Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Was it because the words that came out of Robert's mouth were unexpectedly surprising?

Iona replied with an expression that was not an answer.

"My mother?"

You're not an adopted daughter, you're Count Modrov's illegitimate child! I know everything. I know who Dame's real mother is!

Robert shouted furiously. It seemed like he wanted to attract her attention somehow.

'My mother.'

Iona pondered over the awkward word.

Was it because she had never actually met her before?

Iona had never deeply thought about her birth mother. She simply guessed that she was just one of the women Count Modrov had always met on the streets.

In fact, Count Modrov often used Iona's mother's background as a pretext to belittle Iona.

Iona asked with an interesting expression on her face.

How do you know about my birth mother?

Dame, I'm the second son of my father. How could I have gained the trust of the count, inherited the title, and even became the deputy lord? It's thanks to sharing a secret that shouldn't be revealed.

Thinking that Iona took the bait, Robert elaborated on the story.

It was indeed rare for a second son to succeed to this extent in a noble society where primogeniture was the norm.

When Iona didn't deny it, Robert's eyes sparkled as he approached her.

"Well, aren't you curious? Who your mother is, and why she abandoned you..."

"It's intriguing. Your creativity in making up stories to survive."

Iona said admiringly.

While it was true that Robert presented quite an interesting scenario, Iona never trusted the words of such a person.

Robert, who read the disbelief in Iona's eyes, jumped up in frustration.

Do you think I am lying?

Iona responded with silence.

At that, Robert hurriedly opened his mouth again.

Yes, your age. I even know how old you really are. In fact, you are older than Nils. It means that you have known your younger brother as your older brother.

It was a story that wasn't entirely frivolous.

Iona was locked up, cut off from the outside world, until she entered the imperial palace.

There was a date that she was told that it was her birthday, and there was no evidence to refute it even if the actual date of birth was earlier than that.

But if that were true, a question arises.

"What you need to do is pass the information through the man you saw earlier. He will guide you to the destination."

To think that he had to accompany the man who knocked him out and kidnapped him for a long time.

Robert felt a bit uneasy, but he had no choice but to accept it.

If Iona had made that decision, he had no other choice.

Iona left Robert behind, who had completely calmed down, and went outside.

The man who had been sent out earlier was guarding the front like he was watching.

Iona spoke to him.

In two days, when I leave for the capital, the security will be low. Take the subject to a new location at that time."

Considering the period during which Robert had been acting as the deputy lord, the amount of embezzled funds was significant.

Since they couldn't touch the Count's funds, Iona planned to temporarily hide the money where it couldn't be found.

For that to happen, Robert needed to roam outside diligently and divert attention.

Are there any changes to the plan?

In response to the errand man's secret question, Iona quietly affirmed.

"Yes, leave a trace in the port of Ture, then dispose of him at sea."

She pretended to consider the proposal in order to make Robert obedient, but her determination to deal with him had been firm from the beginning.

Even if his claim about knowing the true identity of her birth mother was true, it didn't matter.

Anyway, even in the past life, Iona did not meet her birth mother until the day she died. Was there any other expression as empty as the name of her mother?

Whether she lived or died, whether she had been forced to abandon her daughter, or circumstance unavoidable, Iona was not willing to take the obvious risk just to get the answer to those questions.

***

The serfs Iona had captured were released safely less than a day later.

Those who expected to be beaten, even when they did not, were dumbfounded by the unexpectedly merciful treatment.

However, when they went outside, there was separate news that was even more astonishing. It turned out that this time, the suspicion had fallen on Baron Franz.

A soldier explained the situation to them, who looked puzzled.

"He was accused of embezzlement. It seems he made people work as farmers but recorded that he received rent as usual in the account book. And he gulped down all the remaining money himself."

"What? So that's why we were suspected of producing less grain?"

"Yes, the auditor who came this time was the Count's adopted daughter. She was incredibly thorough in her work. She could tell at a glance that there was a problem with the account book and could identify who was telling the truth and who was lying. Ah, what's her name?"

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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