Chapter 50

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Lucile glanced at her husband's handsome profile as he closed his eyes and smiled.

Valente looked pleased.

--- He had always wished for Jace's happiness.

Ever since he disposed of that foolish father...

Does Valente realize that Lucile can't keep secrets from him?

She notices things because she is always by his side, supporting him—his nervous habits, the words he mumbles in his sleep, and the occasional stern look he gives. They have been together since their engagement was decided when they were 13. No matter how hard he tries to hide things, she always knows.

Lucile never told Valente, but she was often approached by her father-in-law.

That man was good-looking, confident, no doubt. But knowing his incompetence, Lucile found him repulsive.

Fortunately, Lucile wasn't as meek and reserved as she appeared. When she said, "I'll consult with Grandfather," her father-in-law would back off.

However, if this kind of thing were to be known by her family, they would likely tell her to divorce. She had no one to confide in, and it was a source of worry.

Valente's mother had died of illness. Lucile heard that her life was plagued by her husband's incompetence.

--- If only I could have freed her while she was still alive. It's a pity.

If her husband was going to do nothing, Lucile thought she might have to take matters into her own hands. To her, a peaceful retirement for that man would have been too lenient.

--- But, in the end, things turned out as they did.

Her husband's method was simple, and therefore less likely to be suspected.

The overbearing father-in-law grumbled about the extra charges for the exterior wall repairs for a long time. Thanks to that, no one suspected a thing—though some of the old servants might have noticed something.

No one questioned it.

No one would have.

Everyone wanted that lord gone.

Everyone testified.

"Lord was concerned about the exterior wall. He always went to check it. There was nothing unusual."

No one mourned the lord's gruesome remains.

Not even Lucile.

The lord didn't know that he had made enemies of the people in the domain by using bat-repelling herbs.

Valente studied both law and herbology at the academy.

He told the domain officials that he had plans to increase the cultivation of bat-repelling herbs and moved to provide subsidies to the village chiefs. It was costly and time-consuming.

But the lord had squandered money on gambling and was heavily in debt for the domain. Valente, being a student at the time, might have thought about exposing his father.

--- At that time, Grandfather was still alive. If we had acted then...

The law of the country prioritizes parents over children. It's difficult for a child to expose and bring down a parent. Therefore, it should have been done while Grandfather was still strong. Besides, that man was skilled at clinging to his position as lord.

During the time of the foolish father-in-law's embezzlement.

The old, retired former lord beat the father-in-law with a cane, almost to death. But the lost money didn't return. The grandfather must have regretted not passing the estate to his grandson instead of his son.

But when the father-in-law cried and begged for forgiveness, the grandfather forgave him—this was a mistake.

Lucile, as a fiancée, had seen this happen.

Valente finished his studies early and returned to the domain to marry Lucile.

After the retired grandfather died, the father-in-law no longer hid his incompetence.

The cultivation of herbs was always opposed by the father-in-law, who said, "I won't pour money into just some grass growing around here." Herbs are not just grass; they protect the lives of the people.

He was a man who didn't understand such things.

--- Valente might think Jace knows, but it's fine...

Sometimes, an outsider can see things more clearly.

Those brothers respect each other too much.

Moreover, Valente seems to think he did it all by himself, but that's not true.

The morning the lord's body was found, Lucile found withered grass on the balcony.

It looked similar to the herb used to repel magical beasts.

Lucile knew.

The dead lord often ordered the servants to bring him the herb to repel magical beasts.

The servants always replied apologetically, "The herb is in short supply."

They would never give it to him.

The lord never left his room after dark, but the servants and guards did. It was clear who needed the herb more. So, they never gave it to him.

When he demanded it loudly, they would give him a similar herb to deceive him.

Lucile quietly stepped on the withered grass to hide it and pretended to pick up a dropped handkerchief.

If the investigators found out that "a fake herb to repel magical beasts was dropped," it would be a big problem.

Later, she threw it into the garden.

Valente might have set up the accident that led to his father-in-law's death, but that was all. If there had been any flaws, the accident wouldn't have happened.

There were many flaws.

To Lucile, it was a trap so loose that it could hardly be called a plot.

It was the kindness of her gentle husband towards his family.

The trap was made from the lament of a legitimate son who had such a father, and the hopelessly foolish father himself tightened the escape route of the loose trap.

If that man had learned about the magical beasts in the domain as a proper lord.

If that man had even a little concern for the people.

If the father-in-law had thought about getting the plasterer to repay the money, he wouldn't have gone out on the balcony. A proper lord wouldn't have begrudged the people the money they had earned.

Especially, if that man had obtained the herb to repel bats, the father-in-law wouldn't have died. It was his own fault that he couldn't get the herb.

Lucile didn't care who killed that man. She just knew that her beloved husband wanted to bear the blame alone.

He believed it was his duty. So, he kept it to himself.

Lucile, thinking, "I love you for that," stroked her dozing husband's hair.

◇◇◇

Jace returned to his dormitory after the arranged meeting.

--- Once I get married, I'll have to move out of this dormitory.

I'll rent a small house.

He suddenly thought of his brother and sister-in-law, whom he hadn't seen in a while.

They came especially for his arranged meeting.

--- It's good to see they're doing well.

They had a hard time when Father was alive.

There were times when he felt guilty for leaving the domain, filled with magical beasts and that father, to his brother.

He tried to help as much as he could, but living in the capital had its limits.

When he heard that his father had died after a big fight, he felt relieved.

He felt guilty for feeling relieved about losing his father, but he couldn't help it. He just felt relieved.

He was glad.

When he heard that his father had been killed by a bat while checking the exterior wall at night, he couldn't believe it.

That cowardly father?

During the day, he wouldn't go to places with many magical beasts alone.

Yet, he neglected the guards who protected the domain from magical beasts.

Jace thought his father was the worst lord. Being his father made it even more frustrating and intolerable.

That man went out on the balcony at night? At the time when bats were flying around?

--- If my brother wasn't such a clean and upright person, I would have thought he did it.

It was impossible for his brother. Despite being his brother, he was a perfect person. Fair to everyone, wise, with foresight, and skilled in swordsmanship despite his gentle appearance.

--- They said Father was drunk. He probably didn't feel much pain or fear.

He might have still carried that weed as a talisman.

Several times, his father showed Jace a weed he had picked and asked,

"Does this herb that repels magical beasts work on bats?"

It seemed like a joke. In the Merlo domain, even children wouldn't confuse weeds with herbs. It was a matter of life and death.

Only those who lived comfortably within the estate could afford to not know the difference.

So, Father would call the herb to repel magical beasts "just a weed."

Jace had no proper answer for that man.

"Most magical beasts are repelled by it. Why don't you ask Brother?"

He said it sarcastically. Father couldn't ask Brother. If he asked, Brother would answer.

"Give me a budget to create a herb field if you need it."

--- The drunk Father probably forgot the fear of magical beasts with the help of alcohol.

I thank the god of alcohol.

Jace laughed bitterly to himself, mocking his own lack of sentiment.