenly become central figures, moving as if they’ve become different people.”

Beitram frowned and clicked his tongue. Quido was right. It was impossible to think that someone like Kirhin could be carrying out all of this alone.

“Is it true that Kirhin Bickman has taken in the illegitimate child of the previous baron?”

“Yes. That’s another matter I can’t understand. The chances of that girl being a real illegitimate child are slim. Christopher Bickman never even met her. It doesn’t seem like a coincidence that he specifically adopted the girl we’ve marked as a suspect.”

It feels like an invisible enemy is watching me. The opponent was like an intangible fog. Neither its form nor its purpose is clear yet. The only certainty is that it’s an enemy.

Gently caressing the glass with his fingers, Beitram spoke in a low voice.

“We’ll need to keep an eye on this. So, when is the merchant group moving?”

“Tomorrow. We’ve already identified the location. However, if Kirhin Bickman and the merchant group people come out directly, there’s a risk of things escalating if we intervene…”

“It doesn’t matter. Anyway, only Bickman, the merchant group, and us know about this deal. The Bickmans are a bunch of fools, and the merchant group will be even more wary of us after this, so we have nothing to lose. Therefore.”

Beitram’s gaze towards Quido was tinged with killing intent. His lips curved into a gentle smile.

“Kill them all. Don’t leave a single one alive. Then, let’s see how their backers react.”

“Yes.”

Quido didn’t bother to mention that if the backer was really by Bickman’s side, they could no longer be called a ‘bunch of fools’. Time was short, and there was much to prepare.

Moreover, this time, preparations for failure were also necessary. In the current situation, a massacre was not a good approach.

If the Freemont merchant group people felt resentment rather than fear from this incident, they might even try to sever ties with the Balshwin family. Freemont Grand Duchy was originally a country that gained independence through rebellion. The temperament of its people was not entirely docile.

His lord did not know that not everyone succumbs to fear. This was both Beitram’s strength and weakness. Quido’s mind was busy considering various variables.

* * *

I wanted to somehow escape this awkward situation, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so. I was sitting stiffly at the dining table, facing Kirhin and Laurel.

Since witnessing that scene, I had been avoiding meals with Kirhin. It was uncomfortable to face him. I didn’t know what expression to wear when looking at him while he smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.

However, Kirhin, who seemed to be letting it slide, insisted that we must have breakfast together today. I tried to resist, but Nina’s stern gaze, which informed me that he would be away from home for a few days on business, contained an unspoken threat not to bother the head of the household.

It’s the first time I’ll be left alone in the mansion for several days without Kirhin. It meant I should be on guard, but the first thing I thought of was Damian’s face, who used to add the condition ‘if I come back alive.’

Kirhin’s outing is clearly related to Damian. Although he brushed it off as a joke, I could tell it was a task that involved some degree of danger. So I rushed to the dining table, but I still found it awkward to look at Kirhin’s face and couldn’t meet his gaze.

“It’s this hard to look at my face, huh? If you keep doing this, this big brother’s heart will be very hurt, Pebble.”

At Kirhin’s voice, pretending to be dejected, I turned my gaze from the servants and Brook who were packing. When our eyes met, Kirhin’s blue eyes brightened as if they had been waiting. I exhaled my distracting thoughts with a sigh and opened my mouth.

“When… will you return?”

“At the earliest, three days. If I take it easy and enjoy myself while I’m out, it could be a week.”

“It’s not dangerous, is it?”

At my sudden words, Kirhin’s playful expression faltered, seemingly caught off guard. He quickly composed himself and shrugged.

“Dangerous? I’m just going to check on the state of the territory that’s had poor harvests recently, that’s all. Wait a minute. More importantly, where’s my gift? Did you remove the perfume bottle because you’re angry with me?”

Whether he was trying to change the subject or not, Kirhin quickly pointed at my waist. Flustered by his counterattack, I rolled my eyes. To explain about the perfume bottle, I would have to talk about Damian. And what happened after that.

So I impulsively blurted out.

“Can’t I go with you?”