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Chapter 190
Later, it was revealed that the man was an official working in the government.
He had close ties with local influential figures and recommended Carmen to Count Setabara, the lord of the region where she lived.
At the time, Count Setabara was troubled by the fall of his long-standing business partner, Count Schmidt.
His trusted partner had vanished like mist on the gallows, leaving Count Setabara in a difficult business position.
Having lost a crucial ally, Count Setabara had no choice but to align himself with Schmidt's successor, Viscount Ida.
There was no better way to solidify trust between the two families quickly than a marriage alliance.
Count Setabara subtly proposed a second marriage to Viscount Ida, who gladly accepted.
The problem, however, was that Count Setabara didn’t have an unmarried daughter of the right age.
He tried seeking a suitable candidate from his extended family, but only received refusals.
There were already uncomfortable rumors circulating about how Viscount Ida had secured his lordship.
No maiden would willingly choose to become the second wife of a middle-aged man who already had grown children.
Thus, Carmen became the replacement.
Those planning to turn Carmen into a noblewoman mistakenly believed that her exotic features, unfamiliar to them, would seem appealing to Viscount Ida.
Moreover, Carmen could speak the Imperial language.
To Count Setabara, who had allied himself with Ida but didn’t fully trust him, this was an added advantage.
Under Count Setabara’s watchful eye, Carmen learned basic etiquette, general knowledge, and essential refinement as a noblewoman.
Thanks to her foreign background, she didn’t need to be fully immersed in noble culture.
Even if she made mistakes, they would be brushed off as her struggling to adapt to a foreign land.
Count Setabara, generously overlooking Carmen’s shortcomings, gave her one crucial piece of advice.
“Pretend not to understand the Imperial language, and speak as little as possible with the Viscount. Your low birth might slip through.”
And if she happened to overhear any careless words from Viscount Ida, she could relay them to him, too.
Count Setabara’s smile held a sharp edge.
In truth, this offhand remark revealed his genuine intent.
Though it might anger Viscount Ida, Carmen was relieved to serve a purpose beyond a mere fake relative.
At least as long as she proved useful, her safety would be ensured.
Count Setabara, perhaps worried that Carmen might defect from afar, treated her with a surprising degree of decency.
He often checked on her progress and won her favor by ensuring her family was well cared for.
Toward the end, he even left her with this piece of fatherly advice:
“Everything in life, depends on how you handle it.”
It was sound advice, and Carmen took it to heart. She needed every ounce of resolve she could muster.
Before sending her off to a foreign land, Count Setabara assigned a few loyal aides to accompany her.
Among them, a maid named Amaia made quite an impression from the start.
Amaia's origins were mysterious; she carried herself neatly and acted submissive, yet she didn’t radiate the usual sense of servitude.
More importantly, her reflexes were extraordinary.
The day Carmen saw her snatch a flying croquet ball barehanded, her suspicions deepened.
‘She’s probably insurance, just in case.’
After all, if Carmen were to marry Viscount Ida and become his wife, she would gain an independent status, free from Count Setabara.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Count Setabara had planted a watcher, wary of potential betrayal.
The opportunity to confirm Amaia’s true identity came sooner than expected.
On their way to the Ida territory for the wedding, the party was ambushed by bandits.
It was an accident borne from the worsening security after the change of lordship.
Despite a sizable escort, the unfamiliar terrain made the battle difficult.
Everyone was unprepared for such dangers, given Count Schmidt’s strict security measures in the past.
As the situation became increasingly grim, fear seized Carmen.
She thought, Perhaps this is her punishment for trying to live lavishly by faking my birth.
While Carmen was cowering, Amaia, who had been by her side, suddenly pulled out a dagger and a longsword from under her seat.
She looked at Carmen, who stared back wide-eyed, and warned her sternly,
“When I leave, lock the door right away and stay down on the floor here.”
Though she spoke respectfully, her commanding tone and gesture toward the floor held no hint of deference.
But Carmen nodded feverishly as if following divine instructions.
After confirming Carmen’s response, Amaia opened the carriage door and stepped outside.
Carmen quickly latched the door and pressed her forehead to the floor.
Outside, the sound of clashing blades, flesh being pierced, and pained groans continued for a while.
And then, everything fell deathly silent.
Even so, Carmen couldn't bring herself to lift her face from the floor.
A moment later, someone approached the carriage and rattled the locked door.
As if remembering the warning she had left behind, Amaia revealed herself in a calm voice.
"It's me, my lady."
Though it was clear that she had saved Carmen, Carmen felt a surge of fear rather than relief.
Gathering her composure with effort, Carmen hesitantly lifted herself and opened the door.
In reality, this crude lock could easily be broken with a little force.
“Wh-what happened?”
Carmen asked in a trembling voice, and Amaia stepped aside slightly, allowing her to see the scene outside.
Carmen nearly fainted at the sight.
Aside from the two of them, no one else had survived.
“E-everyone… is dead?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“But… just a while ago, there were still… so many people.”
Despite the sudden ambush and their disadvantage, they were a noble wedding procession with an escort.
Her last memory of looking outside showed several guards valiantly fighting, even making noticeable efforts.
So how was it that now, in this very moment, only Amaia stood before her unharmed?
If Amaia had assisted the guards, more survivors should have been present. Conversely, if she lacked the strength to turn the tide, she should have met the same fate as the others.
Sensing something odd, Carmen instinctively averted her gaze from Amaia.
Perhaps Amaia had realized that Carmen had figured something out.
Reaching out as if to help Carmen stand, Amaia extended her arm.
“Rest assured, my lady. Changing the bride at this point would be troublesome.”
Instead of taking her hand, Carmen stared at the floor with wide, shaken eyes.
After a long silence, Carmen spoke in a trembling voice.
“Aren't… aren't you one of Count Setabara’s people?”
Among the procession was a trusted subordinate of Count Setabara, sent along as a representative.
Whether he had died at the hands of the bandits or if Amaia had taken other measures was unclear, but one thing was certain—she had made no effort to ensure his survival.
What if she trusted this mysterious person, only to find herself disposed of without warning?
Terrified, Carmen stammered as she continued.
“And this attack, did you…?”
Amaia let out a faint sigh, gazing down at Carmen.
After a moment of silence, as if weighing the situation, she finally offered an explanation.
“This ambush was nothing but an unfortunate accident. I took action against the others to keep my identity hidden. You needn’t worry that I intend to harm you. As I said, you’ve become irreplaceable now.”
“So, so… you are with the Count?”
“I am in an alliance with him. But my allegiance lies with those above me, not the Count himself.”
“…”
“The reason I’m telling you this now is because nightfall is approaching. Before any beasts catch the scent of blood, I suggest we move.”
Don’t waste time with needless stubbornness. That was the warning in Amaia’s gaze.
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