Chapter 92: Greed That Had Crossed the River  (2)

Raion ordered Commander Veritad to burn all the bodies thoroughly, leaving no trace behind.

Meanwhile, Veritad discovered a bundle of parchment in Rosio’s arms.

“Lord… I think you should see this.”

The parchment contained the lord’s schedule and the number and names of the troops assigned as his escort.

Because it was highly sensitive internal information, Marquis Kataroan’s expression stiffened immediately.

“How… did this information fall into their hands?”

It had been a precisely planned ambush.

If Raion had not appeared, the lord and his troops would have been completely wiped out according to their plan.

“It seems there was a spy inside the territory.”

“But this information… we should have discovered the mastermind without killing them first.”

For now, they knew the attackers were the Dagger of Darkness, thanks to Raion.

From that alone, they could also suspect that Queen Elina was the ultimate mastermind.

The Dagger of Darkness was directly under the queen’s command, so that much was certain.

However, the information on the parchment was separate, and it would have been difficult for the queen, inside the castle, to uncover it.

“A spy in the mansion… How can I suspect my own people?”

Veritad also found himself at a loss at the marquis’s gravity.

Most of the administrators managing the territory had spent many years alongside Marquis Kataroan.

Naturally, the trust between them was exceptionally deep.

It was difficult for Veritad, as commander of the knights, to suspect such people.

“Since I know who it is, you don’t need to worry.”

Raion spoke as he observed the burning corpses.

Marquis Kataroan was startled and looked up.

“Who is it?”

“Grain Pelican. Your grandson, my lord.”

“Really? But why would that child…”

Raion scratched his head and replied to the question.

“It’s probably about succession to the marquisate. If the lord dies, he will inherit the position.”

Everyone’s expressions stiffened at the rough explanation.

“Is there any proof?”

“Of course not. They wouldn’t have left any evidence behind. So punishment will be difficult.”

“Then what makes you certain that Grain committed this act?”

Marquis Kataroan had often been disappointed in his grandson Grain, but as his only remaining bloodline, he had paid attention.

Naturally, he could not label such a grandson as a traitor without any proof.

“Otherwise, the Dagger of Darkness would not have blindly attempted to kill the lord.”

Territories in the kingdom held power equivalent to the ministers in the castle.

Praizen Territory, in particular, held a crucial position like Arenvatz in the north.

Unless there was a clear successor to take over, no one could kill a lord in such a place recklessly.

“Hmm… If the child was recruited by Queen Elina, then it could be possible.”

“Let’s make a trap first. If Grain crawls into it himself, we’ll know for sure.”

“A trap?”

Marquis Kataroan and Commander Veritad tilted their heads at Raion’s suggestion.

By dawn, the morning sun was rising.

Grain Pelican, the lord’s only heir, had not slept, filled with anxiety.

Even though Marquis Kataroan was away on inspection, Grain did not leave the mansion.

“It should be time for news to arrive…”

The planned date was just yesterday.

If Rosio’s ambush had succeeded, it would have been completed, and a messenger would have been sent separately.

At that moment, a group of ruined knights and soldiers entered through the main gate of the mansion.

The shattered carriage of Marquis Kataroan was also visible.

Grain, seeing the scene from the window, froze in shock.

“C-could it be… it failed?”

Grain rushed straight down to the front of the mansion to confirm.

Tat-tat-tat-tat―!

The troops and carriage had already arrived in front of the mansion.

Next to them, Administrator Orbas stood with a hardened expression.

No one got out of the carriage.

Orbas then called Grain in a trembling voice.

“M-milord…!”

“What… what is it? Could something have happened to Grandfather?”

“During the inspection, the lord…”

“Speak quickly!”

“The lord… was killed in a surprise attack by intruders who came from the coastline!”

“What?! Is that true? Where is Grandfather? If he’s dead, the body—!”

At that question, Commander Veritad swallowed and stepped forward.

“He’s in the carriage. However… they set fire to the body, so it’s difficult to recognize him.”

Grain slowly walked over and opened the carriage door.

Inside, as Veritad had said, lay a completely burned corpse, neatly positioned.

“G-grandfather!”

Grain, needing a reason to cry, clutched the charred corpse and wept bitterly.

Then he wiped his tears on his sleeve and shouted at Veritad.

“What in the world have you done! What were you doing while Prios invaded and left Grandfather like that!”

At this point, it would have been enough to place all the blame on Veritad, one of Marquis Kataroan’s closest aides and the commander of all troops.

But Veritad raised his head with a serious expression in response to Grain’s accusations.

“…Milord, I told you they were intruders from the coastline.”

“Why! Isn’t it your fault that you couldn’t protect Grandfather from them!”

Grain, still enraged, tried to hold Veritad accountable.

But the atmosphere grew tense.

Veritad slowly continued, his expression even sterner.

“I didn’t even mention the Kingdom of Prios. Then how do you know the details so precisely, Milord?”

“W-what? Didn’t you just say they were intruders from the Kingdom of Prios?”

In his excitement, Grain hadn’t fully listened to Commander Veritad, only recalling the plan he had imagined.

“I never said that.”

“But just now…”

For a moment, Grain realized his mistake.

“I-I must have misheard.”

“That seems unlikely.”

The atmosphere between Veritad and the others turned cold.

Grain stepped back slowly, hesitating.

Although he wanted to flee anywhere at that moment, his position forbade it.

“Grandfather is dead! Then I will inherit this territory and the marquisate! Are you questioning me now!”

Finally, Grain tried to corner Veritad with his defiance.

“Milord, do you think I act this way for no reason?”

“Arrogant! What are you doing! Restrain Commander Veritad, who dares oppose the heir to the marquisate!”

Despite his shouting, the other knights and soldiers stood still.

“What are you doing! Didn’t I order you to restrain the commander!”

“….”

From the silence, someone descended the central stairs of the mansion.

Clomp. Clomp.

At the sudden sound of footsteps, Grain slowly turned his head.

“G-grandfather!”

Descending the stairs was Marquis Kataroan Pelican himself.

“You truly have crossed the line, boy!”

“Ah… N-no… How could this be…”

Grain looked at the corpse lying in the carriage.

Until just now, he had believed it was his grandfather—but it was a fake.

“Do you not understand the situation even now? And what are these!”

Marquis Kataroan threw the bundles of parchment he had been holding onto the floor.

Several rolled parchments unfurled.

Inside were all the records of the territory that Grain had obtained and handed to Rosio.

All of it had been hidden in Grain’s room.

“G-grandfather… This is…”

“I had my suspicions. But seeing these come from your room… the things I could not believe are now vivid before my eyes!”

“It’s a setup! Someone must be framing me!”

Grain tried to excuse himself with lies to escape the situation.

Of course, Marquis Kataroan could no longer believe him.

“I don’t want to hear it! Commander, immediately lock this boy in the cell! From now on, the Pelican household of Praizen Territory has no heir!”

He completely stripped Grain of his right to succession.

In response, Grain fell to his knees and screamed frantically.

“Grandfather! I was wrong! I was only frustrated! You know that well, don’t you!”

Marquis Kataroan raised his head to the sky, closed his eyes, and clenched his teeth.

Though it was his own command, he could not bear to watch.

Veritad and the knights then approached Grain.

“This will be the last time we serve you.”

“No! Let go! Do you even know who I am to dare this!”

“Take him away quickly.”

With Marquis Kataroan’s murmured command, the knights dragged Grain out of the mansion.

Everyone frowned.

Meanwhile, a man slowly descended from the second floor.

“You have made a painful decision.”

The man was Raion.

While the carriage and troops entered the mansion’s entrance, Raion went with Marquis Kataroan to search Grain’s room.

As a result, a heap of parchment containing various information came out, confirming Marquis Kataroan’s worst fears.

Additionally, Grain’s slip of the tongue had been decisive, leaving disbelief impossible.

“I raised my only grandson that way… My efforts have been in vain.”

In the original future, Marquis Kataroan had been reported killed by Prios forces invading the northern coastline.

Naturally, Raion had never imagined that the lord’s grandson, Grain, would be involved like this.

He had tried to reform Grain Pelican, who had seemed like a frivolous youth, but it was now useless.

“Lord, I understand your grief, but you must now compose yourself.”

“Indeed. And I will not let their mastermind go unpunished.”

He referred to the true mastermind behind the Dagger of Darkness.

Although the group was directly under Queen Elina, he did not believe she was the only one involved.

“I will also assist you. And please ensure that my true identity does not leak outside.”

During the coastal battle, the knights and soldiers had discovered Raion’s identity.

Naturally, rumors would leak little by little.

Still, he wanted it kept as secret as possible.

“I will make them remain silent.”

“Thank you.”

Raion looked at him and contemplated the plan for what would come next.

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