But I couldn't think of a better move. I had been turning it over in my head for a while. Wasn't this the best plan I could devise in the short amount of time I had? It wasn't like a maid could tell her master "Do it," and it was also true that the Weatherwoods had little staff. Yes, I did what I could. It was enough... I consoled myself thus...
Rue, who was the only one among the swirls of silence to raise the corners of his lips, passed his hand gently over my chin and praised me. —Ah, is that so? Well, if she's a swordsman, she must have good stamina, right? Good, good. You're very smart, my Daisy. Rue was the only one at my side. I felt so relieved I could sing.
—Then, we already have the answer. This is a situation where I cannot argue with my husband right now, so I will accept the Duke's request. However, you must keep in mind that, depending on the situation, we can send her back immediately. Do you understand? The sword master looked at me with a mysterious look. He was used to hiding his internal thoughts since the war. —Of course.
Did he realize I was Viscount Weatherwoods? Logically, the probability of that happening now was significantly lower. —And to add something to the conversation you were having here before I interrupted, all matters related to the Southern Imperial Archipelago have long been entrusted to Duke Raphael. This is a region closely related to state secrets, and disobedience could result in treason and the death penalty for violating the National Security Code.
I pretended not to hear it and did not react, but in reality I was listening to everything. In fact, even four years ago, he was a man who was good at things even beyond the sword. Still, treason… I dedicated myself to defeating Mephisto and his army, and still my return was considered treason… It was something I had caused, but I was still a bit discouraged.
Rue, who saw my face, shook his head and put on a smile that almost seemed ridiculous. —The laws of the Penrotta Empire are very belligerent… Hm. Well, okay. Duke Zenail, I will comply with your request. However, I have a condition. Let my husband be the one to fulfill the interrogation, not Daisy. What?
Can I do that? When Raphael narrowed his eyes, Rue added an unusually long explanation. —Don't misunderstand me. I mean, let my husband act as Daisy's representative. Daisy is a young woman who knows all the secrets of our family. I'm afraid I don't know what slip of the tongue she'll make, so first I'll have my husband interrogate Daisy and then I'll send him to the Duke. If my husband's testimony and information are considered insufficient, you can take Daisy with you, all right?
It seemed like a big waste of time, but on the surface, Rue was not disobeying the Duke's demand that an investigation be conducted. He also said he would deal with his personal affairs having to go one step further, so if you thought about it, there was nothing disadvantageous here for the other party besides a delay in time. The question was whether Raphael would accept his condition. —That's not a problem. —It's a relief that our interests are now synchronized. —I'm glad you think so too. Raphael, who turned toward me, continued his sentence as if he were giving me a warning. —I hope it stays that way until the end. After that, he turned away without hesitation.
Raphael disappeared behind the villa after hearing a brief report from the knights in white uniforms. Hmm. I didn't expect you to accept it so easily. The fact that the Weatherwoods family had attended the noble council for the first time in years might have been convenient this time. It's the same as before. They are acting more gently than normal because of our position.
The sword master, who observed the scene in silence, smiled softly at us. —Don't worry, Mrs. Weatherwoods, there won't be any problem. Duke Raphael isn't as difficult as he seems. I'm sure the interrogation will end quickly. Now then, allow me to accompany you all to the shelter. The sword master, with Rue at his side, moved forward while I and the two boys followed. Seeing that he had heard the name Gray in their conversation, it seemed the Duke was asking where he was and how he was.
Shortly after, the nobles gathered in front of the villa also moved to the annex following the flight crew's instructions. —Mrs. Weatherwoods seems to care a lot about you. Yeager, approaching me, whispered in a low voice. —I was surprised. I never thought she would actively block you before Duke Zenail. Wow. Volkwin also smiled at me. —The husband and wife are one. Now I understand why she chose Gray and moved to Penrotta from her distant home. Their attitude was as gentlemanly as ever, even in front of me, a maid.
I didn't expect it. Since they treated me with recklessness, I didn't pay attention to them. —We were lucky. —Ha, ha, it's not luck. The Weatherwoods are members of the noble council, so the results were natural, if you think about it. It was a brief answer, but one that had many implications. Because if the Weatherwoods were not members of the noble council, they couldn't have dared to present a third party for the investigation even with Raphael's consent.
—You may not know it, but the reason so many people have gathered here is to obtain the advantages and connections that come with being familiar with aristocratic society. You see, aristocrats often exchange favors, both large and small, with each other, all without stepping outside the bounds of Imperial Law. Well, at least in broad daylight. That's why they accepted Rue's offer.
We moved to the basement of the annex. There was a large iron door open waiting for us. It seemed to be a temporary shelter. It's bigger than I thought. The shelter was a narrow underground space without sunlight. However, unlike the usual basements, the interior was well decorated and was bright and pleasant, so it looked more like a common room than a shelter.
—Come in and rest. There are enough chairs for everyone. —Thank you, Daisy. Come here. Is this how it felt to be someone's pet dog? I sat next to Rue and closed my eyes while leaning my head on his shoulder. Enough. I already wanted to go home.
After a while, the iron door of the shelter closed with a loud bang. The interior was as bright as day thanks to the arrangement of numerous lamps powered by magic stones. With knights in white and black uniforms guarding the door, the sword master stepped onto the highest platform of the shelter. The sword master's quiet voice flowed through the space and caught everyone's attention despite not being too loud.
—Distinguished guests. First, I would like to apologize. Last night, 12 unidentified mages infiltrated the Iregiel Villa and placed a large mental magic trap that caused chaos. It is presumed they had been preparing for this since at least one day before. —Oh God, who the hell could…? Perhaps because it was underground, even small voices echoed throughout the room. The sword master let people whisper and speculate as they pleased and then moved his lips again.
—You must have been scared, but now you can be at peace. All intruders have been successfully captured. We are currently checking the villa for additional traps and, then, if everything is safe, we will escort you to your rooms. —Then the rest of the schedule won't be canceled? —No, the schedule has been completely canceled. Ragel volunteers are expected to arrive within seven hours and we will be able to leave Iregiel around the afternoon. Subsequently, psychological treatments will be performed for all those who have suffered any damage from the mental magic trap. Do you have any other questions?
Everyone was in silence. In the basement, no one expressed anxiety, nor did they complain or point fingers at the duke. People seemed very relieved that the sword master was protecting them. I could see the solidity of the confidence that the people of the empire had in him. If a man like the duke offers to reassure people… they have no choice but to believe him.
The interior of the shelter, which until then was full of small conversations, at one point fell silent. People were exhausted. They were those who had been shaken by fear and anxiety while suffering the mental magic traps throughout the dawn. The peace that had been achieved in just half a day relaxed them and most fell asleep. It was then.
The iron door, which was tightly closed, burst open. The man who appeared behind it quickly approached the duke and bowed his head. —Excellency, we… I wondered what news it would be. My ears became alert. Others also began to stare at the two with stretched necks, wondering what new news had just arrived. But I'm the only one who can hear what they're talking about. Jealous, right?
—A strange airship has requested to anchor. We haven't been able to identify the owner or any flags, so we've denied it permission to dock for now. —A strange airship? Isn't it Duke Raphael's airship? —Yes, I asked him, but he replied it was an unknown vehicle.
It was when the sword master and the man were about to leave the shelter. Rue suddenly got up and tried to guide us outside with great confidence. The man stood in our way with an embarrassed face. —I'm sorry, lady. You cannot leave the shelter until we confirm that everything is safe. If you need anything, let us know… —I don't need anything. Forgetting Morian's usual duty to be kind, Rue put on a bitter expression and pointed to the door with his chin. —My airship seems to have arrived. I'm about to go home. Do I need permission for that too?