“…You are wise.”
Conrad didn’t deny it.
His master would have noticed from the start anyway, so denying it would’ve been a waste of time.
As Conrad confirmed her suspicion, Nadia’s golden eyes turned sharp.
“You must’ve investigated it. Explain.”
“Yes. Although it rained on the day of the accident, the rainfall wasn’t enough to make the carriage lose control.”
Nadia carefully recalled the events of that day.
“But I did feel uneasy when we were passing over the dirt road. I thought the road had been damaged by the rain.”
“Everyone assumed that at first. But as we investigated, things didn’t add up. The soil in that section was particularly loose. More importantly, it seems the wheels of the carriage were slightly loosened.”
“How can you tell?”
“Even after the rain stopped, that patch of land took much longer to dry. We brought in experts, and they found that the soil was of a different type—not something naturally found in that area. As for the loosened wheels, the remaining traces on the parts made it clear.”
Since it was Conrad who investigated, Nadia had no reason to doubt the findings.
While she sank into thought, Conrad continued in a calm tone that wouldn’t disturb her.
“If it had only been the road or the wheels, the accident wouldn’t have been so serious. The fact that both issues happened at the same time—it had to be planned.”
“And Heinrich knew this as well?”
“Yes.”
Nadia let out a deep sigh and pressed her forehead.
“That poor, responsible boy… he must’ve blamed himself terribly.”
After hearing Conrad’s account, she finally understood Heinrich’s reaction.
If someone had orchestrated the death of “Rivenna Baldwin,” then it wasn’t just Rivenna who died.
It was the Duchess of Baldwin who was murdered.
Nadia’s eyes lowered, and her right hand gripped her left tightly.
A familiar habit—something Rivenna used to do when lost in thought.
Watching her, Conrad once again reaffirmed the truth: Nadia truly was Rivenna.
As Nadia seemed to organize her thoughts, she opened her mouth.
“At the time, there were many who found the Duchess of Baldwin a nuisance. But not many who would go so far as to plot her murder. I tried to keep my list of enemies as small as possible.”
Naturally. As Rivenna, nothing she possessed was truly hers.
Everything would eventually have to be passed on to Heinrich. She had never acted recklessly.
Still, if there were someone who truly wanted to kill the Duchess of Baldwin…
“There’s one obvious candidate. Count Crimson.”
If anyone, it would be Count Crimson, driven by ambition.
The House of Crimson was located southwest of the Baldwin estate.
They had always been loyal vassals of the Baldwin family, even forming marriage ties with them in certain branches.
But the current Count Crimson had ambitions far beyond that of a vassal—he wanted equal rights.
“He even tried to marry off his newborn daughter to Heinrich.”
That was the most blatant sign of his desire to consume the weakening ducal house and take it for himself.
No wonder Duchess Baldwin had sought out the Count of Priscillian. It had been for complicated reasons.
Conrad agreed with Nadia’s assessment.
“After our lord passed away, Count Crimson immediately tried to arrange a marriage between his daughter and the Duke. And he still hasn’t given up.”
“How old is that daughter now?”
“She should be about 18. She was 8 at the time.”
Heinrich was 26 now—16 back then.
An eight-year age gap might not seem extreme, but at that time, the girl would’ve had no say in her own future.
“Ugh… nobles really are something else.”
Nadia let out a humorless laugh.
“To think they’d throw away their daughter’s happiness for power? I come back to life only to witness this nonsense again—how exhausting.”
She rubbed her eyes wearily.
“Anyway, keep digging into Count Crimson. If we can prove he was behind my death, it might relieve Heinrich of some of his guilt.”
“…”
Conrad never disobeyed his master.
So his uncharacteristic silence for several seconds stood out.
Leaning against the armrest of the chair, Nadia looked up at him.
“You’re dissatisfied with my decision, aren’t you?”
“…I dare say yes, my lady.”
“Go on, speak.”
“You said you no longer wanted to live as Rivenna. Then the first thing to cut ties with is the Duke of Baldwin. And he’s no longer a child.”
Their eyes met briefly, before Conrad lowered his gaze—aware of how bold his words had been.
But he didn’t take them back.
Nadia knew Conrad’s loyalty well, and had no desire to scold him.
Instead, she reached out and gently held his hand. It was the same kind gesture she’d given him long ago, when she rescued a young Conrad from a gambling den.
“Thank you. But unless Heinrich is truly happy, I won’t be able to fully become ‘Nadia.’ Will you help me become her?”
Though her hands were rougher and her clothes poorer than Rivenna’s had been, Nadia still radiated an undeniable presence.
Conrad knelt before her, almost entranced, and kissed the back of her hand.
“Yes, Lady Nadia.”
She smiled and patted his head fondly.
“Thank you, Conrad. But hey…”
Conrad sensed a slight shift in her tone. He looked up—and saw her eyebrows twitch in annoyance.
“Why do you keep calling Heiny the Duke? Call him ‘Your Grace,’ will you?”
Nadia had never corrected Conrad for using irreverent names when referring to the emperor.
But when it came to Heinrich, it was a different story.
Conrad didn’t point that out. He simply bowed his head.
“…Yes, Lady Nadia. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Wow, I’d heard you were doing well, but seeing you in person—you look radiant!”
Nadia was awakened by a loud and unfamiliar voice.
She had been dozing after caring for Madam Hess and was lying face down on the bed.
Stretching her stiff neck and shoulders, she tugged on the bell cord.
Vivian quietly approached her from outside.
“You called, miss?”
“Did we have a visitor?”
“Yes, apparently a baron something… Birden? Jarden?”
Vivian had a sharp mind—but only for things that interested her.
Nadia almost corrected her but stopped herself, smiling faintly.
She had good instincts and wouldn’t miss anything truly important.
And besides, Nadia wasn’t Rivenna navigating high society anymore—just the daughter of a poor baronial family.
“Probably Baron Varden. He was an old friend of my father.”
“First I’ve heard of him.”
Nadia didn’t elaborate.
Baron Hess had often called Baron Varden a friend, but the man hadn’t even bothered to send a proper letter in years.
His sudden visit now made the reason obvious.
Vivian seemed to sense it too and muttered dryly,
“Must be short on money.”
Nadia nodded slightly and got up from the bed.
She freshened up briefly in front of the mirror, then headed to the hall of the mansion.
Just as she arrived, Baron Hess and Baron Varden entered from the garden and noticed her.
“Nadia, how did you know a guest had arrived? You came right on time.”
Nadia resisted the urge to say, “His voice was too loud not to notice,” and just smiled politely.
Baron Varden’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw her.
“Heavens! Are you really that Nadia? I remember you as a scrawny little thing—but look at you now, all grown and beautiful.”
“It’s been a while, Baron.”
Nadia greeted him politely. Though her eyes were lowered, she had already examined him from head to toe.
Baron Varden was dressed in garishly flashy clothes—but they didn’t speak of wealth.
Rather, it was a desperate attempt to mask his poverty.
His shoes, which made a squeaky leather sound as he walked, had worn-down soles, barely repaired.
“Come now, don’t just stand there. Let’s go inside. My daughter recently brought me some fine tea leaves for guests. I saved them just for you!”
“Haha, you miser! Buying special tea—have you become rich or something?”
Baron Varden’s eyes gleamed with greed, but Baron Hess didn’t seem to notice.
“Nadia, we’ll head to the drawing room. Can you tell the maids to bring tea?”
“Yes, Father. Baron, I’ll have your tea sent shortly.”
After Nadia replied respectfully, the two men headed upstairs.
Their voices grew fainter and eventually faded—likely reaching the drawing room.
Nadia stood still, calmly staring at the ceiling.
“My father’s too kind. He might give him more than he should. I need to hear what they’re talking about.”
