# Chapter 35
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Episode 35
***
The next day, just before 7:30 am.
Norman's steam car arrived in front of the residence of the Duke of Edenbahir.
Norman came downstairs with his autumn coat swinging and asked the servant who came to meet him.
"Is Anita Edenbahir inside?"
Even though she was an adult in the family, it was extremely arrogant to call someone as good as a duchess.
But the attendant lowered his head in a familiar manner.
"Yes."
"One."
Norman cleared his throat and crossed the garden to the mansion.
I checked my watch and saw that the minute hand was showing exactly 20 minutes.
— Did you say the train to Hicksen leaves at 7:40?
Considering the train departure time, you must leave the Duke's residence at least at 7:30 am.
That means you only have 10 minutes to spare, which means...
.
"what?
What does this mean now?
"The golden sword disappeared?"
Norman, who arrived at the door hearing a scream coming from inside the mansion, drew a long line on the corners of his mouth.
"Yes Yes.
Deacon.
I confirmed it was still in the box last night...
."
"What is this?
"Did you search the room thoroughly?"
"We are currently ordering all mansion staff to search every corner of the mansion."
"What should I do, deacon?
Should I tell my wife about this?"
"Sounds obvious!
Tell that to your wife right now...
."
Sigh.
When the servant opened the door, the eyes of the employees who were busy discussing everything turned to Norman.
Everyone had an 'Oh my God' expression.
"It looks like everything went according to plan."
Norman scolded with a stern expression, as if he didn't know anything.
"With the staff gathered in front of the door, the atmosphere in the house is extremely unpleasant.
"What are you doing here now?"
"Norman."
The employees backed away with a look of frustration on their faces.
"I asked what all the fuss was about."
When I asked again, one of the maids told me the truth as if she had been waiting.
"The golden sword is gone."
Although he was a cousin of the late former Duke, Norman was clearly an outsider to the Edenbahir family.
Therefore, important matters such as the disappearance of the golden sword could only be reported to Norman with the permission of the Duke and his wife.
Being able to so easily discover the family's circumstances also meant that his presence had a great influence on the Edenbahir family.
Norman was very pleased with this fact.
"what?
The golden sword disappears?
"Does Anita Wörøny, or even Edenbahir, know about this?"
"I just wanted to let you know...
."
"Norman."
The moment when Norman was about to raise his voice.
A woman who came down the stairs from the second floor called out to him silently.
It was Anita.
"Welcome.
"You're a little late."
I felt this at the coronation ceremony and at the wedding, but Anita, beautifully dressed, seemed worthy of comparison with Viscountess Grisha, known as the most beautiful woman in Hicksen.
'It's a shame too.
If I had found it first...
.'
When I clicked my tongue, she was now Lancelot's wife.
When I realized this fact, I felt that the beautiful Anita's face was very sad.
"One.
So it happened.
But you appeared so calmly!
"Didn't you hear that the golden sword disappeared?"
"I just heard about that too."
How can you be so calm even though that precious golden sword is gone?
Is it because he was born ignorant and doesn't know that a golden sword is precious?
Norman protested his calm and unwavering demeanor.
"Anita Wöröny!
The golden sword is a symbol of loyalty that our Edenbahir family gives to the royal family.
It is a very precious treasure that symbolizes family honor.
"What should we do now that such a treasure has disappeared without even a mouse or a bird noticing?"
“I intend to hold those who made mistakes accountable.”
"Are you saying you're going to take responsibility?
It's funny, it's funny.
...What are you guys looking at like that?
I have to leave the mansion in 10 minutes.
"I can't find it!"
The frightened employees dispersed.
Although it was a considerable number, it would be difficult to find the golden sword in 10 minutes.
Those who hid it will take steps to sabotage it.
Five minutes later, an armed deacon came down and spoke in a sad voice.
"Ma'am.
"No matter how much I search, I can't find the golden sword."
"Did you check all the staff rooms?"
"Yes."
This is the time.
Norman ordered the butler with a reluctant expression.
"Tsk tsk.
There's nothing I can do because I don't have time.
I have no choice but to offer at least one fake gold sword.
"You bring the boxes in the car."
Eventually, what the butler took out of the car was a box containing a fake gold sword.
"What can I do?
Since I didn't learn law from a young age, I end up making absurd mistakes like this.
"I don't trust its origins, so I prepared a fake car just in case."
He showed a fake gold sword to Anita.
It was so insignificant that it was painted over with yellow paint.
'If you offer a golden sword like this to a king, chances are it will end up looking ridiculous.'
The image the lady wanted was much larger, but Norman didn't care.
If I could have punched my arrogant nephew, that would have been enough.
“Consider yourself very grateful to me.
Anyway, Lancelot, that stupid bastard.
"I'm going through difficult times because I took a woman as a wife who was far below my level and I won."
Anita, who was silent for a while, asked him in a still calm voice.
"Norman.
"You said your family's honor depends on the golden sword, right?"
"OK."
"Whoever is responsible for the disappearance of such a precious golden sword will have to pay the price.
"Do you think so too, Norman?"
It was a tone that strangely sounded like he was scratching his insides.
Norman screamed as if the thief had been knocked down.
"It seems like you know very well the mistake you made!
Okay, then take that fake one with you and get in the car.
"Thanks to the foolish duchess, our family will be very embarrassed!"
"Five minutes is enough.
I think I know where the golden sword is hidden.
"Please follow me, Norman."
what?
— Do you think you understand?
Who is that girl displaying her courage against now?
"If you don't leave now, you'll miss the train..." ."
But Anita ignored Norman's words and went upstairs.
Norman gritted his teeth, looking at the back of her head.
— I think she is the girl Lancelot chose.
Cheeky.'
The great lady instructed him that Anita must come to Hicksen with the fake golden sword.
This is because if you do not bring a golden sword, the title succession ceremony may be postponed.
'I think I'll just adjust the pace and take him to the station.'
Anita's footsteps stopped in front of the passage in the western section of the 4th floor.
She took a long look at the corridor, looked at Norman and asked.
"You know what, Norman?
"It is said that all the curtains in Edenbahir Manor are replaced once a month."
"joy.
You think I don't even know that?
When I was young, I changed my clothes every season.
"When Lancelot was at the height of his illness, we changed his clothes every month to keep the mansion as clean as possible."
"Yes, I know that too.
But for some reason, the maids put up new curtains this morning in all five rooms on the west side of the fourth floor.
"So what are you going to do with me?
"It must have been a month."
"no.
The last time I changed the curtains was for a wedding, 15 days ago.
And coincidentally...
."
Anita walked slowly and opened the door of the nearest room.
"The rooms here are the furthest away from the room where the golden sword is kept."
As she said, the only curtains in this room were unseasonal autumn curtains.
Jill entered the room and looked behind the curtain.
"Ma'am.
"Not here."
Anita turned her back and opened the door to the next room.
Jill also opened the living room curtains to check.
A drop of cold sweat ran down Norman's back.
'Probably not.'
In fact, it was Norman who hid the golden sword.
It was the great lady's plan, but he was the one who carried it out.
However, instead of acting directly, he gave orders through a maid stationed in the mansion.
[Hide the golden sword secretly in the morning.
Hide it on the 3rd or 4th floor where Lancelot's maid is not present.
You must move carefully without being noticed.]
[Norman.
Wouldn't it be better to hide it outside the mansion?
The interior of the mansion can be discovered.]
[Anyway, the box containing the golden sword will be placed in the car right before leaving the mansion.
You probably don't have enough time to search the entire house, so don't worry about getting caught.
I will step in and interfere.]
[Yes, I understand.]
'But the place where the golden sword was hidden...
.'
Entering the third room, Jill lifted the curtain.
His unstoppable footsteps suddenly stopped.
"Ma'am.
"Please come this way."
Norman followed Anita into the room feeling like he was walking down a thorny path.
Behind the thick dark red curtains of autumn.
On the wall, which couldn't be seen unless you lifted the curtain, was a treasure shining in the sunlight.
A golden sword, a symbol of loyalty to the royal family.
"I was wondering why they were just changing the curtains in these rooms.
"It wasn't until I heard the news that the golden sword was missing that I understood why."
Anita, holding the sword, smiled softly and looked at Norman.
"It hides the long form of the golden sword...
"There is no better trick than autumn curtains."