Chapter 265: Lainella's Fate is Decided by Lainella (58)
Chapter 265: Lainella's Fate is Decided by Lainella (58)
Sir Irene poured out her tears, recounting her story in exhaustive detail.
To summarize her long-winded explanation into a single sentence:
"…So you’re saying you were taken down by a masked assailant?"
"Yes, yes… if my memory serves me correctly, that is what happened."
Sir Irene’s voice was small, her confidence completely vanished. Her attitude suggested she couldn't even trust her own eyes.
I scratched my head at the sudden emergence of a new mystery. My voice naturally carried a hint of irritation.
"No, is that all? Why would such a suspicious person only show up now?"
"T-That, I’m not sure either… Ah! Come to think of it, there was a flash of light right before I collapsed!"
A flash of light.
That wasn't helpful information in the slightest.
As my expression soured, Sir Irene quickly slammed her head against the floor again. A dull thud echoed through the room, punctuating my sigh.
"I-I am sorry. I am so sorry. I am truly sorry… Lady Ria stood up as if she were possessed, and I was so caught off guard that I…"
"…No matter how caught off guard you were."
My patience had reached its limit, and I couldn't help but let a word of reproach slip out. At that, Sir Irene, with tears welling in her eyes, placed her sword at my feet.
"P-Please, kill me… If this pathetic life of mine cannot be of help to my Master and I cannot return to the Princess, then I would rather—"
"No, why are you being so extreme?"
True to her status as a daughter of the Lupemion family, her sword was a high-quality piece. I spoke with genuine disgust, but Sir Irene seemed equally sincere.
She slowly raised her upper body, though she remained on her knees. The female knight sniffled and wiped her tear-streaked eyes with her hand.
"It means an incompetent person like me doesn't even deserve to die as a knight. I understand. Enduring shame is also a responsibility. I shall quit being a knight and quietly undergo bridal training while—"
"That’s enough."
I cut her off firmly. I was afraid of what else she might say if I let her continue.
Sir Irene hung her head, looking even more dejected. She muttered timidly.
"S-Still, I’ve heard many compliments about my beauty since I was young. I won't be completely useless like I was as an escort knight…"
"One more word about that and you're in trouble."
Sir Irene fell silent at my cold tone. She simply lowered her gaze powerlessly.
Regardless of her state, I crossed my arms and sank into thought.
Sir Irene was a knight who had reached the level of an Expert. She had lived as a knight for several years. Even if her charge was low in the order of succession, she was still entrusted with the protection of royalty.
Even if she had been caught off guard, she wasn't someone who could be knocked unconscious in a single blow. At the very least, it was impossible for me.
That left only one possibility.
The masked assailant was stronger than that.
That made it even more confusing.
If they had the power to take down an escort knight, there were countless things they could have done with Ria. They could have kidnapped her for ransom, or killed her on the spot with no one to stop them. There was no way someone of that caliber would be defeated by Ria.
Yet, the masked assailant chose the worst possible option.
Abandonment.
It was a decision whose intent was difficult to fathom.
My head throbbed from the deluge of concerns. I was never someone with a particularly brilliant mind to begin with. With a lingering hangover and injuries on top of that, it was becoming difficult to process any more thoughts.
This was a matter I would have to leave to Saintess Retona.
In the end, my destination was already decided.
As I took a staggering step forward, Sir Irene cried out in surprise.
"M-Master! The Saintess clearly said you need absolute stability for a while—"
"It’s fine, so you should get up too, Sir Irene… Right now, every hand is precious."
Sir Irene had no choice but to stand up, albeit hesitantly. A faint look of relief flickered across her face. She seemed happy to have been forgiven.
Though, it was more like I was just letting it slide rather than forgiving her.
I hadn't realized it at first, but this woman had a bit of a 'dead weight' streak in her. Or perhaps something had happened to make her that way.
Either way, I couldn't abandon Sir Irene. Not only had she received powerful techniques from the 'me' who came from the future, but as I said, I was in a position where I’d take any help I could get. It was impossible to let a high-level asset like an Expert sit idle.
And so, I led the way while Sir Irene followed tentatively behind.
An ominous silence hung over the mansion's lobby. That gloomy atmosphere was emanating from the reception room.
As expected, everyone was gathered there.
Not just the Percus family, but my companions, Sir Reynold, and even Arthur, the Administrator of the Empire. It was safe to say everyone was there except for Ria and Seria.
When I stumbled into the reception room, the group looked at me with bewildered eyes. The Saintess was so startled she practically jumped to her feet.
"Ian! Your wounds are still—"
"I'm fine."
I immediately raised my hand to stop her. I had already anticipated she would react that way. Instead, I asked the question that had been weighing on me.
"More importantly, where is Ria?"
The Saintess still looked worried, but she eventually let out a deep sigh and stepped back. She seemed to realize she couldn't break my stubbornness.
There were certainly perks to having spent so much time together; it reduced the time wasted on useless arguments.
The answer came shortly after from Celine.
"…She fainted."
My eyes turned toward Celine.
The two of them had bickered like cats and dogs since childhood, but they had known each other for years. This had to be a shock in many ways. The sight of Celine biting her lip conveyed her complex emotions.
"Ria seemed shocked too. She was just blankly muttering to herself… but why on earth did she do it?"
Celine finally voiced the question. Her childhood friend had been suddenly stabbed, and the perpetrator—his own younger sister—had now collapsed after a mental breakdown. With no explanation, the suspicion could only grow.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward my father, Viscount Percus. Since my eyes were also fixed on him, it was unavoidable.
My parents and my brother, Aaron, remained in a somber silence.
"Mother, Father. Why did Ria do such a thing? It was as if she was…"
"One of Mitram's masterpieces."
It was Sir Reynold who finished the sentence Celine couldn't bring herself to say. He spoke with an expression that remained impossible to read.
"Viscount Percus, I believe an explanation is required… As you know, the Dark Cult is an enemy of the continent. You have an obligation to reveal anything related to them."
Sir Reynold’s voice was calm and level. He was simply stating the facts to express his intent. It felt like he was applying pressure, which made me uncomfortable, but I too was curious about the Percus family secret.
I deliberately remained silent, offering my wordless agreement.
Only then did Arthur, who had been fidgeting restlessly, let out a sigh of relief. To him, regardless of the Dark Cult, my will as the possessor of the Dragon Blood Runes was what mattered most.
Finally, in an atmosphere where no one was taking his side, my father slowly opened his lips.
"…It is a story from over ten years ago."
His voice was hoarse with agony and pain. The recent string of events had exhausted my father's mind and body. In the midst of it all, he had heard the news that his daughter had stabbed his son. It wouldn't have been strange if he had collapsed then and there.
The reason he was still holding on was likely because the fate of the territory rested in his hands.
"Around that time, a certain disease was prevalent. It was an illness that could be cured by neither divine power nor mana."
"…'Depletion Syndrome,'" the Saintess said, likely being the most knowledgeable on the subject.
Father nodded slowly in affirmation.
'Depletion Syndrome'—I had heard of it as well.
All living things are born with innate mana. Whether the amount is large or small, no living being exists without mana. This was because it was directly linked to life functions.
The reason demonic beasts were born was also closely related to this. Mana attracts mana. Therefore, naturally occurring mana is inevitably drawn to beings that possess mana. When that density becomes excessive, a demonic beast is born.
However, there were a few exceptions to this law. They were the people born with the peculiar affliction known as 'Depletion Syndrome.'
'Depletion Syndrome' was a disease where the mana within the body naturally dried up. Usually, those afflicted did not live past the age of ten. A life without mana cannot survive.
While there were stories of miraculous healings, Depletion Syndrome was essentially an incurable disease. It could not be treated by mana or divine power.
It seemed the original Ria had suffered from this illness.
"Yes, I knew it in my head. I knew that I could never save my daughter with my power alone… Was it not the same disease that almost took the life of Princess Iris of the Imperial Household? But my heart simply wouldn't listen."
What must it have been like for parents facing a daughter destined for a short life? I couldn't truly know, but it was clear that my father had fallen into deep despair afterward. That was likely why he reacted so sensitively to the word 'fate.'
Tears began to well in my mother's eyes as she recalled those days. Aaron also let out a heavy sigh.
Father spoke in a strained voice.
"…That was when I heard it."
"Heard what?"
"The rumor that there was someone who possessed a secret art capable of even bringing the dead back to life."
Arthur, who had been listening quietly, shook his head violently. He cried out in frustration.
"How could you believe such a suspicious rumor…!"
"It was a time when I would have done anything if it meant saving my daughter."
Like a cornered rat biting a cat. He just wanted to lash out and challenge the powerful enemy called fate.
Father testified with sorrowful eyes.
"I didn't even have to search. He heard the rumors and contacted me first."
"What did he demand?" the Saintess asked sharply.
Father let out a hollow, sad laugh.
"He said he wanted to study my daughter. That those born with Depletion Syndrome seemed to have a peculiar nature… At that time, my daughter was on the verge of death."
The rest of the story was predictable. I silently lowered my gaze.
"Foolishly, I accepted the proposal. In exchange, I handed over my daughter and received a 'daughter' in return."
It was a strange thing to say.
Unlike me, who had guessed the circumstances to some extent, the rest of the group stared at my father's mouth with lingering confusion. Father had to confirm the truth once more.
"That child we call 'Ria' now is not my daughter. She is a clone born with my daughter's genetic information… Yes, the Percus family made a deal with the Dark Cult."
That was the secret the Percus family had been hiding all this time.