CH 21

“Two years ago, the Young Lord of Lodgemund sneaked into the laboratory of magicians sponsored by Lodgemund and stole the poison.”

I recalled the stories the maids had talked about in my previous life, and said it as it was.

“And he poured the poison into Lake Roban. Do you all remember? A case where there was a mass death of fish in Lake Roban and the lake dried up.”

Confusion and surprise appeared on the faces of those gathered in the garden.

There was no one here who didn’t know about the Roban Lake incident. Lake Roban was located in Aubrey Park, which was a favorite trail for the nobles. Many nobles were outraged as they couldn’t walk around Aubrey Park because of this.

The enraged nobles provoked the imperial family to catch the culprit quickly, so Duke Lodgemund didn’t have enough time to cover up the Lake Roban incident.

“I heard that the culprit in the case was a magician who was persuaded by a dark magician.”

One of the nobles murmured.

Yeah, he didn’t have time, that’s why Duke Lodgemund stopped their work with such a sloppy story.

“The truth is simple. That magician was falsely accused. And the person who framed it…”

I stared silently at Duke Lodgemund and Heiner.

Heiner was blushing with a bright red face, and Duke Lodgemund was staring at me with ice-cold eyes.

“A little investigation will reveal that the magician was sponsored by Duke Lodgemund.”

“If Lady’s words are true, a re-investigation is necessary.” Said the blonde man in the uniform of the 1st Knights.

The 1st Knights corps was in charge of the Capitol Police, that is, the institution that was in charge of the initial investigation of the Lake Roban incident at the time.

Heiner from my previous life was grinding his teeth and said, “The brats of the 1st Knights are in charge of the investigation of Lake Roban.”

“It was constantly said that the case wasn’t completed properly even within the 1st Knights. Before we even properly researched…” 

The blonde knight glanced at Duke Lodgemund. 

“The Police Bureau of the Nobility Union took over the investigation authority, and they made their own conclusions. We thought it was because of the pity of the nobles who lost Aubrey Park. It seems it wasn’t.”

This, too, was consistent with what Heiner had said in a previous life.

The Police Bureau of the Nobility Union is an organization belonging to the semi-imperial family that investigates crimes related to the aristocracy, and operates mainly for the benefit of the nobility.

The Gottfried Knights, led by Kellerhan, are in charge of crimes against dark magicians; the 1st Knights are responsible for minor and violent crimes within the capital; 2nd Knights are in charge of incidents in the territory of the capital’s outer lords; and the 3rd Knights participate in wars.

Each of the Police Department and Knights corps had their own territory, so it was considered polite not to invade each other’s territory unless it was normal.

Therefore, it was quite disgraceful for the members of the 1st Knights that the Police Bureau of the Nobility Union took away the authority to investigate Aubrey Park by using the power of the nobles.

The blonde knight turned his gaze away from Duke Lodgemund and looked at me.

“Lady, but how did you know that?”

“My parents were also sponsored by the Duke of Lodgemund.” I said it in a tone that was surprisingly calm, even if I thought about it.

“I heard people from the Duke of Lodgemund’s family who came to check on the situation talking to each other.”

It was when the blonde knight showed interest in my words.

“Kalman.”

Now the voice of Duke Lodgemund, who didn’t hide his anger, could be heard.

“You don’t believe what that kid says, do you?”

“As soon as a complaint is filed, an investigation should be conducted. That is the significance of the existence of the 1st Knights.” The blonde knight, Kalman, answered.

Duke Lodgemund’s face was distorted.

He was thinking now.

Will he use his authority to cut Kalman and me down, or will he admit that the magician who meekly poisoned the lake had his backing?

It was a problem with a fixed answer.

Even if he put up his authority here, he would live against the gathered knights.

It was because the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Knights were in an uncomfortable state because the Aristocratic Union had already intervened and taken away the investigative authority.

“Lodgemund supports countless magicians. It’s not Lodgemund’s fault that one of them had a seed of misery.” Said Duke Lodgemund.

“Then it won’t matter if we re-investigate. Lodgemund is innocent anyway.”

“…”

At Kalman’s words, Duke Lodgemund, who had never lost a conversation, was silent for the first time.

It’s been more than two years.

Besides, the Aristocratic already fabricated the evidence.

So, even if it’s being investigated, nothing will come out.

However, the fact that he was being investigated for dishonorable charges was a blow to the Duke of Lodgemund.

It’s time to step down, Duke Lodgemund.

“So, if that puts your mind at ease, do whatever you want.” Duke Lodgemund, who had allowed Kalman to re-investigate, looked back at his son.

“Father!”

Heiner looked up at Duke Lodgemund in disbelief.

But he couldn’t afford to accept his son’s folly now. Rather, he silently scolded his son with an angry expression. The expression on his face is as if he were saying, ‘If you had behaved in the right way, I wouldn’t have been in such a predicament.’

It’s understandable for him to be angry because his only successor became that way.

“I should get going now. I must have stayed too long at an uninvited party.” Duke Lodgemund beckoned his attendants to prepare his carriage.

“Finally…” Duke Lodgemund, who sent Heiner to the carriage first, turned towards Kellerhan, Yuta, and me.

“Is there any business left?” Kellerhan raised one eyebrow.

“I want to greet the two children who are the protagonists of today’s engagement ceremony. Would you allow that?”

“No.”

“…What?”

“I said no.”

Even though Duke Lodgemund had asked for the best, Kellerhan cut it off and refused.

“Are you saying I can’t even greet them? Duke Barmuth, if you’re acting too freely…”

“Don’t approach my son and daughter-in-law. If you do something useless, I will show you clearly who I am.”

“Ho, hoho.” Duke Lodgemund laughed as if he was exasperated.

Yet he didn’t dare to ignore Kellerhan’s warning and come close to me.

Like Kellerhan, I wasn’t curious about what Duke Lodgemund had to say.

‘I was going to take your daughter-in-law in a good shape, but you made things like this? You will definitely pay the price for insulting my son and my family.’

He was going to say something like this. It’s obvious even without anyone seeing it.

“Then I will really go. I’m very curious to see how today’s event will be talked about in society.”

Duke Lodgemund climbed into his carriage, threatening to the very end.

After the carriage bearing the seal of the Duke of Lodgemund disappeared completely, Kellerhan spit out a swear word in a low voice.

“Isabella, I’m sorry I couldn’t stop Lodgemund’s rats from coming to your engagement.” He knelt down and looked at me with eyes mixed with irritation, regret, and sorry.

I never dreamed that Kellerhan would apologize, so I stood at a loss for words for a moment.

Duke Lodgemund came because of me, and I was the one who ruined the engagement ceremony, so why is Kellerhan apologizing?

He even expelled Duke Lodgemund in front of others for me.

There’s no reason to apologize…

“You’re thinking about something useless again.” As I was drowning in the waves of thoughts, I heard Kellerhan’s voice.

When I raised my head, I saw him with an absurd smile.

“You think too much. How many useless thoughts are in that tiny head?”

Having said that, Kellerhan tapped my forehead with his index finger.

It was a sign of friendship that had no power at all.

I clasped my forehead with both hands and stared blankly at him before opening my mouth.

“Thank… you.”

“No need to say thank you. I said I will protect you.” Kellerhan whispered in a low voice that no one else could hear.

“Besides, you were the one who actually gave Lodgemund a shot.”

He tapped my cheek. Again, this was a sign of friendship.

“You did it all. This time, thanks to you, it went well.”

Did I? Did I help Kellerhan and Yuta?

I was stunned.

I was just acting to survive.

From some point on, the people of Barmuth have been seeing me as a bigger person than I really am.

“Hey there, Isabella.”

I was staring blankly at Kellerhan when I heard Yuta’s voice.

As I turned my head, I saw Yuta, who had his eyes down and wasn’t sure what to do.

“I’m sorry too.”

“What is the Young Lord sorry for?”

“Earlier…”

Yuta hesitated at my words and opened his mouth.

“Brother Heiner’s wrist…”

Wrist?

As I opened my eyes and looked at him, he suddenly shook her head.

“No, nothing. I’d rather not tell you either.”

What does he mean wrist? It’s not what I’m thinking about, is it?

It can’t be. Haha. There’s no way our timid and weak Yuta would want to break Heiner’s wrist, right?

I put my thoughts together and gave Yuta a smile.

Yuta looked at my face as if I was possessed, then lowered his head again. This time, his ears were dyed red.

“Lady Schwires.”

After talking with Kellerhan and Yuta, an unexpected person spoke to me.

“I will greet you formally. My name is Schmitz Kalman, the deputy commander of the 1st Knights.” Karlman placed a hand on his left chest and greeted me with his modest gesture.

“Please call me Sir Kalman.”

I couldn’t figure out why Kalman was talking to me, so I just looked up at him cautiously.

“Thanks to the Lady, I have a title to re-investigate a case that ended in a pitiful way. Thank you.” He smiled broadly.

I thought that all knights would be harsh and fierce like Kellerhan, but Kalman was good-looking and smiling like a young master.

“The Police Bureau of the Nobility Union consists of ruthless bastards who only work for the benefit of the nobility. Only you know how angry we were when they took over the investigation.”

Whoa, how sharp!

Even if this is Barmuth’s front yard, there are nobles out there, yet Kalman said without hesitation.

“But still, the members of the Police Department are people who can influence the aristocratic union, so if it spreads that I will re-investigate the Lake Roban incident based on Lady’s testimony, it may harm Lady’s advancement into society.”

Kalman’s expression turned serious. Looks like he could finally bring up the main topic.

“Furthermore… A re-investigation may make the real criminal feel a sense of crisis, but it won’t be able to overturn the judgment that has already been issued. If only we had started the re-investigation right at that time, but two years have passed.”

That’s enough time to meticulously manipulate the evidence that had been scrambled together.

If Kalman listened to me and re-investigated the Lake Roban case, and nothing came out, then I would truly be a public enemy of the Aristocratic Union.

Society is the playground of the Aristocratic Union, and as a woman, I must show my face to society, and it will be a huge blow to me.

“If the Lady doesn’t want it, I won’t investigate.”

I could tell that Kalman was a good person.

Even though it’s an opportunity to blow one shot to the Aristocratic Union, which has been falling the 1st Knights down, he just said that he was going to give up that opportunity for my sake.

“No, please investigate.”

His eyes widened at my words.

“The Lady may not know since you’re still young, but society is a really scary place. In such a place…”

I laughed to myself.

Kalman thinks I don’t know how scary society is.

There is no one in the world who knows the horrors of society better than me.

All social gatherings I attended as Heiner’s only fiance in my previous life were hellish.

I knew all of that and announced the truth about the Lake Roban incident.

Why, you asked?

What I hate more than enduring a hellish society is that Heiner sleeps with his feet stretched out without paying for his crimes.