Chapter 205
Noarizen’s face turned all shades—green, then pale—it was a mess.
It seemed like he was finally starting to grasp the situation.
“You came here to steal the white crystals with a friend?”
“T-That’s…!”
“Why? Were you going to give it to your friend?”
“No! It’s not like that!”
Noarizen’s hands and feet trembled like leaves in the wind.
He darted his eyes around, as if trying to come up with an excuse.
‘Are you worried I’ll leave it at that?’
I tilted my head slightly, then clapped my hands together as if I’d realized something.
“Oh! Were you perhaps being blackmailed by Count Talos?”
“What?”
“You had no choice because he was blackmailing you, right?”
When someone is cornered, their mind tends to freeze.
And when a small escape route opens up, what do they do?
“Y-Yes!”
In most cases, they’ll eagerly take that route, without even considering it might lead off a cliff.
‘I’ve seen this happen countless times back when I was an aide.’
Noarizen, in the end, stepped perfectly into the trap I’d set for him.
Because he clenched his fists as if he’d made up his mind and shouted,
“Count Talos had leverage over me… I had no choice. I’ve committed a grave sin!”
Balzac let out a scoffing laugh.
“So you’re saying it was all Count Talos’s fault that you tried to steal the family’s white crystals?”
“Y-Yes, that’s right.”
Joshua, with a languid smile, added,
“Count Talos dared to threaten a member of House Astra?”
“…Yes.”
Noarizen squeezed his eyes shut and nodded.
I said, “Hmm,” and continued,
“Then we should hold Count Talos accountable, right?”
“Th-That’s right.”
“You know that Astra’s method of punishment is different from ordinary places, don’t you? Assassins might be sent after Count Talos right away. Are you okay with that? He’s your friend, after all.”
“Yes, he is!”
Noarizen snapped, raising his voice.
As soon as he did, I hardened my expression and said,
“Bring him in.”
At my command, soldiers dragged a man out.
Of course, it was Count Talos.
“…!”
Noarizen stiffened, completely paralyzed.
Of course he would be.
‘He was planning to dump all the blame on his lover and escape on his own, wasn’t he?’
Count Talos glared at Noarizen, as if he wanted to tear him apart.
“Noarizen… how could you…?”
“…”
Noarizen could only stammer, unable to get a single coherent word out.
‘What will you do now? Count Talos isn’t just a culprit—he’s now a witness too.’
He’s going to testify to everything you’ve done.
I looked at Grandfather, who was staring at Noarizen with a sharp gaze, and said,
“Grandfather, I have something else to report.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to me at once.
I rolled up Blitzen’s sleeve.
“The Teleportation blessing stones they used were made by cruelly experimenting on Blitzen.”
Grandfather’s gaze lingered on the deep scars on Blitzen’s arms.
He stared at the scar for a long time before finally raising his eyes to look at Blitzen.
“…”
“…”
Neither of them could say a word.
Even then, Noarizen was still behaving like trash.
“Please, Blitzen, please…!”
Even after seeing the horrible scars he’d inflicted, he was still begging Blitzen to cover for him.
My family and I all looked at Noarizen as if he were a beast.
I held onto Blitzen’s sleeve.
“Tell him.”
“…”
“Brother Blitzen, you can’t live like this forever.”
“…”
“No matter how much you endure, your heart will never be rewarded. Don’t waste such a precious heart on a devil like him.”
“…”
The courtyard fell silent.
Blitzen stared at me blankly.
I clasped both of his hands tightly and said,
“Brother.”
Blitzen, who had been staring intently at me, closed his eyes tightly.
And after a moment,
“Erylotte… is right.”
Blitzen gathered his courage.
“Brother!”
“Blitzen—!!”
I shouted with joy, while Noarizen let out a scream filled with despair.
Grandfather’s expression twisted into a look of pure rage.
“F-Father, please, listen to me, please. It was all for Astra. Truly, it was!”
“I knew you were embezzling funds from the Aisa Jurisdiction.”
“…!”
“I left you alone because Blitzen was desperately trying to protect his father.”
“F-Father…”
Grandfather looked at Count Talos.
“I will give you a chance to keep your life. Confess everything you and Noarizen have done.”
Noarizen quickly turned his head to look at Count Talos.
His eyes were full of desperation, but Count Talos twisted his lips into a grim smile.
“Count Noarizen and I have been seeing each other since before Lady Aisa passed away!”
Discussion
2 CommentsChakuku
If they knew MCs true blessing the ability to change the future they would definitely destroy them which makes me wonder is the emperor really a genius villain or a puppet as well... The other consort hasn't done much...
Chakuku
I mean the astras are in such a powerful position yet no moves to undermine or plot to tear down astra..
It seems so... pathetic to use that as his ultimate goal. What was he going to do if the astras didn't secure the white stone? Is he going to seek trade with anglio kingdom like how? He's so stupid not thinking about the consequences...
He's definitely just a pawn he's IQ is too low..