Chapter 65. Julietta Iris Kiellini, Part III

Killian's eyes were opened in a flash at the captain's answer. He raised himself against the chair and asked Adam.

"Didn't you say that Duke Kiellini had come with only his servant and his driver yesterday?"

"Yes. That's right, Your Highness. The group was so simple that I asked, and he answered that he was going to accompany my father, so it was a hassle to increase the unnecessary group."

"Then who was the maid in the carriage?" Oswald looked back at the captain of the guard in wonder.

"The maid in the carriage was blonde. She was wearing a hood, but I saw it clearly."

"Was she wearing a hood in the carriage?"

At Killian's muttering, Adam answered, "That's very suspicious."

"I'll have a cup of tea with Duke Kiellini separately."

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So at the tea-time arranged, Killian looked at Duke Kiellini, who was savoring the scent of tea in a relaxed manner, sitting on the opposite sofa.

Certainly, the Duke's visit to the Principality of Bertino was very sudden. Even if he had traveled with Duke Martin, the trip, accompanied by only one servant, was not suitable for the procession of the Duke, who was second in the order of Austern. He felt something strange, as if he had made a very urgent decision.

"The Duke, were you out today?" asked Killian, observing the silver-haired Duke over the cup he was holding.

"Yes, it's my first visit. I went out to buy a present for my daughter." The expressionless face softened for a moment as he talked about his daughter.

"Is Princess Kiellini going to make her debut this year?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I'm in the midst of that preparation." The soft-faced Duke again lifted the teacup as if to hide his face.

"You don't look well. Is her health still so bad?"

It was famous that the weak Princess Kiellini had been recuperating since she was a child, living in the southern lands of the family of the Duke."No, Your Highness. She's healthy enough to make her debut. I'm always worried about her as a father."

"It's good to hear. I look forward to seeing the princess."

"It will be my honor, Your Highness."

There was silence in the room where the conversation was over for a while.

Killian suddenly opened his mouth, as if to make a surprise attack to the Duke who was drinking tea calmly. "Who was the maid in the Duke's carriage today? From what I hear, you brought only one servant with you."

But despite his sudden question, the Duke remained calm. "I don't know either. Just as I was on my way out, a maid was walking towards the front gate, so I just gave her a ride."

Killian stared at the Duke in silence, as if to grasp the truth. Even under Killian's fierce gaze, the Duke's expression remained unchanged.

"I see. I heard the maid is blonde. Is that right?"

"Yes, Your Highness. She was a blonde who reminded me of my daughter, so I felt sorry as she was walking so hard, and I gave her a ride."

It was a completely unquestionable answer.

'In fact, there is no reason for the Duke to hide Julietta.'

Killian's eyes sank coldly again, as he expected that he would find out where Julietta was.

After sneaking across the scene, Duke Kiellini raised the teacup again which he had put down, and asked as if it were nothing, "Are you doing this because of the maid who you are looking for?"

Killian carefully put away his face in order, and answered the Duke's question. "Yes."

"What great sin did the maid do? You ordered all your forces to search for her."

"That's not going to happen. As you know, she almost fell into a conspiracy of someone unknown. She's an important witness because we haven't been able to find out who was behind the scene yet. But now that she's vanished completely, we need to find out if she's involved in something else, or they're doing it to get rid of the witness."

Killian's sense was telling him not to trust the Duke completely. At present, there was no doubt about the Duke at all, but it was rather awkward without realizing what was wrong.

The Duke nodded as if he understood Killian's answer.

"I see. The maid I gave a ride to got off as soon as she arrived in the city. I don't think she's the one you're looking for, but if you ask the driver, he'll show you exactly where she got off."

It was a neat answer beyond doubt.

As he had passed by her, he had given her a ride, thinking of his daughter, and dropped her off as soon as he arrived in the city. Of course, it could be true. But why was it so annoying?

"Sure. I'll send someone over. I'm sorry I've been holding you too long this late at night."

The Duke stood up at the call to leave. "If it is not an opportunity like this, when will I be alone to talk with you again? Now that I've come all the way to Bertino, I'm sure you've guessed what I'm going to do."

As if to block Killian's suspicion, the Duke expressed his support. "I would have told you that I wouldn't think of if it had been a while ago, but now I'm determined to be grateful for the Duke's support. Please give me a good favor in the future, too."

When the Duke stepped down, Killian called in his aides, who were waiting in the bedroom connected to the drawing room.

"How is it?"

"The blonde maid is the most suspicious at the moment, but her hair color is different."

When Killian asked, Adam answered, "Is there no chance it might be a wig?"

When Count Valerian spoke, Oswald shook his finger as if it could not be true. "Would you wear a conspicuous blonde wig when you are on the run? If it had been me, I would never have done such a stupid thing. And where did she get a blonde wig as a maid?"

"Well, if she was helped by someone, we don't know."

Killian gave an order at Adam's words. "See if there was a blonde maid in the castle and find a woman of similar features, centered around where Duke Kiellini let her off."

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"Do I have to wear a wig?"

Not long after she threw off her stuffy wig, Julietta had to put a black wig back on. It was a high-quality wig that was different from the previous one, but it was still frustrating.

"Your blonde hair was revealed when you left the gate, so the Prince`s knights are searching for a blonde maid. I don't want to be swept away by unnecessary turmoil, so stay that way until you get out of the capital safely."

Julietta's mouth closed like a clam when she heard that the Prince was looking for her.

"What the hell have you been up to? They're looking for a girl who ran away."

Julietta shrugged at Mrs. Raban who clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "I don't know either. I almost died in a trap before I left the castle, and I think that's why they're looking for me."

Julietta lied because she thought she'd be sent back if she told the truth.

Mrs. Raban didn't know why the Prince was still looking for her, and it seemed that he had not made much noise yet. What a disgrace! The Prince Bertino was looking for a girl who had run away because she didn't like him. The whole of Austern was disturbed by the searching.

As Julietta gave her answer, the Marquise hit her slender shoulder harshly with a fan.

"Again, again. I can't believe you're doing this. It's impossible for a noble princess to shrug her shoulders so often in such a crude manner. Didn't you say that you would do the job as much as you received? But can't you fix a habit like this?"

Three days had passed since she had arrived at the house where the Marquise had stayed temporarily.

The only servants and maids of this small house were Simone, a maid named Vera who looked the same age as her, and an elderly driver. They seemed to be very loyal to their master, and had served Mrs. Raban for nearly twenty years. Even so, the party a noble lady brought was so small that she would know how secret this was going.