LS2RW 49

— Chapter 49

⟪First Report on Piace Ibrante: Medical Records⟫

※Compiled with reference to the medical records and opinions of Jennifer Angelica, former physician of the Molton family.

XX Year, February 2: First checkup of Count Molton’s adopted daughter, Piace Molton. Condition good.
XX Year, April 12: Treated for thigh bruise. Said she fell while playing in the garden.
XX Year, May 31: Treated for facial abrasions. Said she was scratched by a cat. (Wounds do not match cat scratches. Judging from size and breadth, suspected to be made by child’s fingernails.)
XX Year, June 24: Treated for swelling on back of the head. Said she fell down the stairs.
XX Year, July 19: Treated for abrasions on left shoulder and bruises on arm. Said she fell off a swing.
XX Year, October 10: Treated for multiple abrasions under left eye, neck, chest. Said she was scratched by a cat. (Traces of blood found under Bianca Molton’s nails.)
XX Year, November 17: Treated for hypothermia and vomiting. Displays extreme fear of Bianca Molton. Cause unknown.
XX Year, December 20: Found unconscious in the attic.
XX Year, January 9: Diagnosed with mutism. Cause unknown.

※Opinion of investigator Noel Pound
Evidence confirms that Piace Ibrante was subjected to both physical and emotional abuse in the household.

Especially on December 20, physician Jennifer Angelica strongly suspected that Bianca had locked Piace in the attic, and was convinced this was not the first time.

Multiple attempts were made to investigate Bianca Molton, but no useful information could be obtained from the family’s servants.

A deeper investigation is necessary, focusing on dismissed servants and former physician Jennifer Angelica.

“Why did you delay submitting the report?”
“I was preoccupied with the matter of choosing a fiancé… I apologize.”

That the butler—who prided himself on flawless work—made such a mistake was surprising.

So there must have been a mountain of fiancé applications.

“Have you read the report?”
“I’m sorry, I haven’t yet reviewed it.”

I thought so. No wonder it slipped his mind.

“Read it.”
“Yes.”

The butler skimmed quickly, then suddenly furrowed his brow.

When he finished, he neatly organized the papers and handed them back to me.

Outwardly calm, but he was seething with rage.

His eyes—normally cool and controlled—flickered violently.

“Give me your thoughts.”
“Now I see why the Molton family’s former physician went so far as to leak confidential medical records.”

I smirked and nodded.

For a family doctor, keeping secrets was absolute.

One who leaked medical records could be ruined in noble society.

For her to cooperate, the child must have been truly pitiful…

Piace never had a day without pain.

Of course, most of the injuries were abrasions and bruises, nothing fatal.

It was clear that a child weaker than an adult had inflicted them.

Bianca’s doing, no doubt.

Still, it was difficult to formally claim abuse.

As the Marchioness Molton had said at the dress shop, they would excuse it as “just children fighting.”

Disgusting.

I swallowed the curse rising in my throat.

“The Marquess of Molton—he’s said to be the master of Fabius. Tell me what you know.”
“The Molton family’s founding ancestor was a master-class mage.”
“A Master?”
“Yes. He rendered great service and was granted the title of Marquess. But since then, the family has produced no mage of notable ability. Thus they quickly drifted from the center of power.”
“A house built on magic but with mediocre descendants—that figures. And now?”
“The current head is Marquess Gris Molton. He inherited the house after being certified as a General-class mage.”

Meaning: these days, even a General-class mage was enough to inherit the title—a sign of decline.

“And about ten years ago, he married Floria Ribbon, eldest daughter of Count Ribbon, and moved the family seat to the capital.”
“So that’s when he founded Fabius.”
“Correct.”

The Molton family began regaining attention only after establishing Fabius.

“They must have made good money with it?”
“They aggressively incorporate magic not only for safety but also exterior design, so the average unit cost is very high.”
“Then their clients must be limited?”
“Fabius only takes commissions from nobles anyway. Nearly all nobles now contract with them.”

The Marquess was not only a mage but also a shrewd businessman.

High prices and a strategy of distinction appealed to aristocratic vanity.

“Master, shall we re-examine all construction proposals Fabius has submitted so far?”
“Why?”
“I doubt the embezzlement happened only once or twice. If we uncover everything and sue, it could be effective.”

Even if embezzlement was found, he would just scapegoat the estate manager and slip away. Still, not a bad idea.

I nodded.
“Good. Dig them up.”
“Shall we proceed with a lawsuit as well?”
“A lawsuit is too weak. Since they laid hands on an Ibrante ward, they should at least be made unable to survive in the capital.”

The butler bowed deeply, eyes shining with admiration.
“As expected of you, Master.”
“Tell the Information Guild to begin a deep investigation. Not a speck of dust left uncovered.”
“Understood.”

In truth, what Piace had suffered in the Molton household had nothing to do with House Ibrante…

Yet neither the butler nor I pointed this out.

That night.

Just before midnight, I stretched thoroughly.

I’d discovered that if I stretched properly, flying long hours as a crow left me less sore the next day.

— Lian, you’re going to visit Piace later, right? What will you play today?
— The last game was fun. When Lian hid feathers everywhere and Piace had to find them.
— Treasure hunt! That was hilarious. The gnome says the little human kept all the feathers. Right, Gnome?
— (nods)

“Not tonight. I have another place to go.”
— Huh? Where?
“Silph, about your scrying magic. How far can it reach?”

The spirits could each perform magic similar to paper stones.
The most efficient was Silph’s.

Of course, it required at least a trace of wind at the target location.

— Hmm, it’s hard to describe in human distances. The closer, the clearer. That’s easiest to understand.
“Say I wanted to peek into Ruspel’s laboratory from here. Possible?”
— Ah! That much is no problem. You’d see it as clearly as if you were there.
“Even if I’m in crow form?”
— I can embed the wind beforehand. You might not see the interior, though.

As I conversed with Silph, Undine suddenly butted in.

— Lian! Where exactly are you going?!
“Molton estate.”
— Molton? Oh! That weird human house earlier?
— You’re going to spy on that place?
— Why look at that crazy little human again! Ugh, I hate it! Gnome, you hate it too, right?!
— (nods)

“There’s a reason. Silph, prepare the spell before I shift.”
— I’ve already scattered the winds. Just need to anchor them at the site.
— But Lian, can you even find the place?
“Of course.”

I’d memorized the map perfectly.

Ding, ding, ding.

The grandfather clock struck midnight.

Transformed into a crow, I soared into the night sky.

From above, the Molton estate looked…

Hm, quaint.

The main building was modest, the central garden smaller than the Ibrante manor’s rear grounds.

According to the butler, the Molton family had moved from their territory to the capital ten years ago.

Likely relocating even before conceiving, for the sake of future children’s academy education.

Thus, compared to the Ibrante estate—established in the capital since the Empire’s founding—the scale was laughably small.

I perched atop the main roof and gazed at the silent garden below.

Small though it was, traces of lavish spending gleamed everywhere.