Chapter 87

"Hmm... What exactly are you talking about?"

Macbeth's thoughts had momentarily halted in shock, but the cunning old man quickly regained his composure and tilted his head as if he had no idea what was going on.

"I have served the kingdom since the time of the previous king. There's no way I would collaborate with the empire now."

"That's true. Neither His Majesty the King nor anyone else doubts your loyalty. Even my father... even Chancellor Rockwood Marcel never doubted that you were as loyal as he is."

"…So, you didn't come here by your father's command?"

Macbeth had assumed that Melitina had been sent by her father, Rockwood, but it seemed he was mistaken.

"Yes, I am here by the will of Prince Raidor, the king's younger brother."

"Prince Raidor's..."

Macbeth's face twisted in confusion. Indeed, Melitina had been arrested for her rudeness to Raidor and was supposed to be imprisoned in the frontier city under his jurisdiction. If that was the case, it wasn't unnatural for her to be acting on Raidor's orders.

"Does that mean Prince Raidor suspects me of being a traitor?"

"Yes, that's the case."

"Heh heh, what a misunderstanding. I haven't spoken to His Highness since he was exiled. Even if I had been collaborating with the empire, there's no way he would have noticed."

Macbeth laughed heartily and stroked his proud white beard.

"It seems His Highness has become suspicious after his long life on the frontier. I'll forget about this, so please go back now."

"That's not possible. Actions speak louder than words. Please take a look at this."

"Hmm?"

A maid in a maid's uniform stepped forward and silently laid out documents on the table. Macbeth, who had been looking at the documents with a puzzled expression, soon distorted his face in shock.

"What... nonsense! How did you get this!?"

In his shock, the mask of the kindly old man had slipped off. The documents on the table were something that should never have been there. They were the papers hidden in a secret room in this mansion, which would lead to Macbeth's downfall.

"Hehehe... I never thought that someone as esteemed as Lord Macbeth would be leaking information to the empire. And not just recently, but for decades..."

"Ugh, grr... No, this is...!"

Macbeth tried to cover up, but it was too late. It was clear from his demeanor that the documents were genuine.

"You built a secret room in the basement of your mansion, locked it, and even set up a spell to burn all the documents if the door was broken... Such caution. It's no wonder you managed to deceive the entire court, including my father. A setup like this could only be broken by a legendary witch."

"..."

Macbeth's deeply wrinkled face twisted even more, and he silently clenched his fists. The old man, who had been biting his lips until they turned white, finally let his shoulders drop in resignation. It wouldn't be difficult to dispose of Melitina here, but with Raidor behind her, it would be impossible to cover it up.

"...How did you realize I was a collaborator?"

"I didn't realize it. I assumed there was definitely one traitor among the high-ranking officials and searched each of their mansions in turn. I didn't suspect you at all, so you were the last on the list, which took more time."

"...I see. However, if I may correct you, I am not a traitor. I have always been on the empire's side."

"Huh?"

Melitina, who was wide-eyed with surprise, snorted.

"You know my background, right? I was originally a traveling adventurer who saved the daughter of the low-ranking noble Macbeth family from an attacker, which led to my marriage into the Macbeth family."

"Yes, I heard you had a difficult time in your youth because you weren't born into nobility?"

"That's where it all began. From the start, I infiltrated the kingdom as a spy for the empire."

"Ah! I see!"

Realizing the situation, Melitina gasped. The attacker who had assaulted the Macbeth family's daughter was probably also an imperial agent. As a son-in-law of a low-ranking noble, he had infiltrated the Zain Kingdom and continued to work in the empire's favor.

"Is that why you made the low-ranking Macbeth family grow to the point where you became the Minister of Justice? How much effort did it take...?"

"All for my homeland. Isn't it natural to devote oneself to one's country? I'm sure the daughter of the loyal Rockwood family would understand."

"…If I were my former self, I would have nodded. Truly impressive."

"…I'm glad to receive your praise at the end."

Macbeth smiled wryly at Melitina's sincere admiration.

"…After such a long and arduous mission, it's over. I'm a bit disappointed that I won't see the kingdom's downfall, but I feel a slight relief."

He had no intention of making a futile struggle now that the evidence had been exposed. Macbeth acknowledged his defeat honestly and raised his hands.

"Well... What should I do now? Be taken to the palace, or should I commit suicide here?"

"Neither, Lord Macbeth."

However, Melitina smiled gently at Macbeth's declaration of defeat. The expression was too gentle for someone who was supposed to be pursuing a traitor, and Macbeth blinked repeatedly.

"Hmm? Are you letting me go? What do you gain from that?"

"Lord Macbeth, I want you to work for Prince Raidor from now on. I want you to continue serving King Granado as the Minister of Justice and to persuade the nobles at the palace to support Prince Raidor."

"What...?"

Macbeth's eyes widened in disbelief at the unexpected request. Since Melitina had come here on Raidor's orders, it wasn't unnatural for her to ask him to support Raidor. However, the one making this request was Melitina Marcel, the daughter of Rockwood Marcel, the kingdom's most loyal subject. The idea of the daughter of the kingdom's most loyal subject working to benefit the king's brother instead of King Granado was as shocking as the world turning upside down.

"That's not like you, Miss Melitina. What happened in the past few months?"

"…Asking that would be in poor taste, Lord Macbeth."

Melitina placed her hand on her cheek and sighed. Her face, flushed pink, was so alluring that even the old man, whose libido had long since waned, felt a flutter in his heart.

"Besides, I am not betraying the kingdom, even though I am going against my father and King Granado. I have decided to work for His Highness because I believe it is truly for the good of the country."

"..."

"His Highness has no intention of fighting the empire. He is even willing to serve under the empire if necessary. I believe that working for His Highness will also benefit the empire, don't you think?"

"..."

Macbeth listened to Melitina's words in silence. The old man, who had been collaborating with the empire for years, lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before finally speaking with a determined look.

Thank you for your continued support.

If you like, please rate this from the stars below.