Jared, upon entering the Hagedorff Ducal Territory, was astonished by the sights visible from the carriage window.
“To be perfectly honest, I never thought that someone contemplating something as absurd as Progenitor revival would be so well-liked,” he admitted.
The rural scenery and the territory residents who came out to greet them. Not Jared, but the carriage bearing the Hagedorff Ducal Family crest and the coachman dressed in the armor of the Ducal Family Private Soldiers. Residents on their way to work stopped and waved. It was undoubtedly proof that Cassandra Hagedorff was reigning with good governance.
“The previous Hagedorff Lord was also a good person. Cassandra, may she be, governs the territory by following her father’s example.”
“Oh, really. It’s nice that all the territory residents are smiling, and it’s so peaceful.”
Though it would be a long time from now, when he retired from being a magician and stepped away from fighting, he wished to spend his days leisurely in a place like this countryside.
“A lord exists because of their territory residents. I heard that Cassandra’s siblings didn’t quite understand that. It’s also said that even if Cassandra did nothing, her siblings would have had a low chance of inheriting the Ducal Family.”
“Huh? Then, why?”
Jared questioned Cassandra’s motives for using her hidden magic to depose her siblings.
“Perhaps she wanted to dispose of siblings who would likely cause trouble later, or perhaps it was revenge for what happened in the past, or maybe both. I’ve never heard her true thoughts, so I can’t say for sure, but she certainly had ample motivation.”
“I see. But, thanks to that, the territory is peaceful now. In that case, does she intend to revive the Progenitor here?”
“At the very least, I don’t think she would do something so audacious in the Capital City. There’s a possibility of interference, and given how meticulously she tried to restrain Murphy, it would likely take place somewhere within her sphere of influence.”
Jared pondered. Would Cassandra, who was so beloved by her territory residents, really choose her own territory to revive the Progenitor? While the revival of the Progenitor might not necessarily cause harm, if there were people like himself trying to obstruct it, combat would ensue. Would she involve her territory and its residents in such a conflict?
He understood that fighting in the Capital City would be difficult due to the risk of her schemes being discovered. This was even more true with Dennis already operating behind the scenes. Still, he wondered if it was necessary to put the territory she had secured by deposing her own siblings at risk, a question that arose for the umpteenth time regarding Cassandra’s actions.
*Could it be that I’m misunderstanding something about the Progenitor?*
*Or is there no danger in what Duke Hagedorff intends to do?*
At present, the information from Rasmus was his only reliable source. He had received information about the Progenitor from Haru and about Cassandra’s movements from Dennis, but he questioned whether he could take everything at face value. This also applied to the Progenitor. For dragons like Haru who had fought in the past, the Progenitor was an enemy they never wished to see resurrected. Of course, Rasmus, as a direct descendant, also did not wish for its revival, but their reasons differed. The former wished to prevent strife, while the latter wanted the Progenitor to rest in peace. Both believed that the Progenitor’s revival would lead to conflict, but their feelings towards the Progenitor were entirely different.
“However, I also have my doubts.”
“Dennis?”
“If she intends to revive the Progenitor using someone as a vessel, then why would she go to the trouble of restraining you? Couldn’t she simply use herself as a vessel, and it would be done without anyone noticing?”
“That… is true.”
“Then, why didn’t she do that?”
“Rasmus also doesn’t know Duke Hagedorff’s exact reasons, but…”
“I believe that Lady Cassandra has some objective after reviving the Progenitor. Something she *must* do. Otherwise, she would have used herself to achieve her goal.”
Jared agreed. The moment she had detained Jared, it was tantamount to announcing her intention to involve someone. Everyone would be on guard. At first, he had considered it a diversion, but the more he thought about it, the more it felt incorrect.
“However, it is possible to take measures to prevent oneself from becoming a vessel, so even if Duke Hagedorff obtains the person she desires, it would still be difficult, I think.”
“Ultimately, since I haven’t heard anything directly from her, I’m just piling speculation upon speculation. It would be good if I could grasp the situation by speaking with the Wet Nurse.”
“Um, hypothetically, is there no worry about anything happening in the Capital City right now? I’d prefer not to be reacting to things after the fact.” With that wish in his heart, he asked Dennis.
He replied with a smile, “I have deployed my subordinates in the Capital City. Although their numbers are limited, I have also requested the cooperation of Tres Brauer and Adelina Bischof in advance, for surveillance of Lady Cassandra and to be ready to act immediately if necessary.”
He had indeed acted preemptively. Tres and Adelina were acquaintances of Jared, so they could be trusted. If anything were to happen in the Capital City, he could entrust it to them. Moreover, at his mansion, he had trusted family members like Pfeil and Rosa.
“Murphy, we have arrived at our destination.”
“Where is that?”
Visible from the carriage window was a mansion that appeared to be a villa built by a lake. However, despite being a villa, it belonged to the Ducal Family and was of a size rarely seen in the Capital City. The lake’s surface reflected the sun, and the surrounding mountains and trees gave a sense of coolness. Above all, it was quiet.
“It’s the Hagedorff Ducal Family’s villa, but its original function was lost a long time ago. It’s a mansion that Lady Cassandra’s mother received from the previous Duke.”
“She didn’t live in the main residence?”
“Cassandra used to go back and forth between the main residence and the separate residence, but her Ladyship rarely left the separate residence. Partially due to her weak physical condition, but also out of concern for what the other wives might do.”
“…Honestly, nobles.”
“Both you and I are nobles, though. I understand how you feel.” Dennis gave a wry smile. He knew it was wrong to sympathize with the person he was about to fight, but thinking of Cassandra’s childhood circumstances, he couldn’t help but consider extraneous matters.
“Murphy, you have not yet been appointed Court Mage, but please do your best to assist.”
“Of course. This is not something I can stand idly by on.” There were people with Progenitor blood, such as Olivier, Emilia, and Yeny. He himself inherited a portion of it. Therefore, he could not feign ignorance.
As they passed through the mansion’s gates, the carriage stopped quietly.
“The person you are about to meet is Lady Cassandra’s Wet Nurse.”
“Yes, I heard that earlier?”
“…Not only that, but she also served the country as the former First Seat Court Mage.”
“What?”
“Mage Clawens Dollt, who was known by the epithet ‘Shadow’ before me— she is my teacher.”
