“Is that knight dangerous?”
“He might be... or he might not.”
Despite Aileen's vague answer, Mary's expression immediately hardened with caution and vigilance.
But she didn't ask, Why?
Whenever her young lady did something, there was always a reason behind it. Mary didn't need to understand everything—she simply needed to trust her.
“Then should I keep following him next time? At least until he goes into that alley?”
“No. Don't do that anymore. Stop following him. From now on, ask the information guild instead.”
Not long afterward, Mary managed to learn more through a nearby information guild.
“They say it's an old building used by a third-rate information guild that nobody pays much attention to. But recently, suspicious people have been seen coming and going. Apparently, they don't look like they're from the capital.”
“I see...”
Aileen fell into deep thought.
Unless she personally went there and listened in on their conversations, there wasn't much more she could uncover.
The knight had undoubtedly become slightly less cautious, but his skills were still exceptional.
Even if she hired someone through the information guild, there was a high chance they wouldn't be able to fool the sharp instincts of a trained knight.
"...I think he's the traitor inside the ducal household. He's probably feeding information to Cedric's enemies."
"Really? Then shouldn't we arrest him immediately?"
"I'm the only one who suspects him. Even I can't be certain yet. I need more evidence."
So far, winter had passed quietly.
There had been no further assassination attempts, nor any major incidents. She still had time to gather information.
That final assassination attempt...
It had to be connected to whoever was behind all of this.
Cedric had said the attackers were highly skilled.
If there truly was a spy within the Order of Knights, sneaking assassins disguised as servants into the ducal estate wouldn't have been difficult.
This wasn't merely a matter of poison or bribery.
It was something far greater.
Whoever stood behind it possessed both power and influence. It probably wasn't a large organization.
More likely...
A single, exceptionally capable enemy.
Before Aileen could gather all the clues she needed, however, urgent news arrived from the North.
Later, she found herself thinking it might have been better if she hadn't been there when Cedric received the report.
If she had remained ignorant, perhaps she could have simply let events unfold without tormenting herself over every possibility.
Perhaps she wouldn't have been forced to agonize over the choice that was about to present itself.
“Young Master, it's urgent.”
A knight Aileen had never seen before arrived at the estate.
A cloak bearing the ducal crest hung over his shoulders, while dust and dried mud covered him from head to toe, as though he had ridden without rest for several days.
“What happened?”
Cedric had been casually chatting with Aileen, but the moment he saw the knight, he stopped.
As he descended the staircase, Aileen remained where she was, one hand gripping the railing.
That knight had undoubtedly come all the way from the Lowell territory in the North.
Simply watching Cedric greet him filled her with an inexplicable sense of dread.
“Young Master, it's...”
The knight briefly glanced toward Aileen.
She was an outsider. Naturally, he hesitated.
Cedric simply raised a hand.
“Report.”
“Please read this first.”
The knight pulled a small folded note from inside his coat.
It wasn't long.
Just a brief message.
Yet what could have been written there that required someone to ride across the continent without delay?
As Cedric read, his expression gradually darkened.
His face became colder.
More serious.
Aileen desperately pieced together the scattered events she remembered, trying to predict what was happening.
The original story hadn't truly begun yet.
Everything taking place now belonged to Cedric's past—the period when he struggled to become the head of his family and forged himself into someone far stronger.
She didn't know the details.
Only that, whether he wished it or not, countless hardships awaited him before he emerged as the powerful man he would eventually become.
“I don't know who put them up to this,” Cedric muttered at last, crumpling the note in one hand.
“But this is beyond ridiculous.”
The Finikel family, who had once sworn loyalty to House Lowell, had openly declared they would no longer recognize his authority and had risen in rebellion.
Their military strength wasn't particularly impressive.
However, they controlled the crucial route leading to the eastern harbor.
If that passage were blocked, it would create long-term problems throughout the North.
They're refusing to acknowledge me as the ruler of the North...
Aileen already knew the head of that family was a suspicious figure.
But she had never imagined he would launch an open rebellion.
Especially when the odds of victory were practically nonexistent.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Cedric immediately issued orders to the gathered knights.
“Prepare yourselves. We leave for the North at sunrise tomorrow.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The snow had not yet completely melted.
That meant it would be difficult for Cedric, who was in the capital, to return quickly.
The rebels had clearly chosen this timing on purpose, striking when the North's defenses were at their weakest.
Fortunately, the harshest winter storms had already passed.
The journey would still be dangerous, but it wasn't impossible.
Those born and raised in the North had always lived prepared for its brutal climate.
Cedric headed toward his office with Cassel to discuss troop movements and review the full military reports.
“You're leaving tomorrow?”
Only then did he notice Aileen, who was still standing exactly where she'd been.
“The Finikel family has rebelled. I don't know whether they're trying to put someone else on the throne, or if their lord simply believes he should rule the North himself... Either way, I have to deal with it.”
Aileen's face turned pale.
Mistaking her reaction for fear of war, Cedric spoke in a reassuring tone.
“There's nothing to worry about. Finikel is weak. They're only taking advantage of my absence, hoping other minor houses will join them. That's why I need to move quickly.”
“...Yeah. You're right.”
She forced herself to gather her thoughts.
Is this when Cedric gets seriously injured?
Or... is this when he almost dies?
He acted as though it were nothing.
But perhaps that confidence was exactly what made the situation so dangerous.
No matter how small the rebellion was...
It was still a war.
Yet Aileen hesitated.
She still lacked enough evidence to expose the traitor within the Order of Knights.
How was she supposed to say it?
One of the people you see every day is preparing to betray you.
Or worse—
You may have to kill someone you once called your brother.
“Aileen.”
“...Hm?”
Cedric had to become the true ruler of the North.
But this...
This felt unbearably cruel.
Then he said something so unexpected that it took her several seconds to process.
“The situation in the North will be over soon. It'll be difficult at first... but afterward... would you come with me?”
“What?”
“If you stay in the capital, that Count Cassier—or whatever his name is—might keep bothering you. Of course, if you'd rather stay here, that's fine too. But the ducal mansion is huge. There are more than enough rooms for you.”
The way he hurriedly explained himself only made his thoughts even more obvious.
Yes, Cedric was angry about the rebellion.
But he didn't view it as a life-threatening crisis.
To him, it was simply a temporary problem that would be settled once he returned.
“I'll send word. Everything will be over before summer arrives.”
“...Okay.”
“Okay?”
Without thinking, Aileen nodded.
Is he going to be injured during this rebellion?
Can it really be ended that easily?
But with a traitor standing right beside him... how can I let him walk onto a battlefield?
Outwardly, she remained calm.
Inside, her thoughts raced without pause.
Meanwhile, Cedric had already turned and started back up the stairs.
His footsteps were astonishingly light.
“I have to attend the strategy meeting now. Stay at the estate while I'm gone. Ah—and this time I'll tell everyone not to bother you. Don't bring up things like debts again, either. Stay here as long as you like.”
“...Be careful.”
“I've fought in plenty of battles. After Father passed away, I handled situations like this myself. Nothing quite this serious, but still.”
Cedric assumed she was worried because she thought he lacked combat experience, so he tried to put her mind at ease.
All Aileen could do was suppress the growing unease in her heart as she watched him walk down the corridor and disappear into his office.
