After 10 days carriage trip, Killian and Edith arrive at Duke Ludwig's residence. However, contrary to what they expected to be greeted happily after meeting for the first time in a long time, the state of the mansion was so mess.
"Killian! Edith!"
Only the Duchess greeted them, and she looked very worried despite to see her long-awaited grandson. it was natural she looked like that In this situation, when the Imperial Knights occupied the mansion and were searched every room.
"Mother! What is happening?"
"(Sob). . . .I don't know what going on either, Killian."
Finally the tears that she been holding back started to fall.
"Lizzy… has been arrested, accused of committing the crime of insulting the royal family."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Did you know that the Marquis of Theroux lost his youngest child five years ago?"
"If you say Marquis Theroux's youngest son, didn't they once say that they raised thier child on their estate since his young because he was weak?"
The Duchess shook her head.
"Everyone knows that, but I heard that child was actually kidnapped and they keep it secret for some reason, but Lizzy. . . .find the child and bring him back."
"Then the royal family should reward her, why would that be a crime to insult the royal family?"
"Sob. . . .because the child is . . fake."
"What?"
Not only Killian, but Edith also felt like something hit the back of her head.
"No. How could that happen. . . ."
"That because the child Lizzy brought knows things that only Marquis Theroux's child should know, but what's more worse is it's was Lizzy who taught him that."
"What?"
"We didn't even knew where Lizzy know about that. . . . So now your father and brother have been taken to the palace, and the imperial knights are investigating the mansion."
It was a heavy situation that the dukedom was left reeling. At that moment, something quickly crossed Edith's mind.
'Now that I think about it, the last episode of the original story is about the emperor missing nephew have been found, wasn't it? Don't tell me, she tried to force the episode happen like in the original?'
The last episode of the story which i had forgotten for a while, came to mind. However, since the power of the original story has been destroyed, it is impossible the story would continue like it was. I became more convinced about it when heard the story about Lizzy meeting the crown prince from Linan. In the original, Lizzy's status changes after the Crown Prince meets her and introduces her to his allies.
However, this time the Crown Prince didn't even introduce Lizzy to his allies and because of that she was scolded by Duke Ludwig.
'She already knew that, the original story had already been destroyed. But yet, she still can't let go of her obsession with the original?'
Edith unknowingly grabbed the back of her neck.
'You idiot! You should think about it carefully, what kind of doubt you're going to face if you failed!'
She already knew it was a matter that the royal family keep it secret, but yet she boldly brought in the fake boy. Of course the royal Family would naturally think that it was Lizzy behind the kidnapping incident.
"This is all because of me. It was all my fault."
"Mother! Why did you say that!"
"I shouldn't have raised Lizzy like that. I gave her everything she want because i felt sorry for her, but I think that's what ruined her."
The Duchess shivered in pain. But Edith knew they couldn't do that. Because they were character exists to give everything for Lizzy. Of course they shouldn't completely be blamed.
Lizzy's control over them must have weakened after she met all the exemption conditions, why she didn't realize something was off about Lizzy back then. . . .
'Well, I didn't even know that she was the original author until the end. So who should I blame?' She couldn't help but sighed.
It was very easy to judge things after everything has happened. However, it wasn't easy to doubt someone who has lived with them and loved her like they own family for a long time.
At the same time another carriage came and stopped outside in front the mansion gate. Since the carriage has imperial emblem engraved on it, the imperial knight guarding the outside of the mansion moved immediately and opened the carriage door, the person who got off the carriage is Marchioness Theroux with a cold face on her face and Princess Catherine with embarrassed expression.
"Marchioness Theroux!" Duchess Ludwig hurriedly wiped her tears and greeted her, but Sierra's face was extremely cold.
"I will be supervise the Duke's mansion investigation. I'm sure you understand that, right?"
"Of course. But are you alright? I heard you're not feeling well."
"I afraid if i just lie down i'll get really sick."
She gripped her fists very tightly and spoke. "Does it make sense that Duke Ludwig and the Duke's heirs don't know what Mrs. Lizzy knows? No, I think Mrs. Ludwig would also say that you don't know about that either, right?"
"I swear to God, we really didn't know about that. But... it's our fault for not knowing that Lizzy would do something like that. I'm really sorry, ma'am."
Upon receiving an apology from Duchess Ludwig, who looked as pale as herself, Sierra could only grit her teeth and tremble, unable to utter any words.
At that time, a servant who was unloading their stuff from the carriage approached Edith and asked what he should do. Edith came out of the mansion and approached the carriage to check on the situation. Fortunately they hadn't unloaded the luggage much.
"Stop for now until the Imperial Knights' investigation is over."
Edith approached Daniel, who standing in daze next the carriage, while the servants who heard her order reloaded some of their luggage back into the carriage.
"I'm sorry that you had go through this as soon as you come to the capital, Daniel. Are you okay?"
Edith thought Daniel was surprised by the Imperial Knights investigation, but Daniel shook his head.
"No. Rather. . . . I was so grateful, because my wish come true. Thank you ma'am."
"Your wish?"
"There's someone I really wanted to see once before I left to Ryzen with you. That's enough for me, now I could leave to Ryzen comfortably."
At those words, Edith looked around. There were many imperial knights and servants of the mansion walking around, so she couldn't tell who Daniel was talking about.
"If you tell me who it is, I'll arrange a place for you to meet them."
"No. They won't wanted to see me. So it's okay."
The boy's eyes, which were full of bravery a moment ago, were now filled with deep sadness.
"Alright, I won't ask anymore. There's nothing to do now, so let's go in and get something to eat. Follow me."
Edith entered the mansion with Daniel who looked like he was about to shed tears. As they entered, Killian, who was standing next to the Marquis and Duchess, approached.
"How Daniel?"
"I stopped the them to unloading our luggage, and Daniel looks very tired. So i want to give him some warm milk and cookies."
"He must be so surprised."
Seeing Daniel's stiff and bowed his head, Killian also felt sympathy for him. He was a boy who lived on the streets, so he might be afraid of the imperial Knight. Killian nodded his head and when Edith was just about to take Daniel away.
"Wait a moment. That boy, who is he?"
Sierra asked sharply. The fact that boy has a blonde hair and has a same age as the boy Lizzy had brought, it seemed to raise Sierra's suspicions.
"This boy is our errand boy. He seemed surprised by the knight, so I wanted to give him some warm milk."
However, Sierra's suspicions don't seem to go away despite Edith's explanation. She approaches Edith and the boy. As she approached, Daniel lowered his head further and hid behind Edith back.
"Are you also planning to tell this child various stories about the Theroux family?"
"Huh? That's impossible. We just met Daniel yesterday."
"yesterday?"
"Yes. He almost got hit by our carriage yesterday, he said that he had nowhere to go and needed to find a job, so we decided to take him to Ryzen later. . . . Oh no, wait a minute, madam!"
Edith hurriedly tried to stop her, but Sierra quickly pulled the collar of the shirt behind Daniel's neck, who lowering his head. At first glance there's a small red mole that looked like a butterfly shape on the nape of Daniel's neck.
"He's scared! He has nothing to do with this!"
"The child is afraid! This kid has nothing to do with this!"
Edith held Daniel in her arms, who held tightly on the hem of her skirt and tried to hide himself further, she tried to protect him from the Marchioness. But Sierra's expression was strange.
"Could it be that . . . he's Johan? No, that's not possible . . ."
"I'm. . . . Daniel."
The boy answered slowly without raising his head.
"Your name is Daniel?"
"He didn't give us his real name, so we named him with that."
Edith answered while still hiding Daniel in her arms. Perhaps because he felt safe in Edith's arms, Daniel secretly looked at the Marchioness.
"No, no way! The mole on the nape of his neck. . . !"
"Madam!" Sierra suddenly ran up to the boy and wrapped her hands on Daniel cheek.
"Johan! Johan is you, right?"
Edith tried to stop Sierra, but she didn't know how such strength could come out of her slender body, she faced Daniel without backing down at all.
"I'm -I'm not Johan. I'm Daniel."
Daniel still protested, freeing himself from Sierra's grasp. However, Sierra's eyes widened as she looked at Daniel's face, as if surprised for some reason.
"Johan. . . ."
Her tears welled up. However, before she could say anything else, Sierra collapsed.
"Madam! Wake up madam!"
Only when Edith let go her hand from Daniel and supported Sierra's body, Daniel turned his gaze back to Sierra and screamed loudly, he was shocked to see Sierra collapse unconscious.
"Mother!"
As Sierra collapsed Killian, Duchess, and Catherine rushed towards her and their eyes widened at the scream. But Daniel clung to Sierra as if he didn't see anything around him.
"Mother! I'm sorry mother! Sob, mother. . . ."
As if that wasn't enough, Daniel grabbed Edith's sleeve and begged. "Please save my mother! I'll do everything, so please save my mother!"
Edith seemed to have lost her mind.