CHAPTER~58
“……This is impossible, an abduction? What on earth is all this?”
“Nanny Grimora tried to kidnap Miss Reia? That’s ridiculous!”
At Artemene’s shocking statement, the banquet hall rapidly froze.
At the word “abduction” coming from her lips, people cried out in disbelief.
As soon as Grimora was struck across the cheek, she failed to withstand the force and collapsed to the floor.
It was a blow strong enough to snap her head to the side in one motion.
“What in the world is going on? Why would Reia…?!”
But even more baffling than that was why Artemene and Reia were together.
At least, her plan had been flawless.
“What do you mean by that, Lady Artemene? An abduction? Why would I ever do such a thing? Hic, h-hic… How could you do this to me…!”
Grimora clutched her swollen cheek and burst into tears.
“Hah, honestly.”
But to Artemene, who already knew all the facts, they were nothing more than crocodile tears.
With a cold sneer, Artemene shot back.
“Playing innocent is useless. I already have all the evidence in my hands. I cherished and trusted you so much, and yet you conspired behind my back and stabbed me in the back like this!”
As the situation grew more hostile instead of settling down, the elders finally stepped in.
They were worried that the atmosphere of the banquet would be ruined.
“L-Lady Artemene, we don’t know what happened, but please calm yourself for now. This is a banquet hall.”
“Anselmus is right. Would it not be better to restrain yourself a little? The punishment of this person can be decided after the banquet—!”
Just as the elders were actively trying to persuade her, a young girl’s clear voice suddenly cut in.
“That’s because Reia almost died!”
It was Mela.
Mela boldly pushed through the adults and stood beside Artemene.
Ignoring the sharp gazes pouring down on her, Mela spoke in a brave voice.
“To be precise, it wasn’t just an abduction. It was no different from trying to kill her. Reia was locked in the basement by someone.”
As murmurs spread throughout the hall, the elders failed to hide their discomfort.
“Child, this is not a place for you to interrupt. Be gone at once.”
“Tsk tsk. What are you doing? Hurry and escort this child out!”
Wait, haven’t we seen her face before?
As the elders frowned at Mela, whose face looked strangely familiar, Artemene let out a short laugh.
“How unfortunate. You must have grown quite old if you can’t even remember whose daughter she is.”
“Th-That’s going too far—!”
As if struck at a sore point, the elders flared up angrily.
Then Evlyen Leella appeared and stood beside Mela.
“If you so much as lay a finger on my daughter, I won’t stay silent.”
“D-Duchess…!”
Only then did the elders realize that Mela was the Duke’s daughter, and they could not hide their shock.
Behind the proud mother and daughter, razor-sharp gazes pressed down on the elders as if to kill.
“Th-That is… We all make mistakes in life. Sometimes our memories slip…”
“Yes, of course.”
The murderous aura was so intense that it felt as though their throats were being strangled by her gaze alone.
The elders turned pale and merely exchanged glances with one another.
Artemene spoke up once more.
“Mela is right. My granddaughter was locked in the basement and nearly died from lack of oxygen. The same goes for Mela. Mela, it will be difficult, but can you tell us what happened then?”
“Yes, Great-Aunt! I heard that Reia had gone missing, so I searched together with the mansion maids. Then we found the basement, and Reia was inside.”
“Good heavens…!”
Sighs and tongue-clicks of pity echoed from all around.
Mela continued speaking, unfazed by someone’s displeased stare.
“When I found Reia, I tried to call for help. But someone pushed me from behind, and I ended up trapped in the basement with Reia.”
“Do you know who it was?”
“Yes. I do.”
At Artemene’s question, Mela fidgeted briefly, then took out a hair ribbon.
“My hair ribbon was lying near there. So I thought the culprit must be the person who has this. You know what this is, don’t you, Nanny Grimora?”
“Th-That is…!”
Grimora’s pupils shook violently.
It was the hair ribbon that Lazar had taken from Mela.
Mela smiled brightly.
“Judging by how flustered you are, it seems you recognize it! I saw the culprit’s face when I fell, and it was someone I know very well.”
Several elders, agitated, questioned her sharply.
However, among them were those who glanced at Frezen Decart and hastily corrected themselves.
“Then who is it! We must arrest them at once and throw them into prison.”
“Speak, quickly— no, take your time.”
As everyone waited for Mela’s next words, whether openly or not, Mela parted her lips.
“I’m sorry!”
At that moment, a tearful voice interrupted.
It was Lazar.
“……Aren’t you Grimora’s eldest son?”
All eyes turned to Lazar at once.
Lazar glanced around nervously, then suddenly dropped to his knees and began to sob.
“I-I swear, I never intended to kidnap or kill Miss Reia. I was just playing hide-and-seek with Morris because Reia seemed bored!”
Mela immediately retorted.
“That’s a lie! You were the one who lured Reia, Lazar!”
“It’s true! Why would I try to kidnap Miss Reia? It wasn’t luring, we were just playing. But while we were looking for Reia, we heard it was time for the banquet, so we had no choice—!”
Lazar cried bitterly, tears streaming down his face.
Sniffling and wailing, he looked nothing like a cunning child.
“Oh my, if that’s the case, perhaps Lady Artemene misunderstood…”
“Besides, weren’t they staying in the same mansion? I can understand that.”
Mela instantly realized that Lazar was acting, but she couldn’t act rashly.
It seemed Artemene felt the same.
If she pressed a young child too harshly, it could backfire against her.
“If the children were really just playing, then the nanny might be innocent.”
“Indeed.”
“There’s no way Grimora would do such a thing. She’s been so devoted!”
With Lazar’s unexpected intervention, the situation began to tilt in Grimora’s favor.
Grimora herself seized that opportunity without hesitation.
“Hic, sob… I’m so sorry. I should have been stricter with the children’s education. If you must punish someone, please punish me instead, Lady Artemene!”
Grimora went to Lazar’s side, knelt down, and wept.
“My son, I’m sorry. I know you must have been so scared.”
The sorrowful cries of mother and son filled the banquet hall with solemn silence.
Artemene clicked her tongue but could only bite her lip in silence.
“I’m sorry, but even so, I find it hard to believe.”
Then, a completely unexpected figure stepped forward.
This time, it was Uncle Julich.
When Julich of all people spoke up in opposition, the faces of Mela and the onlookers alike filled with confusion.
“What are you plotting, Julich?”
Artemene instinctively grew wary of Julich, certain that he had another motive.
Her suspicion was soon confirmed by his next words.
Julich said,
“Then how about asking Miss Reia directly, to verify it properly?”
Realizing his impure intent, Artemene’s face twisted viciously.
Julich intended to expose the fact that Reia could not speak.
“Now then, come on.”
Julich approached Reia, who was hiding behind Evlyen Leella, and forcibly extended his rough hand.
“Miss Reia? Is it true that you were playing with the Lazar brothers? If so, please answer. Go on.”
As Julich pressed her with a subtle smile, Reia squeezed her eyes shut in fear.
Overwhelmed by the unfamiliar situation, she was terrified.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
Artemene and the others tried to stop him belatedly, but all eyes were already fixed on Reia.
At this rate, Reia would have no choice but to open her mouth.
Just as the worst outcome they had feared was about to happen—
“There’s no need to ask…! B-Big brother is lying.”
