Chapter 6 – Part 9

“Mother.”

When Ruby was mentioned here, Eli rose from his seat and moved closer to Marie.

“So, shall I tell everyone that my mother tried to harm a woman who became a member of our family, and would you be satisfied if all the nobles knew about it and were criticized for it?”

Eli whispered, his voice so low that only Marie could hear it.

“That my mother served that woman a tea to the Marquis of Grit’s party under the disguise that it was a special tea, that it was the reason Countess Iana Chain collapsed, and that it was all done to harm that woman, my wife, Ruby Grit, is that how you want it all told?”

“…….”

“…If you wish, I will gather all the maids who attended the party that day—not only the ladies and their daughters who attended, but also Mrs. Bennette’s testimony about riding the carriage. We will confess it all in front of everyone.”

When he finished, Eli looked down at Marie, his eyes telling her if she really wanted this.

“I’m saying that if you don’t like my consideration, I’ll do whatever you want.”

He spoke the words loudly so everyone could hear them.

The vassals didn’t know what “consideration” he was referring to, but they could only assume from the Dowager’s flushed complexion that there was more to the story than what they were hearing now.

“You brought this on yourself.”

In truth, Eli didn’t think he was really capable of creating an heir.

He had no intention of sleeping with any woman other than Ruby, and if she couldn’t have children, there would be no heir for him in the future.

As long as Ruby stayed with him, it didn’t matter to him.

“Why have you changed like this? How could you stab your mother in the back?”

Marie had to admit that she was cornered.

As a last-ditch effort, she wanted to appeal to her son’s sympathy for the family. Although he didn’t bat an eye at her words.

“Mother. I trusted you until the very end.”

In the past, he hadn’t particularly restrained her after Ruby’s death because he still had some love for his family.

If Marie hadn’t tried to touch Ruby’s grave, he would have lived repenting for Ruby’s death and the disgrace to the family.

“And I waited,” he says, “hoping more than anyone else that this moment would never come.”

Rather, even the honor of a falling family would not have come to this moment if she had been confined to a mansion that would have been a prison for her.

“But you don’t regret it—not for a moment, not once, not even now. I can’t wait for you anymore.”

There is no remorse in Marie’s eyes. There is only pride and anger at the situation she is about to find herself in.

“I hope you feel better.”

Ruby’s voice, the one he missed the most at this moment, rang in his ears.

So Eli decided not to hesitate any longer.

“First, take her to her room.”

At his command, Marie was dragged away, unable to say anything.

Mrs. Bennette and the maids were still murmuring something, but they quietly left the meeting room just as they had entered.

Everyone watched in stunned disbelief as the Dowager and her people were led away.

Among them, Emily was the one who was having the hardest time accepting the situation.

‘My brother, who can’t have an heir, who can’t have children…….’

As Emily tried to make sense of the situation in her head, she suddenly remembered Ruby’s expression in Zenfield. The sad, pained look in her eyes as she looked at Eli.

“Ah……..”

Suddenly, she understood the meaning of that gaze.

The truth that she and her brother had unconsciously shared, the truth that she couldn’t tell anyone, and the same truth that he had deliberately hidden from her.

“Now, shall we resume the meeting?”

Emily’s gaze snapped at Eli as he spoke. The vassals shuddered at the words.

“The discussion in the meeting was about the succession of the Marquis Grit, so it’s not over yet, right?”

He couldn’t hide the slight tremor in his voice from the tension.

“I’m saying we’re not done talking about me yet.”

Eli sat back down in his seat, speaking as if it were obvious.

* * *

“I see. What is there to talk about?”

Zetahan, the First Prince of the Kingdom of Cains, looked down at the messenger sent by the coward, who could only hide in the castle.

“My dear First Prince, I request a table of cooperation for the well-being of the Kingdom of Cains.”

“That doesn’t sound like something the man who started the war would say, does it?”

There was a hint of laughter in his voice, an uncharacteristically languid tone that didn’t fit the tense circumstances of war, and his face showed no sign of agitation or tension.

Even sitting in a single chair in a tented barracks, he had the power to make you feel as if this was a royal palace.

This was Zetahan, the First Prince, the heir apparent to the Kingdom of Cains.

“So, how many princes are there this time? Oh, are there any more princes left?”

Zetahan laughed out loud at Neskan’s obvious ploy.

It wasn’t that he was unaware of his brother’s trick. He had been lured into letting his guard down. Waiting for the illusion to slip away, cleaning up the mess for when he ascended to the throne.

“Using the chaos of civil war as an excuse, external forces may be eyeing the Cains Kingdom.”

“Outside forces are targeting our kingdom.”

“Could they have made a deal for the throne?”

“So… there’s a prince who has made a pact with external forces?”

Neskan’s messenger, Mook, answered, “Yes.”

“And where is that?”

Zetahan asked, resisting the urge to laugh.

“The Luben Empire.”

Zetahan’s face hardened for the first time. He seemed to be trying to suppress a smile as he asked.

Then, the knights next to him pressed their swords against Mook from both sides.

As he felt the cold touch of the blade on his neck, Mook stiffened his body and opened his eyes wide.

“You should be careful not to joke too much.”

The Empire of Luben was different from other kingdoms.

It wasn’t just that they couldn’t recklessly attack them, but if they really were aiming for the Cains Kingdom, it was also a big problem.

It meant everything would have to be reorganized. But the problem with civil war is that it takes time to reorganize, and even then, they weren’t sure they could win.

“It’s true. Believe me.”

Unable to lie down because of the knife at his throat, Mook stiffened his head, squinted his eyes, and proclaimed his innocence.

“The Fourteenth Prince has gone into exile there, and there is talk of him meeting in secret with the Marquis of Grit of the Luben Empire in a secret location recently.”

When Zetahan still looked suspicious, Mook shouted

“It’s true, and you can see for yourself!”

After a moment’s pause at the desperate cry, Zetahan looked at his man and ordered.

“Find out if it’s true.”

“Yes.”

“Until then, keep him as a prisoner, and we’ll talk about the negotiating table afterward.”

“Yes…… yes?”

Mook asked back, in surprise.

“If what you just said is false, you’ll have to give up your life. Neskan must have sent you with that intention.”

Zetahan knew that Mook was Neskan’s closest confidant.

He motioned for him to be taken away, and the knights dragged him from the barracks, bound and gagged.

“The Luben Empire… I wish it were just a playful jest…”

Although his voice remained sluggish as before, his expression hardened. His concerns deepened.
* * *

“Let go! I will go.”

As Marie stepped out of the room, she roughly shrugged off the hands holding her.

“I’ll take you to the second floor.”

One of the guards who had let go of her arm stepped forward, and the other followed behind her, vigilant to make sure she didn’t do anything suspicious.

Still muttering to herself, Mrs. Bennette was bound and led out of the mansion, and Marie followed Eli’s orders to her room.

“Your meals will be brought here.”

As they left her in the room as ordered, she hastily grabbed the ones about to leave.

“I have a guest downstairs. It’s not proper to leave her unattended due to the sudden turn of events.”

“But the Marquis has asked us to keep you confined here.”

“Then at least allow me to entertain my guests in my room.”

They expected her to insist on going to the parlor, but surprisingly, she swiftly adapted to the situation and compromised.

“I’ll ask the Marquis and let you know.”

Shortly after, after receiving permission, the guard took Arlen from the first-floor parlor and headed to Marie’s room.