Home Visit (5)

"Well, anyway, those are my reasons. As I talk, I can't help but wonder what your reasons are, Count…"

I suspect Godric for killing Leovald. So, what is your reason for targeting Godric?

I secretly guessed it had something to do with the Countess' death, but I threw out the uncomfortable question to prod for more information. Count Ertinez abruptly stood up, rattling the chair. While I calmly sipped my tea without reacting, the Count looked at Leonardo with a slightly disturbed expression.

"That means, Leonardo, you… have discovered something? Have you told someone else?"

As expected, poking the bear brings out clues. It became clear that the Count was pointing to King Godric as the culprit behind his wife's death. But had he not disclosed the details surrounding her death to his children?

Leonardo must feel like he's in a bind.

'Hey, Leo, can you help me out here?'

I whispered the lines.

"…I haven't told anyone. I only knew that you were hiding something, but your reaction just now confirmed that there's more to it."

'Good.'

The more you practice acting, the better you get. I leaned in again to deliver the next lines.

"…Why did you make plans without our knowledge, yet refuse to explain anything? Why won't you tell us your reasons?"

It was a bit clunky, but I complimented him with a smile at how he was managing to craft the situation quite well. Leonardo's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. Hiding behind the scenes, issuing directions, reciting the assigned lines—this situation felt like it was mirroring the work of writers. If you disregard the fact that the writers are omniscient and I know nothing, it's almost the same. Lost in thought, the Count spoke bluntly.

"That's a story you don't need to know."

For a nobleman like him to say that to his children—who would be most affected if he were to act against the king—seemed odd. Didn't he think it was strange?

"Could it be that you've been staying in El Dante all this time, and the sudden decision to run away was because of that?"

Well, the major reason for the escape a month ago likely stemmed from some sort of deal between the writers and the original Leonardo—perhaps a contract involving the use of a corpse.

In any case, the reason for running away—'discovering that the Count was plotting something treasonous'—didn't feel out of place, so I let the Count draw his own conclusions. The Count stood up sharply, almost brusquely, and turned his back to us.

"Whatever you think you've guessed, it's all a misconception. Don't try to know; don't concern yourself with it. Just live in ignorance."

His response was more stubborn than I had anticipated. It was clear he had no intention of listening further as he strode out of the room with cold footsteps. No matter how much I tried to say something to stop him, his pace was too quick to catch up. He seemed almost like he was fleeing. Left behind, Leonardo and I sipped on Vittorio's tea.

"The Count doesn't want his children to know about the plans," I said.

Leonardo tapped the table lightly.

"He must be worried that Godric is involved."

"Do you think King Godric has caused some harm to this family?"

Then Leonardo, after a moment of contemplation, replied, "Until he betrayed me, I never doubted the king. He was seen as a benevolent and generous ruler."

Indeed, since coming here, I had never heard anyone speak ill of the king. All I had heard were praises for his youth and his good governance.

"Seven years ago, the king was still in his teens, so there was little reason to doubt him. However, it makes more sense that someone capable of betrayal was hiding their true intentions for a long time rather than suddenly turning against us."

Hmm. It's possible he had been wearing a mask of goodness all along while scheming behind the scenes.

"If we come to understand the reasons behind the Count's plans, this mystery will also be unraveled," Isaac added before getting up from his seat.

"Let's go to your bedroom."

Leonardo looked momentarily bewildered but soon took the lead.

We entered one of the few bedrooms in the fortress, one located on the outer side. Inside, the room was spacious but had a chilly atmosphere. A tapestry hung loosely on the wall, drawing my attention. Leonardo pulled back the tapestry, revealing the bricks of the wall behind it. He began to exert force to remove the bricks.

A cold breeze swept through. This was the Lilium Fortress, reportedly one of the oldest buildings among the annexes of the Ertinez castle.

Given that the primary use of the fortress was for sieges, and that many lords had constructed secret passages to stealthily escape from surrounding blockades, the existence of such an ancient tunnel wasn't surprising at all.

Leonardo murmured as he gazed down the dark passageway that led below.

"You mentioned that wandering through this passage might allow us to overhear an important conversation between the Count and the Baron."

Take 2. Ertinez Castle (Night/Outside). After days of exploration, Leonardo ventures into the complex underground tunnels. As he passes through an old sewer, he hears voices near his head.

Baron Roald: "It seems news of the monster's rampage has reached the capital; there are rumours that the king will revive the old traditions."

Count Ertinez: "The old traditions…"

Baron Roald: "This matter could influence the uprising…"

Count Ertinez: "Lower your voice."

Leonardo: "(Inner thoughts, voice filled with doubt) Uprising?"

Since it was written in the notes like that, I needed to ensure that Leonardo could move at the right moment. As he explored the dark tunnels connected to the bedroom, he might overhear crucial clues. Even I thought it sounded rather vague. It seemed like something said in a half-hearted attempt to sound prophetic.

Well, even with such statements, Leonardo trusted me and spent some time wandering beneath the castle, listening carefully.

"I've provoked him by saying I know about the Count's plans, so today might be the day it happens."

The cold, damp air of the dark tunnel rushes to my face. As I mutter quietly, Leonardo asks,

"Are you planning to go with me?"

"Well, it's better to hear it directly and make my own judgment, right?"

"Are you sure it'll be okay?"

At those words, I suddenly turn my head to look at Leonardo. It's clear he already knew that I was uncomfortable in the underground. He wouldn't even know why I feel this way.

"It's fine."

I smile faintly, and he replies slowly.

"It's quite a busy night."

With that, we slid into the dark tunnel. The underground passage of the Lilium Fortress seemed to focus solely on the purpose of escape; it wasn't nearly as vast and complex as the maze in Sinistra. In fact, the underground of Sinistra was almost rumoured to be frighteningly expansive.

[Scenario sub-quest has been triggered!]

Main Objective: Explore the underground tunnels of Lilium Fortress (0/1)

Additional Objective: Eavesdrop on the secret conversation between Count Ertinez and Baron Roald (0/1)

Quest Participants: Leonardo, Isaac

Time Limit: 00 hours 30 minutes 31 seconds

The provided map wasn't as large as the one from Sinistra, which required a long scroll bar. I could see Leonardo ahead, walking with a lantern in hand.

Although the underground air stirred up memories, I was reassured by his back, knowing that this wasn't the time when I had to support someone who was dying, allowing me to keep moving forward. At a fork in the path, Leonardo spoke.

"Some paths are blocked, and others lead to strange places."

"Strange places? Where?"

"There's a path that leads outside the fortress, next to the stables."

"Oh, the one you mentioned you used to come meet me?"

"Yeah. Seems like it's one of the escape routes."

Nodding at his words, I opened the sub-quest menu. This time, it was like any other, with a map attached. From the map's layout, it seemed to connect to various parts of Ertinez Castle.

"If we use this tunnel well, we could move around with you and Vittorio without drawing attention during your isolation period."

At that, Leonardo seemed quite pleased. Lately, I couldn't help but think that Leonardo seemed a bit lonely being by himself. I knew that wasn't really his nature, but the thought lingered.

We passed through the winding tunnels that split into various paths.

"This is as far as I've come before," Leonardo said, stopping in front of a junction with three paths. I wondered which of these led to an unblocked route.

"Why don't you choose?" he asked.

"I have bad luck with choices."

"Well, maybe your luck has changed now, Isaac."

I decided to take the leftmost path. As we proceeded through the slightly ascending corridor, at some point, Leonardo halted and raised a finger to his lips.

Then, the whispers of began to echo around us.

***

Creak. 

Stepping on the wooden floor, the Count moved towards the desk and sat down. His low voice, filled with worry, was drowned out by the sound of someone arriving.

"Count."

Baron Roald tilted his head, noticing the Count who seemed to have just returned from somewhere.

"Did you go out at this hour?"

"…It's no big deal."

With a wave of his hand, the Count signaled that he didn't want to discuss it further, and the Baron approached without asking more questions.

"So, what's the matter?"

"Oh, as you instructed, I sent out the letters. It still seems difficult to approach the capital."

"…That makes sense."

"And about the recent monster sightings. It seems it's not just an issue in our territory. The news of the monster's movements has reached the royal castle, and there's a rumour that the king is planning to revive the old traditions."

"Old traditions…"

"This could potentially affect our plans for the uprising, couldn't it?"

"Lower your voice."

The Count held his aching head and spoke to the Baron.

"About the uprising, I think we need to keep things more discreet for the time being. A troublesome situation has arisen."

"What? What do you mean…?"

"It seems that Leonardo has caught on to something."

Baron Roald wore a shocked expression.

"Could it be that the young master has figured it out? Then what about the Countess…?"

"I don't know how much he knows. But if he discovers everything, I wonder if that boy will be able to handle it."

Count Ertinez murmured lowly, holding his head in his hands.

"If he finds out that I killed his mother, Veronica, and understands how all of this came to be… I can't even begin to imagine what might happen to this family."