In the plan that Shard and the doctor had discussed in advance, there was already this necessary step of Shard being targeted early. The doctor, who was used to making multiple contingency plans for everything, had even thought through how to protect Shard. But as things stood now, those measures of his were temporarily unnecessary. And this battle that was supposed to erupt on the weekend could at this moment only be considered to have just begun its warm-up.
"However, since it has already come looking for me, it probably won't go..."
After crossing the Saint George Stone Bridge into the city, Shard took a carriage to the Belindel Estate. Only today the Countess had business and had gone out early with the Maids, so when Shard arrived at the estate he only saw Emilia.
