Chapter 84…………………………………..
If Riena had been identified as the mastermind, Elliot’s crimes would inevitably have been reduced. Even so, Riena’s suspicion that he was a traitor wouldn’t have disappeared, and naturally a rift would have formed between the two of them. At first glance, that might have seemed like the better outcome.
However, if Riena later investigated Elliot’s treatment, she would have discovered something strange. If he truly had been their traitor and our collaborator, then it would have made sense for him to avoid punishment—or at least receive only a light sentence.
But that wouldn’t work. Because Elliot isn’t actually a traitor.
It made no sense to give Elliot a light sentence just to avoid suspicion. Our original goal was to drive him into a corner.
But if we gave him a heavy sentence, Riena might begin to question whether he was truly a traitor. Riena was quite perceptive. And if she realized Elliot had fallen into a trap, she would certainly try to save him.
The problem was that if Riena were deemed the mastermind, there would be limits to how severely Elliot could be punished. He would only have been following the orders of his superior—a high-ranking noble. How could he possibly receive a severe sentence? Life imprisonment or execution would be absolutely impossible.
Well, there are ways to make someone disappear without a trace…
If Terrence had already decided to kill Elliot in that manner, it would have been less burdensome if Elliot were the mastermind. Publicly, Elliot would be someone who committed crimes behind Riena’s back. It would be difficult for her to protest or question his death.
So for Terrence—who wanted Elliot dead—it was better for Elliot to be the mastermind. At best, execution. At worst, life imprisonment, which would make it easy to kill him and then pretend he was still alive.
“Ha ha.”
Unaware of any of this, Elliot even hummed to himself in triumph. I couldn’t understand it, so I asked:
“Why do you like Riena that much?”
“She told me something. That the world which shunned me for having a mother from another race, and for having an eccentric personality—that world was the one in the wrong.”
There had been a line like that in Walk Only on the Flower Path After Regressing. The scene where Elliot first opened his heart to Riena. But ever since I first read the novel, I’d always thought—
The first reason, fine. But the second? Isn’t that worth being shunned for? You openly belittle others and call them idiots. Who would like that?
Besides, Elliot’s personality wasn’t just eccentric—it was bad. Riena really was good at dressing things up.
“When I heard those words, I swore. That I would follow her until the moment I die! That even my death would be used for her sake!”
Elliot’s eyes, blazing with fervor, looked clouded. His blind loyalty toward Riena had quite literally blinded him.
Elliot, if only you had looked at the situation more broadly and judged it objectively, you might have realized.
That this entire scheme had been created not to trap Riena—but to trap you.
But in Elliot’s mind, there was one unwavering truth. An extremely simplistic, black-and-white truth.
Riena was always the kind and important person under attack. Meanwhile, Terrence and I were villains who irrationally hated her and sought her downfall.
In a way, it was natural for him to have such a prejudice. Most of the petty villains he had driven away from Riena’s side until now had indeed been like that.
I wasn’t certain, but I had half expected things might unfold like this. It was hard to imagine a genius like Elliot simply sitting still and taking the fall.
Now that the secret space had been exposed, even he couldn’t completely cover up Iver Merchant Guild’s corruption. Not in his current situation, locked up as he was.
That left only one possible move.
Sacrifice someone to protect Riena. And to eliminate suspicion from her, the most likely sacrifice would be himself.
Still, I had been nervous. I’d worried Elliot might come up with some brilliant move I couldn’t even imagine.
Well, for now, I’ll just let him enjoy it. He seems thrilled that he’s landed a blow on me…
I continued responding to him appropriately, pretending to be frustrated.
“Aren’t you sad about Iver Merchant Guild? After working so hard to build it up, it was all for nothing.”
Whether the mastermind was Riena or Elliot, Iver’s future was bleak. The Emperor wasn’t a fool. There was no way he would allow the Empire’s greatest noble house to continue owning a merchant guild nearly the greatest in the Empire.
Elliot’s expression grew somewhat serious.
“Yes, Iver will be dismantled. Even without official dissolution, once we’re hit with massive fines for the crimes, it’ll be hard to endure.”
“Most of it will probably be confiscated by the imperial family. What a waste.”
“Don’t worry about it. We can just create and grow another guild.”
“…That’s a lot of confidence.”
“Even without me or Cecil, with Lady Riena’s abilities, it would be more than possible.”
He wasn’t speaking blindly.
That means the eccentric inventor is still on their side, doesn’t it?
Iver’s success had been the result of three elements: Elliot’s ability, Cecil’s connections, and the eccentric inventor’s groundbreaking inventions.
Elliot smirked at me.
“More importantly, what about you? Isn’t it a waste?”
“What do you mean?”
“Since I’ve proven my innocence myself, my lady will naturally suspect Cecil of being the traitor. And the suspicions about Tara—who previously clashed with me—won’t be easily cleared either.”
“Oh.”
“I don’t know what methods you used to plant two spies inside us, but what a pity. Even if my kind lady doesn’t discard them immediately, she won’t give them her heart.”
“…”
“The future where your spies—yours and the Second Prince’s—are completely cut off isn’t far away. Look forward to it.”
“…”
“And just so you know, even if you try to use physical force on me now to retract my confession, it’ll be useless. I don’t bend to violence.”
“…”
“Why are you so quiet? Too frustrated to respond?”
No—it was just that he was completely mistaken, leaving me speechless. Contrary to his belief, Cecil wasn’t a traitor or a spy.
Come to think of it…
I quietly counted on my fingers. Tara had already boarded my ship. Elliot would at best receive life imprisonment. If Cecil lost Riena’s trust…
It was practically the same as removing three of the Seven Talents from Riena’s forces.
It hadn’t been my intention. I’d only persuaded Tara because she was tailing me. Elliot had threatened us first, so we dealt with him. And Cecil had been sent away as a consequence of that process.
That leaves Mathis, the eccentric inventor, and two others.
Just then Elliot broke me out of my thoughts.
“Hey, give me some paper and a pen.”
“Huh? Why?”
“If you don’t want to, forget it. I was going to show him a bit of generosity, but I don’t particularly care.”
By “him,” Elliot meant Count Miloam. When I brought him paper and pen, he began writing a long text without hesitation.
“Hm, I guess you did grow attached to the Count after all.”
“Nonsense! This is nothing more than something I scribbled casually.”
“Still, it’s pretty detailed. It reflects the situation in Count Miloam’s territory well.”
Even for a genius, it would be difficult to come up with something like this on the spot. Elliot turned his head sharply away.
“Think whatever you want. I simply don’t like owing debts, so I repaid a favor.”
“What debt did you owe the Count? Oh! Maybe your complexion improved from training together.”
“That’s not it! It’s the bread!”
“Bread?”
“Yes. The corn bread he brought was passable. Much better than the meals you serve me every day.”
“…Well, excuse me for giving you bad food.”
Once you’re imprisoned properly, you’ll get even worse meals. What then?
“Anyway, since I’ve never actually visited that land and only thought this up based on information I heard, it’s superficial and not perfect.”
“That can’t be helped.”
“Especially since he appears to be quite unintelligent, he might not even understand what’s written there. You explain it to him properly.”
Though his evaluation of Count Miloam was harsh, it was clear Elliot was thinking of him in his own way.
Just as I was about to feel a strange sense of pride, someone knocked on the door. It seemed it was time for Elliot to leave to meet the Emperor.
“I’ll be right out. I’ve finished my business, so you may take him—”
But when I opened the door, I saw Terrence.
“Were you surprised?”
There was no one in the corridor, but I led him somewhere more secluded before speaking comfortably.
“Yes. I didn’t expect you to come yourself.”
“I sent Jack ahead, but after finishing matters with the investigation team, I came straight here.”
“You must be busy. You could have just sent someone…”
“I wanted to see you.”
“M-me?”
“You, of course—and also the one inside.”
“Elliot?”
“Shouldn’t we discuss his future treatment?”
Ah. That’s what he meant. I’d misunderstood.
“Actually… I still haven’t persuaded Elliot. I’m sorry you went out of your way to grant us convenience.”
“It’s fine. From the start, I was in favor of eliminating him.”
“It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped.”
“Idel.”
Terrence looked at me carefully. His eyes narrowed slightly.
“There’s no need to hide your true thoughts from me.”
“…What do you mean?”
“In truth, you don’t want him to die yet, do you? Your eyes say so.”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
