"What do you want, Young Master Zephyr?" The playful tone vanished from Duchess Maria's voice, replaced by a profound seriousness.
Her eyes bore into me, revealing a desperation that mirrored my own just moments ago.
"These two, and also you, will open this letter once I've left the duchy. Those are my conditions." I stated firmly.
I was well aware that Maria couldn't harm me due to Luinera's protection, and her own guardian spirit had likely informed her of its presence.
The worst she could do was attempt to seize the letter, even if it meant risking half of her Duchy.
Guardian spirits were known for their destructive capabilities, obliterating a twelve-kilometer radius upon the death of their host. It was a severe form of self-defense.
"But how can I guarantee that the contents of this letter are true, and that you're not deceiving me?" Maria's eyes were calculating, weighing the pros and cons of her decisions.
Leaving Elsa, whom I desperately sought, behind without gaining anything in return would not be wise for her.
"I will swear an oath to the Goddess of Truth," I replied confidently. "In this letter, all the information is true and verified. If any piece of information is incorrect, I will die on the spot."
A faint smile played on my lips, causing both Isabella and Maria to react with shock. Even the golden bird within me flickered, perhaps reprimanding me for such a reckless declaration.
I didn't care; I continued, "Of course, the only information contained in this letter is the name of the person who killed your father."
As those words left my mouth, the temperature in the room seemed to rise, and Maria's eyes burned with a fiery intensity. Without hesitation, she accepted, saying, "I accept it; give me the letter now, and you can leave."
"Let's go, Isabella and Elsa," I said, walking out of the room without waiting for the mother and daughter to join me.
The Duchess would undoubtedly ensure they were removed from her presence due to the oath she'd taken not to read the letter. As expected, it was quite easy when you knew the future.
As the three of us reached the carriage, Isabella held her daughter tightly, her protective instincts fully awakened.
She declared, "I will not let you harm my daughter. As soon as the Duchess reads the letter, I will return to the Duchy."
"Let's get inside the carriage first. Help me!" I called for the servants to assist me in boarding the carriage, which creaked slightly but held.
As we settled inside the carriage, Isabella held her daughter closely and comforted her.
The girl's face was filled with worry and confusion as she stared at me and her mother, sensing the tension in the air.
"Mother..." Elsa began hesitantly.
"Don't worry, my child. Once the Duchess has read the letter, we will come back, okay?" Isabella reassured her daughter with a gentle smile, full of motherly affection.
"Hahaha... Miss Isabella, why are you making promises you can't keep?" I laughed in a manner befitting a villain, watching as the two pitiful individuals awaited their fate.
"What do you mean?" Isabella glared at me, her expression now a mix of confusion and anger.
"You know whose name is mentioned in the letter, Miss Isabella." I narrowed my eyes and grinned slightly, testing to see if she was truly as clever as I had thought.
I watched as her face contorted in shock, and she clutched her daughter to her chest, beginning to cry.
"No, no, no! It can't be. He won't leave us alone even after his death. My dear daughter, I'm so sorry," Isabella murmured amidst her sobs.
Elsa, on the other hand, was not pleased with my role in this situation.
She shot me a fiery glare and yelled, "What did you do to my mother?"
"No, Elsa, stop it! Thank you, Young Master, for saving my daughter's life," Isabella interjected, her tone sincere and full of gratitude.
"No problem. In exchange, Isabella, I want you to become my aide.
I need your intellect," I stated firmly, aware that suggesting anything else would only complicate matters further, and the little girl might take it as an offense.