LUW 44

Chapter 44

The source of the noise was Lord Gilgurk’s office. Pierre immediately moved toward it, with Gilgurk and his parents closely following behind.

Upon entering the office, they saw a servant standing pale as a ghost.

Pierre extended his hand.

“Bring it here.”

At his cold command, the servant trembled and carefully placed the parchment he was holding into Pierre’s hand.

Pierre silently unrolled the parchment.

The room was plunged into suffocating silence.

The servants held their breaths, while Gilgurk and his parents looked increasingly anxious and desperate.

When Pierre opened his eyes again, his blue irises were colder than a winter’s night.

Holding the parchment, Pierre walked toward Gilgurk.

“Giroguen Gilgurk. The possession of a monstrous weapon blueprint has been confirmed.”

His clear, icy voice shattered the silence like a hammer cracking ice.

“Accordingly, the authority of House Gilgurk is temporarily suspended, and a house arrest order is issued. The Marquess of Gilgurk will be forcibly transported to the capital.”

“…What?”

Gilgurk blinked, not yet understanding the situation.

“Restrain the criminal.”

At the instant the order was given, the knights surged forward.

As they grabbed his arms and twisted them behind his back, Gilgurk seemed to finally realize the gravity of the situation and began to panic.

“No, no! This is a setup! My lord! Damn it, let go of me! Do you even know who I am?!”

He struggled and twisted, trying to break free, but the firm grip on his arms didn’t budge.

Thrashing wildly, he eventually shouted desperately toward Pierre.

“My lord! Please! I’m innocent!”

Pierre looked at him quietly, then stepped closer. He held the parchment up to Gilgurk’s eyes.

“Then what is this?”

A detailed schematic of a weapon—complete with barrel, magazine, and grip.

Even the minerals to be used and their blending ratios were meticulously recorded.

Gilgurk shook his head, his lips trembling.

“I… I’ve never seen this before. I swear, I’ve never laid eyes on this document!”

“The type and amount of ores listed match the records from the Garpas Trading Company. They also align with the purchase orders you personally authorized. Will you still deny it?”

Gilgurk’s face turned deathly pale.

Pierre gestured to his subordinates.

When the knights released him, Gilgurk collapsed to his knees, as if all strength had drained from him.

He slumped to the floor, pitiful like a deflated doll.

Pierre knelt on one knee before him and asked quietly,

“I’ll give you one final chance to make a counterargument. Is there anyone suspicious you believe this blueprint may have come from?”

“……”

“Answer wisely. What you say now will determine your fate.”

At those words, Gilgurk slowly lifted his head.

His lips, ready to scream “No,” trembled. But he knew the truth. This blueprint wasn’t his.

He had seen it before—clearly.

‘Richmond…!’

That cunning smile flashed in his mind.

Words Richmond had once casually said to him:

“Before you arrived, I removed any documents that might get caught during a search.”

‘That bastard betrayed me!’

Gilgurk’s face twisted with each passing second.

His eyes brimmed with tears of rage and injustice.

Richmond—the bastard—had abandoned him once suspicion grew too great.

Gilgurk had witnessed it countless times. How Richmond coldly and cruelly discarded people.

He couldn’t go down alone.

If he didn’t drag that bastard with him, even in death, he’d never rest in peace.

His clenched jaw trembled as he opened his mouth.

“That blueprint is—”

“My dear!”

His words were drowned by a loud crash behind him.

He turned to see his mother collapsed on the floor, face drained of all color.

Tears welled in her pale eyes as she looked at him.

“…Tell me it’s not true, Giroguen. Please… tell me it’s not…”

She reached out a trembling hand.

“Speak! How much more shame will you bring to our family?!”

His father’s furious shout layered over her plea.

Gilgurk gasped and opened his mouth to speak.

Then, a young man who had been standing nearby stepped forward to help his mother up.

“My lady, please return to your room. You don’t look well.”

Supported by the young servant, Gilgurk’s mother wobbled to her feet.

Gilgurk’s and the man’s eyes met.

In that brief moment, a cold killing intent flashed in the servant’s pitch-black pupils.

He was Demik—one of the assassins raised by Richmond.

As Richmond once said, Demik was well-versed in etiquette and skilled in behavior, which had pleased the madam, earning him a role as a personal attendant.

He silently stared at Gilgurk.

Then, with deliberate emphasis, he tightened his grip on the lady’s arm.

Even without words, the message was clear.

‘Say anything stupid, and you die.’

There was no room for interpretation. It was a crystal-clear warning.

The suffocating silence pressed down on the room once more.

Gilgurk clenched his jaw and slowly lowered his head.

His shoulders trembled, and then a short, bitter laugh escaped his lips.

“Ha… hahaha…”

Everyone held their breath.

He looked up with an empty expression.

It was the kind of bitter smile only a man who had lost everything could make.

“…I don’t… know.”

The words, squeezed out through trembling lips, were barely understandable.

Pierre quietly looked down at him, then slowly rose to his feet.

The last puzzle piece had fallen into place.

Richmond.

Now he was certain: that man had cast Gilgurk aside.

But pressing the issue here would be pointless.

Now that Gilgurk had shut his mouth, he was as good as finished.

“I see.”

Pierre firmly turned away.

Gilgurk’s parents looked at him with pleading expressions, but Pierre issued his command coldly.

“Take him away.”

The knights moved in.

Gilgurk didn’t resist anymore.

He was dragged away, powerless—almost pitifully so.

Three Days Later

The interrogation lasted for three days and nights without pause.

On the first day, Gilgurk kept his mouth shut.

On the second, Pierre presented the records left behind by Garpas. That was when Gilgurk finally spoke.

“…I imported the minerals for gemstone crafting. That’s all.”

On the third day, he repeated the same statement.

They applied light torture, but he said nothing more.

On the fourth day, Pierre finally left the interrogation chamber, empty-handed.

The Emperor had summoned him to the palace for a report.

His head throbbed.

He was certain Gilgurk had been used and discarded, but since the man remained silent, they made no progress.

Just when it seemed they were close to unraveling the mystery.

Frustrated, Pierre sighed deeply as he entered the imperial palace.

As he crossed the garden, he spotted someone walking toward him.

The man bowed first.

“Lord Cardinande, it’s been a while.”

“…Baron Richmond.”

“I’m honored that you remember a lowly man like me.”

With a harmless smile, Richmond spoke pleasantly.

“By the way, congratulations.”

“For what?”

“I heard that the headache troubling you is about to be resolved. You must be relieved.”

Pierre’s expression turned glacial.

“So you know about a top-secret matter. Impressive network.”

“Haha, you flatter me. I’m not so capable as to acquire such high-level information. I just heard it from His Majesty, moments ago.”

The Emperor told him?

Pierre was a little surprised but didn’t show it.

“That must be good news for you.”

“Indeed. I can finally sleep well, now that the false accusations have been cleared.”

“Yes. Sleep soundly while you can. You never know what comes next.”

Their sharp exchange continued like a blade’s edge.

Pierre glared at Richmond coldly, then turned and walked past him.

Richmond’s expression twitched slightly.

But he quickly forced a smile and followed.

“Oh, by the way—how is Cecilia doing these days?”

“……”

Pierre stopped walking.

When Richmond saw the deadly gaze turned on him, he said nonchalantly,

“I heard she’s been spending time with you lately. Maybe because I knew her when she was a child, I find myself thinking of her often these days. She must have been worried with all this going on. Please comfort her well. Though I’m sure you’ll handle it excellently, my lord.”