THIS IS WHERE I SPEND THE MOST TIME...
...MY VERY OWN SECRET AND PRIVATE SPACE.
SERVANTS AREN'T ALLOWED IN HERE EXCEPT TO CLEAN.
BUT IT'S A PLACE MY FIANCÉE CAN EASILY BURST INTO.
ISN'T THIS THE ABSOLUTE PERFECT SPOT TO LEAVE TRACES OF OUR SECRET RENDEZVOUS?
COMING IN SO CLOSE ALL OF A SUDDEN...
I NEED TO DODGE HIM BEFORE I GET CAUGHT OFF GUARD AGAIN!
I-IT'S NOT BAD.
RIGHT?
IF SOMEONE WERE TO DISCOVER A STRANGE WOMAN'S PERSONAL BELONGINGS HERE,
ANYONE WOULD HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SUSPECT AN AFFAIR.
I'LL TAKE A LOOK AROUND.
A MIRROR WOULD BE GOOD.
A MIRROR?
YOU'D NEED A MIRROR TO FIX YOUR DISHEVELED HAIR AFTER A SECRET MEETING,
BUT THERE ISN'T ONE HERE.
SO IT'D BE BEST TO LEAVE A HAND MIRROR HERE.
FINE, LET'S DO THAT.
IT'S COZIER THAN I THOUGHT... I EXPECTED IT TO BE DESOLATE.
<ALL ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESSL>
<TREATMENTS FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS>
<HYSTERIA AND MADNESS>
THESE ARE THE TRACES OF EVERYTHING HE BUILT UP FOR HIS MOTHER.
ALL ALONE...
IT'S A PAINTING I BROUGHT BACK FROM TERETA.
I TOOK A STRANGE LIKING TO IT.
THE BLAZING RED SUNSET OVER A BARREN WASTELAND.
WELL, SIMPLY PUT, YOU COULD CALL IT A TROPHY FROM THE BATTLE OF TERETA.
EIGHT YEARS AGO, RUMORS BEGAN TO SPREAD THAT A MASSIVE GOLD VEIN WAS BURIED IN TERETA,
A LAND PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED UTTERLY USELESS.
BLINDED BY GOLD, NEIGHBORING KINGDOMS STARTED A WAR TO CLAIM TERETA,
AND THE EMPEROR OF GARCIA DISPATCHED A MASSIVE IMPERIAL ARMY TO QUELL IT.
BUT THE WAR, WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO END QUICKLY, DRAGGED ON FOR THREE YEARS,
AND TERETA BECAME EVEN MORE DESOLATE AS IT WAS SWEPT BACK AND FORTH BY THE TIDES OF WAR.
THE HERO WHO EMERGED AT THAT TIME AND LED THE WAR TO VICTORY
WAS DUKE LEOPOLD OTERO.
I THOUGHT... THE ONLY TROPHY WAS PRINCESS TERETA.
RIGHT. PRINCESS ELEONORA, WHO IS NOW THE CROWN PRINCESS, WAS THE ONLY ONE.
AT LEAST, ACCORDING TO WHAT'S KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC.
YOU SHOULD TAKE A GOOD LOOK RIGHT NOW, SHOULDN'T YOU?
THIS MAN RELIES WAY TOO MUCH ON HIS HANDSOME FACE.
LOOK BEHIND YOU, NOT AT ME.
THE BOOKSHELF OPENED?!
W-WHAT IS THIS?
AN EMERGENCY EXIT. AS YOU CAN SEE.
THERE'S AN IDENTICAL SECRET DOOR IN MY BEDROOM THAT LEADS HERE,
AND DOWN BELOW, IT CONNECTS TO THE CARRIAGE HOUSE ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
IF YOU'RE EVER AT RISK OF HAVING YOUR IDENTITY EXPOSED,
YOU CAN ESCAPE THROUGH THIS DOOR.
LET'S HOPE IT NEVER COMES TO THAT.
TO THINK I'D BE DROPPING LIPSTICK IN THE CARRIAGE I RODE IN ONCE AGAIN.
IT'D BE BEST TO LEAVE A HANDKERCHIEF IN THE BACK GARDEN.
UM, BY ANY CHANCE...
HAS THE DOWAGER DUCHESS GOTTEN ANY BETTER?
WAS I WRONG TO ASK?
AS ALWAYS,
SHE'S DOING FINE.
AH, I-I SEE... THAT'S A RELIEF!
I WAS JUST WORRIED...
WHY ARE YOU WORRYING WHEN SHE ISN'T EVEN YOUR MOTHER?
WHAT? I-WELL...
VIOLETA, DON'T CROSS THE LINE. STICK TO YOUR JOB.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, A PATHETIC PLAN LIKE DROPPING PERSONAL BELONGINGS DOESN'T SATISFY ME AT ALL.
HE WAS ALL FOR IT EARLIER, AND NOW HE SAYS THIS.
IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE IT, YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING.
IF I SAY IT, WILL YOU LISTEN?
W-WELL, TRY TELLING ME FIRST.
NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY TO LEAVE EVIDENCE OF AN AFFAIR LIKE THIS,
MY SHARP-WITTED FIANCÉE WILL FIGURE IT ALL OUT ANYWAY.
THAT IT'S ALL JUST A STAGED ACT.
SO,
LIKE THIS...
...WE HAVE TO MAKE IT LOOK REAL.
The Duke presents his private study, forbidden even to servants, as the ideal place to leave traces of secret meetings. The woman plans to leave items such as a mirror, hand mirror, lipstick, and handkerchief. The medical books, the Tereta painting, and war mementos in the room reveal the Duke's past. The secret escape route behind the bookshelf is revealed, but the question about the dowager duchess heightens the tension, and the Duke decides to make the affair look realistic, saying fake evidence will not be enough.
