# 43
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The café Tidian recommended was known for its seasonally served fruit cream cakes.
The two ate fig cream cake, the current seasonal menu, with coffee and chatted.
The topic of conversation was mostly about Charlotte's whereabouts.
“We have to think of another way to find Charlotte.”
After Elinor proved her worth, Matthias would periodically receive information from her.
But despite the frantic efforts of the Duke's followers to track down, no news came of finding Charlotte.
Although Hilliard and Elinor's Information Syndicate, who knew the original story, were searching together.
'It seems that the power of the Holy Artifact is stronger than I thought.'
No matter what Charlotte did or where she went, her traces were completely erased.
"If this continues, I don't know how long it will take to find Charlotte. Current methods are very ineffective."
“I agree with you on that point, but unless we're using the baby, this is the best way, right?”
In an instant, Elinor's gentle eyes turned into a sharp look.
I muttered angrily.
“Don't even think about touching the baby.”
“I didn't mean to touch him like that.”
Matthias realized he had spoken wrongly and waved his hands.
"I'm serious. I no longer think about using the child. I too, in my own way, have become attached to the child."
“I'm being honest, can't you believe me? Wasn't I usually so nice to the kid?”
Elinor did not abandon her doubts, but Matthias was right.
He no longer intends to use the child directly.
After the long time he spent with them, there was a change in Matthias' heart as well.
'I wondered if the baby meant something special to Miss Charlotte.'
When Elinor revealed her past to the Grand Duchess, Matthias realized that Charlotte was a slightly different person than he thought.
The Charlotte he met in the capital was the embodiment of saintliness.
She was always kind and courteous in front of people.
She cried when she saw patients, and loved newborn babies.
So, he thought that threatening her relatives would force her to obey.
'But who would have thought that it was Charlotte who abandoned the child and ran away?'
Does Miss Charlotte have no motherly love?
Of course, maternal love does not arise automatically by simply having a child.
But for Matthias, who always puts family first, it was disappointing in many ways.
Even his momentary interest in her had completely dissipated.
“…Charlotte was always full of dreams. She wanted to visit many places.”
said Elinor, reluctantly withdrawing her skeptical glance.
"She might still be traveling in search of what she loves. So, I thought, instead of us chasing her around places she might go, why not have her come here?"
"how?"
“There is a big event planned in the fiefdom, right? A dueling tournament.”
The annual jousting tournament in the Hilliard fiefdom.
Although the fiefdom has a closed policy due to the pollution problem, it opens its doors to outsiders during the dueling tournament.
The tournament held here has been a prestigious event with a long history.
"The only problem is that Charlotte doesn't like swords very much. A fencing tournament alone won't attract her interest."
“We need an extra incentive, then.”
"exactly."
After a short thought, Matthias spoke.
“If we open the Five Color Garden, it might attract her interest.”
Elinor's eyes widened.
The Garden of Five Colors is the name of a primitive cave located in the fiefdom.
The cave contains a variety of gemstones, and when the sun reaches the middle of the sky at midday, light streams through an opening in the cave's ceiling.
The light reflects off the gemstones, illuminating the interior with bright colors.
The scene was so magnificent that an emperor wrote a poem describing the beauty of the Garden of Five Colors.
"It hasn't been opened to the public, including the fiefdom's residents, in over ten years. Don't you think that would be incentive enough?"
"certainly."
Charlotte, who loved beautiful things, would be tempted, especially if it was announced to only be open during the week of the jousting tournament.
“So…”
Elinor continued the discussion with sparkling eyes.
With hopes of meeting Charlotte soon.
This picture captured Matthias's attention.
* * *
The meeting ended successfully.
Elinor rarely felt satisfied with the day she spent with Matthias.
“Let's go back now.”
"Good."
In an elevated mood, Elinor bought Tidian a box of lemon madeleines.
Because she couldn't recognize anyone, she bought cakes as gifts for Cornelia and the Grand Duchess as well.
With this high mood, she ended her journey.
“This all happened because you weren't careful, sister!”
"Keep your voice down, Tidian. How dare you yell at your sister like that?"
“Both of you, calm down and first think about how we will reach His Eminence… Oh, my God.”
The Duke's palace was in chaos when they returned.
The palace's private doctor was surprised to see Matthias and Elinor returning.
Tidian's eyes widened, and Cornelia froze in surprise.
So did the maids standing next to them.
'What's going on?'
The atmosphere in the room was strange.
Elinor smiled gently as if she knew nothing.
“I'm back. I bought this for us to share. The lemon madeleine and fig cream cake that the young gentleman said was delicious.”
“Ah…”
“Where's the baby?”
When Elinor asked, there was silence.
Everyone was avoiding Elinor's gaze.
Then Elinor realized that this strange atmosphere was connected to the child.
She looked around and said:
“Where's the baby?”
“...Well, the thing is...”
“Get out of my way. Now.”
Elinor rushed, past the people, towards the child's bed.
Fortunately, the baby was sleeping peacefully in the bed.
But there was one problem.
There was a white bandage wrapped around the child's arm.
"What is this?"
Elinor's face hardened.
“Why is the baby’s arm wrapped in a bandage?”
“Well, the thing is...”
“Is he hurt?”
Matthias approached her side and asked the doctor.
His face reflected a coldness that might seem cruel to someone who didn't know him.
But the doctor, who had served Matthias as master for a long time, knew.
His master would become overly calm when he got really angry.
'This is a big problem.'
There was already a rumor that this child was the duke's illegitimate son.
'Why did this particular incident happen...!'
The doctor swallowed nervously.
Then he politely brought his hands together and opened his mouth with difficulty.
“There was an accident. So the child’s arm was slightly burned...”
"Burns? What happened to cause the child to get burns?"
“It's all because of my sister Cornelia!”
Tidian couldn't restrain himf and screamed.
“My sister spilled tea on the baby! Hot tea!”
Elinor's face turned pale.
“You spilled tea...on the child...?”
“It wasn't intentional.”
Seeing Elinor's shocked expression, the senior maid quickly added.
"It was just an unfortunate accident. The child was treated immediately, wasn't it, Mr. Doctor?"