Chapter 133: Their War 7

“That’s how it was! It was truly… truly all a misunderstanding! From the very beginning, Polena had no relation with Brother at all!”

“Is…Is that so? Well… if you say so, then I suppose that’s the answer…”

Durst spoke with an exaggerated emphasis.

Observing her demeanor, so unlike her usual self, Estelle could not help but feel a lingering sense of discomfort, even as she nodded in acknowledgment.

However, Estelle knew Durst had no reason to withhold the truth from her.

Moreover, considering the circumstances, her unusual behavior, while perplexing, was not entirely unfounded.

‘It seems things became quite precarious… It was a close call, nearly exposing the situation to Lord Santana.’

Naturally, if this matter had been revealed, not only Durst but Estelle herself could have faced grave danger.

It could have caused Lord Santana to harbor ill feelings towards her for improperly meddling with his people.

Fortunately, from Durst’s lack of mention, it did not appear to have escalated to such an extent. Nevertheless, Estelle inwardly sighed with relief, realizing how perilous the situation could have become.

‘In any case… if we assume the situation grew risky, I cannot fully trust the information Durst has brought back. After all, considering the circumstances, Polena is the only plausible candidate as Lord Santana’s lover.’

If possible, Estelle wished to extract the truth directly from Polena, which she had also instructed Durst to attempt.

However, given the circumstances suggesting Durst had narrowly avoided exposing the matter to Santana while trying to apprehend Polena, it was no longer feasible for Estelle to investigate Polena further.

Ultimately, she had no choice but to bide her time until Santana’s heightened vigilance subsided, postponing this matter while awaiting another opportunity.

Of course, this did not mean she had abandoned her intention to deal with Polena eventually.

Although unable to mobilize Durst for the time being, if another chance arose, she was determined to settle this conclusively.

‘Just you wait… You may have narrowly escaped this time, but the next time, I will decisively crush you.’

Cleaning Santana’s chambers, Polena held a duster as she meticulously tended to the neglected nooks and crannies, a radiant smile gracing her features as she genuinely seemed to enjoy her work.

However, separate from her outward appearance as a diligent maid, at this moment, the events of the previous night slowly swirled within Polena’s mind – the secretive yet weighty incident.

Unlike her mentor’s casual handling of Blood, Polena had engaged Durst more earnestly.

In the process, she had learned both facts she was already aware of and surprising revelations.

‘Things seem to be unfolding quite amusingly… Who would have thought that woman Estelle would make such moves?’

The woman who was Santana’s contracted fiancée but had undoubtedly developed genuine feelings for him at some point.

Truthfully, Polena held no particular opinions on this matter itself.

She knew of Santana’s feelings towards Cazeros and the nature of their relationship.

However, Estelle remained unaware of these facts, and regardless of the contract, she and Santana were officially engaged.

Crucially, being well-acquainted with the allure Santana possessed as a man, Polena deemed it entirely plausible for Estelle to succumb to his charms through their continued encounters as his betrothed.

In fact, Santana had anticipated this possibility to some extent when agreeing to the contract engagement.

However, separate from these considerations, Polena found herself rather intrigued, and somewhat surprised, by Estelle’s and Durst’s perceptions of her relationship with Santana.

Estelle had assumed she and Santana were clandestine lovers.

Of course, while Polena harbored an inward fondness for the man Santana, strictly speaking, theirs was merely a contractual master-servant relationship. They had never formally expressed their feelings or confessed to each other.

Although Polena had occasionally jested about it, Santana had never taken such remarks seriously.

In that sense, Estelle’s assumption was mere conjecture.

However, at this moment, Polena had no intention of dismissing this ‘misunderstanding.’

‘Considering the future, such a misunderstanding might not be entirely undesirable.’

Although she had instructed Durst to deny the claims, Polena had no expectation that her denial would be believed.

She was well aware that Estelle was a rather shrewd woman, unlikely to be deceived by Durst’s flimsy lies.

Nevertheless, her instructions served to bind Durst’s tongue with the shackles of a ‘false report,’ preventing her true nature from being revealed.

‘With this, that woman Estelle will likely assume I simply escaped the crisis with Lord Santana’s aid. She could never imagine me possessing such power.’

Thus, while appearing to diligently clean, Polena began to ponder how she could derive amusement from the forthcoming events.

In the great city of Sofia, capital of the Dragonian Empire, countless goods gathered from across the realm were piled atop scores of wagons.

An immense quantity of provisions, military supplies, and local products for trade.

At first glance, it resembled a merchant caravan transporting goods. However, these items had been prepared not for economic gain, but for political purposes – aid for the Heretical Alliance.

Of course, as the advance payments had already been received, there would be no profit in transporting these goods, but neither would there be any significant loss.

Such was the treaty between the Dragonian Empire and the Heretical Alliance.

And at the center of this grand procession, issuing instructions more actively than anyone else, was the individual in overall charge – Cazeros, Princess of the Dragonian Empire, meticulously inspecting every detail until the very end.

“Please reconfirm the wheat, barley, and oats for horse feed. While the other items are important, those are the core essentials.”

“Understood, My Lady.”

“Also, pay close attention to the condition of the wagons. It will be a long journey, so any breakdowns along the way would be problematic.”

“Yes, we shall do so.”

After completing her final, thorough inspection, Cazeros returned to the wagon she would be riding.

There, her mother, Duchess Catlena, had come to see her off.

“Haah… Really now… Must you go to such lengths?”

“Of course, Mother. As you know, once I depart, I will be unable to return for quite some time – until my tasks there are complete.”

Her daughter spoke in a resolute tone.

Although the Duchess slightly furrowed her brow, she ultimately acknowledged her daughter’s determination, responding with a bitter voice:

“…Very well. If this is the path you wish to take, I cannot stop you. I only hope you do not come to regret it later.”

“There will be no regrets. Just as you did not regret choosing Father.”

“…You certainly have a way with words, just like someone else.”

“Then, I shall be off, Mother.”

Leaving behind her mother, whose manner remained somewhat strained until the end, Cazeros boarded the wagon.

Finally, with all preparations complete, the grand procession began to move forward, Cazeros’s wagon among them.

‘Please wait for me a little longer, Lord Santana… I shall soon be by your side…’

Filled with anticipation, yearning to see his face again as soon as possible, Cazeros set forth.

And by her side on this journey, serving as her escort, was the 10th-rank witch Blood Mary.