My Life Was Taken by My Charm-Wielding Sister—But It Ends Here (The Mind-Reading Noble Lady’s Journey to Happiness After Escaping Her Toxic Family) - Episode 42

(What should I do? What’s the right move here?)

Varick isn’t in the office right now. I’d like to make an excuse to bring another aide with me, but that would probably make him suspicious. Otilie would have to handle this alone. She needed to prolong the conversation as much as possible to draw out information. Just like Varick used to do when dealing with the Head Priest. Otilie gulped.

“…But, well, yes. You’re right, I am feeling a little tired. It’s been two solid months of overtime. I just want to find the assets the priests hid quickly and be done with this investigation.”

“That’s a waste of effort. They probably used it all for themselves anyway. The reason for hiding income is almost always personal greed, nine times out of ten, right?”

Chuckling “Ha ha ha,” the civil official glanced furtively at Otilie’s expression.

[Good. Now suggest to His Highness that he call off the investigation. If the aides start voicing complaints, His Highness might change his mind.]

This man was suspicious after all. He probably wasn’t the ringleader, but he was undoubtedly involved.

(Because the matter of the rebellion has only been discussed with a limited number of people, like the aides and my brother.)

The general civil officials don’t know why such a large-scale investigation is being conducted. Of course, since there is corruption, an investigation is warranted, but many probably think it’s about time to scale it back.

(But the investigation has been solidly continuing nonetheless.)

The civil official in front of her had probably come to sound her out, considering the possibility that Otilie and the others were looking for evidence of rebellion. If she stubbornly insisted on the necessity of the investigation here, it might reveal that they suspected a rebellion.

“Indeed! Now that you mention it, that might be the case.”

“Right? Well, it might be unwanted advice, but you looked quite tired, so I was concerned.”

The civil official said that and smiled amiably. If she couldn’t hear his inner voice, she would have thought it was a ‘kind consideration.’

“Thank you. I’ll try suggesting it to Lord Varick!”

When Otilie said that, he narrowed his eyes and said, “Please do.”

After the civil official left the office, Otilie immediately went to the other aides. She then explained the earlier exchange—specifically, the inner voice she had heard from him.

“Let’s investigate. Thoroughly.”

The aides strongly accepted the task. Otilie and the others decided to spread out a fresh sheet of paper and organize the information from scratch.

“The person Otilie just spoke with is Jamie Brandon. The second son of Baron Brandon. Baron Brandon is involved with merchant guilds. He probably sent his second son, who has no right of succession, into the castle as an intelligence agent.” Jamie currently belongs to the department managing household registration and such I have a connection there. I’ll look into his social connections and private life.”

“The Brandon barony is an old titled family, but they haven’t achieved any notable merits and there’s nothing special about them. However, as they have long been based in the old capital, it’s thought their connection to the Temple is deep. Let’s dig deeper and investigate that area. Probably there’s a larger noble family behind the Brandon barony as well.”

Starting with just a small clue, the aides began pooling and overlapping the information they knew.

“We should continue the Temple investigation at its current scale. We want to keep their attention focused on the Temple investigation and keep the Brandon barony investigation inconspicuous. It’s also better if they underestimate Otilie’s influence over Lord Varick.”

“In that case, it’s better if we aides alone handle the investigation related to the Brandon barony. There’s a possibility Jamie has other accomplices within the castle, and it’s easier to control information that way. Of course, we’ll have to do it while carrying out our normal duties to avoid suspicion.”

“Let’s do it.”

Otilie looked at the aides. They suddenly softened their expressions and nodded firmly.

It was about a month later. In the Gayliz territory, on the border between the Kingdom of Lindwurm and the neighboring country, the Margrave, the lord of the territory, was facing Crown Prince Varick.

[Why…? Why is the Crown Prince in such a remote place?]

While staring at the Margrave, he was smiling cheerfully and brightly.

“You look like you’re wondering why I’m here.”

“Eh? Ah, well, that’s… it was a sudden visit without any prior notice, and for you to come all the way to this borderland, it’s only natural to wonder what brought you here, isn’t it?”

His remark, as if he could see right through the Margrave’s thoughts, drew a smile. The Margrave forced a strained smile and let out a small sigh.

[Calm down… It’s not certain my plot has been discovered yet. If I can bluff my way through this, my plan can still…]

“Unfortunately, we already have ample evidence. It’s not a situation you can talk your way out of.”

“Wh…What!?”

[This is strange. What on earth is going on? It’s like my thoughts are an open book. And didn’t he just say ‘we have the evidence’? What—what evidence could he possibly have?]

The Margrave gulped.

“It seems you’ve been on very good terms with the Temple for quite some time. Horses, armor, swords, spears, bows and arrows, gunpowder… if converted to cash, it would be a considerable sum. And yet, the moment an investigation started at the Temple, you had the priests killed to silence them. Don’t you think that’s rather harsh?”

The Margrave instinctively stood up and looked around nervously. He had been told to dismiss the attendants, so only Varick, his female aide, and the Margrave were present.

[Calm down. He hasn’t named me specifically… This is just a leading question. I know nothing. If I know nothing, then I just need to say nothing.]

“You don’t have to answer. I told you we have the evidence, didn’t I?”

Varick spoke. The Margrave’s eyes widened, and he glared sharply at Varick.

“Here are the documents concerning the routes you used to purchase weapons. You used Baron Brandon to disguise the purchaser with multiple layers of trickery, didn’t you? There were several routes, but after a thorough investigation, they all led back to you. You wouldn’t normally go to such lengths for a purchase, don’t you think that’s odd?”

“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Even as he replied, his heart was pounding loudly. He really wanted to flee the scene right then and there.

“Furthermore, we have testimony about your meetings with the priests. We heard it directly from former servants who worked at your mansion, so there’s no mistake. And I hear you never failed to visit the Temple whenever you came to the royal capital, is that right?”

“And what of it? I’m simply a devout man.”

“If only that were true. The gods might have been slightly more on your side then.”

Varick sighed. He placed another document on the table and stared intently at the Margrave.

“We’ve already captured the assassins you hired. We’ve also heard that you were the client. I told you, didn’t I? That we already have the evidence.”

The Margrave gritted his teeth furiously.

[Dammit! Dammit! Those incompetent priests! If only they… if only they had handled things better…! Then this country might have been mine.]

“That was impossible.”

Varick said this and stood next to his aide—Otilie.

“Because I have Otilie.”

A proud smile. Why was he making that face? Why did her presence mean his plot would fail? The Margrave couldn’t understand the meaning at all.

But one thing was certain.

[My plot has come to a pathetic end.]

The Margrave slumped to his knees on the floor and looked up to the heavens.