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Chapter 65
Was it because the words that came out of Robert's mouth were unexpectedly surprising?
Iona replied with an expression that was not an answer.
"My mother?"
“You're not an adopted daughter, you're Count Modrov's illegitimate child! I know everything. I know who Dame's real mother is!”
Robert shouted furiously. It seemed like he wanted to attract her attention somehow.
'My mother.'
Iona pondered over the awkward word.
Was it because she had never actually met her before?
Iona had never deeply thought about her birth mother. She simply guessed that she was just one of the women Count Modrov had always met on the streets.
In fact, Count Modrov often used Iona's mother's background as a pretext to belittle Iona.
Iona asked with an interesting expression on her face.
“How do you know about my birth mother?”
“Dame, I'm the second son of my father. How could I have gained the trust of the count, inherited the title, and even became the deputy lord? It's thanks to sharing a secret that shouldn't be revealed.”
Thinking that Iona took the bait, Robert elaborated on the story.
It was indeed rare for a second son to succeed to this extent in a noble society where primogeniture was the norm.
When Iona didn't deny it, Robert's eyes sparkled as he approached her.
"Well, aren't you curious? Who your mother is, and why she abandoned you..."
"It's intriguing. Your creativity in making up stories to survive."
Iona said admiringly.
While it was true that Robert presented quite an interesting scenario, Iona never trusted the words of such a person.
Robert, who read the disbelief in Iona's eyes, jumped up in frustration.
“Do you think I am lying?”
Iona responded with silence.
At that, Robert hurriedly opened his mouth again.
“Yes, your age. I even know how old you really are. In fact, you are older than Nils. It means that you have known your younger brother as your older brother.”
It was a story that wasn't entirely frivolous.
Iona was locked up, cut off from the outside world, until she entered the imperial palace.
There was a date that she was told that it was her birthday, and there was no evidence to refute it even if the actual date of birth was earlier than that.
But if that were true, a question arises.
The former countess gave birth to Nils exactly ten months after the wedding with Hayden. If Iona was older than Nils, it means that she was conceived before Hayden became her husband.
However, even though it didn't change the fact that Iona was an illegitimate child, but at least the Count could avoid resentment that he had committed adultery after marriage.
Why did Hayden insist on deceiving Iona about her age and taking responsibility for his own wrongdoing?
“Come on, let’s make a deal. Send me into exile. Once I settle safely, I will tell you everything I know. Isn't it valuable enough to be called a secret about your hidden birth, something you didn't even know existed? Huh?"
Beads of sweat trickled down Robert's forehead as he pleaded with Iona.
With the hope that she would let it slide by this point, he looked at Iona earnestly.
Considering that everything he had said so far was the entirety of the facts he knew, his proposition itself was a scam. However, it didn't mean that he had completely made up a story.
There was a time in the distant past when Count Modrov traveled here and there as if he had a thorn in his side.
Shortly before the wedding, instead of immediately heading to the capital, the Count stayed in his territory for a while. Thanks to that, Robert, at that time, was often taken by his parents and frequently visited the lordship. It was because the adults had calculated that it would familiarize the future head of the family and prepare him in advance.
Of course, Hayden had no interest in the troublesome little boy.
If it weren't for 'that incident,' Hayden probably wouldn't even remember Robert's name properly.
"Hey, can you tell Mr. Hayden that a guest has arrived?"
In that respect, it was truly an extraordinary coincidence that the woman who came with the child happened to call for Robert. Even now, looking back, it was an incredible stroke of luck.
Perhaps from the woman's perspective, the naive little child of uncertain age felt safer than others.
In fact, until that point, Robert didn't fully understand what the situation he was in meant.
Robert agreed to the woman's request and, following Hayden's order to keep their meeting a secret, he didn't tell anyone about that day's events.
Until he grew old enough to realize that the deal was completely mismatched.
'Anyway, it was lucky, whether I like it or not..'
Hayden didn't kill Iona or send her away. To smoothly navigate that unnatural situation, he needed some proper maneuvering.
In return for protecting Hayden's secret, Robert gained a reliable backer in Count Modrov.
And perhaps, Robert thought that he might be able to overcome the crisis by using it once again.
"Do you want to exile?"
Iona asked with a voice that couldn't be guessed at the intention.
Robert quickly nodded his head as her words ended, fearing what would happen if he didn't.
“It doesn't matter which country. If you help me settle down safely, I will keep what happened today a secret for the rest of my life.”
“There must be no lie in that statement.”
Robert's face instantly brightened.
He nodded his head several times, assuring her that there was nothing to worry about.
“Right now, the security in the territory is tight, making it difficult to escape. You'll have to hide here for a while. Can you stay unnoticed?”
"Of course."
"What you need to do is pass the information through the man you saw earlier. He will guide you to the destination."
To think that he had to accompany the man who knocked him out and kidnapped him for a long time.
Robert felt a bit uneasy, but he had no choice but to accept it.
If Iona had made that decision, he had no other choice.
Iona left Robert behind, who had completely calmed down, and went outside.
The man who had been sent out earlier was guarding the front like he was watching.
Iona spoke to him.
“In two days, when I leave for the capital, the security will be low. Take the subject to a new location at that time."
Considering the period during which Robert had been acting as the deputy lord, the amount of embezzled funds was significant.
Since they couldn't touch the Count's funds, Iona planned to temporarily hide the money where it couldn't be found.
For that to happen, Robert needed to roam outside diligently and divert attention.
“Are there any changes to the plan?”
In response to the errand man's secret question, Iona quietly affirmed.
"Yes, leave a trace in the port of Ture, then dispose of him at sea."
She pretended to consider the proposal in order to make Robert obedient, but her determination to deal with him had been firm from the beginning.
Even if his claim about knowing the true identity of her birth mother was true, it didn't matter.
Anyway, even in the past life, Iona did not meet her birth mother until the day she died. Was there any other expression as empty as the name of her mother?
Whether she lived or died, whether she had been forced to abandon her daughter, or circumstance unavoidable, Iona was not willing to take the obvious risk just to get the answer to those questions.
***
The serfs Iona had captured were released safely less than a day later.
Those who expected to be beaten, even when they did not, were dumbfounded by the unexpectedly merciful treatment.
However, when they went outside, there was separate news that was even more astonishing. It turned out that this time, the suspicion had fallen on Baron Franz.
A soldier explained the situation to them, who looked puzzled.
"He was accused of embezzlement. It seems he made people work as farmers but recorded that he received rent as usual in the account book. And he gulped down all the remaining money himself."
"What? So that's why we were suspected of producing less grain?"
"Yes, the auditor who came this time was the Count's adopted daughter. She was incredibly thorough in her work. She could tell at a glance that there was a problem with the account book and could identify who was telling the truth and who was lying. Ah, what's her name?"
--- End Of The Chapter ----
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