Chapter 93

Garon abruptly apologized. His eyes were tightly shut, his body was trembling, and he didn’t offer any excuses, making it clear that he had prepared himself before I arrived.

After sitting in the chair prepared for me, I asked Garon, “What exactly are you apologizing for?”

“I believe you already know the situation from your conversation with Mila. Everything Mila said is true. The things I boasted about in front of every one were lies.”

I frowned, and when I didn’t respond, Garon eventually hung his head low.

“I understand. You must think of me as an ungrateful wretch. I know well how much the Count has cherished me.“

“If you knew that, then why did you do this? Were you that desperate for a knight’s title?”

“No!”

Garon shook his head vehemently as if trying to prove that, at least, was absolutely not true, clinging to whatever shred of dignity he had left.

“I’ll hear your excuse,“ I said.

“Thank you!“ Garon exclaimed, biting his lip. Then, opening his eyes, he began to explain.

“Ten years ago, right before I became a soldier in the Winsley family, my father was addicted to gambling, which left our family in heavy debt. The debt collectors intended to sell me and my siblings into servitude. I fought back, and by some miracle, I managed to defeat them all. There were many bystanders, and one man approached me, offering to clear all my debts. In return, he said he had a task for me.“

“No way,“ I murmured.

Garon nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. The task he gave me was to become a soldier in the Winsley family.“

“And once you become a soldier? What did he want you to do?“

“At first, nothing. He just told me to work hard to earn their trust. I grew to enjoy life here, and although I initially tried not to get attached, ten years… well, it’s impossible not to feel a sense of belonging after so long.”

Garon spoke with a bitter expression. If his story was true, he must have lived for ten years without being allowed to feel any attachment to this place.

“Moreover, the Count is someone anyone would naturally come to respect. I began to wonder if the man who gave me that task even existed at all. Maybe he was just a kind person who helped me get a job? But eventually, that man returned. He said the time had come and ordered me to participate in the suppression campaign, to demoralize the soldiers and disrupt their discipline.“

“…You should have refused.”

I spoke coldly, trying to conceal my faint pity for Garon. His face twisted in anguish as he responded.

“You’re right. I refused at first, saying I had grown attached to this place. But the man said this: ‘My master is Princess Abigail. If you refuse this task, you’ll have to repay all the money I gave you ten years ago, and your family’s safety will also be in jeopardy.‘”

What? Princess Abigail? I couldn’t believe my ears. But Garon had clearly said, Princess Abigail.

Yet, Garon mentioned this happened ten years ago. Princess Abigail was still a young girl, not even of age yet. Ten years ago, she wouldn’t have even been ten years old.

Could such a young girl have planted someone within the Winsley family? Why? For what reason?

Garon, misinterpreting the look on my face as anger, continued speaking in a trembling voice.

“At first, I didn’t believe him. But soon after, my father’s severed head was delivered to my home…“

Garon’s face contorted in horror as he recalled the memory.

“I don’t know if everything that man said was true, but it’s a fact that my father’s head was sent to me. I couldn’t bear to let my mother and siblings meet the same fate. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

I stood up from my seat. Garon knelt on the ground, unable to raise his head. As time passed, his head sank lower and lower. Just because he knew he was guilty didn’t make his crime any less severe.

Yet, the anguish he must have felt when he saw his father’s head was something anyone could sympathize with.

“Garon, I will pass judgment on you. You will be bound and imprisoned, and even after this battle, you will remain locked in the Winsley family’s underground dungeon.”

Garon squeezed his eyes shut.

“And I will tell the world that you have lost your sight. In the future—though it may be very distant—when you walk outside, you must always wear an eye patch.“

Garon’s head shot up.

“I will also look into the safety of your family. I won’t promise to protect them. You’ve committed a crime, after all. But, well, call it a whim of mine. I think you deserve to at least know the fate of your family.”

Tears welled up in Garon’s eyes. He stared at me for a long moment before closing his eyes again.

Tears streamed down his cheeks. Clawing at the ground, he spoke in a choked voice.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. Thank you, Your Grace. I’m sorry, Your Grace… Thank you, Your Grace…”

Like a man who could only say those words, he repeatedly repeated his apologies and thanks, crying out in desperation.

I didn’t embrace him or offer any comfort. I just stood there. When his tears finally subsided, I took a thick, black cloth from outside and tied it around his eyes.

“From now on, you are blind. This is for you and your family’s sake.“

“Yes.”

Garon nodded without hesitation.

“Do you remember the face of that man?“

“Yes, I do. I met him recently, so I haven’t forgotten.“

“Then I’ll send someone in secret later to help you create a composite sketch.“

“That won’t be necessary. Your Grace has already met him.”

I have already met him? Does that mean I’ve been keeping someone I know close all this time? I concealed my surprise and asked,

“Who is it?“

“It’s Sir Chris from the Imperial Army.”

I recalled who he was. Indeed, I was familiar with him. Chris Jenna, a middle-aged knight highly trusted by the royal family, earned several honors during this campaign. The revelation that he had been one of Princess Abigail’s long-time subordinates was shocking.

Just how much had Princess Abigail prepared in secret? How could she, before even turning ten, use her siblings as pawns in the battle for the throne, keep an eye on the Winsley family, and extend her influence to the Imperial Knights?

“And Your Grace, there’s one more thing I must tell you.”

Garon spoke in a low voice to ensure no one else could overhear. I listened closely to his words and then left without saying anything further.

“Hella, take Garon away discreetly. Once I signal, make sure everyone knows of his punishment.“

“Understood.“

“Remember, until I give the order, no one else can know.”

Following my command, Hella led Garon away. Garon didn’t resist, letting himself be taken without a fight. For some reason, his compliance left me feeling oddly drained. Just then, Julian approached and wrapped his arms around my waist, firm yet gentle.

“Julian.“

“You look exhausted.”

I smiled bitterly. My body wasn’t tired, but my heart was. The thought that someone could betray people they’d grown close to for ten years, all to protect their family, left me feeling weak.

At the same time, the realization that Princess Abigail had been targeting the Winsley family for over ten years sent chills down my spine.

“Laila, you should rest today,“ Julian said, his voice full of concern, but I shook my head.

“Not yet. There’s still something I need to do.”

I had to act on the information Garon had given me.

***

It was the dead of night. With the sun gone and the moon reigning over the sky, the forest should have been still and silent.

But not tonight. The Winsley family’s forces had marched into the small forest just before the lake, breaking the usual quiet. Small creatures scurried into crevices and up trees in fear.

I was among them. This was the location Garon had told me about. We quickly began clearing the items scattered throughout the forest.

Then it happened. Dozens of horses thundered toward the forest, surrounding it in an instant. It wasn’t their spears that were the most threatening, but rather the banners some carried high in the air.

The red flags with gold insignia glimpsed through the trees bore the Imperial emblem, marking them as the Imperial Army.

“Count Winsley! We’ve received reports that you’re here! Disarm and show yourself!”

A voice boomed, intimidating in its authority. The soldiers around me began murmuring. I mounted the horse I had temporarily tied up and rode out of the forest to face them.

“I am Laila Zan, eldest daughter of the Count of Winsley and Grand Duchess of Zan! State your affiliation!”

At my shout, a knight raised a torch and said, “I am Sir Chris Jenna of the Imperial Army! Count Winsley should show himself instead of leaving things to his daughter!”

I rode closer to them. The Imperial soldiers aimed their spears and arrows at me, making it clear they wouldn’t let me get any nearer. I raised my hands.

“Sir Chris, the Count of Winsley is not here.“

“What nonsense! We have received reports that the Count was headed to this location!“

“But he truly isn’t here. You’re welcome to confirm it. And as for the disarmament, we are already unarmed. You may verify that as well.”

My words left Sir Chris visibly flustered. However, having come this far, he couldn’t simply turn back empty-handed.

He rode closer to me, and at that moment, a figure stepped out from the shadows behind me.

“Do you realize who you’re trying to lay hands on?“

Julian’s voice was low, filled with menace as he directed his threat at Chris.

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