Chapter 417: There Is Always Only One Truth
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 417: There Is Always Only One Truth
The entire top floor of Plenilune Castle was a space dedicated to Tyr. As no one was permitted to reside above the Progenitor, only Tyr lived at the very peak of the castle.
On this highest floor of the most lavish and magnificent of castles lay a dim, tranquil bedchamber for the Progenitor. It had rarely been used. Being a vampire, Tyr did not sleep, and if she ever felt the need for eternal rest, she would take her favorite coffin to slumber in some distant, undiscovered place underground. Despite the lack of use, however, it was well-maintained. A large, canopied bed was draped with sheer red curtains, and on one wall, a jewel-adorned mirror reflected the room.
“Th-this is not the place. Forget what you saw. I did not mean to bring you to my bedchamber….”
I had no intention of going in, either. Tyr closed the bedroom door and opened the one to the audience chamber. Inside was a long, rectangular table. At its head, in the seat reserved only for Tyr, were stacks of documents prepared by Valdamir.
Tyr naturally took her seat at the head of the table. I sat right next to her and waited for her to speak.
“Your guess was correct. Valdamir reached the same conclusion, and I agree. This is something only a vampire could have done.”
“Well, if we’ve narrowed it down this much, picking the culprit should be a piece of cake. I don’t know much about vampires, but you or Lord Sanguine should be able to pinpoint the perpetrator. So, who’s the most likely suspect?”
Tyr shuffled through the stack of papers, found a file, and slid it over to me. Written on it in ominous red letters was a single name.
“Lyre Nightingale.”
As was to be expected, it was the name of the Doctor Sage.
“She was Luscynia’s Yeiling, and the one who inherited his original blood. Anyone in the world would find her the most suspicious.”
Tyr’s suspicion was reasonable.
Who but one of Luscynia’s own Kindred could have gotten close to the cruelest of Elders? And if she hadn’t killed him, how could she have inherited his original blood? It was like looking at a road that ran straight from start to finish.
But one question remained. I tilted my head and asked.
“A Yeiling isn’t exactly weak, but… her opponent was an Elder, wasn’t he? A Lord of Lords. The difference in their standing alone is immense. Could she really have killed him and taken his blood?”
“I, too, have questions about the method. Therefore, I will command Lyre to explain herself directly. If her story does not add up, she will face annihilation at my hands.”
The burden of proof lay with Lyre. Tyr agreed with my question but didn’t give it much weight. It was the mindset of a monarch, not a judge. Do you wish to live? Then prove your innocence. If I am not convinced, I will kill you instead.
In truth, Tyr is a monarch, and this method isn’t exactly wrong. A monarch’s role is to rule, not to chase after some vague truth. Presumption of innocence? What kind of country even does that?
However… I had already read it.
That ‘Lyre Nightingale did not kill Luscynia.’
This is getting a little interesting. I had originally planned to wait until the day of the trial. Since I can read people’s minds, uncovering the truth of the matter would be easy once all the involved parties were gathered.
The problem was whether ‘all the involved parties would even gather.’
The most likely suspect is Lyre. But Lyre isn’t the culprit. That means the real killer is out there somewhere. If they don’t show up for the trial, the whole truth will be buried.
As a monarch, Tyr might be fine with that. But I’m curious, you know?
I don’t have anything else to do anyway. Might as well dig into it, right?
“The probability of her being the culprit… yes, Lyre Nightingale is the highest.”
“Furthermore, she left her post knowing I had arrived. Whether intentional or not, it looks as if she has fled. Based on circumstantial evidence alone, I wonder if a trial is even necessary.”
“But! It’s so perfect that it actually rubs me the wrong way.”
“Rubs you the wrong way?”
If I hadn’t read her thoughts, I’d be chewing on some meat and leisurely sightseeing in the Duchy of Mist. But I did, so it can’t be helped. Might as well take on a little side project while I’m at it. Resting with a purpose is less boring than just resting, after all.
“It feels like the answer has been laid out too obviously, and it’s annoying, you know? It makes me want to find some hidden trick.”
“Are you saying there is someone behind this incident? Are you certain?”
“I’m not certain, but it seems like it would be more fun that way.”
“Finding fun in the death of an Elder. Be more serious. I’m letting it slide because it’s me, but if other vampires heard you, it would cause an uproar.”
She was planning to fool around with me for a whole year, and now she’s telling me to be serious? How unfair. But to voice that complaint, I’d have to confess to my mind-reading, so I decided to hold my tongue.
“You said you can’t make a move until a verdict is reached on the late Mr. Luscynia’s death, right? I’ll lend a hand. I’ll take on Lyre Nightingale’s defense.”
“Her defense? Do you mean to argue for the child’s innocence?”
“Not exactly. I mean I’ll help reach a more accurate verdict by picking at the suspicious parts. You can’t see everything by looking at it from only one direction, after all. If I stand on Lyre’s side, it might lead to a more objective judgment.”
Since I’ve read her thoughts and know the answer, it will end up being a defense of her, but still.
It seemed like a fun proposal, but surprisingly, Tyr showed little interest. With her hands clasped on the table, she grumbled at me like someone who was displeased.
“Why waste fruitless effort on a matter that is perfectly clear? Valdamir and I will handle the affairs of the Elders, so there is no need for you to concern yourself. Besides, don’t you have other things to do?”
“Things to do? You mean finding the Divine? I can’t do that right away.”
The Divine was not the answer she had been expecting, and Tyr’s face grew even more dissatisfied. A complaint aimed at me came from her pouting lips.
“You said you would restore the senses to my body. I did not wish to press you, but it seems you have not a shred of interest in the matter… I am disappointed.”
“Ah, that.”
I scratched my head.
I did promise. And I intend to do it. But there’s one thing I need to confirm before I do.
“I can do it anytime, but, Tyr… are you sure you’ll be okay with having your senses restored?”
I had already heard Tyr’s wish and revived her heart.
Her heart gave form to her self. By distinguishing between outside and inside, Tyr was able to clearly separate her once-blurry existence from the world. Because of that, her Bloodcraft and power of dominion have weakened… but in exchange, that power now resides within her body.
The ripples from reviving her heart are already spreading throughout the duchy, though Tyr hasn’t noticed.
And now senses on top of that?
“Reviving your heart has already changed you, hasn’t it? Restoring your senses is even more significant. Senses are the power to perceive and accept external changes. If all of them are brought back… you will continue to change from now on. So much that you’ll be unrecognizable from the Tyr you are now. Are you okay with that?”
“It is what I have wished for.”
I’d said it hoping she would at least think it over for a moment, but Tyr’s answer was immediate.
“Until now, I have vaguely wished to have my heart revived. I do not know why. Though I have never experienced an ordinary life, a part of me has always longed for a heart that beats on its own.”
Tyr placed a hand on her chest, feeling its beat. Though Tyr could freely regenerate her body with her wondrous Bloodcraft, the heart into which I had driven a card did not obey her commands.
A living being cannot stop its own heart. It cannot die by simply stopping its own breath. That is a primal instinct. It is why one needs a blade, poison, or a rope to take one’s own life.
Once her heart was revived, Tyr could no longer abandon her body. If she were to deconstruct it again, her heart would stop. Her power gathered to protect the small flame within her, and through that, she came to distinguish between outside and inside.
“Now, I think I understand. It is because first, there had to be a ‘me.’ Only with a ‘me’ can one feel what is different. One can desperately love that which is different from oneself. One can feel moved by it, assign emotions to it. All this time, I was searching for something that would change me.”
As she calmly felt her heartbeat, Tyr reached her hand out to me. With a small smile unbefitting a vampire, she toyed with my hand.
“I am not afraid of changing now. Above all… Hu, you are the one doing it, are you not? I have already entrusted my body to you once. If it is you, then I will accept anything.”
A wish is change. One who has a wish wants something to change.
Fulfilling that wish would likely cause a few problems, but I decided not to mention them. It was Tyr’s wish and Tyr’s resolve. I had no intention of listing off potential problems just to cover my own ass.
If problems arise, they arise. Tyr will figure out how to solve them. She’s the Progenitor, after all.
“Looks like I’ll have to do both.”
I, too, came to a swift conclusion.
“I’ll do some investigating during the day, and restore Tyr’s senses at night. Looks like I’m going to be busy.”
“Will you be all right? Won’t it be too difficult?”
“Do I look like the type to work myself to the bone? Don’t worry. Compared to the forced marches I’ve been on until now, this is nothing.”
So much for a relaxing sightseeing trip. Still, I need to do at least this much to have a say in the duchy. I guess I was planning to just play around and do nothing. In this world, your presence is defined by the work you do.
Living a busy life is a privilege of those with limited time. It’s not something I particularly wanted, but shall I try exercising that privilege for once?
“Besides, I’m curious how a mere Yeiling managed to subdue an Elder. Knowing the method might help me understand vampires a little better. It could be a reference for when I restore your senses.”
“If that is your will, how could I stop you? I will inform Valdamir, so do as you please.”
It is a shame we will have less time together… but since he says he is doing it for me, I have no grounds to stop him.
There’s such a thing as a debt of the heart. You give something, you get something right back. I gathered the most important-looking documents from the table and stood up.
“I’ll come find you tonight, so please wash up and wait for me.”
“Yes, wash up and… W-what?”
“I’ll need to etch it into your body stitch by stitch with the Lightning Spool, as if giving you a tattoo. I’ll see you this evening, then.”
It was a necessary part of the process, so I told her in advance. It’s delicate work, so it’s better to have fewer impurities.
…It sounds a little strange, I know, but hey, I warned her.
Until I had gathered the documents and left the room, Tyr remained seated as if her heart had stopped, her hands defensively clasped over her chest.