129. An Attempt to Seize the Vacant Seat (1)

“Yes.”

At Joy’s words, Marquis Argen glanced at Ferma and gave a nod.

“Joy, we’ll all teleport to the vicinity of Count Winters’s estate now.”

Nora had recently heard the news that Joy, after winning the swordsmanship tournament, was to become Larael’s knight. It warmed her heart to see him finding his place and fulfilling his role on his own. Both Ferma and Nora looked at him with kind eyes. Concerned that Joy might be startled, Ferma spoke in advance as though to reassure him.

They draped the cloaks they had prepared beforehand. If anyone near the estate recognized them, it would cause problems. Once they had put the cloaks on, Ferma immediately chanted the teleportation spell.

In an instant, enveloped in light, they were transported to the area near Count Winters’s estate. Clutching their cloaks tightly, they quickly surveyed their surroundings and hurried inside. Because Dean had warned the servants ahead of time that guests might arrive, the sudden visit was met with composure. They were shown into the drawing room to wait for Dean.

When Dean entered the room, he signaled to Joy. Joy nodded, rose from his seat, and left the room.

“I’ve been taking turns with Joy keeping watch on the assassin.”

Dean explained Joy’s absence as he sat down on the sofa.

“How is Her Highness?” Dean asked Marquis Argen. For a moment, Argen was at a loss for words at Dean’s inquiry after the empress, not the emperor.

“Since His Majesty has yet to regain consciousness, Her Highness is deeply grieved as well.”

Dean’s gaze, heavy with gloom, lingered on the marquis before he lowered his eyes.

“Joy told me that the assassins came from the Kingdom of Hashiya.”

“Her Highness told me the same.”

Marquis Argen nodded at Dean’s words.

Cracking her fingers and tilting her head from side to side, Ferma stood up.

“Where is he now?”

She could hardly wait another moment to interrogate him. Dean, taken aback by her impatience, quickly spoke.

“I believe it would be best to first set a plan for the interrogation and how to handle the assassins.”

“I understand what you mean, but planning or not, there’s nothing to debate. Her Highness herself believes it is most urgent to interrogate him and extract the truth.”

Despite his initial stern expression, Dean easily yielded to Marquis Argen’s words and nodded.

“Then, please follow me.”

Dean rose and guided them down to the cellar. Joy was standing guard at the storeroom where Cloud was being kept, and when they descended, he opened the door.

Cloud groaned and shifted at the sound. His mutilated state, with both arms severed, was so ghastly that Nora let out a short scream and covered her eyes with her hands.

“Oh, how cruel.”

Her gaze drifted to Joy. Joy, who had been staring blankly at Cloud on the floor, quickly turned his head away when their eyes met.

“Will you all be staying here to watch?”

“I’ll leave. My heart can’t take this…”

At Ferma’s question, Nora clutched her chest and excused herself. The others all nodded, choosing to remain. Ferma sighed deeply at the thought of having to display such an unpleasant scene to others. Nora left the cellar alone and returned to the drawing room, sipping her cooled tea as she waited for the interrogation to end.

Less than an hour later, three men stumbled back into the drawing room, their faces pale and drained, collapsing onto the sofa as if they had seen ghosts. Nora regarded them calmly with eyes full of pity.

“That’s why… you should have followed me out when I did.”

She shook her head and sighed.

Ferma entered later than the others, wearing a shy smile. At her appearance, everyone flinched and averted their gaze. Joy, recalling the times he had dared to talk back to her, felt chills run over his skin.

“Any results, Tower Master?”

Nora asked smoothly. Ferma let out a long sigh, the smile fading from her face. She sat down beside Nora and, parched, drained the cooled tea in a single motion.

“He did not yield easily, so we had to employ every possible method.”

“…”

“As expected, they are assassins from the Kingdom of Hashiya. And it’s certain they have an accomplice within the Empire. However, it seems he truly does not know the accomplice’s identity. Clearly, this was to prevent any leaks in the event of capture. He said that he was given an invitation to the masquerade ball and provided with a place to stay. And, as for Her Highness… he stated that she specifically ordered that she be kept alive.”

Marquis Argen’s expression darkened gravely. It was deeply regrettable that the name Herwen had not come up. Had it been mentioned, matters would have been far easier. But evidently, such precautions had been taken in case of failure and capture. The fact that even brutal magical interrogation had not compelled him to speak meant that he truly did not know the accomplice’s identity.

“For now, if we can determine the owner of the residence where they stayed, we may be able to gain a lead. Can we find out where that was?”

“That will be difficult. As a safeguard, the assassins consented to being blindfolded during transport. Investigating the nobles who received invitations would be more feasible…”

“We already have the list of those who were given invitations. But that alone won’t reveal the accomplice. Nearly all central nobles received them, and as for the masquerade, attendance wasn’t tracked one by one.”

“To think… that at an imperial event, of all places, no one anticipated such a thing could happen…”

A sigh escaped Ferma’s lips.

In the end, the only thing they had been able to extract from Cloud was that the assassins had been sent by the Kingdom of Hashiya out of resentment for the incident in the Kayaneuman Mountains. But that was not the answer they—or Larael—wanted.

“In the end, there’s no benefit to be gained from interrogating this man any further.”

Dean, who had been silently listening, stroked his chin.

“I’ll go to the Kingdom of Hashiya myself and bring back the king’s head.”

Joy’s eyes flashed as he spoke. He could almost picture the look of disappointment on Larael’s face. If it would ease her heart, he was ready to charge into Hashiya alone, without hesitation.

“Joy, stay put.”

Nora shook her head as she addressed him.

“In that case, it would be best for us to return to the Imperial Palace. Her Highness is waiting for us. And Sir Joy will return with us as well. Her Highness has ordered that he be brought along. The knighting ceremony that was originally scheduled to take place after the Founding Festival will proceed as planned.”

At those words, Joy’s eyes widened as he turned to look at Marquis Argen. To think that he would finally be able to protect Larael right by her side—his heart suddenly began to race.

“Count Winters, at Her Highness’s request, we will be staying in the palace. Would it be all right if we come here every day to continue interrogating this man?”

“Of course. If there’s even a chance of uncovering something, then naturally you should do so.”

Dean, who had been quietly watching Joy’s noticeably brightened expression, nodded in reply.

****

Inside the council chamber, the nobles kept casting furtive glances at the emperor’s vacant seat.

Marquis Argen entered with the other aides, his expression displeased. The purpose behind suddenly convening this meeting was all too transparent.

He had already reported to Larael that a noble council was being called. Even in her darkest moods, he had never before seen her look so shaken. It was startling to see Larael—who rarely showed any change of expression—now flashing her crimson eyes with a face full of fury.

Since the emperor’s absence, the regular weekly noble councils had not been convened. However, irregular meetings could still be called. There were three circumstances under which this was allowed: by the emperor himself, by someone who could wield his delegated authority, or by the unanimous agreement of the empire’s dukes.

In this case, it was the agreement of the four imperial dukes that had brought the council together. As proof of that, Duke Nox, who had not appeared for some time, now made an appearance in the chamber.