Juliet Iris Kiellini
–
“So where can I meet you?” Valerian asked impatiently, having to carry out Killian's order no matter what.
Oswald opened his eyes.
“I don't know much.
I’m just telling you what I heard from Viscount Morton, who arrived yesterday.”
Oswald's specialty was talking to aristocrats and unearthing information by reassuring them with light banter.
Of course, social gossip, fashion, clothes, jewelry, art, and opera were things he loved, but he often picked up more just by talking than by digging with these things in mind.
Thanks to Oswald using his hobbies and talents lightly, Killian didn't need to waste time sending a man to the Eileen Theater and looked at him with admiration.
“I’ll have to ask when Spenser arrives.
Did Duke Kiellini make any suspicious moves?”
“Yes, he hasn’t left the main castle since his first day,” Adam reported.
The Duke's movements did not change.
“What is his relationship with Marquis Anais?”
“He had no interaction except to meet him at dinner time and say hello.”
“Do not neglect vigilance over him and carefully examine Duke Kiellini’s surroundings.
I’m afraid he didn’t come to Bertino to support me.”
Killian couldn't ignore the feeling of discomfort he felt when he had his private meeting with Duke Kiellini that day.
He didn't know what it was, but he felt a strange sensation.
“It’s Lady Kiellini’s debut year, so maybe it’s time to start some political training.”
Adam shook his head at Valerian's opinion.
“No, it’s time to hold your breath for your daughter’s future, which he won’t hurt if he puts his eyes on her.
Even if he really decided to support His Highness for his daughter, he didn't need to come to Bertino.
Since His Highness will not stay here, if he returns to Austern, it is enough for him to express his intentions.”
“Or would he want to give her the highest place in Austern because she is his beloved daughter?
The seat of the Queen of Austern is higher than that of the Duchess of Kiellini.” Oswald thought, thinking of Lady Anais, who had come to Bertino because of Killian.
The Duke may have thought that his daughter should get a higher position.
“No, the Duke didn’t like me showing interest in Princess Kiellini.
“In any case, do not reduce your surveillance on Duke Kiellini and search for Juliet's whereabouts as quietly as possible.
Prince Francis will arrive soon.
I'm not worried about Duke Martin, but it's not very pleasant to be helped by Duke Kiellini because of Lady Chaister's work, so it's not bad to have a weakness in him.
I think his daughter is a weakness, so find out about her.”
* * * * *
“Did you get a girl?”
“Yes, ma'am.
Luckily, there was a perfect girl.”
In the middle of the night, Vera and driver Gibson took a woman in her twenties to Simone's room.
Simone closed her eyes for a moment, holding her trembling hands together, and then opened them.
She said that she would look for the right body, but it was not easy to get a body with a similar appearance and age, as she did.
It was lucky they found a plausible girl scouring the slums like that.
Simone looked at a girl, who lowered her head in a gloomy manner.
Now that she decided to put her foot into it, she didn't know how much more sin she would commit in the future.
She had to check her sin with her own eyes instead of avoiding it.
The girl might not eat well and had a thinner body, dry skin, and coarser hair than the brick-red wig Juliet had.
“Lift your face.”
The girl raised her face at Simone's command.
The frightened girl's eyes were gray-green, almost transparent.
Because the unfocused eye color was different from what she thought, Simone looked at Vera as she asked.
“Her eye color changed when she fell ill and lost her vision.
It's a light color with little pigment remaining, but…”She would be found dead, so other physical differences other than her hair color would be noticeable.
To be blind in the favelas was to be dead.
A girl who couldn't earn a living would be a burden on her family.
Simone looked away from the girl and asked: “What about her family?”
“We brought them here.
If we leave Bertino, we will call a man to help you settle in the Kingdom of Halintz and pay you what we promised.”
They killed their daughter and would be fine for the rest of their lives.
How could she blame her family for giving them such an opportunity?
“Take her outside.”
As planned, the body would be found in the river.
It was a choice to keep in mind that the more the body was damaged, the less the differences between Juliet and herself would be revealed.
Vera grabbed the girl's arm and led her outside.
Simone made up her mind by keeping her eyes on the back of the girl who was being dragged out.
She had never imagined that she would plan and do this, even if it was for her niece and her future.
She was the daughter of a high-ranking aristocrat.
Although she had lost her husband early and had to spend her entire life in the countryside raising her niece, she was a lady who had never seen anything so wrong before.
However, Iris must become the Duchess of Kiellini, and she herself had to retire as a powerful woman who had created the Duchess of Kiellini.
Simone bit her lip to the point of bleeding, thinking she wouldn't let anyone interfere with her plan.
* * * * *
When the body was found, all the knights who had been searching for the missing maid withdrew.
Because of the upcoming hunting competition the security for the outer gates around the capital was the same, but Simone thought it wouldn't matter if they weren't looking for Juliet.
When they were finally ready to leave, Simone's group left at lunchtime, when security at the gates was more relaxed.
“Viscountess Simone and her ward, Miss.
Lyla.”
Driver Gibson held out the ID cards he had prepared for the rider, who was checking his ID at the guard post.
A knight came to the carriage, confirming two small bronze letters for women, and others for a maid and a driver.
“Can I check inside for a moment?” At the knight's words, Vera opened the carriage window.
“Excuse me.
As it is National Foundation Day and the hunting competition, we are thoroughly investigating every procession going to and from Ricaren to avoid danger.”
José, one of the twenty elite knights who had followed Killian as Austern's escort, looked carefully inside the carriage, wondering if there were any signs of the maid's familiar appearance.
It was the job that Killian secretly ordered in the capital.
José greeted them politely over the window and looked inside with penetrating eyes.
In a simple carriage without an emblem, for a noble family that was not very numerous, there was a gray-haired lady, a young woman with a veil covering her face, dressed as a sable, and a maid.
Joseph carefully observed the appearance of the beautiful woman who looked at him faintly from over her veil in a dark carriage.
She was the first woman to cover her face, although he had checked so many carriages until now.
But her black hair and dazzling white skin beneath the veil were a far cry from the ugly maiden he had seen.
No matter how disguised she was, it couldn't be that different.
At that time, there was a reproof from the Viscountess, who didn't like seeing him looking too much at an unmarried girl.
“Is there still more to check?
An unexpected event occurred in Miss.
Lyla and we are coming back.
Since it is a late departure and a long way to go, would you hurry?”
Sa-chan
Sa-chan
Thanks for reading.
^-^