Formerly, The Fallen Daughter of the Duke

54. Infiltration

Claire was expecting a morning seven days after she had fascinated Dion.

So far there has been no particular major move in the Royal Palace.

As always, the overly refreshing Dion was spending time in the Royal Palace rooms without returning to the separate residence of the Mead family in the Wang Dynasty. Even the Royal School was perfectly acquainted with Vik as a sidekick, and I didn’t make him suspect things were going exactly as the Mead family was aiming for.

And Veek, who visited Claire’s room through the window last night.

“The gathering of information is progressing, but there is no evidence to be the deciding factor. However, they think the Mead family has succeeded in sending spies close to the First Prince…. Well, it should be settled in a few days”

So much so that he said.

Claire lived with nervousness about what was going to happen, but it was true that her feelings were starting to loosen up just a little bit.

(Things are about to move, so Veek said he never went over to be cautious)

I change into a Royal School uniform and give myself protection as usual when I get up to date.

Even though information about Claire hasn’t gone to the Oswald Liu faction, it was only a matter of time before the Mead family could know that Claire was coming to the Royal School a year earlier than planned.

Looking ahead to that, Vike seemed to want Claire to have a constant lui as an escort until things settled, but Claire insisted. Because I want Vik’s own security to be thicker than that.

“Sophie, I’m going”

“Welcome aboard, ma’am”

Confirm again that the protection is applied and exit the outpatient chamber with the spine as a shan.

……

There was Oswald.

“Good morning, Miss Claire”

“… Good morning, Your Highness Oswald”

I was so surprised Claire was about to jump up, but I wouldn’t even let that happen. I smiled and gently pinched my skirt, greeting her like a lady.

Oswald had plenty of paperwork to see if he was about to go to the office. Second, the pen rolls off Oswald’s hand. Claire picked it up softly and gave it to Oswald.

The pen is stamped with a crest. Vike’s crest was inspired by the crown and sword, but Oswald’s was a simple one based on name and shield.

“Thank you, Miss Claire. You’re early this morning.”

Claire is horrified to learn that Oswald wasn’t ambushing herself with those words.

“Yes, there’s something I’d like to ask your teacher.”

Claire smiles nicely. The truth is, I was going to go to school early to borrow a collection of poems from Lydia, but Claire, who decided it was a formal conversation, responds unquestionably.

“Let’s take you to the front entrance.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. But my pick up is asking for the front of the royal palace, not the outhouse. It’s quite a distance, and you’ll be fine. Thank you for your concern.”

“… Today, the front of the royal palace doesn’t seem to be available. He said it was closed, including the gate, because of visitors.”

For a moment Claire looked cloudy with Oswald’s expression.

(Veek didn’t say that yesterday)

The alarm begins to sound in the back of my mind.

Fully rotate your head about how to cope with this tingling sensation. At the end of Oswald’s gaze walking next door was a familiar carriage that he put on the main entrance to the outhouse.

……

But it’s not the usual squire on the carriage. Furthermore, there was no one to open the door. Perhaps Claire doesn’t want to show you inside.

(Last night, Veek said it was hard to find any decisive evidence)

Claire knew she shouldn’t be on the invite. As an international student from the Noston Nation, I also know that careless standing behavior can annoy the Vikes.

But in the back of his brain came Dion’s words before he was fascinated.

“There’s too much difference in magic about you to erase, no matter what you think.”

That was enough to brave and thrust Claire, who wanted to protect Vik above all else.

“You were. Thank you for telling me.”

Claire has to admit that her voice never trembled, but she’s so nervous that she doesn’t feel her legs.

“Take care”

Oswald stops a short distance from the carriage and drops Claire off.

Claire looked back one step in front of the carriage, meeting Oswald, and then suddenly breathed and put her hand on the carriage door.

(I wouldn’t be afraid if I thought it was infiltration, not being taken against my will)

And open the door all at once.

“Good morning, Master Claire”

There she was, Deanna, Dion’s twin sister.

“Good morning. … oh, you’re in synergy today”

Claire smiles and cuts her chin so that she doesn’t understand what’s going on.

“You really don’t know anything. Yet…… poor child”

When Deanna said so, she handkerchiefed Claire’s mouth. Given that they use drugs, not magic, to put them to sleep, it is easy to imagine that a powerful person is not involved as an executor. Claire thought this kidnapping was too naive.

Naturally, the medicine doesn’t work on Claire, who is applying protection.

“What… do…”

(I’m glad it’s medicine. magically attacked, it could have bounced back)

With that in mind, Claire pretended to lose her mind.

I don’t know exactly how much time has passed. But after running not that far away, the carriage looked like it had arrived at some mansion. When the carriage stopped, there were signs of multiple humans around. Claire, who pretends to have lost her mind, twitches with a cloth and is transported into the mansion.

I felt like I was going up the stairs, and after a little going and coming, I felt like I had been placed on an unwrought, hard floor.

(Ouch…)

After a while, there is a chattering, locked sound, and the multiple footsteps we were together until just now turn away.

Claire opened her eyes softly after making sure no one was around her anymore.

“This place…”

It was a small room. There’s nothing else with a chair that’s not decorative. It just seemed like this room was being manipulated to control magic.

(This could easily be broken with a curse)

The curse I learned before at the Royal School was simply to untie the technique. But I have asked Lewis that by redeeming the color and amount of superior magic, the Spirit moves even in a space where magic itself cannot be used.

Claire also wanted to keep an eye on the situation just a little more to make sure she got the evidence before she moved on. But the fact that the Oswalds and Meads are moving so boldly means that there is imminent danger in Vik’s body as well. Maybe there’s not even a moment of respite.

(Spirit, the curse of this space in exchange for my magic)

When I filled my body firmly with magic and then chanted briefly, the sound of a kink echoed behind my ear. I think I’ve solved the operation safely.

(Now you can move around freely and gather evidence, and if you have to, you can return to the royal palace with metastatic magic)

It was all calculated behavior, but Claire relieves herself once again.

Next I wanted to break the door key too, but I’m not sure how to do it. When I put my hand on this thinking that I might have to break every door, the door knob turned easy for me.

(He opened it with me in “Uncurse”)

Grateful to the Spirit, it opens gently so that there is no sound. Looking down the hallway through a marginal gap, fortunately there seemed to be no lookout.

(Good. You don’t have a lookout because you think it’s magically controllable over there)

One of Claire’s shoes seems to have gone somewhere on the way to be carried twisted in a cloth. It would be better if I didn’t wear shoes and I didn’t hear a sound, Claire noticed so and took off the other shoe that was left, and it was time to leave the room.

―――――

“What the hell does that mean?”

Around that time, Vique was upset to learn that Claire was not yet in school at the Royal School.

“I was going to read a collection of poems with Master Claire, and I promised I’d be at school half an hour early this morning. But you’re not here yet. There’s always a solid Lady Claire… isn’t that strange, Your Highness”

Lydia is floating the color of her worries.

Vique, who instantly connects Lydia’s worries with her current situation, tells Dion with a harsh eye.

“Back to the royal palace. Can you get an escort, Dion?”

“Of course, Your Highness…. but I don’t think the destination is the Royal Palace”

“Then where?”

“This is a separate residence of the Mead family in this king’s capital. Actually, my sister sent me a letter this morning asking me to give Her Royal Highness the proper excuse to return to the mansion once. My sister was not very trusted by the owner, so I did not report it to Her Highness. … but I was wondering if this was too good a time”

“… you sure do”

“Lydia.”

“Yes.”

“Ask Keith at the Royal Palace for a letter. To the residence of Count Meade in the king’s capital, Ultz, to come as soon as possible.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lidia, who received her life, writes down the wording as Slasla and Vique said when she took out the paper. After I finish writing quickly, I fold the letter into four folds, put it in the palm of my hand, perform magic, and blow it all the way. Then the letter vanished in an instant.

By the time Lydia finished sending the letter, there was already no sign of Vik and Dion.

“Dear Claire…”

Lydia put her hands together and wished Claire well.

―――――

Worried about Vike and Lydia, Claire was free to move around the mansion. Security is really weak here for the infamous Mead family to imprison people.

It was upstairs that Claire was incarcerated, but I can’t even feel signs of servants and squire in this mansion, not just guard soldiers.

(Something’s wrong… I wonder if this’ kidnapping ‘really involves Count Meade)

As soon as evidence is found, Claire thinks as she fills her magic so that metastatic magic can be used.

……

Downstairs, there are signs of a ringing bell.

It was hard for someone to come up, and Claire rushed to hide in the nearest room.

“Is this…?

That room Claire accidentally jumped into was like a study.

There is no dust and it seems to be used from time to time. It is possible to bowl in with the owner of this room, but it is also likely that clear evidence will be found for that matter.

(Let’s do a little research on this room)

With that in mind, Claire opens the curtain slightly and looks out the window. This visitor seems like a lot of work. There are well-equipped knights in dozens.

(Maybe this is getting ready to have a coup. Perhaps we should return to the Royal Palace to inform rather than look for evidence)

When Claire started in a hurry, she found a familiar face in the center.

……

Dressed in an eye-catching appearance. It was Veek who was in command. Next door is Keith and Lewis, Donnie, and Dion hiding in the rear. He’s not necessarily here to help Claire, but at least this doesn’t bode well for a coup.

(Good…… you’re telling Vik the situation)

Claire, who was all over him as he stretched out as best she could, slipped her leg into the floor. All you have to do is find evidence in this mansion to back up the Mead family’s plans as soon as possible.

……

A piece of paper touches Claire’s hand as she sits up. If you look closely, that was a document with the same crest as what you saw this morning.

“There it is…!

Claire let her eyes shine.