Livius sat at the opposite end of the table, staring at his older brother with a glass in his hand.
Michel Carter was so busy fulfilling his duties as duke in the absence of the master of the house that he had not even been able to come down for dinner last night.
As a result, he spent the rest of the evening working, and his appearance even cast doubt on whether he had gotten any rest that night.
Nevertheless, despite all his busyness, the young man still took care of his appearance, as befitted the heir to the family, and was dressed immaculately. Even his perfectly ironed clothes emphasised his attractive appearance.
However, it was not for this reason that Livius found it difficult to take his eyes off him. Nervous, the duke's second son did not even find the cutlery on the table in front of him at the first attempt.
— Why aren't you starting to eat?
The sudden voice of his older brother startled Livius, and he almost dropped his fork.
Michel looked up and stared at him intently. Bruises were visible under his eyes, the result of a nearly sleepless night.
— Oh, yes...
Livius blushed and looked at the food on his plate. He couldn't even look his brother in the eye and felt awkward, as if he had been caught doing something inappropriate.
When Michel broke off a piece of bread and stirred his soup, he couldn't help noticing that his younger brother, having started to eat, had unexpectedly picked out a steak.
— Livius, since when have you been eating meat? — he asked in surprise.
— What...?
— As far as I remember, you've never eaten meat before because you felt sorry for animals, — Michel remarked, puzzled.
At that moment, Livius looked at him in confusion, because it was a surprise to him too. He didn't know why, out of all the dishes, he had decided to choose meat. It happened involuntarily.
Until then, throughout his entire life, the young man had adhered to a strict vegetarian diet out of compassion for animals. Livius had not eaten meat for many years. But this time, he involuntarily put a piece of sliced steak in his mouth and did not even notice it.
The young man was confused and did not even know what to say.
— It's because I haven't been feeling very well lately, and the doctor said it might be due to iron deficiency. So I decided to change my diet a little, — he finally came up with an excuse.
— I see. So now you're eating meat on your doctor's advice?
— Yes...
Michel looked at him intently, then nodded as if the question didn't matter much. After drinking half a glass of shaman wine, the young man looked around and frowned.
— Where's Katrina? Why isn't she down for breakfast yet?
The heir to the duchy noticed that his sister was still missing from the dining room, even though her place setting had been laid. Since he hadn't been able to spend any time with her yesterday, Michel now felt a little guilty, so he had deliberately come down for breakfast early today to see his sister. But for some reason, she wasn't there.
The moment his sister's name was mentioned, Livius almost choked on the piece of steak he was eating. Nevertheless, after chewing and swallowing the piece with difficulty, he replied as impartially as possible:
— Sister Katrina? Brother, you don't know this, but she has already left.
While Michel was pondering this question, his younger brother suddenly stunned him with this news.
— What? She left? — Michel asked sharply.
— Yes, she left last night...
— But why? Wasn't she going to talk to our father?
Since Livius had been preparing for this conversation most of the night, he now tried to answer as confidently as possible, and it was almost impossible to tell that he was nervous.
— My sister told me that she changed her mind and decided to go back home because she still has things to do there, — he replied awkwardly.
— But why didn't she even tell me? — asked Michel, confused.
— My sister said she didn't want to distract you from your work, so she asked me to tell you...
After these words, Michel Carter pressed his lips together. He was silent for a moment, then sighed. His face reflected an expression of doom.
— If I had known she was leaving so soon, I would have spent more time with her yesterday, — he muttered. — She's probably angry with me now...
— Brother, don't think like that, — Livius objected. — Sister Katrina knows how busy you are, and I'm sure she understands.
After listening to him, Michel sighed deeply again.
— You're probably right... — he nodded. — I must be thinking too much.
After this conversation, they ate breakfast in silence for a while, and then Livius finally plucked up the courage to ask his older brother a question:
— Brother Michel, will Father be back soon?
When Livius asked this question unexpectedly, the heir to the duchy looked somewhat puzzled, but answered nonetheless.
— He was supposed to return today, but this morning I received a telegram in which my father informed me that due to matters related to our family business, he would be delayed for another day, — he replied. — Why do you ask?
It was a little strange, as the young man had not previously shown much interest in such things.
In fact, apart from the occasional lunch together, the duke and his younger son hardly ever saw each other.
— Nothing serious, — replied Livius immediately. — It's just that my father doesn't often go away for so long, and I was worried that something might have happened...
As soon as Michel learned the reason for his concern, he sighed and said,
— In that case, don't worry. It's just a small problem that our father will soon solve.
— Ah, I see. I thought so.
As Livius nodded, thinking about it, Michel rose from his seat.
— I'll leave first.
— Yes. Have a good day, brother...
With these words, Michel left the dining room. After all, the duke's eldest son was so busy that he couldn't even find time to eat breakfast properly, so he had to leave to get back to his duties as soon as possible.
Livius simply looked at his empty chair and put down his plate. He didn't feel like eating anymore either.
The young man got up, having eaten less than half of his portion, and soon left the dining room as well. Then he quickly made his way to his room.
Shortly after Livius returned to his room, Morris came to see him.
He had come to report on the work he had done.
— Sir, the servants who came with Lady Katrina will no longer cause any trouble.
— What did you do to them? — Livius asked quietly.
— Sir, I don't think you really need to know.
Livius Carter sighed. In the end, his servant had acted without hesitation, and in this extraordinary situation, it could be said that it was only thanks to him that he had been able to save himself and keep his position. But the young man still couldn't understand one thing.
— Why are you helping me? — he asked cautiously. — You're even willing to do such terrible things just to save my reputation...
Morris's face was expressionless.
— Sir, isn't that how it should be? — he said calmly. — I am your personal servant and must help you in everything.
Hearing this, Livius smiled crookedly. After all, even in a job like serving someone, there had to be some limits. But it seemed that such things did not matter to his servant.
— Are you really doing this just for the money?
For Morris's work, which included secret machinations behind his family's back, Livius paid him large sums of money.
Much more than a servant of his position could normally earn. Nevertheless, it was difficult for the young man to believe that a man could commit such terrible acts solely for financial gain.
As if thinking the same thing at that moment, the servant smiled involuntarily.
— Sir, do you really think I would risk my life for money? — he asked. — What we did was truly a terrible crime, and if it is discovered, we will not get away with it. Yes, I need money, but not enough to risk everything I have.
— Then why are you doing this? — Livius couldn't help asking.
Of course, the duke's second son couldn't believe that Morris was just an extremely loyal servant, willing to do anything for his master. After all, he wasn't that stupid or naive and understood that such things didn't happen.
— Sir, in truth, I do have one goal.
— And what is that?
— Once you have achieved your goal and become the head of the Carter family... — The servant paused before continuing, — I also hope to take my place beside you.
Livius's eyes widened and he blinked several times.
— In other words, you want to become the duke's right-hand man after I become duke? — he asked slowly.
Morris only nodded. Livius couldn't help but smile. Well, it was a fair price.
Many servants fought for the position of personal assistant to the head of the family, and only the best of the best could get it.
Not to mention that this was the Carter family, one of the most influential in the empire. Of course, the career path from assistant to the insignificant younger son of the family to confidant of the duke himself was truly inspiring. In other words, Livius could now fully understand his motives.
Finally, he nodded slowly, agreeing to these terms.
— All right. I understand. In that case, I promise I won't forget you when I bring this matter to a conclusion.
The servant smiled slightly at him.
— But, my lord, you still don't know the whereabouts of Lord Michel's natal chart?
— No. I was unable to do so yesterday.
The young man sighed in disappointment.
Yesterday, when Livius had secretly entered the duke's study and been caught by Katrina, which ultimately led to that tragedy, he had originally entered the room for that very purpose.
It was extremely important to get hold of his older brother's original natal chart, because without it, all the evidence that Livius had already gathered would be meaningless.
However, there was a problem. Even after searching the entire duke's study, the young man was unable to find anything.
— Sir, are you sure you didn't find any clues...? — Morris asked him.
After thinking for a moment, the duke's second son hesitated and said:
— Actually, there is one place. It's my father's safe.
— His lordship's safe?
— Yes. But to open it, you need a code, and I don't have it.
This was, in fact, the main problem that forced Livius to leave his father's office empty-handed.
— In that case, do you know where it might be? — asked the servant.
— No, — he sighed, — Since it's my father's safe, where he probably keeps important things, he's unlikely to have just written it down in a notebook or told anyone.
In fact, Livius doubted that even Michel could have that information.
Meanwhile, he really didn't have much time to spare. If the information he had received from Michel was true and the duke was to return to the estate tomorrow, the young man had very little time left to carry out his plan. After all, he didn't know when he would have another opportunity to sneak into Michael Carter's study.
Nevertheless, as the duke's second son was caught up in these complex thoughts, his subordinate suddenly said:
— Sir, I know a man who can certainly help us with this.
Livius was surprised to hear this.
— And who is this? — he asked immediately.
Without hesitation, Morris continued:
— He is His Highness's trusted subordinate, who surely knows all his secrets.
It was not difficult to guess who his servant was talking about. It was too obvious.
Livius licked his dry lips and said aloud:
— Geraldine.
Morris smiled smugly and nodded, as if confirming that his master's guess was correct.
In other words, it meant only one thing. Their next target was the butler of this family.