2: A Night Confronting the Truth

“Father!”

By the fountain lay Kael’s father, his head pierced and his body brutally mutilated. Seeing this, Kael’s eyes turned wild.

Two knights held him back with all their strength.

“Young Duke, you mustn’t approach just yet.”

“Let me go!”

“Kael!”

Aella, who had followed him, embraced Kael tightly from behind as he lost himself in grief over his father’s sudden death.

“Get a hold of yourself. Hic. Right now, we need to find out who killed the Duke of Hormons.”

“Damn it! Damn it all!”

In front of his father’s gruesomely murdered body, Kael cried out in agony, and all Aella could do was hold him and cry along with him.

“What on earth is going on here?”

“Indeed, what could it be?”

“Something terrible has happened to the Young Duke.”

“Who could have done such a vile thing?”

“By the way, the Count of Blueanz, who’s always with him, isn’t here.”

“Oh, now that you mention it…”

Aella looked around. Her father was nowhere to be seen, which struck her as odd.

‘He said he would come here with the Duke today…’

“What is the meaning of this!”

“!”

Seeing her father running toward them, Aella called out loudly to him. Her father tried to rush to the Duke’s body but was stopped by the knights.

“How could something like this happen to him! Oh, Rohan! I should have been with you! Forgive me, my friend!”

Her father collapsed to the ground in anguish, clutching a gift box in his hands.

“Count Blueanz, I must ask—where were you and what were you doing until now?”

The captain of the guards approached and questioned him. The Count, sobbing uncontrollably, slowly stood up.

“Rohan and I met at the business district for a drink. Today, as our children celebrate their coming-of-age ceremonies, we shared a drink, reflecting on the emotions of the day. Rohan said he should leave early, and I stayed behind to buy a gift for my daughter. But I never imagined… this would happen… Hic.”

“My goodness! Then the Count could have been attacked as well!”

“Should we consider this fortunate or not?”

As the atmosphere grew solemn, the Emperor arrived and dismissed the gathered crowd.

“Your Majesty! We have found a bloodied knife and a gun on this man.”

“Bring him here.”

Dragged in by two guards, an old man wearing a tattered robe collapsed onto the ground.

“Unveil him.”

“Yes, sir.”

When the man’s robe was removed, a young silver-haired man was revealed.

“Why did you brutally murder the Duke of Hormons? The Duke, known for his kindness, could not have done anything to earn your hatred. Do not lie to me.”

The Emperor, his voice calm but edged with steel, pointed his gleaming sword at the trembling man.

“I only intended to steal the Duke’s valuables while he was drunk. But when he called me something less than a bug, I lost my temper…”

“Don’t lie! My father would never say such a thing, no matter how drunk he was!”

“Young Duke, be silent.”

Aella, holding tightly onto Kael, who seemed ready to lunge at the man, looked at her father, his head bowed low.

‘Father…’

Aella gazed at her father, who couldn’t lift his head out of guilt, with a pained expression. At the same time, a thought crossed her mind.

‘If Father had come with the Duke, he wouldn’t have died so tragically… He must feel even more guilt than anyone else right now.’

As she thought of her father, who had always referred to his business partner, the Duke of Hormons, not as a “friend” but as a “brother,” Aella’s chest tightened.

“My elderly mother and young siblings were on the verge of starving to death. I had no choice. Your Majesty, please end my life and let this matter rest.”

“Your Majesty! There must be a mastermind behind this man! Otherwise, he could not have killed my father so brutally! Your Majesty!”

“I agree with the Young Duke. Take this man to the interrogators and ensure he confesses. Do not let him die until we uncover the truth. Make sure he does not die.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Y-Your Majesty! Please, just kill me! Your Majesty!”

As the man was dragged away, screaming for death, Aella stared at him. She flinched at the sudden sensation of a large hand on the back of her own.

“Ella, will you let go?”

“Oh.”

When she released him, Kael, who struggled to stand, staggered toward the Duke of Hormons, whose body was covered by a white cloth. Aella covered her mouth with both hands.

“Father…”

Kael couldn’t believe that the father he had been joking lightly with just a few hours ago was now lying lifeless and horribly mutilated. Trembling, he reached out to confirm his father’s face beneath the cloth.

The distorted expression on his father’s face revealed the unbearable pain he must have endured in his final moments.

[Kael, you’ve finally come of age. Congratulations, my son. Now, all that’s left is for you to marry Aella.]

[Father, really. Why bring that up all of a sudden?]

[Propose to Aella like a proper man.]

[I’ll handle it myself.]

[Haha! That’s my boy!]

“Ah, Father!”

Kael collapsed onto the white cloth covering his father and embraced his body.

“Father, I will uncover the truth behind your death… I promise.”

Kael whispered softly as he gazed at his father’s face one last time, gently stroking his cheek.

[Eileen, I miss you so much. I wish I could join you soon, but Kael is still young. Just a little longer, just a little longer. I’ll pass everything on to Kael and then join you.]

Kael recalled his father, who had longed for his mother every day since her death in a carriage accident ten years ago. With tightly pressed lips, Kael finally spoke.

“Rest peacefully now by Mother’s side, Father.”

Kael covered his father’s face with the white cloth. When the captain of the guard approached and bowed, Kael addressed him in a solemn voice.

“Will you escort my father back to the ducal estate?”

“Yes, Young Duke.”

“Young Duke.”

Kael turned to face the Emperor, who had called him.

“I wish to hold the Duke’s funeral here in the imperial palace.”

“Your Majesty, I am deeply honored, but I wish to hold the funeral quietly at the ducal estate to preserve my father’s honor. I hope you will understand.”

“Very well. I will use every means necessary to uncover the forces behind this incident. Focus on collecting yourself.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Aella, unable to take her eyes off Kael as he conversed with the Emperor, turned when her father called her.

“Aella.”

“Father.”

“On what should have been such a joyous day… this has happened.”

“….”

Aella’s eyes filled with tears as she met her father’s tearful gaze. The Count of Blueanz approached and embraced his daughter tightly.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone drinking with Rohan. If only I had gone with him… My dear, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Aella.”

“Father…”

As Aella sobbed into her father’s shoulder, Kael approached them.

“Kael, I’m truly sorry. I don’t know how I’ll ever face you again.”

“It’s alright. I’m just glad the Count is safe. Ella, this is my coming-of-age gift to you.”

“Oh…”

Kael gently took her hand and placed a brooch shaped like her favorite lily of the valley in her palm. Aella looked at him, tears streaming down her face. Despite the situation, Kael forced a smile in front of her, which only made her cry harder.

“Ella, don’t cry. I’m fine.”

“Kael…”

“After I hold my father’s funeral, I will uncover the forces that led to his death.”

In all her twenty years by Kael’s side as his childhood friend, Aella had never seen him so terrifyingly angry. Her body trembled like a leaf.

“Count Blueanz.”

“Yes.”

“Please help me uncover the truth behind my father’s death.”

“Of course! I will never forgive those who did this to my dear friend.”

Aella looked between her father and Kael before raising her eyes to the now-darkened sky. She clasped her hands together and prayed earnestly.

“Great Heavenly God and Goddess, please reveal the truth behind the Duke’s death as soon as possible.”

—

When Aella returned to the mansion, Kina, who had been waiting, asked why she was back so early. Aella recounted what had happened at the imperial palace.

“My goodness! How could such a thing happen? My lady, are you alright?”

“I’m fine… but I’m worried about Kael.”

Aella’s heart ached as she thought of Kael, who had been consumed by rage and a thirst for revenge.

Since officially joining the imperial knights, Kael had always maintained control over his emotions. Yet, in front of Aella, he would often smile as he had in his innocent youth. It was that smile that had drawn her to him.

Even when he lost his mother in a carriage accident, Kael had struggled for a few days but eventually smiled again. This time, however, was different.

Having lost his only family—his entire world—Kael seemed like a completely different person. His cold expression and tone lingered in Aella’s mind, making her shiver.

“My lady?”

“I-I’m fine.”

“I’ll bring you a warm cup of tea.”

“Thank you.”

As Kina opened the door, the family’s pet cat, Charlotte, returned from her usual walk and approached Aella, bringing a faint smile to her lips.

“Charlotte.”

“Meow~”

Holding the affectionate Charlotte in her arms, Aella sat on the edge of her bed, stroking the cat’s head and sighing deeply.

“Who could have done this to the Duke of Hormons…?”

Rohan Hormons was known as a kind and trusting man. His trusting nature often worried Kael, as the Duke had been betrayed multiple times yet never lost faith in people.

He was an exceptionally kind man, though some might call him naive. There was no reason for anyone to hold such a deep grudge against him.

The motive behind his murder was clear—it was envy. As the empire’s only Duke, second only to the imperial family in wealth and honor, he was a target of jealousy and ambition.

“All that wealth and honor… what’s the point? Don’t you agree, Charlotte?”

“Meow~”

Placing Charlotte on her lap, Aella continued stroking her head while fiddling with the brooch Kael had given her. She murmured softly,

“I’ll stay by Kael’s side. Then, maybe… just maybe, he’ll smile again like before.”

Closing her eyes, Aella pictured Kael smiling at her and couldn’t help but smile herself.

—

“I can’t sleep… sigh.”

Getting out of bed, Aella, feeling thirsty, decided to get a glass of cold water. Holding a lantern, she walked down the dark hallway.

“Huh?”

Hearing voices, Aella thought her father might still be awake.

‘Well, after what happened to the Duke…’

As the Duke’s face, smiling warmly at her, came to mind, tears welled up in Aella’s eyes.

‘I should try to comfort him…’

Just as she was about to move, she froze at the sound of laughter—not sorrowful, but filled with joy.

“He’s finally dead. Finally dead! Hahaha!”

‘Father…?’

Aella’s eyes trembled as she saw her father sitting on the sofa, laughing.

“Now that Rohan Hormons is dead, if I can just marry Aella to his son, I’ll have wealth and honor second only to the imperial family! Hahaha! Ahahaha!”

Aella nearly dropped the lantern she was holding, but a large hand suddenly pulled her into the shadows.