"So what are we going to do now?"
"For now..."
What Daria was aiming for was obvious. Separate the spacetime machine and Cider Claiborne. This was a result of being conscious of Cyrus's existence. Though she might not know his identity, she would be well aware from the Sterling incident that there was another mage besides Esperanza.
However, whether a great mage or hunter, there was only one body, and since instant teleportation wasn't possible, only one of the two could be protected.
On the other hand, there were two of them, so if Daria sent her younger brother to the mansion and attacked Cider herself, she could definitely destroy one of the two. However, there was also the disadvantage that not knowing the level of Cyrus on this side, a 1-on-1 attack might backfire.
Which should be eliminated first—Cider Claiborne or the spacetime machine? It wasn't even worth asking. In that case, there might be no need to divide their forces. It was ultimately a matter of choice, but...
"Cyrus."
Cider, who had adjusted his cravat, opened the study door.
"What do you think Daria will do?"
Fortunately, no further explanation was needed this time. Cyrus swallowed hard.
"If it's Daria, she won't play probability games."
A certain piece of bread instead of an uncertain feast. Clear-cut. A plan to kill. A strategy laid out for a long time. There was no way she would choose otherwise.
Unfortunately, he had no intention of dying. Cider gave a faint smile.
'At least not yet.'
"Good. Then we'll need to prepare."
Cider summoned Millen. Millen, who had been waiting in the next room, listened to the explanation that he would take Cyrus to the royal palace, looked him up and down, then shook his head. Cyrus was puzzled, but Cider seemed to understand everything.
"Father's clothes should fit. Just make him presentable enough."
Meanwhile, the carriage was crossing the garden and approaching the entrance. Soon the carriage door opened. White hands appeared from inside.
Who was it?
A middle-aged noblewoman with graying black hair pinned up stepped down. Cyrus swallowed hard.
"Duchess of Schodny."
She was too big a figure to use as a mere messenger.
"The determination to drag me away by any means is evident in this personnel choice. Mrs. Lux, call Miss Tate and also contact the Baron Mabelwood house. Tell them to come as quickly and secretly as possible."
"Do you mean Lady Mabelwood? Or Lady Cordelia?"
"Both!"
With Baron Mabelwood's name, they could easily enter and exit the royal palace. They owed this side a debt. Cider quickly scribbled a note to deliver to Cordelia Mabelwood. It was essentially the same as delivering it to Esperanza.
"I think you should come down."
Butler Howard, who had been dealing with the Duchess alone, came running up heavily. Worry was etched on his wrinkled face.
"What did she say?"
"She says His Majesty urgently summons you."
The old man, gauging the mood, added.
"There seems to be no way to refuse."
"I suppose not."
Cider, muttering as if chewing, immediately went down to the reception room.
The Duchess of Schodny, who had been seated in the reception room, squinted when she saw Cider. A dignified green dress and a cold expression. She had definitely come with determination.
"You seem to be doing well, Lord Avondale."
The Duchess, extending her gloved hand, maintained a rigid expression even as the young count kissed her hand and straightened up.
"It's been a long time, Lady Schodny. What brings you here without notice?"
"If it were my business, I would apologize for the rudeness, but today I come under His Majesty's orders. His Majesty urgently seeks you."
"Do you know what he wants to see me about?"
"I don't know. Even if I did, I couldn't tell you without His Majesty's permission. But Avondale, when His Majesty summons you, does the reason matter?"
Cider twisted up his lips. How well she spoke of going to one's death. Even if she didn't know what she was saying, it was truly suffocating.
In desperation, he'd have to throw Prime Minister Tempton under the bus. Cider barely maintained his smile as he opened his mouth.
"Unfortunately, today seems difficult. At Parliament..."
"Did you think I came without knowing you have no schedule?"
She was prepared to drag him out if he refused. Not going wouldn't change the situation anyway. It would just change the battlefield from Augustus Palace to Avondale Mansion.
Would Esperanza be safe? They would have tied her down by some method. It wasn't that he couldn't think of anything, but what was important now wasn't the method.
"Fine. Please wait a moment."
Cider got up from his seat without ceremony and headed to his room. Behind him, the Duchess of Schodny coughed in displeasure, but he didn't even pretend to listen. He planned to delay as much as possible.
He slowly put on his hat and took his cane. He even brought the magic stone Esperanza had given him. This alone couldn't handle Daria, but it was better than nothing.
Cyrus, wearing the previous count's formal wear, came out twisting his body uncomfortably. He was in a reasonably presentable state. Cider beckoned him with his chin.
"This should be presentable enough."
"I have formal wear too."
"The timing doesn't match. Old-fashioned is better than avant-garde."
Actually, formal wear wasn't important. Even if Cyrus went wearing red striped pants, they wouldn't send them back. But it was better not to stand out anyway.
"The important thing is that we're walking into a deathtrap. Where do you think they'll attack from? The front gate? The garden? The corridor?"
"It'll be the audience chamber."
Cyrus said definitively. That would be most convenient for Daria. There would be no watching eyes there.
"What if they anticipated even that expectation of yours? We don't even know where our information leaked from."
"That's exactly why it's the audience chamber."
He didn't explain the detailed reasons. Cider narrowed his eyes and studied his expression.
Well, fine.
"Then we'll need to show everyone entering Augustus Palace, hide somewhere in the palace, and then escape. Hide-and-seek at my age."
Before the Duchess of Schodny could urge them again, Cider quickly tore off a piece of paper and wrote a note.
"Millen, this is for His Excellency the Prime Minister. Through the back door, right now."
They had to use anything that could buy time.
"Miss Tate. When Esperanza returns, tell her to come to Augustus Palace as quickly as possible. Have her prepare a dress that's easy to move in."
Annie ran up to Esperanza's room. All the preparations he could make were finished. Now their lives depended on when Esperanza returned.
2:15.
Shadow fell over his face under the hat. His exposed lips curved in an arc.
"Well, shall we go get assassinated?"
He's not in his right mind. Cyrus followed with a disgusted expression.
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
When they opened the door and went out, the Duchess of Schodny was standing with her hands on her waist. The Duchess's gaze immediately fixed on Cyrus with his red hair.
"Who is that young man?"
The Duchess definitely knew nothing. Cider decided to knock the Duchess unconscious a little less painfully and answered with a smile.
"My new valet."
"First I've heard of it."
"He just started today."
It was a very suspicious answer, but since no certification was needed to become a valet, she had no choice but to let it pass.
The black carriage heading toward death rattled across the main road. The day was strangely clear. A huge airship passed low, blocking the sun. The road wasn't congested, and no accident occurred that would stop the carriage.
Cider even considered smashing the carriage in the middle of the main road, but chose to behave until at least reaching the royal palace. The busy district might be more disadvantageous to them than the royal palace. It was certain that Daria had no qualms about killing innocent civilians.
The carriage arrived at Augustus Palace. They passed through the entrance quickly without inspection and immediately crossed the garden.
"This way."
A large door opened. A hall with a high ceiling was revealed. Thud. The sound of the door closing echoed. Momentarily, it felt as if the palace's atmosphere changed.
A chill wrapped around the back of his neck. It felt like being watched from all sides.
Cyrus seemed to sense that threat more keenly than Cider, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists with a rigid expression. So he could grip a sword in those hands the moment an enemy appeared.
The oblivious Duchess of Schodny guided them toward the stairs. The path seemed more winding than usual, like being led into the deep maw of a snake.
The deeper they went, the fewer people there were, and by the time they reached the corridor right below the audience chamber, the surroundings were completely quiet. The Duchess, standing before the stairs, warned them once more.
"His Majesty awaits in the audience chamber. As you know, but I'll say it again—you must not behave rudely to His Majesty as you did to me."
"Of course."
They wouldn't be meeting anyway. It would be fortunate if the cowardly queen and grand Duke weren't huddled together trembling in some room.
Cyrus quietly muttered, just loud enough for Cider to hear.
"Three people inside the audience chamber."
They'd have to deal with the Duchess first.
The Duchess silently collapsed on the landing. Cider laid the Duchess down properly. The carpet probably wasn't very clean, but there was no choice. He'd have to send an appropriate apology gift later.
If they survived here.
"Are you going in?"
As if.
But they couldn't retrace their path. They had followed this far to avoid being caught, and if they returned by the same route, someone would definitely recognize them.
They'd have to take a path with no people. Cider pulled out his pocket watch to check the time.
2:47.
It was the moment his gaze fell on the opposite path. With a bang, something sharp grazed past his earlobe. Cider turned his head.
"You came all this way only to turn back?"
The audience chamber door had opened wide without a sound. And Daria, standing in front of it, grinned wickedly. At the same time, the pistol in her hand emitted a bright blue heat.