Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: The Traitor's Timing
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"I expected as much. That's why I sent everyone else out except for you."
Far from surprised, Baon answered nonchalantly.
Startled by what Aser had said, I let out a huge sigh of relief.
At the same time, I was astounded by their incredible attention to detail.
No, in truth, everything that happened on the day of the negotiations had been orchestrated by Kaide.
So, should I be impressed with Kaide?
I couldn't single out just one person.
Everyone there was incredible.
It was a moment that showed the caliber of someone holding a position in a head family.
I thought he just spent his days sitting next to Kaide, stamping documents all day long.
It seemed that wasn't all he did. I saw Baon in a new light.
"Wow, Baon, you're amazing."
"It's difficult to control a family just by keeping the Gaju and heir in check. Naturally, they would have planted a mole."
Baon explained with a relaxed air. My mouth hung open and my eyes sparkled. *Baon is so cool!*
"That's just a fundamental skill."
"It's a fundamental skill?!"
"It is. Remember it well. The day will come when you'll need to use it."
"Okay. I will."
I have to remember it well.
As I nodded in understanding, Kaide, who was beside me, let out a small laugh.
I was relieved that Baon was on our side.
If we had met as enemies, I think he would have been terrifying.
Aser looked at the two of us with a dumbfounded expression.
"People don't normally call that a fundamental skill. ...Is this how education works here?"
"Practical experience is what matters most."
At Baon's matter-of-fact attitude, Aser seemed at a loss for words.
"So, how did you find out there was a traitor?"
Kaide asked. Aser belatedly came to his senses and explained.
"...They knew that the former Gaju was imprisoned in the southern prison."
"It seems you haven't announced that fact within the family yet."
"That is correct. Only the elders within the family know."
If word got out that not only was the heir taken hostage, but the Gaju was also imprisoned, the Loisar family would collapse immediately.
I understood why only the elders knew and it was kept a secret.
I nodded, then paused.
Wait a minute. Doesn't that mean the traitor is one of the elders?
I was shocked. A betrayal from an elder who had shared the responsibility of leading the family.
It was too horrible.
Kaide, who had been listening to Aser's explanation, muttered as if he found it amusing.
"They showed their hand on purpose."
"I agree with the Gajunim."
Baon nodded in agreement.
"It seems they revealed the existence of their mole to force Sir Aser into telling the truth."
"This is getting annoying."
Kaide scowled and clicked his tongue softly.
Baon looked at Aser and asked.
"Does the Artban Gaju also know that you visited the south today, Sir Aser?"
"...He does."
Aser nodded heavily. Kaide muttered that it made sense.
"You must be under surveillance."
"...Probably. He seemed very suspicious. And he told me to contact him periodically."
"It seems he's trying to use the situation to his advantage."
His words made even me feel tense.
To think he would boldly try to use the current situation even while knowing Aser was sent as a spy.
I'd never met him, but I was certain the Artban Gaju was a fearsome man.
"Did you find any physical evidence?"
Baon asked.
He was asking if he had found any traces left behind from Estella's death and the process of sending me to the Astrofel family.
Aser shook his head heavily.
"No. The Artban Gaju said he eliminated all traces. I actually went back to the east and searched his office and bedroom thoroughly, but nothing came up."
"So that's why he's so confident. He's confident because there's no evidence to find."
Baon frowned. The situation was not developing favorably.
Soon, Baon muttered in a puzzled tone.
"But this is a bit strange. The Artban Gaju must know this situation is a gamble. He can't be unaware that Lady Ella has disappeared."
"That's true."
Kaide's eyes narrowed.
He had been silent for a while, as if lost in thought.
I nodded, agreeing with Baon.
As he said, there was no way he didn't know by now that Ella had disappeared.
Besides, didn't the Astrofel family send Aser to the Artban family as a spy right after Ella disappeared?
He must know his cover has been blown.
Aser also nodded, as if he found that part questionable as well.
"Normally, he would have backed out."
"He would have, if he were in his right mind."
What a way to say he's not in his right mind. I shook my head.
Baon put on a deliberately serious expression and asked Kaide.
"Perhaps..., could it be that the Artban Gaju knows something about the Young Lady?"
"We can't rule out the possibility."
Kaide answered calmly. At that, Baon's expression hardened.
I looked back and forth between them, puzzled. What could he know about me?
Are they worried he might know I have two pheromones?
But I couldn't understand why he would want me so persistently just because I have two pheromones.
How would my two pheromones be of any help to the Artban Gaju?
In fact, I still couldn't understand why Gray had tried to spirit me away either.
A thought struck me, and I looked up at Kaide.
...Could there be something about me that Kaide hasn't told me yet?
He was still lost in thought, his chin resting on the arm of the sofa.
He was so focused he didn't even notice my gaze.
It was only then that I realized the current situation was more serious than I had thought.
And the fact that I was the Artban Gaju's target finally hit home.
It was a wake-up call, I suppose.
The drawing room fell silent again.
Aser wore an expression that said he didn't know why the two of them were so serious.
Kaide, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke.
He called Aser's name softly.
"Aser."
"Yes."
"I'd like you to explain the situation when the Loisar family's heir was taken."
"...Why are you suddenly asking about that?"
"I have my reasons. Just tell me what you remember."
It was an abrupt question.
Aser looked as if he didn't understand why he was suddenly being asked such a thing.
I felt the same way.
What connection was there between the Loisar heir being taken and the current situation?
Aser seemed to be searching his memory of that time, then his expression turned resentful.
"At the time, the former Gaju, myself, and some of the elders were often away from the estate. ...The situation in the east was unstable, so we were trying to solidify alliances with the surrounding clans."
"I see."
"But that's when it happened. The Artban clan took advantage of the gap when the former Gaju and the elders were away and invaded."
Rage flickered and welled up in Aser's usually calm golden eyes.
His low voice trembled faintly.
"They were ruthless. They indiscriminately slaughtered our clan members who stood in their way and dragged away the heir, Lord Jeff. There were many casualties."
"I see. Were other families also raided?"
Kaide, listening to Aser, continued to ask inscrutable questions.
I tilted my head. I still couldn't guess what Kaide's intention was.
I wasn't the only one.
Everyone here was failing to grasp Kaide's intent.
Aser winced. It seemed just recalling that day was painful.
"We didn't have the luxury of checking our surroundings, so I don't know about the other families' situations..., but why are you asking this?"
"Because I think that's when it started."
"When what started?"
Kaide's fingers, which had been tapping a regular rhythm on the table, stopped.
At the same time, his red eyes fixed on Aser.
"The period when there was a traitor colluding with the Artban family."
"...What does that mean..."
Aser's eyes wavered precariously.
Startled, I lifted my head to look at Kaide.
So all the questions he'd been asking Aser until now were to gauge when the traitor in the Loisar family first appeared?
Baon nodded.
"It is certainly suspicious. The movements of a family's Gaju and elders are not typically known to outsiders."
"Is that a secret?"
"It is."
Then that meant the Artban family knew that secret in advance. Aser shook his head in disbelief.
"...But the Artban family must have known that our estate was often empty at that time."
"Of course they knew."
Kaide spoke mercilessly to Aser, who was still trying to deny reality.
"Because they had someone feeding them information."