"Dead?"

  Lulak asked again while pulled himself away from the back of the chair.

  "Yes. Two days ago, she was found in the southern part of the Server River."

  "If she was found near the water, it would be difficult to find out her identity?"

  "Even though she was found near the Server River, but the cause of death was not drowning. Her both hands were tied……"

  "So it must be done by humans."

  Lulak clicked his tongue.

  "What should I do?"

  Caitlyn asked carefully.

  "Now it is confirmed that his nanny is dead, what should I do?"

  She muttering, and her facial look wasn’t good.

  The Second Prince disappeared from the Imperial Palace where she worked, and for a long time, his whereabouts were unknown.

  Apparently, Caitlyn felt very responsible for this job.

  "Caitlyn."

  "Yes, Lord."

  "You just have to live your life. Then, when you come across information that might be of use to Lombardy, you just have to remember it and let me know."

  "However…… ."

  Caitlyn squeezed her dress so tight that it was wrinkled.

  "Did the others hear anything, Lord?"

  It was taboo to ask for the information that other people brought here.

  The scholarship members carried very little information, so Lulak gathered them together to hear about it.

  Knowing it well, Caitlyn took the courage to ask.

  "There is no other intention. It is only because the existence of the Second Prince is very important to Lombardy, so……"

  Even Lulak didn’t reprimand Caitlyn.

  He just looked up and admitted that Caitlyn was right.

  "Isn’t that hilarious, Caitlyn. Even if he is a Prince, a child who doesn’t even have a presence like him is someone I need."

  It was a sentence of justification mixed with laughter.

  The reason why Lulak was looking for the Second Prince was simple.

  It was to check Angenas power, that is, Empress Rabini.

  The most absolute card that the Empress possesses is that she is the Emperor’s wife and the mother of his only son.

  The Emperor apparently had one more son, but nothing.

  The Emperor’s attitude that pretended not to know about the seeds he sowed gave the Empress even more opportunities.

  "It’s because I moved too late."

  Lulak was disappointed.

  If he knew a little bit earlier that the Second Prince’s mother was dying, he can just put the Second Prince under Lombardy’s protection.

  Without realizing it, the Empress dared to interfere with the issue of Lulak’s inheritance.

  "Angenas keeps snooping around what’s going on under my roof, but I have to take my hands off and see! Ha!"

  Rabini Angenas is involved in Lombardy’s affairs, pretending to be a Viese supporter, but there is nothing Lulak can do.

  Now it was very clear, the Second Prince was well hidden, so he couldn’t even find a reason to face the Empress.

  "Is he already dead……?"

  It was said that the villa in the forest where the Second Prince lived with his mother had been vacated for a long time.

  The presence of the Second Prince and his servants was not noticeable in the abandoned separate palace, which was like a ruin.

  So, Lulak ordered Caitlyn and the other scholarship members working in the Imperial Palace to find the whereabouts of the Second Prince’s nanny.

  It was because he thought that the Second Prince and the nanny would have been sent together somewhere in the land owned by Angenas.

  But the nanny was found dead in the southern part of Server River.

  There was a high probability that the Second Prince’s body could not be found and drifted along the river.

  "In the Imperial Palace filled with adults, it shouldn’t be difficult to find him and his maid."

  Lulak shook his head and lamented.

  The First Prince are the only children living in the Imperial Palace.

  Lulak decided it was time to stop looking for the Second Prince.

  "I heard from Young miss……"

  Something went through Caitlyn’s head as she listened.

  "Yes! She said when attending Empress invitation, none of it was fun. Except for making friends!"

  It was Florentia’s word, whom she had met a while ago.

  Caitlyn thought about what she had heard.

  "She said he was sick, and alone……"

  Alone.

  Until now, under the command of Lulak, they were targeting a combination of children and court ladies.

  It was because he didn’t think that the Empress would have left the Second Prince alone.

  "But what if she hides the Second Prince alone, then moves the nanny to trick us?"

  Caitlyn carefully opened her mouth to tell Lulak, who seemed to be pondering.

  * * *

  "Grandpa, I am here!"

  I was just about to have dinner with Shananet and the twins after hearing the news that my father was late again.

  The butler came and told me that my grandfather was looking for me.

  When I entered the room, there was a simple meal on the table like last time.

  "Our Tia is here! I called you to eat with this grandfather!"

  "I like it too!"

  Am I did something.

  Maybe he just wanted to have dinner with his granddaughter.

  I settled down and sat next to my grandfather and began to eat.

  "Now, eat this too. This too."

  Grandfather stroked my head when he pushed the delicious foods in front of me.

  "Eat yours too grandpa! It’s delicious!"

  When I put the third piece of meat into my mouth.

  My grandfather who looked at me, asked.

  "Let’s hear it, doesn’t Tia have a friend?"

  "A friend?"

  "Yes, in the Imperial Palace."

  I was off guard.

  I hid my embarrassment while pretending to chew meat.

  What would a typical eight-year-old child react to his grandfather’s question?

  Gulp.

  After swallowing a chunk of meat, I put the fork down.

  "How did Grandpa know that?!"

  I opened my eyes and raised my voice pretending to be startled.

  Young children still do not know about the complicated relationships of adults.

  What I talked to Caitlyn about ’Friends in the Imperial Palace’ doesn’t have any other intention, it just because of my anxiety and longing for a friend.

  I talk back to my grandfather.

  He laughed while pinching my cheek a little so that my cheek wouldn’t hurt.

  "I heard it from Caitlyn. About a friend you didn’t tell this grandfather. Do you know how sad I was?"

  Grandpa also said with a smile, without signs of anger.

  "Yeah. I have a friend when I went to the Imperial Palace with my dad before, it was when I got lost. I was afraid of being scolded…… So…… "

  "Are you lost?"3

  Probably, my father ordered the people to join forces.

  There is no need to consider the Empress and the Emperor.

  My father is really nice.

  The problem is that I can’t be that nice too.

  "Yes! Suddenly, scary knights stopped the carriage and told me and my dad to get off. They fight with my dad and angry! So I got off too, but I got scared……"

  "My……"

  As soon as my grandfather heard it, he seemed to notice who had ordered it.

  He gritted his teeth and coughed when he saw my eyes.

  Then he asked again in a soft voice.

  "So, what kind of child is Tia’s friend? Is he a friend of the same age as Tia?"

  "Yes! He three years older than me! Ah- He has very dark hair and his eyes are red like a rabbit!"

  Grandpa’s eyes were no longer smiling.

  I quickly added.

  "When I got lost in the Imperial Palace, he helped me!"

  "Yes? that’s a good child…… ."

  "But my friend lives alone. Alone without a mother or nanny. He looked so lonely and sick, Grandpa."

  My grandfather stroked my head and his hand stopped.

  "Alone?"

  "Yes! That’s why he said he envied me for having so many families."

  "Oh……"

  But my grandfather’s reaction didn’t seem like he was going to run to the Imperial Palace right away, as I thought.

  Damn it!

  At first glance, it seemed like a sympathetic voice, but I know my grandfather’s way of speaking.

  You have a lot of thoughts, aren’t you?

  Maybe today the scholarship members brought a lot of information.

  Everyone would have come in when grandfather called, and they would have put down what they knew and went out.

  If I leave it like this, I don’t know how many days or weeks it will take grandfather to move.

  No, I wonder if he would even try to get involved in Perez’s work.

  But Perez doesn’t have time to do that.

  I originally planned to use the birthday gift voucher that I had to ’go with my grandfather to see my friend at the Imperial Palace’.

  Although I told Caitlyn only a little bit of information, it helped me inadvertently.

  Unlike my father, it’s not easy to get involved with my grandfather to be sure.

  I thought about it for a while and made a decision.

  I have to give grandfather the reason why he has to move quickly.

  "And……"

  When I hesitated, my grandfather reassured me.

  "Don’t worry. You can say anything to Grandpa."

  I wriggled my fingers and said boldly.

  "And he said he was sick. Someone is hurting my friend……"

  I bowed my head while making a sad expression as much as possible.

  "Someone is trying to hurt him……"

  Grandpa still didn’t say anything.

  I said again while holding onto my grandfather’s sleeve.

  "Grandpa, can’t you help me?"

  Certainly, the granddaughter’s earnest request worked, and the grandfather’s cold expression shakes.

  My grandfather, who looked at me with a complicated face, asked in a soft voice.

  "What is your friend’s name, Florentia."

  Looks like he needs confidence.

  I replied again and again.

  "Perez. My friend’s name is Perez, Grandpa."1

  * * *

  The moonlit night was deep.

  Lulak Lombardi poured a drink and looked out the window.

  It’s been a while since his granddaughter Florentia returned to her room, but Lulak’s worries did not end.

  When he knew where the Second Prince was, another thought approached him.

  There were many things to consider.

  The information brought by those who had come before Caitlyn was entangled, and his hair was almost mirrorless.

  But it was because of the problem about his family that complicated Lulak’s mind more than any politics and interests.

  Lulak, who had emptied the drink halfway, stood, and wiggle the bell.

  After a while, the butler quietly opened the door and entered.

  "John."

  "Yes, Lord."

  "Is Viese back?"

  He was the first son who ignored Lulak’s warning and picked up his wife and children early in the morning.

  "That is…… ."

  John the deacon answered reluctantly.

  "A little while ago, a letter came from the coachman. It seems that Viese-nim’s family is likely to stay at the Imperial Palace tonight…… He seems to attend the Imperial Palace banquet tomorrow evening."

  Lulak hadn’t said anything for a while.

  The butler couldn’t figure it out, so he waited quietly, bowing his back.

  After a while, Lulak said in a low voice.

  "I see. That’s the decision he made."4

  Click.

  The sound of putting a cap on the window sill can be heard in the office.

  * * *

  "Tia? Tia, would you like to wake up for a moment?"

  I woke up while rubbing my sleepy eyes with the hand that shook me.

  "Dad?"

  The first thing I saw in a dark room was my father.

  My father, wearing only a silk robe in his pajamas, woke me up with a confused face.

  "Are you very sleepy?"

  "Yeah, it’s okay. But why?"

  "I think Tia should get up a little earlier today."

  There is no way my father wakes me up before dawn for nothing.

  I woke up like I had jumped into icy water while my father continued to glance behind the half-closed door.

  I quickly got out of bed and opened the door barefoot.

  Likewise, grandfather was sitting on the couch in the dark living room.

  "Oh, did you wake up?"

  Like a person who woke up after a single sleep all day, a grandfather with a lively voice was already ready from head to toe.

  When he saw me holding the doorknob, my grandfather said with a smile.1

  "Wouldn’t you like to go to the Imperial Palace with this grandfather, Florentia?"