Suspicion 2

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

Inside the Embassy of the Eaton Duchy, a servant walked nervously down the hallway.

He arrived in front of the room where the Duke and Duchess were staying and reached out to knock.

But just as his hand extended, he hesitated. The Duchess was resting inside, and unlike before, she might not appreciate being disturbed during her rest.

Ever since that morning when a maid was scolded for applying a bit too much force while combing her hair, things had changed. Previously unimaginable, considering the Duchess was known for her good temper and kindness toward her servants.

But they all understood why her temperament had changed—it was because of her sister, Baroness Fanny, who had disappeared, or more precisely, been kidnapped.

After all, besides her husband, Baroness Fanny was the Duchess's closest relative.

And to make matters worse, several days had passed without any leads.

After hesitating for a while, the servant finally knocked on the door.

A weary and worried voice came from inside, "What is it?"

Feeling sorry for her, the servant prayed silently, "Oh heavenly Father, please don't torment this poor Duchess any further."

Carefully, he answered, "Your Highness, a lady claiming to be Lady Ladiaa Setia Gerald wishes to see you. She says she is an old acquaintance with you, and we couldn't refuse her."

"Does she bring news about Fanny?"

There was a hint of anxiety in the Duchess's voice.

"Unfortunately, Your Highness."

"Send her away!"

"Yes."

As the servant turned to leave, the Duchess's voice came again suddenly from inside, "Ladia, it's Ladia! Bring her in, quickly, bring her in!"

The servant was puzzled, but it was clear the Duchess had changed her mind, and the visitor indeed knew her, suggesting their relationship was more than ordinary.

He hurriedly walked outside.

The Duchess's voice continued from the room, "Ladia! Ladia Setia Gerald, I knew you'd come to me in my most helpless hour."

...

Guided by the servant, Ladia walked through the hallway and arrived at the door of the Duke and Duchess's room. Two maids guarding the door opened it for her.

Glancing inside, she saw a beautiful lady sitting on the sofa. As soon as the door opened, the lady stood up and looked in their direction.

This was Duchess Helen of the Eaton Duchy—Her Highness had chestnut-colored hair and captivating brown eyes. She had been renowned for her beauty, causing much heartache among noble youths when her engagement to the Duke of Eaton was announced.

But now, although still beautiful on the outside, her complexion lacked its former vitality. In just a few days, those around her could see she had lost weight, genuinely causing concern.

Ladia sighed softly and entered the room. The Duchess waved slightly, and the servant who had brought Ladia bowed and excused himself. The two maids outside closed the door.

Now, there were only Ladia and Duchess Helen in the room.

With no one else around, the Duchess lost control of her emotions instantly. She hurried over to Ladia, embraced her tightly, and sobbed, "Ladia! You know about my sister, don't you? What... what should I do now? If anything happens to Fanny, how can I face our parents in heaven?"

"Helen, my senior sister..."

Ladia gently stroked her back, comforting her in a low voice.

"Surely there's a way. I'm here to help you."

"Mm, thank you, thank you."

Duchess Helen sobbed as she expressed her gratitude. Though Ladia had cautioned her that one person's abilities might be limited and might not make a significant impact, she was now grasping at every straw she could.

Ladia helped the Duchess sit back on the sofa and held her hand. "Helen, calm down first. Tell me in detail about the clues you know, especially those 'special' clues."

Princess Helen composed herself and began recounting the events in detail.

Ladia noted the crucial point, "So, the most suspicious aspect throughout this entire process is that the guards and shopkeepers collectively 'forgot' several hours of memories?"

Princess Helen nodded, "Yes, it must be magic. This effect could only be achieved through magic."

Ladia asked, "Could it be caused by a drug? Like Forget-Me-Herb?"

The Duchess shook her head firmly. "No, to my knowledge, there's currently no drug that can precisely erase several hours of memory. Forget-Me-Herb can cause memory loss, but the time span is random, and it's more likely to erase memories dating back to early childhood."

"But whether it's Fanny's attendants and guards, or the owner and staff of that shop, none of their previous memories were lost, yet crucial hours on the day of the incident were. It's magic; only magic can achieve this effect."

"Furthermore, this is the most direct evidence!"

She took out an object and placed it on the table—a slightly blackened stone.

Ladia immediately recognized it. "A magic detection stone?"

"Yes, suspecting that Fanny's kidnapper might be a mage, I personally inspected the shop and used this stone to confirm my suspicion."

Duchess Helen of the Eaton Duchy, beyond her lofty noble status, concealed another identity—a mage.

Leveraging her privileged position, she had kept her mage identity well-hidden, despite the escalating Southern Witch Hunt, unknown even to her husband, Duke Eaton.

So far, only two people knew her secret: the mentor who guided her into the path of magic and her fellow apprentice in magic, Ladia Setia Gerald.

The Duchess cried, "What should I do? I can't tell my husband everything! He'll never accept this!"

Ladia pondered deeply, "If it's one of our kind, why would they kidnap such a high-ranking noble girl? Especially now, during the increasingly severe Witch Hunt, such a high-profile and dangerous act—it seems reckless, doesn't it?"

"Our kind?" The Duchess's tone rose suddenly, resentment flashing in her once beautiful eyes.

"Ladia, do you still consider such people our kind? I refuse to believe that those who commit such evil acts are our kind. They, whether mage or not, are scum, trash, garbage! I will tear them apart."

Ladia felt concern. She knew her senior sister's previous temperament was kind and gentle, but now there seemed to be a hint of darkness. It seemed the kidnapping of her sister had hit her too hard.

After she calmed down a bit, Ladia asked softly, "Senior sister, think carefully. Is there anything special about Fanny that could interest a mage, enough for them to take such a big risk to kidnap her?"

"There is indeed something about Fanny that would interest a mage."

The Duchess suddenly became calm and spoke slowly.

(End of the Chapter)