.jpg)
“There are about 600 pages.”
Stunned by the number, I widened my eyes and examined the blueprints once more. I had to look through hundreds of pages of something this complex?
“Are you splitting the work with Duchess Illyn?”
“Did you hear about that from the Duchess?”
“I didn't hear it directly, I just happened to find out. There are really a lot of things about this family that I just 'happen' to find out...”
“What exactly did you find out?”
To anyone else, it would have sounded like a casual counter-question, but to my ears, it sounded different. It felt as if he were asking, ‘What do you know, and to what extent?’
How should I answer? After thinking it over carefully, I decided to bring up the part I was curious about.
“How did you become the Duchess's benefactor?”
“Did you also hear Oksana's story?”
By 'story,' he probably meant her origins.
“Yes.”
Flip. Valentin’s long fingers naturally turned the page.
“...Libertan did not start a family, but he always had many mistresses. He had no official heir, but he had many children. The mistress he kept by his side the longest was Languister Luzie of the Oblonsky Kingdom. She died during childbirth, but Count Languister, prioritizing the family's honor, attempted to kill the child. At the time, Libertan still possessed some paternal affection, so he personally brought the child here to save them. Coincidentally, it was the day before Her Highness Tatyana's birth.”
His tone was calm, as if he were telling someone else's story, but every nerve in my body stood on end.
‘This isn't Oksana's story; it's Ivan's.’
So Ivan's biological mother was from the Oblonsky Kingdom, not the Ohala Empire. It felt strange. I had always known that Ivan and I didn't share the same blood, but I had never truly felt the reality of it. We had always been brothers. Perhaps that was why, knowing the circumstances of Ivan's birth made it feel like a world belonging to someone else, as if I were reading an unfamiliar novel.
“Did Libertan personally ask the mother?”
“So I'm told. On the condition that the child be recognized as a direct bloodline of the Imperial family. I heard he even knelt and begged.”
“....”
“That said, there is no need to pity Libertan. After that, he killed seven of his children out of more than ten. For your information, seven is the minimum number—the number of children whose deaths were confirmed before he vanished.”
I looked at Valentin with disbelief. He killed seven of his own flesh and blood? That's... just a demon.
“The child Duchess Illyn carried was Libertan's third child. She used to come to the holy hall every morning to pray, but at some point, she stopped appearing. Half a year later, she came to us barefoot and heavily pregnant, pleading to save the child.”
It was a clear description, but the underlying details painted a vivid picture in my head.
‘He kept her locked in the mansion until birth, intending to dispose of the child.’
It was a tragedy that occasionally occurred in families that prized honor above all else.
“Whether by chance or fate... that night happened to be the day Duke Illyn came to pray for the blessing of the late Duchess. However, he postponed his prayers to help Duchess Illyn give birth. I believe they served as each other's sole companions for a week, without fail.”
“Then... did Duke Illyn know that her child was Libertan's?”
“Yes, he knew. And because he knew, he was poisoned by Libertan. Libertan seeks to erase all traces of his impurities.”
...Ah, so that's why.
[There isn't much time left, my daughter. Your father must be waiting for you... Yes, for the day you cut off Libertan's head...]
That's why she said those words.
‘Those words meant revenge.’
Flip. Valentin, having turned to the sixth blueprint, continued in a low voice.
“Duke Illyn was naturally frail, but he might have lived longer had he not been poisoned. Of course, if that were the case, Duchess Illyn might not have gritted her teeth to help us.”
Judging by Valentin's remarks, Duchess Illyn seems to have helped Valentin and the Imperial family for much longer than I thought. As that thought crossed my mind, a plausible article from the newspaper a few weeks ago came to mind.
<Duchess Illyn Contributes to State Secret ‘Intelligence Operation’>
‘I thought they just flattered the Duchess to cover it up.’
I realized that, like Ivan, many people had been involved in an invisible war without my knowledge.
The same went for Vasily and Tatyana. I had been naively going on volunteer trips, unaware that I was being targeted by Libertan. I knew it couldn't be helped, but I couldn't stop the feeling of self-loathing.
“Is this something I should know?”
To my uncertain whisper, Valentin answered without hesitation.
“Among the worlds I have experienced and seen, there is no story you are not allowed to know.”
Though there are things I want to hide, he murmured softly before examining the next blueprint.
Leaning against his shoulder, I stared at the blueprints in silence before summoning the courage to ask.
“What are you trying to find in these?”
I could feel his hesitation to speak. Did he want me to stay out of it? Well, he did send some very impressive 'nagging signals' during the public prayer service... But didn't I fulfill my role in my own way that day?
“Tell me, Valentin. I might be able to help. Have you already forgotten my ability? Remember that you benefited from me at the public prayer service.”
A cold gaze landed on my face. The meaning behind that look was so firm that I let out a small cough and looked away.
“...I wasn't talking about that injury.”
After maintaining that spine-chilling gaze for a while, Valentin answered with a sigh.
“I am looking for Libertan's final stronghold.”
“If it's the 'final' one... that means Libertan has more than one or two strongholds. Is there a reason why you can't find that specific one?”
“No one knew of it. Only a few among his closest aides know the location. Since it is the final safe house, there is a high probability he will hide there in an emergency.”
That meant these blueprints were all candidate sites for that final stronghold.
‘So that's why they were all basement levels.’
Let's see, he said 600 pages? If I join in, I think we could finish in three or four days. If I spend all day on it, except for eating and sleeping, it shouldn't take that long.
‘But what is the criteria for identifying the stronghold?’
Just as I turned my head to ask, Valentin stood up.
“...Are you going?”
“Yes, I believe it would be difficult to delay any further.”
He unrolled his folded shirt sleeves and began to fasten the buttons.
It was a shame. A shame, but I couldn't express that. I looked at him, consciously acting cheerful.
“Tell me what I should look for before you go. I'll be staying here anyway, and since Oksana is the only person by my side, there's no risk of secrets leaking. It'll be easier for you if there's one more pair of hands, right?”
Again, no answer.
Well, it had to be.
I felt it while talking to my brothers before the public prayer service. Helping others is impossible with goodwill alone. Help requires the other person's trust, my own will, and above all, the persuasiveness to convince the other party.
The persuasion that worked on my brothers was my memory. A memory that never forgets something seen or heard once. However, such an appeal seemed useless to Valentin. In that case, I had to use a different tactic.
“Let me help you.”
“....”
“If I immerse myself sincerely... I might be able to forget the pain in my shoulder.”
Or the guilt.
Valentin, who was putting on his jacket, let out another sigh.
“I understand. I will relay the message to Duchess Illyn.”
Sorry. As I apologized in my heart while looking at his broad back, Valentin, who was heading toward the door, suddenly stopped and returned to me.
“I will return soon, so you must wait for me.”
And then.
“...For me, not for Igor Tolstoy.”
He gave me a light kiss.
Left alone where Valentin had stood, I blinked blankly, and only after my head began to spin did I realize I had been holding my breath.
“Oh my god.”
I felt like my heart was going to explode.
Valentin really must like me!
.jpg)