7 Just who…? Part 2 (1/2)
It was a dire situation.
News had just arrived, mentioning that the butler Ian had shown the dagger to Count Stein.
It was originally thought that the issue of assassin's dagger had been taken care of, as it was nowhere to be found on the body. But, that was clearly not the case.
'The job must be completed...by today at the very latest, just to be safe.'
Lady Orelly, first lady of Iphelleta House.
Though it was not known to the world, her father was the head the Assassin Guild in secret.
If one were to mention the problem at hand...then it would be the fact that the Iphelleta House despised such people, and Orelly was now at risk of having her family's secret exposed.
What if this information were to be found out?
Then, the situation would get ugly.
The marriage between Orelly and Stein was purely for business purposes.
'If... If they find out the poison for Iris was from me...'
Orelly gulped audibly.
If word of this got out, then her fragile relationship maintained by her two sons would shatter completely.
She did not want to lose the man, Stein.
Definitely not to his concubine.
That was what she was most afraid of, rather than her secret being exposed.
”...-ther?”
'No, that cannot happen.'
”Mother!”
The second son of the House, Lloyd, was shaking her shoulders.
”Hm? What is it?”
”We were talking about Riley. Are you alright, Mother?”
There was worry shown on his face.
Perhaps it was due to his mother not looking too well.
”No, no. I am doing fine.”
”You seem quite sick.”
”It might be due to lack of sleep. What happened yesterday, was simply too much for me.”
Orelly lied as if she weren't aware of what was going on.
She hadn't revealed even to her sons that the body in front of her room was related to her.
”Even in death, he brings such harm to us. Of all places, to die in front of your room.”
Lloyd grumbled.
”Have some rest, Mother. I will stay by your side.”
How could she tell him that she is the daughter of a cruel assassin?
Impossible.
”No, there's no need. I'm more interested in our previous conversation. It was about Riley right?”
Orelly smiled back at her worried son.
”Ah, yes.”
Lloyd nodded.
”Apparently, Riley had a go with a sword yesterday.”
”Oh, Riley did?”
”It was before the body was found.”
Lloyd scratched the back of his head.
”Well... It was probably because of the poisoning that happened to Lady Iris. That seemed to be the reason. I guess the lazy child became quite enraged that time. Haha.”
”So? How was it?”
The edges of Orelly's eyes twitched, albeit faintly.
She was already well aware of the story, told to her yesterday by the hooded man.
But, hearing it from her son had a different feel to it.
”...It was abysmal.”
This time, she had a faint smile on her lips.
”Oh, is that so?”
This was it.
The proof that she was superior to the concubine Iris, that she should be the one who received the most love.
Iris's son was a pathetic, useless plebeian, while Orelly's sons were both able swordsmen.
This alone was enough to prove her presence in the House.
”Hoho, that's how it is.”
Orelly's eyes turned towards the windows.
Outside, she could see Riley sleeping on the apple tree in the garden.
It was as if the thought of learning swordsmanship was out of question.
***
Late afternoon in Iffa village.
For some reason, there were multiple carriages lined up within the village.
They all looked quite luxurious.
”What is it? Why is the 'Mythril Carriage' of the Tes Trade Guild here in the village?”
A villager asked, pointing towards the shiniest of all the carriages.
”Who knows?”
”Did they find a gold mine nearby?”
”As if it's a gold mine. If they actually did find one, I'll give you my wife.”
”How come the bet seems favourable to you?”
It didn't seem like any of the villagers knew the reason.
All of them had curious looks.
It was one of the biggest trade guilds on the continent.
The fact that the personal carriage of the guild's head was here was a big deal for the villagers.