That morning, Madam Geneviere found herself unusually busy. Typically, she would still be asleep at this time since her establishment operated during the night.
However, ever since the former princess had left with Count Yannik, Madam Geneviere had been restless. She worried that something similar to the leaked information through the posters in the town square might occur.
To ease her mind, she had developed a habit of visiting the town square every morning before retiring to bed. But today, her worst fear became a reality.
As she arrived at the town square, she witnessed a commotion. A crowd had gathered to discuss a specific article in the Royal Gazette. Curiosity compelled her to purchase a copy and read it for herself.
To her shock, she discovered that once again, the former princess' location had been exposed to the public. The news sent shivers down her spine.
Madam Geneviere hurried back home, quickly changing into her finest attire. Determined, she made her way to the nearest coach inn. Approaching the innkeeper, she handed over the necessary funds and requested a journey to Harnisse.
"The coach will be ready shortly. Please wait at the designated area, ma'am," the innkeeper responded, accepting the payment and handing Madam Geneviere her ticket.
"Thank you," she replied, acknowledging the innkeeper's assistance.
Madam Geneviere patiently waited on the bench, observing as more passengers arrived and paid for their seats.
Eventually, the coach was ready for departure. With a sense of restlessness, she boarded the coach, her mind filled with agitation throughout the journey.
Upon reaching her destination, Madam Geneviere inquired about the whereabouts of Harnisse Castle, seeking directions from the locals. Once she arrived at the castle, she approached the guard and boldly declared her intention to see the count.
"May I know your identity, Madam?" the guard inquired cautiously, his wariness evident. Despite Madam Geneviere's refined appearance, her arrival on foot suggested that she did not belong to the noble class.
Ever since the publication of the article in the newspaper, numerous strangers had visited the castle seeking confirmation of the truth. The unrest among the public had escalated, with protests demanding clarification from the countess.
"Please inform Count Yannik that Madam—correction—Mrs. Geneviere is here to see him," she requested firmly.
The guard entered the castle to relay the message, while the other guard remained stationed at the gate. Madam Geneviere felt a surge of frustration as she waited impatiently, longing for answers to her burning questions.
After a while, the guard returned to the gate and opened it, signaling for Madam Geneviere to enter. Inside, she was greeted by a middle-aged man who bowed respectfully, his hands clasped in front of his stomach.
"Welcome to Harnisse Castle, Mrs. Geneviere. I am Mr. Reitz, His Lordship's valet. Allow me to escort you to the sitting room," he offered.
Madam Geneviere found herself alone in the elegantly furnished sitting room as Mr. Reitz departed to inform Count Yannik, who was still in his office.
Moments later, Mr. Reitz returned with a tray of snacks and tea, and shortly thereafter, Count Yannik made his appearance.
Madam Geneviere stood up, ready to express her thoughts, but Count Yannik swiftly intervened, "I know what you're about to say, Madam. Please, take a seat."
Resuming her position, she insisted on answering, "What is going on, Count? You assured me that your estate was safer than mine. And what about the countess' alleged attempt to assassinate the princess?"
"Please, allow me to offer you some tea," Count Yannik suggested, hoping to diffuse the tension.
However, his offer seemed ill-timed, and it irked Madam Geneviere. It appeared as though Count Yannik was downplaying the gravity of the situation or attempting to defend his wife's actions.
"I have little concern for tea, Count! I want to know how such a breach could occur under your watch. I thought you were on the princess' side! I fear for Her Highness. What if someone is currently onto her?" Madam Geneviere voiced her mounting concerns.
"But I am," Count Yannik's voice rose as he felt misunderstood. He quickly composed himself and continued, "My wife's immaturity led her to act impulsively, and I'm not justifying her actions, but her fluctuating emotions blinded her to the potential consequences."
"Are you defending the countess? She exposed the princess's whereabouts. I will not allow you to forgive her!" Madam Geneviere's determination grew stronger.
"Madam, this is not about forgiveness. Despite my enduring love for her, her actions will not go unpunished. I will ensure that justice is served. However, there is a more pressing matter we need to address," Count Yannik explained.
Madam Geneviere agreed, "I have contacts within the Rotschild. They are staunch supporters of the previous monarch, so they should be willing to assist us. The princess is our only hope now."
"You're right. I will offer my assistance as well. This information is highly sensitive, so it's best if we meet with them personally instead of relying on messengers," Count Yannik suggested.
***
Count Yannik and Madam Geneviere decided to visit the members of the Rotschild family separately in order to save time, while relay riders were used to send messages to those who lived far away from Harnisse.
Madam Geneviere was given a carriage to travel faster, allowing her to return to Harnisse Castle. Over the course of three days, Madam Geneviere visited every reachable member of the Rotschild organization using the carriage.
However, upon her return to Harnisse Castle to share the updates, none of the members they had reached out to give a positive response. Their hesitation stemmed from the absence of the Principal, which instilled fear in them.
"I understand their fear. If it is revealed that they are aiding the former princess, King Georg might execute them," reasoned Count Yannik.
Frustrated by the perceived cowardice of the Rotschild members, Madam Geneviere, who was not well-versed in politics, expressed her anger.
"If they fear it so much, they shouldn't claim to be loyalists! I am ashamed to be associated with such cowards," she exclaimed, forcefully throwing a paper with the names of Rotschild members onto the table.
Mr. Reitz knocked on the door, bringing an urgent message from Duke Froehlich. Count Yannik's eyes widened as he read the contents, and he exclaimed, "He's willing to help us!"
Madam Geneviere's face lit up with hope upon hearing the good news. However, her excitement quickly turned to disappointment when Count Yannik revealed that Duke Froehlich needed more time.
Due to his wife's pregnancy and the risks involved, he couldn't immediately assist them while he was away for business.
"We can't wait," Madam Geneviere replied, expressing their shared sense of urgency.
"Indeed, time is not on our side," the count agreed, realizing the pressing nature of their situation.
They found themselves back at square one, unable to find someone who could act swiftly on behalf of the former princess. Then, a sudden thought crossed Count Yannik's mind. "Should we consider reaching out to the Black Rose Society?" he proposed.
Madam Geneviere considered the option carefully and voiced her concern, saying, "Isn't it risky? We can't be certain whose side the Black Rose Society is on. If they are aligned with the current monarch, they could expose our plans."
Acknowledging her point, Count Yannik nodded and replied, "You're right, there is a possibility of that. But given the circumstances, we have limited options. The Black Rose Society has a reputation for supporting justice. If we provide them with a detailed explanation of wrongful execution, there's a chance they will assist us."
Madam Geneviere pondered for a moment before finally agreeing, "I suppose we have no other choice. Let's contact them and hope for the best."
***
At the same time in Brasven, Mrs. Stringer personally delivered the unfortunate news to Yohana.
The housekeeper presented the newspaper to Yohana, expressing her condolences and conveying the count's advice to maintain a low profile for the time being.
Yohana read the entire article and comprehended the situation. Considering the countess' past actions, Yohana was not surprised by her treachery, even though it would ultimately bring disaster upon herself as well.
After Mrs. Stringer returned to Harnisse, Yohana instructed Wanda and Stella to remain vigilant. She emphasized the importance of double-checking all doors and windows to ensure they were securely locked before retiring to bed. They were to report any suspicious activity or sightings to her immediately.
But Yohana knew from experience that danger could strike at any moment.
Sometime past midnight, a loud noise jolted her awake. Her hand instinctively reached for the knife she had concealed under her pillow, ready to defend herself. Sharpening her senses, she searched for the source of the sound, which seemed to originate from outside her room.
Silently, she tiptoed toward the door, hoping that the intruder was unaware of the exact location of her room. It would be ideal if they became lost or grew weary before finding her.
However, to her dismay, the door to her bedchamber was opened from the outside. She poised her hand, prepared to strike the intruder, but they swiftly evaded her attack.
It became evident that the intruder had an accomplice. One of them seized Yohana's hands, causing the knife to slip from her grasp, while the other bound her hands and gagged her mouth.
They forcefully carried her out of the mansion, where two suspicious horses awaited their escape.
However, a horse neighed in the distance, growing nearer to the mansion, and abruptly snatched Yohana away from her captors.
She now found herself in the arms of an unknown blond-haired man, as they rode off toward an undisclosed destination. Despite her struggles, the man remained silent, offering no explanation as they galloped away.