Chapter 50.1
Chapter 50.1
I widened my eyes as if surprised, meeting Ricardo’s gaze. I even blinked, as if waiting for his lips to move.
“Yes, fortunately, Pazl hasn’t bribed many within the Knight Order.”
Ricardo’s words brought to mind the servant I’d rendered unconscious with snake venom back at the banquet hall. Besides him and Gilbert Auid, there had to be others involved. The problem was, since it extended beyond the Crow Knights, they wouldn’t be easy to find. Gilbert, unfortunately, being part of the Order, was at greater risk of discovery than the others.
‘Perhaps he was so confident in his abilities that he didn’t think he’d be caught.’
Thinking about Gilbert Auid made me frown. I’d found an unwelcome name in his records.
“So you can rest assured, Lady Amelia.”
Ricardo’s voice brought me back to the present. I composed my expression and nodded.
“So, this time I can truly relax?”
“Yes. If my previous suspicions offended you…”
“Not at all. It was a situation that warranted suspicion.”
An attempted assassination of a prince—if someone had been seen approaching him at that time, suspicion would be natural. I spoke lightly, as if unconcerned. In fact, their suspicion was advantageous. I could use it to my advantage.
“It’s rather surprising, though. A traitor within the Knight Order…”
I folded the curtain covering the carriage’s small window. Hector was no longer visible, so there was no need to hide. The scenery outside flowed past in time with the carriage’s speed.
Rumors about the Crow Knights, the Order directly under the Crown Prince’s command, were widespread, reaching even the nobles in the remote regions, not just those in high society. Everyone knew how difficult and demanding it was to join the Crows, and how many knights resigned, unable to withstand the rigors. However, once admitted, one’s future was practically guaranteed. As long as one wasn’t overly ambitious, it was a secure profession with high pay.
‘Much higher than the pay in other Knight Orders.’
Furthermore, if one caught the Crown Prince’s eye, a meteoric rise through the ranks was possible. Crown Prince Aven Lefkindea valued ability regardless of age or position. But Gilbert Auid, colluding with Pazl, had been too greedy. That was why he’d succumbed to temptation.
“Even those belonging to the Crow Knights aren’t without their flaws,” Ricardo replied with a wry smile. He seemed to be thinking about Gilbert Auid. Even so, having trained and spent time with Gilbert, it couldn’t be easy for Ricardo to suddenly interrogate and treat him as a criminal.
‘He did commit a crime…’
Not only had Gilbert ignored the Knight Order’s regulations, but he was also implicated in assisting with the attempted assassination of a prince studying abroad in the Empire. Gilbert Auid would likely find it difficult to work in the Imperial Palace again. It was also uncertain whether he could maintain his marriage to his beloved wife. Not many would accept a criminal as a husband or son-in-law.
“By the way, I noticed this last time as well, but you seem quite close to Ditronil.”
Ricardo’s words made me blink. Ditronil—he meant Damian. I hadn’t expected to be asked about Damian so suddenly…
“If you don’t mind me asking, what is your relationship with him?”
“You mean Damian?”
Ricardo frowned when I used Damian’s first name. He slowly nodded, his expression uneasy.
“With Damian… there isn’t much of a relationship to speak of. We happened to meet and were coincidentally caught up in the same incident…”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I never expected to keep running into him like this.”
Lately, I’d been seeing him so often that I’d started to feel a sense of emptiness in his absence.
As I was thinking about Damian, I felt a gaze and looked up. Ricardo was staring at me with a strange expression.
“What’s wrong…?”
“Nothing. You were smiling so pleasantly…”
“…Pleasantly?”
“Yes. I apologize for staring.”
I must have been smiling unconsciously. I raised my hand to touch my cheek. I hadn’t even realized I was smiling. Pleasantly, he’d said. What was there to smile pleasantly about when thinking of Damian? He wasn’t unpleasant, but he had a knack for making people flustered. I was far more likely to be bewildered than happy in Damian’s presence. Ricardo must have been mistaken.
I muttered this to myself and gave a small nod.
“Lord Div also seemed quite close to Damian.”
Damian and Ricardo interacted without restraint. They even openly expressed displeasure and spoke harshly to each other. Such behavior wasn’t common unless they were quite close, which was why I’d brought it up…
“Close…?”
Ricardo’s face hardened. It was the darkest expression I’d seen on him yet. It seemed I’d misjudged the situation.
“I’m sorry. I must have been mistaken.”
I answered quickly.
“…It’s alright. Others often make the same mistake.”
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