Ethel didn’t want to believe that she had spent more than the entire day being dragged around like a ragdoll by Duchess Irene and Fleur. Apien had fled as soon as he could and took her katar before she had the chance to protest.

When the sky had darkened considerably, Ethel immediately wanted to go back to her lodging.

“Thank you for all your help, Your Grace.”

Duchess Matilda waved her hands dismissively. “Nonsense! You are like family to us. And you don’t know how long i’ve waited for this day to come.”

“Wow, mother. Don’t you have 3 daughters? Why are you acting like all of us are sons?” Fleur complained.

“That’s because you all are. Because my daughters inherited the genes of Cyprus, there was never a chance for me to dress all of you up. That is what I am both proud and frustrated with.”

Duchess Matilda sighed. She hadn’t had the chance to pamper and spoil her daughters at all. All of them were hard-headed and didn’t grow up like normal children. Her eldest daughter wanted to become a professor, her second eldest daughter wanted to study the art of the spear and ran away to Ernon, while her dear youngest daughter had plans to become an engineer.

She is immensely proud of this, but because her children were often away from home, the Duchess was left a little lonely in such a huge estate.

Ethel didn’t want the mother and daughter to quarrel and interjected, “Well, I’m glad Your Grace feels that way but I really must go. I still have something to do.” She bowed and opened the door.

“Don’t say it like that, dear. Where are you currently staying at?”

“It would be better if you could stay here with us. Your safety would be guaranteed- not that you need to but this is the capital! You never know what dangers might lurk around here,” Fleur persuaded as she held onto the arm of her comrade.

Ethel smiled apologetically. “I appreciate the offer but it wouldn’t be proper. Besides, I have to pay a visit to a nearby store before they close. Maybe next time, Your Grace.”

“But-!”

The Duchess shook her head and sighed. “And I assume you’ll also refuse my offer to dinner?”

Ethel nodded apologetically.

“I promise to make it up to Your Grace next time.”

Fleur crossed her arms. She was sulking again and left even before Ethel could say her goodbyes. The Duchess smiled. “Don’t mind that child. She’s been terribly bored in this house and haven’t had the chance to go out because of her grandfather.”

“I understand, Your Grace.”

“Stay safe, dear. Although the security has tightened, with the influx of people coming, there are bound to be stowaways. I hope you don’t get caught up with them.”

“I won’t, Your Grace.”

“Them, take care.” The Duchess sent her off by the front door and watched as she was escorted to the gate by one of the knights. Ethel waved goodbye until her figure disappeared from sight.

Walking home, Ethel realized that she had to return to the estate before the upcoming ball in four days. She still lamented over the loss of her dagger to Apien, that horrible little thief. In an alley that intersected between the two districts of high nobility and commoners, she bumped into a hooded figure.

The hood fell off and revealed a boy that looked to be about her height, except that he was terribly pale and sick. She noticed the blood dripping from his shoulder while he struggled to catch his breathing.

Ethel wanted to ask what happened but heard the shouts of other men from the vicinity. It was likely that he ran away. Prisoner or not, but the bleeding in his shoulder incapacitated him. He wouldn’t have been able to go much further.

She used her vitalis to sense the men’s footsteps. None of them were aware that she used vitalis so that meant that they were ordinary mercenaries, or perhaps slave traders.

“Boy, I am going to save you since I’m feeling kind today. Don’t move.” Ethel wrapped his figure in the hood and immediately went back in the other direction. Despite the baggage she carried, her moves were quick and light.

In addition to her strong physique, the vitalis in her body made up for the drain in her stamina. She didn’t stop until she couldn't sense the men’s footsteps anymore. Ethel stopped and judged their surroundings. They stopped near the lake district where ferries bring in goods to warehouses.

Ethel sat the boy down and removed the hood. It was a good thing she had some knowledge of first aid and quickly applied pressure to the wound before wrapping it up with cloth from her satchel.

“This won’t do. I need to get you to the hospital if I want to save you…”

Unfortunately the hospital was at the other end of the district. If she wanted to take him there, then her vitalis would be drained by the time they got there. She was kind, but not that kind!

Ethel looked down at the sweating figure. There was really nothing extraordinary about him. He looked like any random commoner from the street and he was so malnourished it was hard to see any value in him.

“Are you a thief?” she muttered. But she had already saved him. In any case, it would weigh on her conscious if she ever let him die. Even if her vitalis is drained, the only side-effect would be weakness and fatigue for a day.

She sighed. “You’re lucky I’m here.”

Then, she set off for the hospital.

The next morning, Ethel felt her body ache all over. It was like all the muscles in her body screamed overexertion. She sighed as she laid on her bed.

After taking the boy to the hospital and paying for his treatment, she left a note for the boy and returned to the inn. If the boy had any sense, then he would visit her after he had recovered, and if not… she saved quite the ungrateful boy.

She hadn’t had the leisure to think about the upcoming competition, nor did she ever realize that Fleur had already told the other participants that she was here in the capital. What would await her in the Cyprus estate was not only the Cyprus family, but of her friends that were furious of her arrival.

But as of now, she slept all day in bed.

When she awoke the next morning feeling invigorated, she went downstairs and received two letters from the shopkeeper. These letters were from the headmaster, Wyles Finnigan, and her benefactor, Count Vankef.

She scrunched her nose in disgust when she saw the letter from Count Vankef. He was probably going to tell her to acquaint herself with a bunch of nobles now that she was in the capital. Ethel ignored the letter and read the one from the headmaster.

Dear Ethel,

I hope you’re doing well there. I was informed by the Baron that you had decided to join the competition as a substitute and I couldn’t have hoped for a better candidate such as yourself. If I can guess, you’re scowling at me for not telling you of the close relationship between the Baron and I. That is, to tell the truth, Kapfem is my nephew. He had been originally tasked to stand guard over me, but I insisted he teach given his talents in training young people. Oh, look at me, blabbering at my age. Instead, I know you’re especially anxious to find a clue in your little investigation. And so I will give you a clue. There is an informant guild by the name of Snapdragon hidden in the Empire. If you can get them to tell you what they know, then you will have gained an ally.

Sincerely,

Wyles Finnigan

Ethel frowned. She hadn’t heard of Snapdragon before. All she knew of right now was the death of the Duchess and the assassination of the deceased First Princce. She crumpled the letter and burned it by the hearth.

At least now she gained a clue.