Chapter 43: Chapter 45

The temple announced that the date of the second disaster is earlier than expected.

Those who believed strongly in the first scheduled date tried to move away from Zephyros in a hurry.

To make matters worse, confusion grew as the collapse of Rohen, the epicenter of the first disaster, began to be misrepresented.

But the feet of those who tried to escape Zephyros were bound.

This is because the lord of Zephyros, worried about the economic downturn, imposed a travel restriction.

“Lord! Please reconsider!”

The nobles stranded in Zephyros flocked to the lord’s castle and shouted desperately.

Kedon, Lord of Zephyros, turned his back and steadfastly ignored their voices.

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“I’ve already made up my mind. So, you can’t change it.”

“…the number of supplies that our merchants brought to Zephyros is significant. If we don’t move it now, our supplies will end up being thrown away and there will be a lot of damage.”

Explaining the situation, Kedon clicked his tongue.

“If we run out of supplies now, what about the people who couldn’t evacuate? Now that you’ve made a lot of money in Zephyros, you should know how to take this risk!”

Kedon’s cries cast a dark shadow on the faces of the nobles.

“Lord, I’ll give you a summary. I’ll be back when the disaster is over!”

Kedon snorted inwardly.

He was well aware. How long it takes for a commercial city that has been cut off to become active again. It also takes a lot of effort.

200 years.

The time it took his ancestors to make Zephyros such a prosperous commercial district. Kedon predicted that even if the disaster passed safely, he would not regain his former glory. To prevent this, he needs to keep the people from leaving. No matter what happens!

Of course, it would be damaging, tying people up, but Kedon was confident in his connections.

There were dozens of great nobilities involved with him. He calculated that some damage could be covered.

“Hmm. What are you so worried about? Imperial troops and the Holy kingdom are now thoroughly prepared to prevent the tragedy from occurring in Zephyros. Don’t tell me you don’t believe it?”

The faces of the nobles were devastated by Kedon’s remarks. If you answer those words incorrectly, it may mean that you are questioning the power of the imperial family and the temple.

‘You’re a cheap man’

‘You pig!’

‘He’s blinded by money. Tsk tsk.’

Those who were unable to avoid being stranded in Zephyros swallowed curses inside. Among them were several nobles who heard the information Adelia had leaked at the Countess Tegris’ mask dance.

They were floundering in the waves of regret.

‘I should’ve taken her words and pulled out quickly! But even if I regret it now, I can’t undo it.’

Madam Lengster, meanwhile, had a secret smile of relief, she covered her mouth with a fan.

The guild of the Lengster family also did not completely withdraw from Zephyros.

However, she listened to Adelia and thought there was nothing to lose, so she began to withdraw one step earlier than the others.

As a result, she succeeded in safely extracting a large number of supplies, if not completely, from Zephyros.

If she had been a day late, the damage to her guild would have been doubled.

‘I’m glad.’

Madam Lengster crossed the subdued air and exited the castle of the lord. She immediately headed to her family’s mansion in Zephyros.

“Have you had a good trip, madam. How was it?”

“It’s like having a funeral.”

“But I’m glad that our guild withdrew before the restrictions were issued.”

Madam Lengster had a mysterious smile on her lips.

“Yes… Butler, please prepare a letter paper.”

“I’ll be ready right away.”

A small-footed woman who has information that others have not obtained. And the woman who took the position as Grand Duke’s partner that no one had in a long time.

This was enough reason to tie the knot.

‘I have to make sure I return the favor. Did she say she was the Viscount of Yurpheon?’

At the end of the party, the woman who provided useful information introduced herself as Viscount Yurpheon.

Viscount Yurpheon. It was a name that she knew had disappeared a long time ago.

Although the family was still unknown, Madam Lengster decided to invite Viscount Yurpheon to her tea party.

‘I feel like there’s more to it.’ Her intuition as a woman who has been going around the social circle is telling her.

It was the moment when the first fish took Adelia’s bait.

***

It was a quiet meal as usual.

Adelia smiled happily as she watched Emily eat happily.

Emily finished her meal earlier than usual. Adelia looked at Emily with a quizzical eye.

“Viscount.”

“Hmm?”

“The academy you mentioned before.”

Adelia swallowed her dry mouth when the word academy came out of Emily’s mouth.

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“I want to enter an academy.”

“…really?”

Emily nodded determinedly.

“Yes. I want to learn something.”

There was a sincere smile on Adelia’s lips.

“Thank you very much…. Thank you, Emily.”

“I’m the one who should be grateful. You’re the one who gave me the chance.”

Adelia stared at Emily’s face, which had a sudden change of heart. Her expression suddenly became mature. Adelia felt like it was only yesterday that Emily was proud she secretly picked strawberries.

It was a strange feeling.

Emily, who took a step closer to the adult world, looked proud and sad.

‘I can’t be a child forever….’

She felt bitter for some reason. She wanted her to enter the academy, but the thought of Emily’s departure flooded her with regret.

“Can I go to my room first?”

Adelia and Ivan nodded at Emily’s question.

Click.

Adelia sighed as she listened to Emily’s distant footsteps.

Then Ivan, who was silent, asked a question.

“Isn’t it the result you wanted?”

“What?”

“You seem to be disappointed.”

Adelia spat out a false laugh at the Grand Duke’s words that pinpointed her feelings.

“I know. It’s the result I wanted, but it’s just disappointing. I feel sad thinking that the kid running around the castle is leaving. It’s a natural phenomenon.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes.”

The Grand Duke nodded as if it were natural.

“Then let’s talk for a while after the meal.”

The atmosphere of the Grand Duke changed in an instant. It was a distinctly different voice from when he talked about Emily. She had a rough expectation on what the Grand Duke wanted to talk about.

‘The time has come’

Adelia sighed and continued to eat.

***

Adelia stood in front of the Grand Duke’s office. There was an obvious tension on her face.

“I’m here to see his Highness.”

“Oh, I’ve heard from your highness. Go in right away.”

The knights guarding the office gave way without hesitation. Adelia took a deep breath and entered the office.

Click.

“You’re here. Have a seat. Would you like some tea?”

“No, thank you.”

At Adelia’s polite refusal, the Duke shrugged and moved across her. The Grand Duke got straight to the point without dragging his feet with useless words.

“I called you because I wanted to ask you something.”

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“Yes, please ask.”

“This time, the temple announced that the time of the second disaster was earlier than expected. And a few weeks before the announcement, Cardinal Eustaf visited my castle.”

It was not much different from what Adelia expected. Adelia spoke slowly of her prepared answer.

“You want to ask me if I have something to do with the announcement of the temple. To start with the answer is… That’s right. I moved up the date of the second disaster.”

The Grand Duke stared quietly at Adelia without showing any signs of surprise. Adelia sighed and opened her mouth.

“I didn’t mean to hide it.”

“Of course, you didn’t because I’m your biggest helper.”

Adelia smiled. For there was no hesitation in the voice of the Grand Duke, who said he was her helper.

“I have something to tell you, Your Highness.”

The Grand Duke’s eyes sparkled.

“What’s going on?”

“Actually, when Cardinal Eustaf visited me before, he gave me a copy of the Bible.”

“The Bible?”

“Yes. And I can interpret the new language.”

Then Grand Duke opened his eyes wide as if he were a little surprised. Adelia calmly shared to the Grand Duke what she had learned from Vishna’s prophecy. The Grand Duke’s face dimmed at her words.

‘I see why you wanted to send Emily to the academy.’

It was tremendous information that there was a safe zone from disaster. If this is known, it will have a big impact.

“Your Highness, may I ask you a difficult favor?”

“What is it?”

“Please don’t tell them yet that the academy is a safe area.”

“Not yet?”

“…I know it’s selfish, but I don’t want the academy to be in a mess.”

If the academy is known to be a safe zone, the Academy won’t be used as an academy. Adelia didn’t want it to happen. She refuses to see the place that the goddess arranged for the children, engulfed in chaos due to the circumstances of the adults.

“I see.”

“…thank you.”

“The problem is the prophecy of war.” Ivan frowned as if he were troubled.

“We need to pay attention to the situation in each country. I’ll have to tell my brother about this. Is it alright?”

“Of course, but don’t tell him about me yet.”

“I won’t.”

Adelia smiled with relief as she watched the Grand Duke obediently accepting her demands.

“By the way, don’t you need a teacher?”

Teacher? For who?

Adelia tilted her head to the sudden words of the Grand Duke.

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“If she wants to get into the academy, she’ll have to pass the entrance exam first, so shouldn’t she have a teacher?”

Oh, is that what you meant?

“That’s right.”

“Let me introduce you to the teachers who taught when I was young.”

“…your childhood teachers?”

The Grand Duke’s teachers must be great people. It was a good opportunity to entrust Emily’s education to such people.

“Is it too much?”

Adelia replied with a bright smile.

“No way. Thank you for your consideration.”

There was no reason to refuse an unexpected windfall.

“And I have another favor to ask of you.”

“What’s going on?”

“Can you plant a spy at the Duke of Valkyr?”

Adelia waited nervously for the Grand Duke’s reply.

Unlike the previous request, this request was a significant risk to the Grand Duke. A strange smile hung around the Grand Duke’s mouth.

Adelia tilted her head, not knowing the meaning of the smile, and soon noticed something and opened her eyes wide.

“Don’t tell me…”

“I’ve already planted it. From the day you set foot in my castle.”