Chapter 130: Taimun Marius (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 130: Taimun Marius (3)
“So, Taimun abandoned those two.”
“Yes, my lord. I have confirmed it myself. What are your orders?”
“Dispose of them.”
*
Taimun was still staying at her villa in central Huphester. She had sent away all the servants who managed the estate. In the middle of the vast mansion, she was utterly alone.
On the table before her sat the same black tea she often shared with Luna. Her hand, resting on the teacup, was perfectly composed.
Taimun was lost in thought.
Beris, Kuzan. He won’t let them live. Their identities have been exposed to Young Master Jin.
They were the finest hounds of Moon’s Sacrifice, raised by her own hand.
An 8-star mage and an 8-star knight. Losing such talent was a painful blow, but in Taimun’s judgment, hounds could always be trained again.
It just takes time. With brainwashing and physical modification, I can produce as many hounds as I need. Since His Master’s assassination squad will handle them, I should just wait for Lady Luna and find out exactly how Young Master Jin found clues about me.
From Jin investigating the name ‘Marius’ to his battle with Beris and Kuzan—Taimun couldn't even begin to guess how those events were connected.
It had been fifteen years since Taimun, acting on ‘His’ orders, had placed a curse on Jin when he was only a year old.
For some reason, the curse had failed, but she believed there was no way she could be caught. No witnesses or evidence remained.
Did the mage who cast the curse leak information? Regardless, I’ll have my answer once I meet Lady Luna and Young Master Jin in person.
In any case, the soft-hearted Lady Luna cannot kill me.
Recalling that absolute premise once more, Taimun lifted her teacup.
Clang—!
No sooner had Taimun organized her thoughts than the mansion’s front gates swung open with a crash.
It was Jin and Luna.
“You’ve arrived, My Lady. And Young Master Jin.”
“Nanny.”
Step, step, step…
The two approached Taimun slowly.
She’s acting as if she knew we were coming. She must have something up her sleeve, Jin thought, feeling a strange sense of unease.
Taimun looked directly at Luna, but Luna, her eyes heavily bloodshot, seemed unable to meet her gaze.
Finally, Luna looked Taimun straight in the eye.
“I’ll get straight to the point. Do you know individuals named Beris Marius and Kuzan Marius?”
“I do, My Lady.”
“Why were you raising subordinates behind my back? And why did your subordinates keep clashing with my youngest brother? I heard a man named Tagan Marius left behind some strange words before Jin killed him. What on earth is going on…?”
She had resolved to ask calmly, but Luna’s agitated voice was trembling.
“…What strange words did he leave? My subordinates clashing with Young Master Jin was not done on my orders. My Lady, did you come here having already concluded that I intended to murder the Young Master?”
“Even if you didn't give the order, your subordinates attacked a pure-blooded Runcandel! They attacked my youngest brother! What is with this attitude of yours?”
“If you wish to punish me for that, I will accept it gladly, My Lady. I was also deeply troubled after hearing the news from Kuzan and Beris, and I have been waiting for you.”
“I asked why you were raising assassins behind my back. Answer that first.”
“Please request a family trial. I will testify in detail then.”
Jin shook his head.
“Wait a moment, Taimun. I can’t stand by and watch you disrespect my sister any longer. And you say you’re uninvolved? You killed the survivors of Moon’s Sacrifice the moment I started investigating the Marius name.”
“It seems you’re misunderstanding something, Young Master Jin.”
“Is that so? For my sister’s sake, I truly hope it is a misunderstanding. I still hope you have nothing to do with the ‘Delusion of the Blade.’ Tagan Marius spilled quite a bit of information before he died. So did the rescued Den Marius.”
Jin deliberately brought up the name of the curse, ‘Delusion of the Blade.’ It was a name that neither Luna nor his companions, including Gilly and Murakan, knew.
At that, Taimun faltered and stared at Jin.
“Why? Is it strange that I know what happened when I was a year old? I am a contractor of a god. I don’t remember it myself, but the god I’m contracted with remembers exactly what happened in the Cradle of Storm Castle.”
It was a lie. Jin had not heard Solderet’s voice even once since his regression.
However, Taimun couldn’t dismiss it as a lie.
I see… Young Master Jin was already chosen by Solderet back then. It wasn't the mage who leaked information; the god told him directly. Then he must have been looking for the culprit ever since he first met Lady Luna at Storm Castle.
Young Master Jin’s presence here was no coincidence. The reason he sought out Tagan Marius in Akin was because he had placed her on his list of suspects from the very beginning.
Convinced, Taimun inwardly swallowed a laugh.
It was certainly impressive that he had come this far, but Jin currently lacked the ‘decisive evidence’ to pin her as the culprit.
Tagan and Den know absolutely nothing about the specific circumstances of the curse. Young Master Jin is bluffing; he can’t do anything to me based on circumstantial evidence alone.
On the other hand, Jin was full of weaknesses. The fact that he used magic, that he was Solderet’s contractor, and that he had broken numerous laws as a reserve flagbearer.
Taimun knew all of it.
“I see, Young Master Jin. It is a surprising fact that you were a contractor of a god, despite being a Runcandel… But what does that have to do with me? Are you suggesting that I commissioned that curse? This is all news to me.”
“Well, we’ll find out soon enough.”
“I will participate in the family trial with sincerity.”
As Luna struggled to find a response, Jin took a step forward.
“A family trial? You’re mistaken, Taimun. You keep bringing it up, so you must have quite a few allies at the main estate. But you’re not going to a trial. You’re coming to my private space to be interrogated.”
Taimun’s brow furrowed.
“Does a reserve flagbearer like you have such authority? My Lady, this is an overstepping of his bounds. If you are to punish me, you must execute it yourself. If a family trial begins, I will remain silent about the fact that the Young Master met with you to find me…”
“Nanny.”
Luna bit her lip and glared at Taimun.
“Yes, My Lady.”
“I… I feel like the nanny I see now isn't the person I used to know. And the way you’re acting right now… I can’t understand it at all.”
“I cannot understand you either, My Lady. It is true that my subordinates accidentally caused trouble with Young Master Jin, but to think you would suspect me—who has served you all my life—to this extent?”
“That’s because you were raising assassins…”
“I apologize for hiding that from you. However, I only raised those subordinates to protect myself.”
“What?”
“Do you have any idea how many enemies Lady Luna has within the family? Because of them, I was plagued by death threats every single day. You probably wouldn't know, My Lady.”
“What are you talking about? In the Runcandel family, while I, the 1st Flagbearer, am watching with my own two eyes? Someone tried to kill my nanny?”
“…You really know nothing, My Lady.”
“Stop playing word games and speak plainly. Nanny, my heart feels like it’s going to burst.”
“My Lady, look back carefully. The servants who managed your room rarely lasted even a year before being replaced. Except for me, your nanny, the people serving you were changing every year.”
It was true.
It was common for servants of pure-blooded Runcandels to be reassigned. They might be promoted to butler or scribe, or be drafted for other duties.
But in Luna’s case, the servants changed exceptionally often.
“Why do you think that was?”
“That’s…”
“Did you ever show them a shred of interest? You probably just noticed the faces had changed and never thought to ask me why. It’s been that way ever since you came of age.”
“What are you trying to say?”
As Luna shook her head in confusion, Jin quietly took her trembling hand.
He already anticipated what Taimun was going to say.
“They were all murdered, My Lady. By your other siblings. While you showed them no interest! That is why the people changed every time.”
Luna’s pupils dilated.
“Since you always lived so far above it all, cushioned by your supreme power, you never knew what was happening to those beneath you. But your people were always plagued by the threat of death simply for being by your side.”
“Why… why didn't you tell me?”
“Because it was obvious you would suffer and grieve. Your siblings, instead of harming you directly, tormented your people. It’s not like they could actually kill you, could they?”
“Don't talk such nonsense! If you had told me even once, do you think I would have stood by and done nothing? Nanny, do you know me so little? Do you think I would have just ignored it?”
“…I didn't tell you precisely because I know you better than anyone.”
“Bullshit!”
As Luna shouted, a faint tremor shook the mansion. The teacup in front of Taimun rattled, sending a whirlpool through the black tea.
“Could you really have cut down your siblings for killing your servants? You, who stepped back from the war for the throne because you were afraid of killing or subjugating your own family, despite inheriting the greatest talent?”
Luna, who had been advancing on Taimun, stopped dead in her tracks.
“Answer me, My Lady. How would you have taken revenge? Could you have killed your siblings for the sake of your people? Or wouldn't you have just writhed in agony and done nothing?”
“I…”
“Perhaps your heart would have broken. This nanny knows better than anyone how fragile your heart is. Can you really hold me responsible for that?”
Taimun gripped the shaking teacup and gave a bitter smile.
“From the moment you withdrew from that hideous war for the Runcandel throne, all of your people were reduced to prey. You, My Lady, should never have given up on the throne of Runcandel.”