The Dark Fantasy Hero Possessed into a Romance Novel (5)
"But... who might you be?"
The butler had been curious about him from the start but hadn't had the chance to ask amid the chaos.
"Ah, I'll explain. Instructor."
Serena introduced Zeke to everyone as he stepped forward.
"This is Zeke Clayman. He's the one who saved me when I was captured by goblins and in mortal danger."
"Ooooh!!"
"On his way to take up the position of swordsmanship instructor at Lamieli Academy, he rescued me and brought me all the way here."
"Heavens!!!"
Exclamations erupted from the knights and servants.
"The Yohayden family repays a debt twice over. Stay here as long as you'd like."
"Ooh! We are truly grateful! So grateful! For saving Lady Serena! We will serve you with all our hearts from now on!"
The butler stepped forward as representative, offering thanks on behalf of all.
Then, recalling that Zeke had intervened in the trial just moments ago, he asked,
"That said... Zeke, sir. What brings you here?"
Zeke glanced at the maid named Ciela, whose eyes were sharply slitted.
That bitch is the backstabbing type.
He could smell it.
He couldn't use Judgment Eye again yet, but he didn't need to. Zeke was certain just from looking at her face. His nape itched with it.
It was instinct, pure and simple.
Even if she spins her eyes, convincing others is another matter entirely... What to do...
Zeke organized his thoughts for a moment.
Hmm, that should do it. Consider it payment for lodging.
"I heard something fishy. Anyway, I'm one of the key witnesses who discovered the scene. The coachman who saw it with me has already left the capital, so I'm the last witness."
"Ah, right... When I was unconscious, you were the one who saw what happened, Instructor."
Serena nodded.
"Yeah, Serena. Just one question first. When you said you'd repay me earlier, didn't this Ciela woman say all the money was gone?"
"Yes."
"Butler, did you search them?"
Zeke asked the butler.
His instincts screamed she was lying, but confirmation was still necessary.
Just in case the bald guy really was the villain.
"Yes, yesterday. But nothing turned up."
"Then one of them hid the money. Probably this Ciela woman."
Yeah, you bitch. As if you wouldn't.
Ciela broke out in cold sweat.
"That's...!"
"Right, this was just a minor verification. Honestly, it has nothing to do with the current situation."
Zeke immediately shifted focus, claiming it was unrelated to the incident.
But she didn't know.
By not denying it outright, she'd already fallen into the trap.
Serena, I told you to watch your back.
Serena still seemed fond of her.
So planting suspicion through the stolen money would prevent her from stepping in for Ciela.
In a people's court like this, you gotta build up the atmosphere with agitation.
"First, three facts. One: When I first saw the carriage, the horses were already gone."
"Two: The horses didn't flee on their own from the goblins—there were even tracks showing they were ridden away at regular intervals."
"Three: I treated Serena and immediately set off in the carriage."
Zeke folded his fingers one by one as he spoke.
"Do you get what that means?"
"......"
"You arrived a day early. You rode straight here."
"Yes! That's proof of our innocence! The moment we knew Lady Serena was in danger, we rode here to report it!"
"I see. Now, to this man. What did Ciela say on the way here?"
It was cunning phrasing.
Zeke had framed it as if Ciela had led the whole thing from the start.
"She... said she'd show us a way to survive..."
"How? Didn't you think of running?"
"T-truthfully, we first thought of fleeing... But Ciela said... if we ran now, we'd be hunted by the knights forever..."
"I see. Even if you told the bandits Serena was kidnapped, wouldn't you still be in danger?"
Sensing things were going south, Ciela tried to interrupt.
"That's!"
Zeke glared at her expressionlessly.
She flinched.
Terror flooded her body in an instant, sealing her lips.
What the hell did this guy do, appearing out of nowhere!!!
Ciela was going mad inside.
There were no holes in her plan.
She'd panicked when the lady she'd assumed was goblin bait returned, but realized it could perfect her scheme.
She was confident she could sweet-talk the kind, naive Yohayden lady.
So she'd been carefully choosing her words, steering the mood.
Then this man suddenly stepped in and twisted everything.
What the fuck is he!!!
His eerie pressure forced her mouth shut even when she tried to speak.
"Ngh."
Zeke turned back to the man.
"Speak. Why lie that bandits kidnapped her?"
"Getting attacked by goblins is different from being kidnapped by bandits..."
"How so?"
"Kidnapping means the lady might still be alive, room for negotiation... We could say it was her fault for sneaking out of the academy secretly, that she caused the problem..."
Zeke found the bald man before him ridiculous.
Anyone with a brain could see through it.
No way such a flimsy excuse would save them.
Zeke decided to play along for now.
"Hmm, makes sense. So you were forced along, and unluckily, the lady got kidnapped by bandits...?"
Zeke glanced at Serena.
"You wanted to rescue the lady but lacked the power, so you raced here to report the danger. Right...?"
"Yes..."
"That way, you might avoid being hunted forever. Not sure, but let's move on. Why say you claimed bandits did it? No reason for that."
"C-Ciela promised me money if she got free..."
As Zeke's gaze stayed on the man, the pressure shielding Ciela weakened.
Ciela burst in hysterically.
"L-Lies!!!"
Zeke smirked inwardly.
"Fine, Ciela. Your turn to defend yourself. You planned to tell the butler separately that it was goblins, not bandits, who attacked Serena. Right?"
"Yes! I changed my mind because I had to reveal the real danger to Lady Serena!"
Desperate, Ciela affirmed Zeke's words.
Hey, don't bite the bait so easily.
"No. You sacrifice them all and secure your own survival."
Zeke grinned.
"You're all idiots. You got played. Claiming bandits kidnapped her leaves room for negotiation? Laughable. Goblin or bandit, you abandoned Serena in danger. Isn't that right, Serena?"
"Yes..."
Serena nodded as Zeke suddenly asked.
Zeke stepped forward to deliver the finishing blow.
"So why deceive you all? To be the only one who spoke the truth."
"Speculation!!!"
Ciela's shout rang hollow against Zeke's voice.
Everyone in the courtyard fixated on his mouth.
"When all say bandits kidnapped the lady, she alone claims goblins. Knights investigate the scene, and goblin attack is obvious."
Zeke approached Ciela step by step.
Eek!
She twisted away, trying to retreat.
"If Serena luckily gets rescued from goblins, she'd get a huge reward. The rest die, of course."
Thud.
Ciela toppled backward, still bound.
"Even if the others realize late and cry 'Ciela's plan!', who believes liars who claimed bandits? I wouldn't."
How the hell!
Ciela's face drained of color.
Zeke looked at the others, bound.
As if asking if they'd let her off.
They stared blankly at first, then glared at Ciela with bloodshot eyes.
It's a hastily slapped-together shallow plan. Will bonds forged by petty cash over life protect you?
"The evidence will come from them now."
Zeke drove the wedge home.
Ciela lay on the ground, eyes darting.
The knights gripped their swords tighter.
Servants and maids showed open contempt and disgust.
And Serena Yohayden stared piercingly with reddened eyes.
Then.
"I know where Ciela hid the money!"
"She said to sacrifice that man and let the rest of us live!"
"She promised to split the money fairly if we got free!"
"Ciela planned everything!"
Zeke nodded.
"Ciela. Back to the money. You didn't deny it earlier—now it grabs your ankle. Why hide it?"
"Th-that's!"
In truth, Zeke's words weren't ironclad proof she was guilty.
Just circumstantial reasoning pieced together.
He was certain, but couldn't present irrefutable evidence.
But it was so close to the truth that Ciela couldn't spot the gap.
In a romance novel world riding medieval carriages, scientific proof? Nah. The strong bully through, and that's that.
Serena, who watched the trial to the end, trembled with massive betrayal.
She'd tried to believe till the end. But Ciela deceived till the end.
Was I too soft?
She'd treated inferiors kindly, building trust—or so she'd thought.
Apparently one-sided.
She looked to the butler.
His face twisted like a demon's.
"Alfred."
"Yes..."
"I need the truth."
"Yes! It will be done... absolutely!"
"Decide the rest yourself. Just report the results."
Alfred glared at Ciela, fists shaking.
She realized her fate then, wretchedly.
No more struggling or begging would help.
Just accept it.
The torture ahead, and slow death after.
Her body shuddered.
H-how? How did it end like this...?
Ciela took one last look at Zeke.
His expressionless face bore a slight smirk.
"Butler."
"Yes, Lady Serena."
"Assign servants to the instructor."
"We will treat you as an honored guest."
The butler bowed deeply.
Serena glanced at the sky, then sighed deeply.
"Yeah, I'm tired. Heading in to rest. Oh, don't tell Father if you haven't. It'll get complicated."
"We sent a rider yesterday, but I'll dispatch a fast one to recall him."
"Good. I'll write Father myself."
He'll know I came here, but if I don't say I arrived safely, he'll come out of worry.
Ignoring Ciela's wails as knights dragged her to the dungeon,
Serena headed to the mansion, aided by the servants.