Chapter 169
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 169
"I'll do it."
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
"Of course! If I just deliver this... you'll let me go?"
Albert's jaw was trembling uncontrollably.
Cedric watched him, a faint smile playing on his lips. He wondered why this man had been so confident before, when it was always destined to end like this.
"I can't act as if nothing happened. I might be able to smooth over the issues regarding Angelic’s side effects, but what happened on that ship..."
"I'll pay back all the evaded taxes! Every single dirham, including the VAT. And as for those... th-the people who died..."
"You were quite adept at only picking those without families to claim compensation," Cedric noted, taking another sip of tea.
He swallowed the liquid slowly, as if using it to wash down the rising disgust he refused to let show on his face.
"How about this? Release those who were trafficked with full compensation, and make a donation to the temple so prayers can be offered for the dead."
"Y-yes! That sounds perfect."
"And make a substantial donation to the project for detoxifying Angelic. If you do that, I might be able to reduce the fine you owe the Imperial Family."
"I'll do everything you say!"
"One more thing."
Albert watched him with anxious eyes as the conditions continued to pile up. Cedric leaned forward, closing the distance between them.
"What did you promise Bella Listerwell?"
"Huh?"
"She wouldn't have volunteered to be your lawyer for nothing."
Seeing that Cedric already seemed to know everything, Albert swallowed hard and confessed.
"Th-that 500,000 dirhams..."
"Handle the money yourself. I don't care about that. Was there a condition involving Harriet Listerwell?"
Albert’s eyes wavered for a fleeting second. Cedric didn't miss the opening and pressed on.
"Listen carefully. If Harriet Listerwell's name ever leaves your lips, this entire deal is off."
"Wh-why...!"
"Because she is the one who found my father's memento."
His weakness exposed once more, Albert shuddered and waved his hands frantically.
"I-I won't say a word! Never!"
Gerard approached Albert, who was still frantically shaking his head, and handed him a piece of paper. Until that moment, Albert hadn't even noticed there was anyone else in the room besides Cedric.
"It's a memorandum stating you will fulfill the terms we just discussed. Sign it."
"Huh?"
"Why? Do I look like the type of man who trusts verbal agreements?"
"N-no. Of course... I’ll sign it."
Albert knew he was being dragged along by Cedric’s lead, but he had no choice. Resolving this with money was the cheapest way out.
Gripping the pen as it slipped against his cold sweat, Albert finished signing and forced his trembling legs to stand. Cedric watched him silently before delivering a final warning.
"As you well know, there can’t be a second mistake. And make sure no one—other than Marquess Pascal—knows you delivered this letter."
"Of course! I'll go right away."
His face pale, Albert fled the reception room as if escaping a predator.
He was dying to know what was written in the letter—something his father likely knew nothing about—but Cedric's mention of a 'test' terrified him. He didn't dare open the envelope.
Just keep it simple. All I have to do is deliver this. Just this!
It might have been an act of betraying his own father, but if it meant not returning to prison, he was willing to do far worse.
*
Although Albert's unannounced visit was an annoyance, Marquess Pascal, Sylvain, granted him an audience. He was cautious enough not to prematurely cut off someone who might still have some use.
However, after reading the letter Albert handed him with a haggard face, any lingering sympathy Sylvain felt vanished instantly.
"So, you're saying your father sent this letter?"
"Y-yes...!"
"Do you know what it says?"
"No! I was just told to deliver it..."
"Is that so...?"
Sylvain offered an ambiguous smile and looked down at the letter again.
On the stationery, which was subtly embossed with the Kailas Family seal, only a single line was written:
「See you next time.」
Enclosed with it was a napkin from a cafe called Elshiz, upon which a date was written: '1872. 4. 28.'
The place and date perfectly matched the moment Sylvain had conspired with his sympathizers to kill Rowan Kailas.
Viscount Kingsley betrayed us, or he was caught.
The reason it had been sent specifically via Albert was also clear: 'I am closing in on you, trampling over everyone around you.'
Insolent bastard.
It was unpleasant, but it was also an opportunity. An opportunity to pin everything on a useless pawn and extricate himself.
Sylvain folded the letter and spoke to Albert.
"You've gone to a lot of trouble to come all this way. It would be best if you didn't mention this matter to anyone. 'Anyone.' Do you understand?"
Albert suddenly felt a chilling sensation that Sylvain knew exactly who the letter's true sender was. The 'anyone' he wasn't supposed to tell likely included his own father.
What in the world is going on?!
He felt like he was suffocating, but he was in no position to demand answers.
"I... understand. May I leave now?"
"You may."
Albert stumbled out of the Marquess's mansion.
Watching Albert's retreating figure from a second-story window, Sylvain took out a piece of stationery and scribbled a few lines. It was a letter to Count Hayward, the man who served as the 'executor' of the anti-Duke faction.
「We've been caught. Cut off Kingsley.」
*
Two days after Albert was released on bail, the Imperial Knights stormed Viscount Kingsley's mansion. Although the Angelic incident was still under investigation, Albert's bail had only been approved two days prior, so no one had anticipated such a sudden escalation.
However, the man the Knights dragged away this time was not Albert, but Benedict.
"Let go of me! You should at least explain what's happening before you expect me to go quietly!"
As he struggled in the knights' grasp, the Captain of the Imperial Knights looked at him with cold eyes.
"It is an Imperial Edict. What further explanation do you require?"
"No, but I am the Duke of Kailas's uncle! You can't just—!"
"A traitor to the Empire has much to say. You! Drag him away!"
"What? A traitor? What do you mean?"
Benedict stared at the Captain with bewildered eyes, but received no answer.
"Th-there must be some misunderstanding. Just wait here calmly."
After comforting his tearful wife, he boarded the escort carriage. Albert's deathly pale complexion bothered him, but he tried to hide his agitation as they headed to the palace.
However, what awaited him there was an Imperial Trial, attended by all the major nobility.
The Imperial Trial was the highest judicial system of the Astoga Empire—a partially constitutional monarchy where the Emperor himself judged and punished. Once a decision was made, there was no possibility of appeal.
However, those subject to such judgment were limited to traitors or those who had caused an extreme public scandal.
What in the world is going on? Why is Count Hayward there?
Benedict felt a wave of unease seeing Count Hayward standing beside the Emperor. It was made worse by the fact that the Count’s expression was utterly frigid.
He was given no time to process the situation.
He was shoved into the accused's stand, and Emperor Durein spoke in a chilling voice.
"Benedict Kingsley! Do you have any inkling as to why you have been brought here?"
"N-no. I do not."
"The hint is that this court primarily deals with traitors to the Empire. I ask again. Is there truly nothing on your conscience?"
"..."
Benedict swallowed hard. It wasn't because he had no idea, but because he had too many secrets, and he couldn't afford to speak carelessly.
As he hesitated, Durein let out a small, dry laugh.
"Count Hayward. Read the accusation."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Count unfolded the paper he held and began to read.
"We hereby accuse Benedict Kingsley, having secured evidence that he colluded with the Firma Kingdom and was deeply involved in the death of the former Duke, Rowan Kailas. Driven by envy and jealousy for his twin brother, Rowan, he conspired with the Firma Kingdom to seize control of the Kailas Ducal House..."
As Count Hayward's voice echoed through the courtroom, Benedict’s mouth hung open. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
To have his involvement in Rowan's death revealed so suddenly, without any warning—this was something he had never even imagined possible.
Once Count Hayward finished reading the accusation, Durein turned back to Benedict.
"The evidence is ample. We have the correspondence exchanged with the Firma Kingdom, the enormous sums of unknown origin that flowed into your accounts, and the testimonies of witnesses."
"Th-that's absurd...!"
"What? That we found out so quickly?"
Benedict's eyes wavered at the accurate jab, and Durein clicked his tongue in disgust.
"Did you think the Imperial Family and the Ducal House had forgotten Rowan's death all this time? We have been secretly gathering information and evidence. And with Count Hayward's accusation, which brought forth crucial evidence, all the pieces of the puzzle have simply fallen into place."
"C-Count Hayward himself accused me?"
A spark of realization ignited in Benedict's eyes.
It meant that Marquess Pascal and Count Hayward—the very people who had drawn him into that conspiracy—had abandoned him.
He glared at Count Hayward and screamed.