If word of this got out, then her fragile relationship maintained by her two sons would shatter completely.
She did not want to lose the man, Stein.
Definitely not to his concubine.
That was what she was most afraid of, rather than her secret being exposed.
“…ther?”
‘No, that cannot happen.’
“Mother!”
The second son of the House, Lloyd, was shaking her shoulders.
“Hm? What is it?”
“We were talking about Riley. Are you alright, Mother?”
There was worry shown on his face.
Perhaps it was due to his mother not looking too well.
“No, no. I am doing fine.”
“You seem quite sick.”
“It might be due to lack of sleep. What happened yesterday, was simply too much for me.”
Orelly lied as if she weren’t aware of what was going on.
She hadn’t revealed even to her sons that the body in front of her room was related to her.
“Even in death, he brings such harm to us. Of all places, to die in front of your room.”
Lloyd grumbled.
“Have some rest, Mother. I will stay by your side.”
How could she tell him that she is the daughter of a cruel assassin?
Impossible.
“No, there’s no need. I’m more interested in our previous conversation. It was about Riley right?”
Orelly smiled back at her worried son.
“Ah, yes.”
Lloyd nodded.
“Apparently, Riley had a go with a sword yesterday.”
“Oh, Riley did?”
“It was before the body was found.”
Lloyd scratched the back of his head.
“Well… It was probably because of the poisoning that happened to Lady Iris. That seemed to be the reason. I guess the lazy child became quite enraged that time. Haha.”
“So? How was it?”
The edges of Orelly’s eyes twitched, albeit faintly.
She was already well aware of the story, told to her yesterday by the hooded man.
But, hearing it from her son had a different feel to it.
“…It was abysmal.”
This time, she had a faint smile on her lips.
“Oh, is that so?”
This was it.
The proof that she was superior to the concubine Iris, that she should be the one who received the most love.
Iris’s son was a pathetic, useless plebeian, while Orelly’s sons were both able swordsmen.
This alone was enough to prove her presence in the House.
“Hoho, that’s how it is.”
Orelly’s eyes turned towards the windows.
Outside, she could see Riley sleeping on the apple tree in the garden.
It was as if the thought of learning swordsmanship was out of question.
***
Late afternoon in Iffa village.
For some reason, there were multiple carriages lined up within the village.
They all looked quite luxurious.