Returning back to my room, I thought hard about the escape.
'The most important thing. Money, piece of relics, and means of transport.'
I wanted to leave this place right away, but it took quite a bit of preparation to get to the far north. 'First of all, we have to meet.'
The dawn was over, and it was as bright as an light. It was just as I was about to get out of my desk to finally organize my thoughts and call someone.
Hnock, knock—.
"My lady, this is Pennel."
Just in time, the one who I was trying to find came to me first. I sat down in the chair and said. "Come in."
He opened the door and the butler immediately came in and greeted me. "What's going on?"
"This is the Emerald Mine Sales Report of last month."
He put the black file fold on the desk in a polite manner. I picked it up and glanced over the contents. At first sight, I could see that a huge amount of money had fallen on me, but I wasn't too excited.
'I couldn't spend these money anyway.'
This was also because my purse funds were under control, and I didn't trust the butler. "I saw it well."
'Tug—'. After closing the file, I ignored the look of the butler, who had some expectations, and spoke in a calm manner.
"But, butler, I'd like to go out for a little while."
"Are you… talking about going out? I don't know where you're going…" "You don't need to know that."
After the butler's some doubts I asked again. "Did my father enter the palace now?"
"Oh, no. He's still in the mansion, since he's going to be late today." "Really?"
I thought I'd get permission this evening only after the Duke's returning, but it was an unexpected news.
"Then can you go ask my father? I want him to allow me to go out."
Anyway, I was on nominal probation, so I had better be sure to get out without any noise. "Okay, my lady."
After a moment the butler left the room in a quiver. Back again, he brought both good and bad news. "My lady, the Duke has allowed you to go out."
"Thank God."
"But he asked you if you could join him for lunch soon because it's lunchtime."
"Lunch?"
I asked with a frown and a with the feeling of doubt. "…With the whole family together?"
"No. The young Duke and the second young Master had knighthood training, so…" The luncheon was terrible news, but it was fortunate news.
'He has said he's allowed me to go out, and it's about lunchtime.' I answered with a slight nod.
"Tell him I'll get ready and be down soon."
I followed the butler out of the mansion, not the dining room. It was because of the Duke's suggestion to eat in our greenhouse when the weather was good.
'You're gonna to go to the greenhouse?' I wanted to, but I didn't show it.
Open the door and come inside. Now, the smell of fragrant flowers welcomed me. Perhaps first, the Duke was lost in thought sitting alone at a table in the middle of the greenhouse.
"Father."
When I made a hit, he came to his senses. "Oh, have you come? Sit down."
I turned around the table and sat on the other side of him. As soon as all the dinner servants arrived, they quickly began to carry the food. Since it was lunch, most of them were light food such as sandwiches, snacks, and desserts.
Even though the table was full, no one raised their hands hastily. The Duke kept his mouth shut as if he were deep in thought. I was looking at his eyes in an awkward silence, and I carefully took the lead.
"Do you… have anything to say?"
The Duke raised his head at a sudden question. "…What?"
"I asked if you wanted to tell me something." "What to tell?"
The Duke asked blankly. I felt he was a little strange today, as if somehow he was distracted.
"Yes. You're the only one who calls me to the greenhouse without my brothers… and you're going to enter to the palace soon."
This meant that there was no time for such a pause. "Oh, yeah. Enter to the palace. I should…"
The Duke muttered as if he had never thought of it. The word 'enter' made him excited, and the light gradually returned to his eyes. I opened my mouth, carefully examining him like that.
"Father, are you okay?"
"Are… you still sick, my dear?"
The Duke looked back at me and asked me how I was as usual. "Your body. The doctor said you still need a recovery."
"It's okay. I feel much better."
"…You told the butler you wanted to go out." We finally got to the point. I nodded quickly.
"That's because it's so frustrating. I think this is enough of a probation…" "That's true. It's been almost a week"
The Duke nodded in agreement. It suddenly seemed funny to me that I could decide my movements and be done with it. I had never imagined that I could move freely without the Duke's or Derek's permission before…
"Do as you please."
I was so relieved by the permission that had too easily dropped. "Thank you."
"But not without everyone's approval."
But as soon as I had a chance, the next crisis came in. I was so embarrassed by the suddenness of the Duke's words.
"…Father."
"I'm sorry I can't fulfill your wish. But for you to finish your coming-of-age ceremony in Eckart's castle, you should let the whole family takes part in your business."
Of course his words make sense. All eyes were now on the Dukedom because of what I did at the coming-of-age ceremony. But I thought I would be able to hear them say, "Let's wait for it to die down and then proceed quietly."
"Why aren't you letting go of me when your daughter's back?"
I couldn't quite understand. It was when I lost my words and just looked at the water. "But if you want… I'll let you leave me."
I opened my eyes wide at the words of the quietly added Duke's words. "Where… do you think I'm going?"
"Wherever it is."
I looked at him with a shaky gaze. I felt strange. I didn't expect him to listen to me until just now. "…Young Duke."
I pointed out the biggest obstacle. The man who was brainwashed by the heroine was not ready to let me go easily.
"I'm sure he's against it."
"I'm still the Duke, what can he do?"
The Duke wriggled his eyebrows at my question. He replied with a disapproving voice, and soon came up with a cool solution.
"If he don't want to let you go, just run to me. I'll kick his ass."
And he smiled awkwardly. It was a playful face to see after a long time.
When I was given the magic crossbow, I often saw his smile since that day. At that time, I felt awkward and uncomfortable with the Duke…
But on the morning of the coming-of-age ceremony, my heart, which I thought was killed, seemed to wriggle again. I clasped both hands down under the table.
"Father."
"Huh?"
"…How much do you believe in Yvonne?"
The Duke's blue eyes had greatly expanded at the unexpected turn of conversation. 'Is it really alright?'
Thinking so, I couldn't stop desperately looking at the Duke. "All of a sudden, why the kid…"
He looked at me as if he were trying to get my thoughts. Soon after, he lowered his voice to see if something was caught.
"By any chance, do you mean we didn't search the room, so there's still a bit of evidence left?" "No, it's not like that… It was you who clearly remembered before the coming-of-age ceremony." "That's… true."
The Duke, who had a curious look, soon accepted my words. And he calmed me down with an look of knowledge of all my concerns.
"I won't announce it until I'm sure her memory comes back."
Derrick, who brought her to the Coming of Age Ceremony, has already been blindfolded and repeatedly emphasized with a firm look. Looking at such Duke, I struggled to open my mouth.
"When you're with her… look into the tea water in the teacup, Father." "Teacup?"
The Duke had a blank look on his face. "What are you talking about, Penelope." "Don't trust Yvonne too much…"
I swallowed the words hard to end my warning. Before the distrust of whether he would believe me, I was scared. The woman who brainwashed Eclise with an incomplete artifact.
She might leave me alone if she know I said this to the Duke. But I couldn't let the Duke be brainwashed like this. I can't turn away completely, I can't tell him everything. I was disgusted with myself as cowardly and hypocritical.
But still, still…
"Just do it if you have a chance." "What…?"
"I'm done."
Squeak—. Dragging the chair, I jumped up from my seat. The Duke called me with surprised eyes, looking for my untouched tableware.
"Penelope."
"I'm not feeling well… so I think I'll have to get up first."
I didn't know how the Duke accepted my warning, who was so parched to utter a word. "Yes, you can go."
But this time again, I bit my lower lip hard at the sight of the Duke easily giving permission.
While I was going to go the door, his eyes were on the back of my head. It was the last time I looked back, before I left the greenhouse. My eyes met with eyes looking at me with still worried face.
Perhaps he was embarrassing to catch something secretly peeking, but the Duke, who was flinching, raised his hand. He meant to tell me to go quickly.
I bit my lower lip gently again, and soon closed my eyes and shouted. "Be careful of her, Father!"
Leaving his blue pupil behind him, I ran out of the greenhouse.
After the luncheon with the Duke a little earlier than I thought, I went straight back to the mansion. It was to go to meet Vinter after getting ready to go out.
It was quiet in the mansion until everyone had lunch and I climbed all the stairs in the center of the house. It was when I quickly crossed the empty hallway and grabbed the door handle of my room. I hesitated. The door was pushed helplessly. It's slightly open.
Ta-da—. Ta-ak—. There was a low noise through the crack. 'Is Emily cleaning?'
I tilted my head and thought nothing of it. And as soon as I opened the door and stepped inside room. Taak—!
I found someone closing the drawer door on the dresser. It was like Emily's maid's uniform. My mind froze again when I saw her.
'Emily does not wear a headwear.'
Because headwear are usually worn only by maids who work in the kitchen.
Thud, drip—. In the meantime, the maid opened the second drawer of the dressing table with one hand busy, perhaps noticing that I opened the door. It didn't seem like an act of cleaning at all.
'Yvonne's spy?… Or a simple jewel thief?'
I pondered which person she would be, and I watched with breath to check her face. At first glance, however, the side face was covered with a cloth mask.
I asked back with annoying voice.
"What are you doing?"
