Ch 6.11
Groans of pain were echoing loudly throughout the interrogation room.
I had seen a situation like this before.
So I quickly approached Owen Est.
I lightly placed my hand on his neck, hoping that the action I had taken for Eden before would work for him as well.
Of course, I did not forget to pretend to press him so that the nearby knights would not notice.
“What is this? What is happening to you?”
“Uugh! Sa—save— ugh!”
A moment later.
The movements of Owen Est, who had been writhing in pain, stopped instantly.
Just as Eden had, he also lost consciousness.
‘What on earth is…….’
Even as I watched it, I did not want to believe it.
As the empty puzzle pieces began to fill up as I approached the truth, I wanted to believe that the puzzle itself was wrong.
But I could no longer do that.
Now…….
I could no longer turn a blind eye to it.
“Lock Owen Est in the dungeon.”
“Yes, understood.”
There was a reason why this manor was used as the headquarters for this investigation team.
In the basement of this small manor, there was a prison where criminals could be confined.
There was no need to call a doctor.
At any rate, Owen Est would soon wake up, just as Eden had.
So I returned to the meeting room after locking him in the prison.
And I fell into deep thought, recalling all the information I knew.
‘Who could have done it?’
Was it Duke Bayon?
However, his reaction on the day of the incident suggested he truly knew nothing.
Of course, one cannot easily judge a man who has weathered all sorts of hardships as a Duke of an Empire just by seeing him once, but there was no reason for him to push me this far.
He did not even know the reason why Adela had collapsed at the banquet yet.
Above all, it was certain that Kane would be more of a thorn in Duke Bayon’s side than I was.
Therefore, if he were to attack one of the two families, the House of Maxius was the most likely candidate.
And decisively, Duke Bayon was not the type of person to plot such a thing even at the risk of putting his own daughter in danger.
He held immense power, and he only needed to use that power slightly; doing something like this was an action that did not suit the status of a Duke at all.
So I concluded that Duke Bayon would not be the culprit.
Now there were two people left.
Eden and Adela.
Could it possibly be Eden?
No.
It wasn’t him either.
It…… had to not be him.
If he had done it, why?
For Adela’s sake?
‘No, that can’t be it.’
I don’t know why I want to believe in him so much, but I just wanted to believe.
I didn’t want to believe that the warm gaze and the kind touch he sent my way were not sincere.
Furthermore, he was also a figure who, like Duke Bayon, could sufficiently inflict harm upon me without putting Adela in danger.
If that’s the case…….
Only one person remained.
Adela Bayon.
It was equally difficult to believe that she was the culprit, just as it was with Eden.
However, as soon as I thought of Adela, something that had been weighing on my heart throughout the investigation of the carriage incident felt as though it finally unraveled.
‘Then, has everything—the way she acted friendly toward me until now—all been a lie?’
Why would she go this far?
I couldn’t understand it.
I had to meet her.
Only then did it feel like I could reach an answer to this matter.
So I decided to go visit Adela immediately.
“Belita!”
When I entered Adela’s room, she welcomed me warmly.
It was thanks to Duke Bayon being away.
Earlier, I heard the Duke was looking for Eden, and it seemed the two of them had gone somewhere together.
“Adela.”
I greeted her with a smile, hiding my emotions as much as possible.
“How is your body? Are you feeling a bit better now?”
Since it was true that I had been worried about her during that time, the words came out smoothly.
“Yes, I’ve gotten much better.”
“You don’t know how shocked I was to hear that a carriage accident had occurred. Furthermore, a fire bomb—you heard the news that the three families have joined forces to solve this case, right? We will catch the culprit without fail, so Adela, just focus on recovering your body.”
“Thank you, Belita. Just hearing that makes me feel reassured.”
“Has Eden gone somewhere?”
“Yes, he went quite far away with Father on business. He will probably return around tomorrow.”
“Ah, is that so? I have something I must tell Eden……”
“What is it? Shall I deliver the message for you?”
“Well, I’ve found decisive evidence regarding the culprit. So I thought I should tell him quickly.”
“De…… cisive evidence?”
In that moment, I did not miss the subtle change in Adela’s expression.
“Yes, you heard the news that we caught Owen Est, who was guarding Adela, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I heard.”
“I searched his person, and decisive evidence came out.”
I deliberately emphasized the word
“person.”
“From his person?”
“Yes, and perhaps he felt quite a bit of guilt over this incident, as he said he would confess everything even if it meant his death.”
I again deliberately spoke while emphasizing the word “death.”
“He said he would confess even if he died?”
“Yes, it’s quite a relief, isn’t it?”
“It…… is.”
“However, regarding the evidence, it seems Eden needs to verify it, but since he’s coming tomorrow, there’s nothing to be done. I’ll just have to wait. I’ll tell Adela once it becomes certain. I don’t want to make you feel uneasy while you’re unwell for no reason. You understand, right?”
“Yes…… I understand.”
“Thank you for understanding, Adela.”
“But where is that knight now?”
“Pardon? Owen Est?”
“Yes……”
“Naturally, he is at the manor the investigation team is using. There is a dungeon in that manor, so we locked him up there.”
“I see.”
“Yes, everything will be revealed by tomorrow. It’s a relief. That we’re able to catch the culprit who made Adela like this.”
“Thank you for working so hard.”
“Don’t mention it. Adela, you’re my friend.”
I smiled brightly toward Adela.
And she responded to me with a quite awkward smile.
— To be continued in Volume 3
