5. Secret

Recently, Rupert has been in good and bad shape.

First of all, when Noel and Leah returned to the mansion, the annoying worries that had been filling his head were resolved.

Almost for the first time in his life, he was trying to figure out what emotional satisfaction was.

If there is a problem, the impulse from the curse has intensified in the aftermath.

He brainwashed himself as usual.

‘I need someone to kill.’

He can’t kill anyone carelessly.

He now needs a criminal who deserves to die.

Fortunately or unfortunately, his estate was very peaceful. No one can be executed.

‘I don’t think it’s possible to suppress it with only monsters. Should I start a war of territory?’

Perhaps the notoriety has spread widely, these days, as in the past, there are no aristocrats who walk through the territorial wars with a young marquis born as an illegitimate child.

To start a war, he must be the one who initiates it.

‘I don’t like it.’

These days, killing people is even more disgusting.

It’s also terrifying for him to find good reasons to kill others.

Sometimes, the image of Noel and Leah caught his attention.

When these two people come to mind, he realizes just how selfish he is.

In the end, he made them come back with warm words.

‘There is a possibility that this place could be a dangerous place for them.’

He had a vague feeling that he might regret it someday.

The day will come when he will think it’s the biggest mistake of his life to bring them back here.

‘I’ll have to put an end to my self-reflection right now.’

I should be fine until I find a way to break the curse. I can’t just become a madman.

Rupert decided to put aside his familiar self-hatred.

If I am lucky, I may find a criminal who deserves death even in the vassal’s estate.

“....”

Then, in the hallway in front of the office, he sensed someone’s presence.

He could tell who it was just by the sound of footsteps.

“Noel, come in.”

He said before Noel in front of the door even knocked. Noel paused and turned the doorknob gently.

Noel poked her head through the gap in the door.

“I was about to knock, but I was surprised.... How did you know?”

“Because everyone walks differently.”

She had a ‘That’s possible’ expression and didn’t ask anymore.

“....”

Rupert was comfortable with Noel’s attitude, yet he was puzzled.

Ordinary people will react more differently whether they are admiring, afraid, or curious.

However, no matter what kind of appearance he showed, she just turned around and rarely asked deeply.

As if it were natural to do so.

‘Do you know something?’

No, it can’t be.

Very few people know about his condition in the first place.

But sometimes Noel’s attitude was like a person who knew a lot but tried to pretend not to know.

That kind of confused him. But since he has no evidence, he has no choice but to be skeptical.

Noel approached the desk.

“Rupert, the knights are preparing for training, is there something going on?”

“No, it’s just regular joint training.”

“Is that so....”

These days, she is very interested in the Knights’ schedule.

Even Rupert couldn’t figure out the reason for this.

He doesn’t know if it’s related to the internal affairs of the mansion. But the knights had nothing to do with her.

“Why are you interested in the Knights?”

Noel turned around.

“There are many people in the Knights who don’t like me because of my past mistakes. I was hoping to find a way to get closer.”

This is half a lie. She’s having a hard time, too.

She can’t just say, ‘I had a dream that some of your knights died, and it’s like a precognitive dream!’

“It’s okay if you don’t care. There’s no one stupid enough to be openly hostile to you. And Aren and Hillis are nice to you.”

“I care. Besides, ‘only’ the two are nice to me.”

“I think Sir Bert would be in your favor.”

Probably right. Rupert remembered his subordinate not long ago, who had been nagging him to take care of his family.

“Sir Bert cares for you, and he only treats me politely.”

If the knight commander behaved without basic manners toward his master’s wife, it was Rupert’s honor to fall.

If other people see it, they will say that the hierarchy is a mess.

“Of course, he has a broad mind, so he pretended to have forgotten my past mistakes. I am grateful.”

Hearing that answer, Rupert looked at Noel with some curiosity.

“Did you get it all right?”

“I am not stupid.”

“I didn’t treat you like a fool. I just didn’t expect you to pay so much attention to your surroundings.”

“You trusted me. I have to show enough results for that.”

Once she had a job, she was the kind of person who did her best.

“The Raven Knights are like your arms. I don’t think it’s possible to play the role of the Marquis’ wife perfectly while they are being hostile towards me.”

“I don’t want perfection.”

Noel chuckled.

“Then shall I do it the way I used to? Screaming, making sure no one comes near—”

He shook his head.

“Okay, okay, please be perfect. I have high expectations. You said you would be a good partner.”

While fiddling with the papers, he opened his mouth dissatisfied.

“You said you didn’t like the word partner.”

“Yeah, it was.”

She is not the type to pass up this opportunity.

“Then how would you describe our relationship in words?”

“....”

‘You’re exercising your right to remain silent?’

She was a little upset with Rupert.

You’re not going to play hard to get, are you? And if you have a crush on someone, shouldn’t you express it appropriately?

‘Was I really mistaken?’

His attitude was uncertain, so this one was confusing as well.

‘I need to know exactly to decide whether I will play the role of a cupid in the middle, or if I will change the original work!’

The curse on him was a threat to her, and she wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible.

knock knock.

Then, a knock sounded.

“Marquis, may I come in?”

It was Ordin’s voice.

“Come in.”

Noel groaned inwardly.

‘It’s great timing.’

As a result, this topic could not be continued.

Ordin, who opened the door, looked inside and paused.

“The Marchioness is here too.”

She laughed awkwardly.

“I have a business to do.”

This fastidious aide still didn’t like her, and he didn’t particularly hide it.

“I just received an important report, Marquis.”

Noel understood that to mean that he wanted her to leave. Ordin didn’t trust her yet, so he was worried the information would leak.

Rupert replied.

“Just say it.”

The aide glanced at Noel next to him for a moment.

“There is a problem in the Delphine estate.”

“What’s going on?”

“The warehouse where the wheat was stored exploded.”

Rupert frowned.

“Damn it.”

And Noel held her breath at the word explosion.

The Ainel estate developed mainly for commerce rather than agriculture because the land was barren, and food was supplied through trade.

The vassal, Viscount Delphine, was one of the main food trade destinations. If there is a disruption in wheat production there, it will also affect the Ainel estate.

Rupert, who couldn’t be unaware of this, read the documents seriously.

“It was done on purpose. The culprit is a wizard.”

“I think they used explosive magic.”

“Anyway, I’ll have to tell Sir Laurent.”

Laurent. A young knight’s face flashed through Noel’s head.

‘That’s right, his full name was Laurent Delphine.’

He was the third son of Viscount Delphine and the youngest member of the Raven Knights.

‘It’s an incident that happened in my own family, so of course, I have to tell you.’

Words were floating around in her mind.

Explosion, Raven Knights, Wizard.

No matter how much she thought about it, it probably had something to do with her dream.

In the end, Noel had no choice but to intervene.

“Can I read it too?”

“No–”

“It’s up to you.”

Interrupting Ordin, who was trying to stop her, Rupert handed her the documents.

“Thank you.”

She thanked him and read the documents.

‘Three people died.’

It was Viscount Delphine’s nephew, who was checking the warehouse, and two servants who had assisted him.

‘A warehouse of wheat was blown away, and traces of magic were found there.’

The culprit, the wizard, has already been caught and detained.

Noel read the evidence of why the wizard was the culprit and handed over the documents.

“Thank you. Too bad. I need to let Sir Laurent know soon.”

Looking at her slightly stiffened expression, Rupert asked.

“Is there anything strange about it?”

She frowned with a smile.

“I do not know.”

There were some doubts, but she needed time to organize her thoughts.

“Thanks for letting me read the documents, I’ll give it to Sir Laurent myself.”

Noel came out of the office before the two men responded.

***

Laurent grimaced slightly when his eyes met mine.

He does not greet me first, the Marchioness, and openly expresses hostility.

I knew immediately what he thought of me.

But such a rude attitude could not last long.

Because when I told him what happened in his hometown, he turned white and ran to his office.

‘Rupert will tell you the details.’

Among the dead was the nephew of Viscount Delphine. Laurent is the third son, so he must have been close.

“You are here, madam.”

The training took a short break, and Hillis approached.

“He’s not a bad guy.”

I guess he just saw Laurent’s attitude. He immediately made a protective remark.

I chuckled.