I Shall Master This Family's
45

Chapter 45

"Dead?"

Lulak asked again while pulling away from the back of the chair.

"Yes. Two days ago, he was found in the southern part of the Server River."

"If he was found near the water, would it be difficult to know his identity?"

"Although he was found near the Server River, the cause of his death was not drowning. Both hands tied ......"

"So it has to be done by humans."

Lulak clicked his tongue.

"What should I do?"

Caitlyn asked carefully.

"Now that the nanny is dead, what should I do?"

He muttered, and the look on his face was not good.

The Second Prince disappeared from the Imperial Palace where he worked, and for a long time, his whereabouts were unknown.

Apparently, Caitlyn felt very responsible for this work.

"Caitlin's."

"Yes, Lord."

"You just have to live your life. Then, when you find information that might be useful to Lombardy, you just need to remember it and tell me."

"Yet... ."

Caitlyn squeezed her dress so tight it tangled.

"Have the others heard anything, Lord?"

It was taboo to ask for information that others brought here.

The scholarship members brought a bit of information, so Lulak gathered them to hear it.

Knowing this well, Caitlyn ventured to ask.

"There is no other intention. It was only because the Second Prince's existence was of great importance to Lombardy, so......"

Even Lulak did not rebuke Caitlyn.

He just looked up and admitted that Caitlyn was right.

"Isn't that funny, Caitlyn. Even if he's a Prince, a child who doesn't even have a presence like him is someone I need."

It was a sentence of justification mixed with laughter.

The reason why Lulak was looking for the Second Prince was simple.

It was to examine the power of Angenas, that is, Empress Rabini.

The absolute most card the Empress had was that she was the Emperor's wife and mother of her only son.

The emperor seemed to have one more son, but there was nothing.

The Emperor's pretended ignorance of the seeds he sowed gave the Empress even greater opportunities.

"That's because I'm late to action."

Lulak disappointed.

If he had known a little earlier that the Second Prince's mother was dying, he could have put the Second Prince under Lombardy's protection.

Unwittingly, the Empress dared to interfere in Lulak's matter.

"Angenas kept lurking what was going on under my roof, but I had to let go of my hand and look! Ha!"

Rabini Angenas was involved in Lombardy affairs, pretending to be a supporter of Viese, but there was nothing Lulak could do.

Now it was very clear, the Second Prince was well hidden, so he could not even find a reason to face the Empress.

Lulak frowned.

"Is he dead...?"

It is said that the villa in the forest where the Second Prince lived with his mother had long been vacated.

The presence of the Second Prince and his servants was not seen in the abandoned separate palace, which was like a ruin.

Thus, Lulak ordered Caitlyn and the other scholarship members working in the Imperial Palace to find the existence of the Second Prince's nanny.

It was because he thought that the Second Prince and the nanny would be sent together somewhere on the land belonging to Angelas.

But the nanny was found dead in the southern part of the Server River.

There was a high chance that the Second Prince's body could not be found and was washed away along the river.

"In an Imperial Palace filled with adults, it shouldn't be difficult to find him and his servant."

Lulak shook his head and wailed.

The First Prince was the only child living in the Imperial Palace.

Lulak decided it was time to stop looking for the Second Prince.

"I heard from Young Miss ......"

Something flashed through Caitlyn's head as she listened.

"Yes! He said while attending the Empress' invitation, there was nothing pleasant. Except friends!"

Those were the words of Florentia, whom he had met some time ago.

Caitlyn thought about what she heard.

"She said she was sick, and alone..."

By ourselves.

Until now, under Lulak's command, they targeted searches on children and palace women.

It was because he did not think that the Empress would leave the Second Prince alone.

"But what if he hides the Second Prince alone, then moves the nanny to deceive us?"

Caitlyn carefully opened her mouth to tell Lulak, who seemed to be pondering.

* * *

"Grandfather, I'm here!"

I was just about to have dinner with Shananet and the twins after hearing the news that my father was late again.

The butler came and told me that grandfather was looking for me

When I entered the room, there was a simple meal on the table like last time.

"Tia we're here! I'm calling you to eat with this grandpa!"

"I like it too!"

Did I do something?.

Maybe he just wants to have dinner with his granddaughter.

I sat down next to my grandfather and started eating.

"Now, eat this too. This too."

Grandfather caressed my head as he pushed the delicious food in front of me.

"Eat yours too grandpa! It's delicious!"

When I put the third piece of meat in my mouth.

Grandpa who was looking at me, asked.

"Let's hear it, doesn't Tia have any friends?"

"A friend?"

"Yes, in the Imperial Palace."

I'm breathless.

I hid my nervousness while pretending to chew meat.

What is the reaction of an eight-year-old in general to his grandfather's question?

Gulp.

After swallowing a piece of meat, I put down a fork.

"How did Grandpa know that ?!"

I opened my eyes and raised my voice pretending to be surprised.

Young children still do not know about the complexity of adult relationships.

What I talked to Caitlyn about 'Friends in the Imperial Palace' had no other intentions, it was only because of my anxiety and longing for a friend.

I talked back to Grandpa.

He laughed while pinching my cheek slightly so that my cheek would not hurt.

"I heard it from Caitlyn. About a friend you didn't tell this grandpa. Do you know how sad Kakrk is?"

"Yes. I had a friend when I went to the Imperial Palace with my father before, it was when I got lost. I'm afraid of being scolded ... So ... "

"Are you lost?"

Maybe, dad didn't tell her

he considered the Empress and Emperor.

My dad was really good.

The problem is I can't be nice.

"Yes! Suddenly, the fearsome knights stopped the carriage and told me and my father to get off. They fought with my father and got angry! So I went down too, but I was scared..."

"I......."

As soon as grandfather heard it, he seemed to notice who was behind this .

He gritted his teeth and coughed when he saw my eyes.

Then he asked again in a soft voice.

"So, what kind of kid is Tia's friend? Is he a friend of Tia's age?"

"Yes! He's three years older than me! Ah-He has very dark hair and his eyes are red like rabbits!"

Grandfather's eyes no longer smiled.

I quickly added.

"When I got lost in the Imperial Palace, he helped me!"

"Yes? that's a good boy..."

"But my friend lives alone. Alone without a mother or a nanny. He looks so lonely and sick, Grandpa."

grandpa's hand stroking my head stopped.

"alone?"

"Yes! That's why she said she envied me for having so many families."

"Oh..."

But from my grandfather's reaction it didn't seem like he was going to run straight to the Imperial Palace, as I thought.

Damnit damnit!

At first glance, it looked like a sympathetic voice, but I knew the way grandfather spoke.

You have a lot of thoughts, right?

Maybe today the scholarship recipients bring a lot of information.

Everyone will go in when grandfather calls, and they will put what they know and come out.

If I leave it like this, I don't know how many days or weeks it will take grandfather to move.

No, I even doubt if he'll try to get involved with Perez.

But Perez doesn't have time to do that.

I originally planned to use the birthday gift voucher I had for 'going with grandfather to see my friend in the Imperial Palace'.

Although I told Caitlyn only a little information, it helped me by accident.

Unlike my father, it's not easy to persuade grandfather.

I thought about it for a while and made a decision.

I have to give grandfather a reason why he has to move fast.

"And......."

When I hesitated, grandfather convinced me.

"Don't worry. You can say anything to Grandpa."

I moved my fingers and said boldly.

"And he said he was sick. Someone hurt my friend..."

I lowered my head while making as many sad expressions as possible.

"Someone tried to hurt her ..."

Grandpa still didn't say anything.

I said again, holding my grandfather's sleeve.

"Grandfather, can't you help me?"

Of course, the grandson's sincere request succeeded, and the grandfather's cold expression trembled.

My grandfather, who was looking at me with a complicated face, asked in a soft voice.

"Who's your friend's name, Florentia."

He needs certainty again.

I answered again and again.

"Perez's. My friend Perez's name, Grandpa."

* * *

The moonlight night is very deep.

Lulak Lombardi poured a drink and looked out the window.

It had been a long time since his grandson Florentia had returned to his room, but Lulak's worries did not end.

When he found out where the Second Prince was, another thought approached him.

There are many things to consider.

The information brought by those who came before Caitlyn was entangled, and her mind was in a mess.

But it is because the issue of family that complicates Lulak's mind more than any politics and interests.

Lulak, who had emptied the drink in the middle of the road, stood up, and shook the bell.

After a while, the butler quietly opened the door and entered.

"John's."

"Yes, God."

"Is Viese back yet?"

He was the first son to ignore Lulak's warning and left with his wife and children early in the morning.

"That's...... ."

John the servant replied reluctantly.

"A little while ago, a letter came from the coachman. Looks like Lord Viese's family will be staying at the Imperial Palace tonight....... He seems to be attending the Imperial Palace banquet tomorrow night."

Lulak didn't say anything for a while.

The butler couldn't figure out what he was thinking, so he waited quietly, bowing.

After a while, Lulak said in a low voice.

"so. That's the decision he made."

Clik.

The sound of putting a glass on the window sill can be heard in the office.

* * *

"Tia? Tia, will you wake up for a second?"

I woke up rubbing my sleepy eyes with my shaking hands.

"Dad?"

The first thing I saw in the dark room was my father.

My father, who was wearing only a silk robe in his pajamas, woke me up with a confused face.

"Are you very sleepy?"

"Yes, it's okay. But why?"

"I think Tia should wake up earlier today."

There's no way my father would wake me before dawn for no reason.

I woke up like I was jumping into ice water while my father kept glancing behind the half-closed door.

I immediately got out of bed and opened the door barefoot.

Likewise, grandfather was sitting on the sofa in the dark living room.

"Eh, are you awake?"

Like a man who awakens from his sleep all day, a grandfather with a melodious voice is ready from head to toe.

When he saw me holding the doorknob, grandfather said with a smile

"Do you not want to go to the Imperial Palace with this grandfather, Florentia?"