3. What Will This Hand Choose?
THE day after her confrontation with Clovis, Alicia visited Sheraford to check the region’s border defenses. Usually, Clovis would have accompanied her on such a trip, but since he had a prior arrangement with the Marquis of Rozen to check on the quality of porcelain to be shown to Erdal’s Ist Company, she went without him.
In his stead, Chief Adviser Nigel, together with the commander of the knights of the Imperial Guard and adviser to the southern knight division, Robert, were with her. Nigel and Alicia seldom traveled together, but since national defense was an important issue, it was natural that the king’s right-hand man would want to make the trip himself.
Once in Sheraford, District Commissioner Dan Dreyfus and Acting Branch Chief Daniel Sutherland joined them. They made an impressive group for an impromptu visit, but it also showed how important Riddhe’s letter was.
The inspection proceeded smoothly. In the past six years, the forces guarding the border had shaped up well under Riddhe’s leadership, and they had plenty of stockpiles of food and items in case of emergencies. The group quickly determined that the troops here were ready to be mobilized immediately should anything happen.
If Chancellor Yggdrasil was really the mastermind behind everything, then it was essential for border defenses to remain extra vigilant. A meeting was held with Robert and the commander of the southern knight division to discuss the details, and it was then that a knight guarding the checkpoint into Erdal came rushing in.
Envoys from Erdal had arrived at the border, bearing the message that Riddhe Sutherland had been imprisoned as a traitor.
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A while back…
When Egdiel Castle had been busy preparing for the Star Festival, Riddhe Sutherland, sent as a special ambassador to Erdal, began his investigation from his base of operations at Foreign Minister Crowne’s mansion. Of course, he couldn’t go around asking questions, so he had to gather clues in secret.
“If only my arrival had upset the mastermind and made him send an assassin. Things would’ve progressed much quicker that way,” Riddhe grumbled as he got dressed for the day.
“I’d much rather not have such trouble,” Albert, a servant serving House Sutherland, replied. “I wouldn’t know how to answer to everyone back home if anything were to happen to you, Master.”
Albert was the only servant Riddhe brought with him to Erdal. It was a recognition of Albert’s efforts during the investigation into Loid’s case and because he was an important witness who knew the situation intimately.
Officially, Empress Elizabeth was the only one who knew Riddhe’s true purpose in Erdal, though others might have guessed as much. Either way, Albert was the only one Riddhe could speak openly and honestly with.
Albert sighed. Perhaps he understood the sentiment behind Riddhe’s words. “Her Highness Princess Alicia might have gotten us in, but our hands are still tied. We can’t even be sure if we can trust Foreign Minister Crowne.”
“Humph. If the foreign minister is the mastermind, he won’t attack us in his own mansion. Our enemy knows that the empress and Princess Alicia have joined forces, so they won’t do anything dumb to raise suspicion.”
“…Then, the man with the scarred left hand. You’re starting the investigation from there, aren’t you, Master Riddhe?”
“Of course. That’s why I brought you along.” Grabbing the decorative cane that once belonged to his father, Riddhe smiled and stepped outside. “Come on, Al!”
The man with the scarred left hand… That was the Erdalian informant who visited the Sutherland mansion in secret to collude with Loid. When Loid was assassinated, the informant had made himself scarce. Even now, nobody knew where he’d gone.
According to the servants who had seen the man, he always wore a leather glove on his left hand, even indoors. Albert came to know the reason by accident. Once, the man spilled his tea and had to remove the glove. A large burn mark scarred the skin beneath.
Now, the scar was their only clue to track down the man. Loid’s assassin did not have it, which meant he was probably still alive somewhere. Even if they couldn’t catch him, they might be able to gather information that could lead them to discover who sent him.
With that in mind, Riddhe listed several companies as places he’d like to visit on inspection.
The Sutherland servants had shared that the spy had first come to the mansion under the guise of a merchant. It was only after several visits that they noticed something felt off and concluded the man was actually a secret informant.
Unfortunately, no one remembered the exact name of the company the informant had used, though they knew it was an Erdalian one. If the man had used the company name as part of his disguise, there was a chance that a connection was there.
Thus, Riddhe used his position as Branch Chief of Sheraford to investigate several large Erdalian companies that traded extensively at the land trading post of Viola. There, he contacted a merchant whom the Marquis of Rozen had said was trustworthy and started asking after the man with the scarred hand.
However, the incident had occurred six years ago. It wasn’t easy finding a man who didn’t wish to be found. Even now, as Riddhe and Albert made rounds visiting companies, they had yet to discover any useful information.
Empty-handed, Riddhe headed to Kingsley Castle on foot. In order to maintain the image that Alicia and Empress Elizabeth, and by extension, Heilland and Erdal, were working closely together, he had to be seen visiting the castle frequently.
The mastermind is part of the Senate? That makes it hard to suss him out… Deep in thought, Riddhe frowned as he walked down a hallway.
A red-haired girl caught his eye, making him stop in surprise. He recognized her as Charlotte, Chancellor Yggdrasil’s daughter.
Riddhe had met Charlotte on his first day in Erdal since the girl had to visit the Crowne mansion as Lady Crowne’s apprentice. When it was decided that the Crownes would host Riddhe, Charlotte had moved back to her own home, but he often saw her and Beatrix together in the salon.
Charlotte wasn’t alone. She was sitting next to someone who looked like a commoner.
The man wasn’t unkempt and was, in fact, dressed in clothes of decent quality, but an undignified air about him hinted that he wasn’t of the status to be a regular visitor at the castle. Riddhe could see that he was well-built from his rolled-up sleeves and open shirt. His hair was tied back in a messy style, and Riddhe could tell that this was how the man usually looked.
As if sensing Riddhe’s stare, Charlotte turned and stood up quickly, rushing over to the pair.
“Lord Riddhe! And Mister Albert, too!” She greeted them, gathering her skirts in a curtsy.
“Good day, Miss Charlotte”,” Riddhe responded with grace. “You look lovely today, as always…”
“What brings you here today, Lord Riddhe? I heard from Father that you are very busy. I hope you are not too tired?”
“Of course not,” Riddhe smiled. “In fact, I’ve never felt more alive. After all, I’ve been blessed with the chance to inspect this empire twice. And I’m glad to see you doing well, Miss Charlotte. Her Highness Princess Alicia mentioned she was worried about you when she left Erdal.”
Riddhe kept his answers simple and vague, not because of Charlotte but her father, Chancellor Yggdrasil. Since he was a member of the Senate, it wouldn’t do to provide him with any more information than absolutely necessary.
However, Charlotte herself was also full of mysteries. According to Alicia, her attitude towards the princess had suddenly become tinged with guilt halfway through her time in Erdal. In fact, Charlotte’s expression clouded over immediately upon the mention of Alicia’s name.
Maybe she’s worthy of investigation, too.
With that thought, Riddhe looked over her shoulder casually. “Oh, and is that your friend? I’m not sure we’ve met.”
“I’m sorry. I should have introduced you earlier,” Charlotte said. “Lord Riddhe, this is Barnabas McGregor, vice chairman of the Ist Company.”
“You must be Lord Riddhe Sutherland of Heilland. It’s an honor to meet you,” Barnabas said.
“Call me Riddhe. The honor is mine, Mister Barnabas.”
The pair shook hands, and Riddhe glanced at Albert, who gave a small nod to show he recognized the name.
Barnabas McGregor of the Ist Company. The Marquis of Rozen had listed him as one of the merchants they could trust.
In truth, Riddhe had not thought about making contact with Barnabas. Ist was a major company backed by the empress and based in Sampston, meaning they traded mostly by sea. As such, they seldom did business at Viola, a land trading post, so Riddhe assumed that Barnabas wouldn’t have known his father.
Despite that, it was a stroke of luck to meet him so easily here.
“I’ve heard about you from Jude,” Riddhe said. “He describes you as an excellent merchant with very sharp intuition.”
“Lord Jude himself is an interesting one, very unlike a nobleman,” Barnabas chuckled.
Taking advantage of the easy mood, Riddhe sat down with them. Albert, of course, stood attentively nearby.
“You must have friends everywhere because of your father’s position, Miss Charlotte,” Riddhe remarked. “Who knew you’d be acquainted with the top brass from the famous Ist Company?”
“Oh, that’s not true,” she denied. “It was only because of fate that I met Barnabas.”
“Fate?”