“……!”

Shailyn froze completely at the shocking confession. The hand gripping his collar trembled finely.

To think that the carriage accident that ruined young Kyllen’s life and the Celsior ducal family was not accidental but deliberate.

“Gasp, huff……”

Howard, who ultimately couldn’t overcome the power of the truth serum, breathed heavily as if exhausted.

A chaotic mix of despair and resignation rose in his eyes.

“You killed them? Why? Don’t tell me……”

“I was the one more suited for Celsior! But my parents handed everything over just because my brother was the eldest son! They only left me that measly count title……”

He confessed in resentment. His eyes reddened with complex emotions.

“So I deliberately caused the carriage accident and killed them! D*mn it, that Kyllen bastard should have died then too! But he alone survived……”

Smack!

Shailyn’s hand fiercely struck Howard’s cheek. Her blue eyes blazed intensely like blue flames.

“You destroyed a family because of that petty greed?!”

“Ha, as if that was the only reason.”

Howard replied with a bitter laugh.

“It was my brother’s fault from the beginning. Why did he have to step forward saying he’d investigate the heretics’ identity……”

Heretics? When an unexpectedly mentioned word came up, Shailyn frowned in confusion.

Howard continued speaking with a mad grin.

“He even got his hands on the heretics’ registry. He increased his own enemies who were trying to kill him. I just seized the opportunity given to me!”

He poured out justifications full of self-rationalization with such force that veins bulged in his neck.

“They said if I just retrieved the heretics’ registry, they’d let me have Celsior!”

“What are you talking about? You…… were in league with the heretics?”

“That’s right! Nineteen years ago, when I vowed to make this family mine, I joined hands with them. But do you think I’m the only one?”

Howard’s gaze penetrated as he stared straight at Shailyn.

“Head Priest Raviel who helped you is also a heretic!”

“What……?”

Shailyn’s face was instantly colored with bewilderment. She never dreamed Raviel’s name would come up here.

‘Raviel is a heretic……?’

That’s impossible. How could a young and promising head priest mentioned as the next high priestess believe in demons.

Suddenly, the dark holy power Raviel used flashed through her mind.

Holy power tainted with demonic power.

If the reason he possessed that power was actually because he was a heretic…….

Feeling chills as the puzzle pieces fit together, Shailyn grabbed Howard’s collar and shook him.

“The heretics’ registry, where is it now?”

“Nobody knows! My brother had just gotten his hands on it when Kyllen was born, so he hid it for safety and seems to have lost it.”

Howard sneered. Thanks to that, the people listed in the heretics’ registry weren’t exposed, but it was still a problem that they hadn’t recovered it yet.

“Like a fool, he didn’t even know where the registry was, so he couldn’t do anything and was eventually eliminated by the heretics and me!”

“Hah……”

“Keke, so I tried to frame you Diarts as having it and eliminate you…… ugh!”

Cough, a handful of red blood poured out from between Howard’s lips.

He had finally bitten his tongue to prevent himself from saying something.

“Mandy, a doctor! Call a doctor!”

“Y-yes, Miss!”

Urgently stuffing a handkerchief back into Howard’s mouth to stop the bleeding, Shailyn frowned.

Pressing his head down to prevent blood from flowing back, she whispered.

“You can’t die yet. You have to pay for your crimes first.”

Now that she knew such a terrible truth, she absolutely couldn’t let him go comfortably like this.

Her small fist, clenched tight, trembled pale white.

***

Fortunately, Howard Dempsey’s life wasn’t in danger from biting his tongue.

Though there were still more things she wanted to ask, with his tongue severed, he could no longer speak properly.

Forced to end the interrogation, I trudged out and was greeted by Carl.

“Did it go well?”

He, who had been standing at the annex entrance, strode over and stood before me. He narrowed his eyes and examined me carefully before asking.

“Why do you look like that. Didn’t you get the answer you wanted?”

“……Carl.”

Seeing his face that knew nothing and only worried about me, I felt like I might burst into tears.

Seeing my eyes redden, Carl’s face contorted.

“Howard Dempsey, what did that bastard say to you? I’ll go and……!”

I suddenly embraced him. Due to our height difference, it looked like I was being held.

Carl, flustered by the sudden hug, froze for a moment then hesitantly placed his hand on my back.

Pat, pat.

His large hand awkwardly patted my back as if comforting me. I buried my face in his broad shoulder and mumbled.

“I have something to tell you. But I’m scared to say it because it might hurt you……”

Because the weight of death from an accident versus being murdered is completely different.

I was afraid that if I carelessly brought it up, Carl might not be able to handle it and collapse.

I didn’t want to break his heart with my own hands.

“Look at me.”

Carl carefully cupped my cheeks and lifted my face.

Through my wavering vision blurred with tears, I saw him smiling gently.

“Shailyn, do I seem like someone who would hurt you for no reason?”

“……No.”

“You’re that kind of person to me too. No matter how hurt I get, I won’t resent or hate you, so speak comfortably.”

“Sniff, why did you suddenly become so mature after becoming a duke……”

I sniffled and wiped my face roughly with my sleeve. Whew, I took a deep breath to compose myself and slowly opened my mouth.

“Your parents, they actually didn’t die in a carriage accident.”

“……Then?”

His red eyes shook greatly as if it was unexpected news. I gripped his arms tightly and said.

“Howard Dempsey murdered them, disguising it as an accident. I heard it after feeding him truth serum.”

Carl momentarily stiffened at the truth I conveyed with difficulty. His whole body tensed and he couldn’t move at all.

Soon he slowly crumbled.

First confusion, then anger, sadness, and…….

“Ha…… haha, ha.”

The corners of his mouth, letting out a hollow laugh while holding his forehead, trembled.

I could see clear guilt consuming him.

“I didn’t even know that and until now……”

Before he could fall into a deeper swamp, I grabbed his collar and shouted.

“It’s not your fault!”

Neither surviving alone nor living without knowing his parents’ enemy.

“You did nothing wrong. Your parents would have only wished for your happiness……”

They surely would have prayed only for Carl to live happily, even without avenging them.

I couldn’t contain my pity and tears fell drop by drop. I was the one being tactless when I shouldn’t be the one who really wanted to cry.

Carl, who inadvertently faced me crying right in front of his nose while bending down, blinked rapidly in confusion.

“Why, why are you crying. Don’t cry.”

He fidgeted restlessly and carefully rubbed under my eyes with his finger.

In a situation where I should be comforting the crying Carl, I was acting backwards, so I cried more because I felt so pathetic.

“Sob, sorry, hic. I should have given you time to prepare mentally, hic, before telling you. Huuu, I shouldn’t be crying like this either……”

But strangely, I had a premonition that even if given a chance to cry, Carl probably wouldn’t cry.

I was similar. Because I knew that with wounds too big, enduring and bearing it was rather easier than crying.

I gripped his sleeve tightly.

“I keep tearing up without realizing because I think you’ll be in too much pain.”

Carl, who flinched, soon gently pulled down my hand that was roughly rubbing my eyes.

“It’s okay, you fool.”

He smiled faintly.

“You said I did nothing wrong. Then you did nothing wrong either.”

Stroking my head affectionately, Carl said in a low voice.

“If it weren’t for you, I would have thought my parents died in an accident for the rest of my life. Far from revenge, I almost foolishly let my uncle go easily.”

“……”

“So I’m grateful to you, Shailyn. You don’t need to feel sorry.”

I was about to nod but stopped. There were still things I hadn’t said yet.

We moved to the main building of the ducal residence and I explained in more detail what I had heard from Howard Dempsey.

Carl listened silently, occasionally sighing or rubbing his face dry.

After I finished the difficult story, I carefully opened my mouth.

“I have one request.”