Chapter 86 of 100

Chapter 86

14 min read3,606 words

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

In the reception room, Father and Kathryn faced each other across the table.

I will intervene if necessary with Caduceus, and I myself am prepared to step in... but if I can stay out of it, that would be fine.

Kathryn, with a twisted expression, said,

"What do you mean by that?"

"You know very well, don't you? Why would you deprive Byron of his inheritance?"

"If a noble from another house intrudes and behaves rudely, such a decision would be made. It was fortunate that the other party handled it peacefully, but I cannot be lenient in my judgment."

"---I will go and talk to them. Whose house is it?"

This reaction... Kathryn doesn't know about Byron's actions, does she?

"That's not the issue. ...You didn't know about Byron's actions, did you?"

"Of course not! I said I was going to greet the Marquess's family! When I returned, Byron was locked in his room! The servants wouldn't tell me anything! What do you expect me to know?"

After her outburst, Kathryn pressed her hand to her forehead as if to stave off a headache, her eyes wide and her mouth twisted.

"So---is that what you think? Didn't you secretly meet Theodore?"

Kathryn must have a reason for her own actions. If Byron would take such drastic measures, it would only be against me. Kathryn hit the mark.

"...It doesn't matter who the person is. If it was Theodore, Byron entered the house without permission, thinking he was a bastard."

"What's the problem with that?"

Father frowned at Kathryn's cold, narrowed eyes.

"Are you saying that if the other party was a commoner, it wouldn't be a problem?"

"I'm asking if it's serious enough to disinherit the heir."

"It is serious enough. It's a matter of his suitability as a lord, and Theodore is not just a commoner; he is now a direct vassal of His Majesty the King."

Kathryn, who had been told this, froze for a moment, her eyes wide.

Kathryn didn't know about my status, did she? The information coming in was limited because the servants had been replaced.

Standing up from her chair, she walked around restlessly with a look of disgust on her face.

"That's---because you didn't know. If you had told Theodore, he would have forgiven Byron."

"Don't be ridiculous. Theodore is a man of reason. If I had tried to use family ties to get him to be lenient, he would have rejected it and acted as a stranger. Besides, there were other nobles present. It's not just Theodore's problem."

"If emotion doesn't work, then offer a bribe. If you pile enough, it will be enough. If it's a lower noble, you can use the name of the Earl's family or---my own family."

"You---"

If appealing to family ties doesn't work, then bribe them. If they don't agree, offer more money. If they are of lower rank, use the names of the Earl's family or the Marquess's family to force them to kneel. That's what Kathryn is saying.

Indeed, there are those who will listen if you dangle practical benefits or power in front of them, but Father seemed to be at a loss for words at Kathryn's unhesitant statement.

"I'm just saying---there are other ways besides the one you've chosen. If we can get through this, Byron can still turn things around. Can't he?"

She's saying this as if she's reluctantly exploring a way for Byron to survive.

But this is the Kathryn I've always seen. She's showing a face she didn't show Father, but she's resigned to the fact that she can't avoid being held responsible and is being defiant.

Kathryn and Byron will probably never leave the earldom again. If things get worse, they might die of illness or accident, but I don't think Father would resort to such methods.

It's a bad nature to say this, knowing Father's leniency, which would allow him to avoid such a fate. If Father falls for Kathryn's sweet talk, he will become an accomplice.

Even so, this ease.---Kathryn hasn't given up. This is the ease of someone who understands the situation. If things don't go as she wishes, Kathryn will throw a tantrum. She must have some plan in mind.

"I---seem to have been wrong."

"About what?"

"I thought that everything you and Byron have been hiding from me was because it was Lisa's child---Theodore. I felt guilty, thinking that my own actions had come back to haunt me and affected Theodore. But---to you, if someone isn't a noble, they are no better than a stone on the road? Byron was the same... If that's the case, he can't be the heir."

That's right. Kathryn's thinking is---if you're not a noble, you're not a person.

Kathryn, who had already given up, laughed softly.

"Heh, heh. The duties of a noble---is that what you mean? It's a moldy ideal. You know, I actually hate it. There are others who do it better, so why should I?"

Duty. What duties does Kathryn bear, and who is she comparing herself to?

For example---marrying into the Earl's family. She was dissatisfied with having to clean up the Marquess's family's financial mess.

I don't know what the other siblings of the Marquess's family are doing, but I'm sure Kathryn would say they are "doing well."

Kathryn was very particular about rank and status. It was also a reflection of her dissatisfaction with such things. Her frequent remarks about the Earl's family's lower status and her own Marquess's family background were very telling to me.

Father opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words. It's not clear what he was going to say. Shaking his head as if to clear his mind, he spoke quietly.

"It's pointless to bring up grievances about our parents now. But this is the time. Can I ask you one thing? Did you manipulate the servants' appointments for your own tyranny? Or was it at the Marquess of Broderick's behest?"

"Well? If you're curious, why don't you have a magical inquisition?"

Kathryn smiled thinly. She seemed to be saying it knowing it was impossible.

The magic used in a magical inquisition is kept secret.

The number of people who can use it is limited, and the state knows their whereabouts. Calling them would be impossible.

It would be tantamount to exposing the private affairs of a noble family to others. Given that today's embarrassment of Byron must be kept secret, it would be a difficult proposition.

The reason for manipulating the personnel. It has a significant meaning. If Kathryn did it to have her way in the household---it would be a problem, but not that big of one.

But if it was at the behest of the Marquess of Broderick---it could be interpreted as the Marquess's family exerting strong influence over the Earl's family. In other words, it could be seen as a takeover of the Earl's family.

Whether they planned it from the beginning or took advantage of a possible environment, there is a difference.

In any case, it seemed difficult to get Kathryn to reveal whether the Marquess of Broderick was in the right or wrong.

"Can I see Byron?"

"...He's in the back room. I have the key."

As Father slowly stood up and turned away from Kathryn, the sneer on her face vanished. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a packet of medicine.

This is Kathryn's trump card.

A sleeping pill or poison, or perhaps some other kind of drug. The idea is to keep Father quiet and take some action. For example, to seek help from the Marquess's family. Or to cast a subservience spell on Father and slowly resolve the situation. Or perhaps this one drug could solve the problem on its own.

But it's naive. That's why I had Father wear Caduceus.

The sound of a cup falling on the carpet made Father turn around, and both of them froze.

"What---"

There, on the empty table, was Kathryn, staring blankly with a spoon in her hand, having spilled the powder from the packet.

Caduceus had pulled the cup from the side of the table, and Kathryn must have been confused.

It was clear what she was trying to do. To an outsider, it would look like she had dropped the cup due to nervousness.

"You---would go that far"

"I, I---"

This time, the smile disappeared from Kathryn's face.

"No! This is not what it looks like! I, I---!"

It's the same. It just had no chance of success.

"...Enough. I called everyone out to question your involvement in today's incident with Byron... but to betray me in this way."

Father's calm, matter-of-fact tone left Kathryn stunned, but the next moment, she seemed to have come up with a brilliant idea, and she put her hand on her chest and shouted triumphantly.

"If you lay a hand on me, what will Father say!"

What is she saying? It's impossible. Father, who seemed to understand, narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

"He won't say anything."

"Huh---"

"The senior servants you brought with you have already been dismissed. If the Marquess of Broderick was involved in the personnel appointments, they would have fled by now, knowing they were found out."

On the other hand---if they were not involved, the result would be the same.

"Even if they weren't. If they say anything, I can confront them with evidence of their embezzlement. If they protect you, they will be suspected of involvement. If they insist, I will stand up to them."

The servants Kathryn brought with her had actually committed embezzlement. If confronted with the evidence, they would have no choice but to remain silent and not protect Kathryn.

Kathryn turned pale, realizing that her family could not be relied on at all. But---

"What insolence! A mere country earl to the Marquess's family! Who do you think I am!"

As expected, she threw a tantrum. It means she's at a dead end.

From then on, it's incomprehensible. Kathryn was shouting something, but she was being held down by the servants and guards who had rushed into the room at the commotion.

"She seems to be in a state of confusion. Take her to a room and make sure she doesn't leave."

---That's enough. I can leave the rest to Caduceus.

Just to be safe, I'll have him collect a small amount of the drug Kathryn was about to use. We might be able to learn something from it.

"---You were here."

After a while, Father came to the room where I was waiting, as if nothing had happened in the reception room.

"Yes. I came to deliver this."

I handed over the forgotten item, and Father took it and smiled quietly.

"I see. Thank you for the trouble. I've been busy. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"No, it's fine. I was in the area anyway. I just stopped by."

"Did you finish your business?"

"Yes, I have."

"I see."

Father is smiling quietly, but---it looks so normal. I can't help but think that this kind of thing has happened before.

Thinking back to the conversation between Father and Kathryn, these words slipped out without me realizing it.

"The time when Mother and Grace and I lived together was the happiest time of my life."

Even if Father regrets not being able to bring Mother to the house, those days were precious to me.

No matter what anyone thinks or says about it, it's something that will never waver for me.

"I see..."

"That's why---I don't need you to feel sorry for me."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Father nodded, and I nodded in return.

"Well, I'll be going home today. We just had that conversation, after all. If you want to talk to me, come to the house."

I said this in a joking manner, and Father smiled a little.

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