The procession of the Viscount's entourage arrived noisily.
Unlike the last time when there were only a few knights and a few servants, this time, the carriage was surrounded by soldiers carrying flags with the Viscount's crest. Several knights on horseback stood at the front with imposing expressions, followed by several people resembling the Viscount's attendants.
However, what set his procession apart from the last time was not the scale. Cladwin and Nerys simultaneously smirked as they observed the Royal procession, which was positioned higher and further ahead than the Viscount's entourage.
"They have arrived."
"They have indeed."
Seeing the two people speak simultaneously without any prior agreement, the soldier, Talfryn, made a playful expression of disbelief. The others who did not understand the language quickly managed their expressions before anyone could see their faces.
Beyond Cladwin's office window, the chaotic Viscount's procession entering the castle gate could be seen. When Nerys attempted to get up, Cladwin immediately stopped her.
"No need to go out. It's unnecessary."
The disdainful 'unnecessary thing' referred, of course, to the Viscount and Adrian. Nerys thought there was no need to provoke the other party, but she decided to see what Cladwin was up to. What had he prepared for the despised fool of the Royal Family that every noble detested?
Cladwin raised his hand and called for Aidan. He gave a clear command.
"Arrest Taloxman. Leave him if he resists."
It's not like it's okay to kill him if he resists, right? Of course, it wouldn't be appropriate to kill another noble in front of the aristocracy, but Aidan was slightly confused as he was more accustomed to different orders. However, being faithful, he immediately went out to follow the command.
Nellis laughed to herself. The Marquis's previous visit was unofficial and implicit from the start, including his purpose, position within the system, and imprisonment and escape. This meant that depending on how one framed the logic, both sides could make completely different claims.
So, despite being in a position of having escaped, he was still able to proudly raise his flag and say 'I'll apologize' as he entered.
Cledwin seemed to be taking a clear stance from the beginning. The previous imprisonment was justified, and the Marquis shouldn't expect any special treatment.
A commotion broke out in front of the castle gate shortly after. A carriage stopped in front of the gate, and Eidan, accompanied by several silver knights, surrounded it, while the Marquis's knights guarded the carriage. After a few loud voices were heard from the office, the carriage door opened.
The first person to get out was the Marquis. Unlike when he came in the winter, he looked even more worn out than when he escaped in the summer. His luxurious clothes, which seemed to be inflated with air, weighed heavily on his frail old body.
A young man in his early 30s followed him out. He had dark golden hair, a haughty smile, and an extravagant outfit that didn't suit him. Nellis was familiar with him.
'Adrian Visto.'
Two outsiders were arguing with the Maindlandt people outside the window. Although Nellis couldn't hear the content due to the distance, the atmosphere seemed quite tense.
"A dog that's well-suited to the land of barbarians."
Nellis, who was watching the atmosphere outside, was startled by the sudden remark and turned to the side. Cledwin smiled and continued.
"Does the owner being a monster mean the dog gets treated well? Do you want to come to our house, puppy?"
The tone of the conversation was familiar. It was Adrian's.
Nellis realized that Cledwin was repeating the conversation from outside to her.
"If you insult my lord, I won't forgive you. Why forgive? If I don't forgive, what will happen? Will you point a sword at the imperial family? Are you kindly telling me that this is a land of rebellion? Hmm?"
The low-ranking officials in the office were shocked, their mouths agape. They had never heard anyone speak so directly and rudely about Maindlandt before.
The person being called a "monster," Cledwin, was calm and collected, his expression unchanging. He shrugged his shoulders.
"Eidan might raise a rebellion against the imperial family today."
"Don't joke. It's not possible now."
Did he mean that it would happen later? The low-ranking officials were unsure whether to take their superior's bold statement as a joke and laugh it off. As Nellis tried to stand up, Cledwin gestured to her.
"It's okay. He's not someone who would draw his sword without an order."
Indeed, Eidan was not the type to simply listen to insults against his family.
Nellis inferred the circumstances of Adrian's joining this group. It was clear. The Tiphian Marquis, who wanted to get rid of the annoying Adrian, had met with Cledwin, and the Marquis, who was afraid to come alone, had accepted their request and received more bribes as an excuse.
'In reality, I was the one who wanted to come here the most.'
Camil, who had lost many valuable informants, wouldn't back down like this. Adrian's plan was to use the Marquis to stir up trouble and distract people, and then have his own informants, who had been brought from the Silver Moon, infiltrate the castle.
From Adrian's perspective, it would be undesirable to let the Marquis, who was a useful tool for causing chaos, be arrested as soon as he entered. So, he would try to provoke his opponent and draw them into his pace, but Eidan was not the type to fall for such provocations.
"A man who's not afraid of anything."
Nellis sincerely admired him. In her previous life, she had seen people who hated Adrian, despised him, and cursed him, but Cledwin was the first person who didn't care about him at all.
Indeed, the commotion outside was soon resolved. The Tiphian Marquis and Adrian left the courtyard, surrounded by Maindlandt's knights.
Cledwin asked lazily, "So, is there something I can do for you?"
It was unlikely that Cledwin was unaware of the Marquis's and Adrian's visit being part of Nellis's plan. Nellis smiled brightly at him.
"Trust me."
"Is that all you're going to do? What else?"
"That's enough."
The word "trust" was deeply etched in her heart. Nellis turned away from Cledwin, and soon the "guests" entered the office through the already open door.
First, Eidan entered, followed by Adrian and the Tiphian Marquis. Since the Marquis's and Adrian's knights remained in the courtyard, the two of them were completely surrounded by Maindlandt people.
Naturally, their expressions were quite unpleasant. Adrian, who had a frustrated expression, was greeted calmly by Nellis. Cledwin didn't even glance at them.
"It's an honor to meet you."
Adrian's expression changed to one of surprise as soon as he saw her eyes. His gaze was fixed on her like a gemstone. On the other hand, the Marquis glared at Cledwin with hatred in his eyes, but Nellis only glanced at him briefly.
"This is amazing!"
Adrian soon returned to his usual dark expression and clapped his hands. He even had the leisure to scrutinize Nellis's facial features.
"This, and she's a beauty I never expected to see."
Despite being a member of the imperial family and Nellis being of low birth, she was currently representing Maindlandt and receiving him. The inappropriate remark and rude tone made the Maindlandt people's eyes turn cold. It was a remark that could make the atmosphere even colder than before.
However, Nellis smiled brightly and responded calmly.
"That's a difficult thing to say."
She didn't add a phrase to express gratitude for the imperial family's praise. Diplomatically, it meant "What are you doing, evaluating me?"
Adrian understood the malicious intent behind her words. He briefly stiffened his face, then burst out laughing.
"Good, good! Don't think too much about it. I'm just here because the Marquis asked me to come. We should get along well without any friction between noble families, right?"
So, he was saying that he would mediate between the wrongdoer and the victim? That they should get along well as noble families?
To someone who knew about the Marquis's past deeds, including the fake Catherine Haricot incident, his words sounded ridiculous. Therefore, despite the many people present in Cledwin's office, there was no one who showed a positive reaction.
However, Adrian didn't care. He was used to getting such reactions wherever he went.
"Ah, ah, Cledwin."
The Marquis, excited to see Cledwin again, stuttered and called out to him. Cledwin finally looked up and saw the Marquis.
"A fugitive who returns on their own is rare. I'll give you credit for your courage, but I'll also keep a closer eye on you."
Cledwin's gaze was like a cold, gray stone. The Marquis briefly froze in place, gasping for breath.
A sigh escaped the Marquis's lips.
"You, you, you... seeing, seeing, and not reflecting, ah, ah, ah..."
"Has he lost his mind?" The Maindlandt people simultaneously doubted their ears. Who was reflecting on whom? Meanwhile, Adrian wore a carefree expression.
"We're already fighting, so let's take a break. I came here to mediate, so think about my face too. Let's take a rest in the best room, and we'll slowly discuss the rights and wrongs from tomorrow. Okay? We'll slowly figure it out."
Did he think this was a hotel? Moreover, they hadn't even agreed to mediation, so what rights and wrongs was he talking about? The Maindlandt people's expressions became even more distorted than before.
The only ones whose expressions didn't change were Cledwin and Nellis. Nellis knew that the Marquis had found an excuse to come to Maindlandt because of her hint.
She inferred that Cledwin, excluding the "hint" part, would have similar suspicions.
"He must have thought that I would come to eliminate the evidence."
The Baroque pearl ring of the former Grand Duchess was still well-preserved in the western palace. It was just in Nellis's bedroom, not the former Grand Duchess's.
"Adrian will make up any excuse. ... Let him do as he pleases."
Nellis's eyes flashed coldly for a moment.
❖ ❖ ❖
"Wow, this is something."
Adrian exclaimed carelessly.
The White Swan Castle, which had been inhabited by internal people for over ten years, had recently been hosting an unprecedented number of guests. The Tiphian Marquis, the fake Catherine, and then the McKinnon trading company people... So, the guest rooms were spotlessly clean, and snacks and tea were served without any inconvenience.
However, Adrian was used to receiving comfortable treatment wherever he went. Even if the other party cursed him with their eyes, he didn't care. So, his exclamation wasn't about the elegant guest service.
"I thought he was a country bumpkin, but he's like a noble lady in high society. He doesn't even try to hide it. He's as cold as the imperial princess."
He wasn't alone in this room. Eun-wol, his loyal servant, who had followed him in disguise as a servant, wore an uncomfortable expression.
Adrian smiled slightly as he looked at him. It seemed amusing to him that his stiff face showed a reaction.
Eun-wol, who was thorough and meticulous, didn't like Adrian's carefree and arbitrary behavior, and Adrian knew it. But what did it matter?
As long as he had a capable tool that did as he was told, that was enough.
"The Tiphian Marquis, it's unlikely that the old man came all the way here to apologize to him. The Grand Duke wouldn't have imprisoned a noble family just because of a single actress. There must be some grudge between the two of them."
Both the Marquis and the Viscount had told Adrian to "help them apologize to the Grand Duke in Maindlandt," but they had hidden their true intentions. It had taken them a long time to get here, but Adrian was interested in the fact that they had failed to deceive him.
Adrian wore a cruel smile.
"There's a lot to learn. Find out where the pretty one lives, what level of protection she has, and what the old man's goal is. I don't know exactly what the old man is planning, but it's clear that it will harm these barbarians, so let's help them accordingly."
"I understand."
Eun-wol bowed his head and quietly disappeared.