I knew the castle's patrol routes and schedules inside out. Since the security detail was centered around me, the area around Joel's room was left sparse.
*Swoosh.*
I hid my body in the corner at the end of the hallway, and...
*Clank, clank.*
I moved only after the guards passed by.
‘What the hell am I doing sneaking around my own castle.’
I felt like an assassin who had infiltrated the castle. And experiencing this situation firsthand gave me some insight.
‘It's harder than I thought.’
I had to admit the assassins had put in quite a bit of effort. Breaching such a tight security net was no easy feat. I wondered how Helena planned to make contact with me.
While lost in thought, I soon found myself in front of Joel's room.
*Tap—*
I dashed past the guard's line of sight and slipped into the room.
*Click.*
The moment I quietly closed the door and turned around,
*Rustle—*
I was greeted by the bitter scent of medicinal herbs and the acrid smell of something burning. By the window, where faint moonlight settled, was a desk cluttered with various herbs, a mortar and pestle, and thick books.
*Step.*
I scanned my surroundings thoroughly as I stepped further into the room. Very cautiously and slowly.
I already knew what I was looking for. A burned note, traces of an attempt to destroy evidence, things like that.
*Step.*
Even though there was no one around, I deliberately muffled my footsteps. That way, I would immediately notice if anyone approached outside.
After reaching the desk,
“······.”
I formed a chilling smile.
I spotted herb powder scattered over the paper and books. One might think it was natural for a doctor's desk to be messy, but I wasn't so sure.
‘He must have scattered it on purpose.’
If it had been an accident, the powder would have been spilled in a single direction. There should also be signs of an attempt to clean it up.
But the powder before my eyes was clearly scattered in a meticulous pattern. It was a trap to detect if anyone broke in and messed with the desk.
‘Quite thorough, Joel.’
An ordinary physician wouldn't be this cautious. This was the behavior of someone with a guilty conscience.
I shifted my gaze from the desk and examined the bookshelf. The desk might have been a decoy; he could have hidden the evidence elsewhere.
Inside the room stood a partition taller than a person, and behind it was Joel's personal space. I could see a bed for sleeping, a large single-person rocking chair, and other furnishings.
As I was inspecting every corner of Joel's room,
*Tap.*
I heard footsteps approaching this room.
“-!”
I quickly retreated and hid behind the door.
‘Did Joel already return?’
That was impossible. This was the confidence of someone who knew the original story.
Which meant someone other than Joel was trying to enter this room.
*Swoosh.*
I let my arms hang loosely at my sides, ready to move at any moment.
I planned to knock them out the moment they stepped inside. The aftermath didn't matter. They would just assume an assassin who infiltrated the castle was responsible.
*Creak—*
The person who opened the door and entered was much smaller in stature than Joel. And she was a woman.
*Whoosh.*
The moment I confirmed it was an enemy, I pulled her into my arms. Instead of knocking her out, I clamped my hand over her mouth.
“--!”
She tried to flutter up like a startled bird,
“Shh.”
But calmed down when she heard my voice.
I could hear her heart pounding fiercely against my chest. A pleasant scent wafted from the hair that brushed against my nose as it settled down.
“Are you calm now?”
She nodded her head vigorously. Though her heart was beating far too fast for someone claiming to be calm.
When I let her go,
“Your Excellency?”
The midnight intruder, Rose, immediately turned to look at me. Her eyes were wide as if they were about to pop out.
‘I had a feeling.’
I had thought that maybe, just maybe, Rose might come here. The regressed Rose had immediately started her investigation with Joel, after all.
That was why I had come here in advance. To prevent any mistakes Rose might make.
To think she would attempt to infiltrate the moment Joel left the castle—her boldness was extraordinary.
“W-why are you here, Your Excellency?”
To Rose, who was asking with completely round eyes,
“It's my castle. Am I not allowed to enter?”
I replied confidently.
Making excuses here would be amateurish. I had thrown away my conscience a long time ago.
“Ah······.”
Rose seemed to be at a loss for words at my shameless answer.
Of course, it's the Excellency's castle, so he can go anywhere he wants, right? But this is the physician Joel's room? Is it normal to just barge in like this?
—Her eyes were spinning in circles as if thinking this.
“Th-that's right. You can go anywhere you please... right, Your Excellency?”
“That is correct.”
As I nodded affirmatively as if it were a matter of course, Rose looked bewildered but had no choice but to accept it.
“Why are you here, my lady?”
“Ah, well, I...”
Rose swallowed hard.
*Roll.*
After rolling her eyes once,
“I left something here... so I came to find it.”
She spun a blatantly transparent lie. It was likely an excuse she had prepared in advance in case she got caught.
“Is that so?”
And so, I began to act as if I was falling for that obvious lie.
“You could have just waited for Joel. It must be something important.”
“······Yes. It's extremely important.”
She wasn't wrong. What could be more important than evidence of Joel's collusion?
As she answered, Rose looked anxious, perhaps worried I might question her about what the item was. Instead of pressing her, I spoke.
“Then hurry up.”
“Pardon?”
“The master has given you permission, so I am telling you to finish your business quickly.”
“Pardon me?”
Rose just blinked, as if doubting her own ears.
He's actually believing this? I thought I would be interrogated and kicked out, but he's actually giving me permission? How is this happening?
—She seemed confused by such thoughts.
‘She really is an easy-to-read woman.’
I suppressed the urge to burst out laughing and spoke solemnly.
“Let's both take care of our own business, then. I came to fetch something of my own, anyway.”
I didn't bother to mention that what I was looking for was the same thing Rose was after.
Instead, I turned my back completely to her. So that Rose could search the place in peace.
*Rattle.*
I opened a drawer and pretended to rummage around for something. When I glanced at Rose out of the corner of my eye,
“…….”
I saw her watching me with a tense face. Rose observed me for a long time, and,
“Phew.”
Only after confirming that I wasn't paying her any mind did she finally start moving.
*Rattle.*
Rose began with the cabinet and focused her search on places that might hold something. She seemed to think that because it was important, it would be hidden out of sight.
Rather than looking for something she supposedly left behind, she looked like she was wandering aimlessly, not even knowing what she was searching for. But instead of pointing that out, I continued to look away.
‘She really looks like one.’
I thought to myself that she looked like a squirrel rummaging around to find acorns hidden by other animals.
‘Should I start helping her out a bit?’
I purposely walked over and stood in front of Joel's desk. Then, I muttered loud enough for her to hear.
“Joel must be very busy.”
Seeing Rose quickly turn her head, I continued.
“I have no idea why his desk is in such a messy state.”
It was a rather awkward, theatrical line, but fortunately, Rose didn't seem to mind. Instead, she approached me. I succeeded in diverting her attention to the desk.
“The desk?”
“Take a look at this. Powder is spilled everywhere, and it hasn't been cleaned up.”
Delivering such half-baked lines was a chore. But I moved deliberately slowly to give Rose enough time to think.
“I can't stand to look at it.”
I murmured with feigned seriousness as I slowly raised my hand. Very, very slowly.
“I should sweep off the desk.”
Instantly, Rose's expression changed.
“You can't!”
Rose hastily blocked my way. She was smart; she seemed to have quickly realized why the powder was scattered across the desk.
“Please wait, Your Excellency.”
“What is it?”
“I think Sir Joel scattered this powder on purpose. To check if anyone entered his room.”
“Why go that far?”
When I tilted my head, Rose hesitated for a moment.
Right now, Rose believed I had complete trust in the physician, Joel. Therefore, she was likely worrying whether voicing her suspicions about Joel here might be too hasty.
“—When you went out to inspect the mine,”
After a brief hesitation, Rose carefully chose her words.
“Sir Joel asked me quietly, so only I could hear. He asked if I needed an abortifacient.”
“What is that?”
“It's a barren weed. Normally, it induces uterine contractions to aid in childbirth, but if ingested improperly, it causes a miscarriage.”
“······.”
Joel said that to Rose? In other words, after she spent the night with me?
‘He's trying to prevent an heir from being born.’
If a son were to be born to me, the existing line of succession would completely change. My son would leap up to become second in line right after me.
It was obvious who wouldn't be pleased with this.
‘Henrik Schmaichel.’
My uncle, and the man who could inherit the Schmaichel estate if I died.
It was clear that he had instructed Joel in advance to plot this, or that Joel had taken it upon himself to handle the matter.
‘How meticulous of him.’
While I was astounded by Joel's actions, a surge of anger welled up within me.
Anticipating and preventing potential mishaps that could hinder the master's goals—wasn't this exactly what a loyal confidant would do?
If he were my subordinate, I would have admired such initiative, but since he wasn't, his actions were utterly infuriating.
“······.”
The bloodlust I had barely suppressed began to flare up and surge once more. This situation, where I had to turn a blind eye despite knowing of his betrayal, was torture.
What quenched the murderous intent that was spreading like a raging wildfire,
“Your Excellency.”
Was Rose's voice, as she tried hard to speak calmly.
“I agonized over whether I should tell you this, Your Excellency.”
Rose was trying to find even a sliver of emotion behind my stoic expression.
“I thought it was only right to tell you everything that happened. I will leave the judgment to you, Your Excellency.”
She worried her words might become the seeds of discord that cast suspicion on a loyal retainer, or that she might be misunderstood as a wicked woman scheming through pillow talk.
“Did I speak out of turn?”
Filled with all these worries and considerations, Rose's expression was exceedingly cautious.
But her eyes were earnest. Her gaze was pleading: Please suspect Joel. You can't just trust him completely. Please, believe me—