novelzi Chapter 148
Chapter 148
Chapter 148 – Poison Master Raven (1)
It was undoubtedly excessive to have not five hundred soldiers, but five hundred knights stationed as guests.
After all, even Duke Herman had dispatched only four hundred knights to protect the vast territory of Black Swan.
“You’re not suggesting we prepare for war, are you?”
“Of course not.”
Marquis Laksir habitually twirled his mustache.
“Sometimes, I forget my status.”
“What do you mean?”
“I just thought I’d remind you. It seems you’ve forgotten who I am.”
“Ah, I see.”
“I’m not one to flaunt my rank, but I am human, after all.”
At last, I nodded in agreement.
“Although you won’t brag, you won’t shy away from the acknowledgment of others. Is that it?”
“Hahaha.”
Silence often speaks louder than words. As a result, there was a stir inside the estate.
Once again, this was the residence of Marquis Milon.
“You may be royalty in your homeland, but here, you are a mere baron. At the very least, I’d like you to show me some respect today.”
As soon as he spoke,
“How about to another marquis?”
“......!”
Through the open main gates of the estate, Milon strode forward without hiding his presence.
“It’s been a while, Milon.”
“Not that long, really.”
“......I sent a notice beforehand to avoid any misunderstandings. I’m here to see Baron Ancelot, not you.”
“To think you’d cause a situation bound to create misunderstandings, then ask that I don’t misunderstand. How strange.”
“Well, you see, I......”
Before Marquis Laksir could finish, Milon interrupted.
“Baron Ancelot’s concerns are my concerns, as well.”
“......!”
Marquis Laksir flinched visibly.
“So...... Are you saying that if a dispute arises between the Baron and me, you’ll stand against me?”
“This is my answer.”
Rumble.
Suddenly, a group poured out from within the estate. Even I was taken aback, wondering when Milon had assembled so many people.
‘At least two hundred, by my estimate.’
Judging by their robes, they appeared to be the famed magic battalion of the Milon Marquisate.
“I’ve heard rumors...... But seeing it in person is astonishing. This isn’t like you at all.”
“......”
Milon remained silent as usual, not being much of a talker.
“Hmm...... This has been enlightening. I now have a clearer picture of the kind of man you are.”
Marquis Laksir glanced at me with a small smile
“Why does it feel like all the prominent figures in the kingdom are converging around you? It must be my imagination.”
“It’s not intentional, so you needn’t be wary.”
“If it’s unintentional, that’s even more remarkable—assuming it’s true.”
With those words, Marquis Laksir placed a hand on the shoulder of the captive he had brought.
“Why do you need our friend over here?”
“If I explain the reason, will you hand him over?”
“Let’s hear your explanation first.”
Not that it mattered.
In the first place, he clearly intended to hand the captive over. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought him here all tied up like a criminal.
‘Once trust is lost, it’s hard to build it back up.’
Would someone like Abidal willingly stay in the Laksir Marquisate after being humiliated like this?
Furthermore, I gleaned another insight.
‘They’re not as close as I thought.’
To casually hand over one’s subordinate in front of so many others?
That’s bound to damage morale and loyalty. Yet he did so without hesitation.
‘Perhaps...... He knows this man is guilty.’
That would explain his actions.
However, he likely doesn’t know about the captive’s past dealings with the Poison Palace.
If he did, he wouldn’t give up such a talent so easily. From these fragmented events, I could infer quite a bit.
“Last night, I pondered deeply.”
“About what?”
“How I could recruit you as one of my vassals.”
Marquis Laksir’s intentions were clear.
While he would hand over the captive, he wanted something in return. In other words, this was a ‘negotiation’.
It was clear what he wanted.
“Let me ask you instead. Why are you so eager to claim Black Swan?”
“Huh?”
“Honestly, it’s not about me. You’re coveting my land, aren’t you?”
The reason he hadn’t openly sought Black Swan was clear. He feared drawing the attention of the Meeke Principality.
However, in the Hart Kingdom, I’m the only one exempt from their scrutiny. He wanted to claim Black Swan through me.
The issue, however,
“While the Meeke Principality is leaving me alone for now, if I officially become your vassal, we don’t know how they’ll react. They’ll surely see it as a ploy. And that would mean the start of a war.”
“......”
“No matter how resourceful the land is, it would be meaningless under such circumstances.”
“Baron, may I ask for a personal favor?”
“Is this related to the deal over transferring the custody of this man?”
I nudged the bound man and asked. Surprisingly, Marquis Laksir shook his head.
“It’s just a favor.”
“......?”
Noticing the subtle change in his demeanor, I nodded.
“Let’s hear it first.”
The request was even more unexpected.
“I will be hosting a ball at my estate.”
“And?”
“If possible, attend with that black-haired lady from earlier.”
“......”
I stared at him for a moment before shaking my head.
“I’m not sure. It’s not my place to make decisions on behalf of others......”
“Please.”
“......”
I studied Marquis Laksir silently. Honestly, it wasn’t a request I couldn’t grant.
“I will try. However, if the person in question refuses, there’s nothing I can do.”
“That’s enough.”
With that, Marquis Laksir turned and left without hesitation. Of course, he left the bound man behind.
“M-Marquis! Please don’t abandon me!”
The pitiful cries of the man echoed. But no one looked back. Once Marquis Laksir and his knights disappeared,
“You son of a bitch!”
Nella, who had held back until now, grabbed the man by the collar.
“Because of you......! Because of you, Master......!”
“Y-You people! Why are you doing this to me?”
The man’s response made Nella’s face twist in fury.
“You don’t know who I am?”
“I’ve never seen someone like you before......”
“The eighth seat of the Poison Palace, the only disciple of its leader.”
“......!”
His eyes widened in shock.
“I-It can’t be. That kid......?”
At the same time, Nella’s lips curved into a wicked grin.
“Brace yourself. You’ll be begging for death when I’m through with you.”
***
After dragging him underground, Nella eventually returned. A considerable amount of time had passed.
“Did you learn anything?”
“......Something very important.”
Nella adjusted her glasses perched on her nose. Her hands were still stained with dried blood, hinting at what had transpired below.
“Abidal has a geas.”
“A geas......?”
My eyes widened.
Simply put, a geas is akin to an oath of mana. It’s something that can threaten one’s life if certain conditions are met.
“When I asked questions related to the Empire, he writhed in agony as if his heart was being torn apart. I could’ve pushed further, but his heart might have exploded.”
“......!”
The implications were clear.
If the geas was tied to the Empire, then it must have been placed by the Empire itself. In other words, it’s likely that they released this criminal despite capturing him.
“So...... There might be a chance that the embezzlement he committed might have been orchestrated by the Emperor himself.”
“Ha......”
Nella ran a hand through her hair, her frustration evident.
“As painful as the truth often is...... This one’s especially hard to bear.”
She looked genuinely distressed.
“We spent ten years slaving away in the Poison Palace. Master, especially, was a physical and mental wreck by the time he returned home.”
“......!”
My eyes widened.
It was because she continued to reveal pieces of information that I hadn’t known about.
“By a physical wreck, you mean......?”
“It’s what you’re thinking. Because of that bastard in the basement, Master didn’t receive the treatment he needed in time. The side effects Lady May experienced? Master dealt with those until the end of his life.”
“......”
I met Nella’s gaze. Her words carried no hint of deceit.
“And his mind?”
“Unable to see the comrades he missed so much again, he was incredibly lonely.”
“Depression?”
“He had severe depression. He even attempted suicide later on.”
“......”
I fell silent.
“He often spoke fondly of your senior. He missed him deeply, always saying he had lost his one true friend.”
“......”
“Every year on the Great Hero’s memorial day, he held a private ceremony. Every night, he’d wake screaming, ‘Please come back, friend!’”
“......”
“He pretended to be strong...... But deep down, Master was someone who got lonely very easily.”
A dreadful thought crossed my mind. All of her words were in the past tense.
“Nella. Where is the Poison Master Raven now?”
* * *