Chapter 60

It is read as "zan ki." Shame and remorse.

Father's business trip is dragging on. As usual. Father seems to be really frustrated.

After the audience, Kishutaria joined Julius, who was waiting in the waiting room.

The waiting room, despite its name, was a grand and spacious room with a heavy, imposing atmosphere. However, it also gave a sense of oppression. Julius, standing straight with his back, did not seem intimidated.

He was looking at a portrait of a woman with a cold gaze.

At that time, before the Megil flu epidemic, there were still many royal family members with the royal eyes.

The woman depicted was one of them, the queen of the second-to-last king. In the Kingdom of Sandis, the queen with the most noble eyes was said to have existed, yet the king of that time was fond of women and had many concubines and secondary wives, even expanding the harem multiple times.

His overly promiscuous relationships with women led to a fierce struggle for the throne. Ironically, it became somewhat better due to the Megil flu, which claimed many lives. The bloody and muddy struggle for the throne, where blood was shed for blood, ended with the deadly fever.

The queen of Vayu, where Albertina once resided, was also said to have been there.

When Julius noticed Kishutaria's return, he quickly bowed and took his position.

"Julius."

"What is it?"

"Can you expose the rats disguised as servants in our house?"

"Give me a little time, and if you can temporarily remove the guards. So, you suspect that line?"

Julius nodded without much surprise.

It seems this man also suspected that line. His competence is evident in that he did not say it was impossible.

Latine, who is now in charge of the Latitche mansion, probably cannot leave the house because she is considering that line. She cannot leave the house in its current state, with the marks of the attack still fresh. It would be disastrous if there were a counterattack.

"There were too many intruders. Moreover, for that troublesome woman to come to the house where Albert was staying, what are the odds?

It seems there must be an insider."

"Money, a title, or perhaps a weakness in a romantic relationship. The servants of a duke's house should be much better trained than those of other houses, shouldn't they?"

As Kishutaria calmly stated his thoughts, Julius nodded with a cold, cruel smile on his handsome face.

"There's a high possibility that they have already fled.

Also, it's unlikely that Renaria planned the crime systematically. There must be someone acting as a strategist.

It's also concerning how easily that woman escaped from the prison.

I don't think someone who caught Father's eye could escape so easily, and Duke Fortuna's anger didn't seem like an act.

Is there someone who has infiltrated the core of the country supporting her?

How is she getting people? She shouldn't have the money... ...

There are many who hate her for bringing down Prince Lucas, but there shouldn't be many who are happy. Even Empress Ophelia, who should be the happiest, has suffered a significant blow because Prince Leord got involved with her."

"Most likely, she's luring them with the rumored sweets. It seems to have a rather severe addictive property."

"Can such people be used? When I saw the thieves, their eyes were quite strange. I don't think they can think rationally."

"There shouldn't be a problem as long as they are disposable."

At least in Latitche, they would never be used. Even if they were to be used and discarded, people who might leave unnecessary information would not be used even in the shadows.

Since Albertina's doting has increased, the selection of Grail's people has become even more stringent.

"About those sweets..."

"Yes."

"There were people with similar symptoms at a slave trafficking site. I thought they were drunk at the time, but was it a coincidence?"

"Are you suggesting that they attacked to reclaim the seized items... ..."

Moreover, the Latitche mansion was filled with the key figures who had cracked down on slave trafficking.

If there were revenge targets among the people with weakened rationality, and if there were items called sweets that they were obsessed with, it was possible they would take the bait.

And, though it is unpleasant to think, if there were insiders among the Latitche servants or guests, it would not be impossible.

"They called it a water pipe. It's traded at a high price, so it might be a source of funding for Renaria.

If it has addictive properties and can drive people to madness, it's not impossible."

"Water pipe... Yes, such things are commonly used in Goyulan.

However, I've heard that they are more addictive than regular tobacco.

I've also heard that similar addictive substances are used to stimulate war slaves or to excite sex slaves."

"Moreover, Goyulan is a country with a large slave industry. It wouldn't be strange if it flowed in along with the slave trafficking."

"It is also a country known for its spices, herbs, and traditional medicines. I've heard that poisons and medicines are a fine line, so it's possible they were mixed in."

"Albert has been interested in cooking, and the import of spices has increased significantly in recent years.

In the Kingdom of Sandis, even ordinary seasonings and spices might have unknown properties."

Such things are often used in the preparation of magical potions. The effects can change depending on the addition of magic power or attributes, or the timing of the herbs.

Even magic arrays can change dramatically in power or fail to activate with just a slight change in the arrangement of the characters.

"Let's investigate the possibility that the components have changed due to special mixing, roasting, or processing."

"Are there enough people?"

"I have a wide network. Information is money for merchants. I'll show you how it's done."

"I appreciate it. I have a bad feeling about this."

It's as if, with the absence of the man called the country's devil and guardian, incidents are happening one after another.

There are not only stampedes but also human-caused troubles in other places.

(... It's as if Father is being held back? Still, it's taking too long. Father has never been this late. He was always the first to sense and rush to Albert's crisis... ...)

Kishutaria shakes his head, suddenly realizing.

What am I thinking? Father is not here now. The terrifying and reliable duke is not here.

Only I can show the power of the Latitche ducal family. If I don't show the greatest power to protect Albertina, she will be devoured in no time.

Mother Latine is in charge of the house.

As the lady of the house, she cannot leave that place carelessly.

"I'm going to meet Mikaelis. He must be worried about Albert too.

There might be some useful information.

I have more connections among the nobility, but the information among the knights and soldiers is stronger on his side."

"You might also want to ask Jibril. Women's gossip can be surprisingly reliable."

"Understood. If you return to the house, please tell Mother about Albert.

She seems to love Albert more than me."

"Your usual behavior."

Julius said with a smile.

Every time Kishutaria touches Albertina inappropriately, Latine calls him for a lecture. He has seen her kick the table with enough force to break a heel many times.

A robust and healthy son, beautiful in appearance but black-hearted, gazes at the delicate, fragile, and soft deep-house maiden with a love-stricken look. Albertina, who has no sense of crisis, dotes on Kishutaria as a younger brother and tolerates his excessive touching.

Albertina, with her fluffy and carefree smile, unlike a noble lady, clings to him without a care.

She is surely more adorable than the junior devil with his cunning and schemes.

When Latine first came to the Latitche ducal family, she was stiff and timid with Kishutaria.

She was a weak and unfortunate beauty, but now she exudes an imperial presence. Albertina adores her as a kind stepmother, but she is the Duchess of Latitche. It is a white marriage, but she has been Grail's business partner for over ten years. She is not like any ordinary noble woman.

She has the backbone to speak firmly to Grail himself.

She would not be shaken by just anyone.

The tea party held at the Latitche ducal mansion, which also served as a consolation event, was attacked, but none of the guests were harmed. Of course, the intruders who had infiltrated as guests were tied up, but no one was injured in the attack. Some of Latitche's guards were injured, but Latine, as the host, maintained her composure and kept the guests calm. The guests were also calm, and the lack of unnecessary panic minimized the damage.

When she heard that Albertina had been taken away by Duke Fortuna, Latine's face turned pale. However, she made a quick decision and sent Kishutaria and Julius immediately, saying she would take care of the house. She is handling all the responses to the ransacked house and the surrounding area.

Latine, who is well-versed in the social world, must be very worried.

Suddenly, he heard voices arguing.

Kishutaria, realizing they were coming from the corridor leading to the Vayu palace, involuntarily turned his gaze.

He saw someone he did not want to see. The massive, muscular figure with a strong presence. There is only one person in the castle with such a back. He is so robust that it is questionable whether he is a noble.

A knight and a civil servant were desperately trying to persuade Duke Fortuna.

It seems he was sitting in a position just outside the barrier. For quite a while. He was wearing a large sword that could be seen from a distance. Upon closer inspection, he had changed from his formal attire for the audience to a simpler, more practical one.

He casually picked up the civil servant, who was getting more and more agitated, and threw him into the garden. Despite being the size of an average adult male, he handled him as if he were a small child.

As if this were a signal, the knights pounced on Duke Fortuna.

He did not have any weapons and was trying to run away. That makes sense. The bear duke is of an extraordinarily high rank and is so large that it is almost unbelievable. In every way.

For a while, soldiers and knights were crying and attacking Duke Fortuna, only to be knocked down, thrown, or swept away.

At that moment, something shiny fell from Duke Fortuna. It fell in a radiating pattern into the bushes. It was about the size of a slightly larger button or a smaller pocket watch.

Duke Fortuna, seemingly unaware, glanced at the numerous fallen bodies around him with a look of boredom. Then, he returned to his position just outside the barrier and stood there.

Do I have to meet him every time I visit Albertina?

It's really unpleasant. I'll probably be interrogated, and I don't want to meet him at all. The feeling of relief from seeing Albertina will plummet to the mantle. Albertina would also dislike seeing him as soon as she goes outside. She would lose the desire to go out and would not want to remove the barrier.

Because of that man, Albertina is in this place.

She is being forced into a position she does not want in a place she does not want to be.

Because of that man—It's an excuse.

If it were Grail, he would rescue Albertina as easily as breathing, without hesitation.

No matter what anyone said, he would counter with a sharp retort and never be shaken.

No matter who the opponent was or what the situation was, he would remain unwavering.

Kishutaria cannot do that.

He lacks confidence, ability, and resolve.

Even if he could see Albertina, he could only offer comforting words and nothing more. He can only deceive.

He hates himself for this. He feels even more miserable and hates himself for hating Duke Fortuna out of frustration.

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