Jared informed Duke Alway that he had been attacked by assailants identifying themselves as Waalthe, and that they had warned him to stay away from Olivier and the others.
Laurentz, after confirming Jared’s safety, had gone to instruct the knights to reinforce the town’s patrols as requested by the Duke, so he was not present. Jared suspected the Duke might have asked Laurentz to leave so he could have this conversation.
The Duke stared intently at the assailant, bleeding and lifeless, then exhaled deeply and spoke to Jared.
“Without a doubt, it was Waalthe.”
“Are you certain?”
“Unfortunately, I am. Waalthe is the foremost assassination organization on the continent. Some nobles hire them to eliminate those they deem unavoidable enemies.”
Jared couldn’t hide his surprise at the Duke’s words. At least, the Duke Alway he knew appeared to be a man unconnected to assassins. Yet, he claimed to know of them.
“Please don’t misunderstand, I have never commissioned them. However, I heard my grandfather once used them against someone he couldn’t handle. When I inherited the Dukedom, I was introduced to Waalthe as a contingency for emergencies.”
“Waalthe is targeting Olivier and Hannelore. Do you have any idea why?”
“Far too many reasons…”
The Duke clenched his fist, his expression like he had bitten into something bitter.
“Hanne is my main wife, but she has not borne any children other than Olivier. While I bear some responsibility, it is a serious matter for a noblewoman to be unable to bear a male heir.”
As Jared was also a noble, he understood this to some extent. However, he had felt somewhat detached from the issue, as he hadn’t expected to inherit the ducal title.
“I’ve decided that my successor will be chosen from the sons born to my consorts based on their merit, but this has led to animosity among my brothers. As with any noble family, there can only be one successor.”
“If it’s due to a succession dispute, why would Olivier and Hannelore be targeted?”
“There are those who resent Hanne maintaining her position as main wife, unable to give birth to an heir. They probably wish her dead.”
“That’s…”
Such a selfish and cruel assertion. What’s more, Jared disliked the idea of hiring assassins to kill someone rather than dirtying one’s own hands.
“I had Olivier and the others reside in a separate residence to make it seem to the consorts that Hanne, as the main wife, is being treated poorly. I’ve been trying to uncover who dislikes Hanne, but they’re not giving themselves away. However, to think they would go so far as to hire Waalthe… It’s unacceptable.”
With the Duke radiating a quiet but definite fury, Jared made a proposal.
“I will protect them.”
“Jared?”
“I’ve made up my mind. I will return to the capital city now and begin living together from today. I don’t intend to overestimate my abilities, but I can repel attackers like the ones who came today if I’m prepared.”
“Are you sure? This is our family’s problem.”
“It’s too late for that. I am Olivier Alway’s fiancé.”
Jared Murphy wasn’t particularly in love with Olivier Alway. He had met her few times, and he knew their engagement was largely nominal. Nevertheless, he wanted to protect Olivier and Hannelore.
“I’m sorry, thank you.”
The Duke bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude in few words.
“I’m glad you became Olivier’s fiancé. What she needs now is not someone like me, who cannot protect those he loves, but someone like you whom she can trust from the heart. I’m entrusting my beloved family to you!”
Accepting the Duke’s plea, Jared returned to the plaza with him and they decided to head back immediately. Laurentz was scheduled to return to the capital city with the Duke by carriage. Jared surmised that the Duke probably wanted to avoid traveling by wyvern, as he wasn’t in a hurry.
Jared once again exchanged farewells with the residents and promised Laurentz a reunion in the capital. Exchanging a nod with the Duke, they took off for the capital city on the back of a wyvern.
After a one-hour journey through the sky, he headed straight for Olivier’s mansion in his combat uniform.
“…Jared-sama?”
Trane, who was tending to the flowerbed in the garden, changed her expression slightly, her eyes widening minutely at Jared’s sudden appearance.
“Hello, is Olivier-sama here?”
“Yes, I’ll go and call her. Please come inside.”
As Trane turned to go back inside the mansion, Olivier herself appeared.
“Trane, Mother was looking for you– Oh, Jared Murphy?”
She spotted Jared standing in the garden and looked surprised.
“It’s been a while, Olivier-sama.”
“Yes, it has. I heard you were active again this time. I was surprised enough that you went to help the dragon species when you were supposed to go fight them, let alone that you’d deal with adventurers.”
“I’m still surprised myself. However, the dragon species was a very good child. Once the town is restored, please do go and see her. I’m sure you’ll like her.”
“I’ll consider it. By the way, you surprised me by showing up so suddenly. I knew you were returning, but I never expected you to come straight to me. Have you come to apologize for worrying your fiancé?”
Jared felt a sense of relief at her usual demeanor. At least, she didn’t seem to have been attacked like he had.
However, he noticed something now that he couldn’t before. There were traces of battle on the building. It had been repaired, but not perfectly. And when he concentrated, he could sense faint residual magical energy. Someone must have used magic on the premises within the last two weeks. Probably Trane.
He couldn’t sense much magic from her, but he could tell she was intentionally concealing it. Her movements, which were stealthy and precise, were those of someone trained, just as he had felt when they first met. If so, she was the only one in this mansion capable of combat. Olivier and Hannelore likely kept her without any other guards or retainers because they trusted Trane. Having her as a combatant was probably another reason as well. Trane was currently showing a guarded reaction to Jared’s unexpected appearance.
“No, I have something I need to tell you, Olivier-sama.”
“What is it?”
“We had an arrangement for me to live with you, didn’t we?”
“Yes. Did you perhaps get cold feet? But Mother is looking forward to it, so I won’t let you say you don’t want to live together.”
“I’m going to get my luggage now, so I’ll be moving in starting today.”
“–Huh?”
Perhaps because Jared’s answer was different from what she had expected, Olivier let out a foolish sound at the unexpected turn of events. Beside her, Trane’s expression changed, showing a rare and clear sign of surprise.
“W-what do you mean?”
“What do you mean? I was supposed to live with you, wasn’t I, Olivier-sama?”
“Y-yes, that was the plan. That you would move in once you were ready.”
“And so, I’ve made my preparations and my resolve. I’ll be moving in starting today.”
Jared stated clearly to a still dumbfounded Olivier.
