Chapter 100
“The Truth Revealed”
“Then this dog gave birth to all of these puppies?”
“Yes. On the way to the territory, it followed me around strangely, and when I looked closer—it was pregnant.”
“Oh my…”
Rebellia couldn’t take her eyes off the wriggling puppies nestled in a basket lined with a soft blanket. She crouched down in front of them and spoke with the merchant.
As Calliere quietly watched that peaceful scene, his gaze shifted to a nearby tree.
On the branch sat a messenger crow with a jet-black tail.
‘Ban?’
Calliere raised his arm, and as if waiting for that moment, the crow flew down. The message was untied from its leg, and then the bird quickly soared back into the sky.
Unfolding the note, Calliere’s expression hardened.
[We agreed to trade Count Elliana’s information in exchange for treating his knight. Please treat the knight in the two-story house in Raymond. Later, I plan to return to the territory with the Count. It seems we’ll need to call someone from the temple.]
“Call someone from the temple?”
Calliere frowned at Ban’s puzzling words.
To be honest, he hadn’t expected the Count to possess any meaningful information.
What he had asked Ban to investigate was the Marquess Piace, not Edwin Elliana. And the Elliana family hadn’t had dealings with the Piace family for nearly twenty years.
If Ban had met the Count in Raymond, chances were high that the Count knew nothing of the Marquess’s schemes. And Ban certainly knew that too.
‘That must mean… there’s some situation where he has no choice but to bring the Count to the territory…’
But the thing that disturbed Calliere most was that final line in Ban’s note:
“It seems we’ll need to call someone from the temple.”
In this context, calling someone from the temple meant…
“Dogs aren’t like people—you can’t know who the father is. It’s not like the temple confirming parentage for humans.”
“…That’s true.”
At the merchant’s casual comment, Calliere’s hand crumpled the note.
‘If—if Ban’s suspicion is right, and the Marquess Piace isn’t Rebellia’s real father… Then… could Edwin Elliana be her true father?’
His eyes moved to Rebellia, who was smiling softly at the puppies. The merchant, watching her kind expression, added:
“Well, don’t worry too much. Beasts are the same as people. Even if they fathered young, some run away and never care. Such a father is better off absent—it’s better for the mother and pups too.”
“…But maybe he didn’t run away.”
“Hm?”
“Maybe he just doesn’t know…”
Rebellia’s small voice made Calliere’s expression tighten. Then, in a low voice, he spoke:
“Leo.”
From behind him, Leo emerged from the crowd.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“There’s a poisoned knight of the Elliana family in the two-story house at Raymond.”
“A knight of the Elliana family?”
“Yes. The situation sounds urgent. Go with a physician and treat him.”
“Yes, I will—”
“Save him no matter what. Do whatever it takes, then bring him to the territory once the first aid is done. He’ll be a hostage to trade for important information.”
Leo placed his fist against his chest.
“Yes. I will do exactly as you command.”
“And one more thing.”
“…?”
“Tell Zenber to contact the temple. Ask them to send someone.”
“To the temple?”
“Yes. If you tell them there’s someone I want to confirm, they’ll understand.”
“Yes, understood.”
With that brief reply, Leo slipped back into the crowd and was gone in moments.
Calliere clenched his fist tightly, an uneasy premonition gnawing at him. Then he turned to Rebellia, who was still crouched in front of the basket.
The merchant asked her:
“Would you like to take one?”
“Huh?”
“You don’t look like someone who needs to worry about food for them.”
“Do I look like that? Well… I don’t have to worry about food, but I’m already living in someone else’s house, so…”
“You can take one.”
Startled by that voice, Rebellia turned quickly.
Calliere was smiling at her.
“If you want, you can take not just one, but even three.”
“No, no. Then the mother would be sad…”
“Then what if we take the mother too? I’ll pay well.”
The merchant shook his head.
“Oh, no need for money. It’s not even my dog. Just a stray I happened to come across.”
Calliere looked at Rebellia. She hurriedly grabbed his hand and pulled him aside.
“I didn’t mean we should raise three—or four!”
“I know.”
“…What?”
“But you thought it’d be sad for the pups if they were separated from their mother. That’s why you wanted them together, didn’t you?”
“…Your Grace…”
“Raise them well. If they grow into fine guard dogs and protect you, then it won’t be a loss for me either.”
Rebellia let out a small sigh at his gentle reply.
“I wasn’t planning to raise them as guard dogs…”
“Well then, I’ll be the one to guard you. And as for the puppies, let them guard your smile instead.”
“….”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“N-no, nothing. I’ll… go get the puppies!”
She rushed back toward the merchant, flustered.
Calliere watched her retreating back, his hand curling into a tight fist.
“Tell Zenber to contact the temple. Ask them to send someone.”
He only hoped his choice wouldn’t end up hurting her.
Two horses racing down a thick forest path slowed to a stop.
Ban checked the wheel tracks on the ground, then turned back.
“From here, it’s better if we walk.”
Edwin nodded grimly and dismounted. As he came closer, Ban spoke in a low voice:
“Bringing along a lady in poor health is never easy. In some ways, we’re lucky. It seems we don’t have to go much farther…”
“W-wait, what do you mean by poor health?”
“You didn’t check the room? The window frames, the inside of the door, even the sheets. There were bloodstains everywhere. From the placement and the amount, it looked like she was coughing up blood.”
“That… that’s impossible. Anna was healthier than anyone!”
Ban sighed softly at Edwin’s protest, then walked on ahead.
“In this world, health is the least certain thing. And if she was locked up for over ten years in that house, even a healthy person’s body would waste away.”
“….”
“If it were me, I’d have weakened her body before imprisoning her. Easier to keep her contained, and less risk later on. Anyway—what are you doing now?”
Ban turned when he felt cold steel at his neck. Edwin had drawn his sword, his face twisted with anger.
“I don’t know how long I’m expected to endure your insults toward nobility!”
Ban gave a bitter laugh, his eyes sharpening.
“I don’t see what part of my words insulted nobility.”
“….”
“Do nobles never get kidnapped? Never fall sick? Never die?”
“You insolent—!”
“Or is it just because my words are directed at Anna Piace, and she is the one you can’t bear to hear spoken of?”
At that, Edwin flinched visibly. Ban laughed dryly at the reaction.
“Whatever history or feelings you shared with the Marchioness, that’s none of my concern. The reason I’ve protected you isn’t because you’re a noble. It’s because I had something I wanted to confirm. Understand?”
“…If you said those words in the capital, you’d be whipped on the spot.”
“Yes, probably. But unfortunately for you—this isn’t the capital.”
Ban shrugged at Edwin’s trembling rage. It was obvious there was something between Edwin and the Marchioness that he himself didn’t know.
When Edwin finally lowered his sword and strode ahead, Ban let out a small sigh.
‘Damn it. Should I have just let him die back then?’
Regret gnawed at him as he followed. Soon, he frowned—Edwin had frozen in place.
“What are you—”
As Ban drew nearer, he saw it: hair shining purple in the sunlight.
On instinct, Ban ducked behind a tree, his eyes narrowing at the sight of a woman with blood-red eyes blazing like fire.
‘Could it be… the Marchioness?’
Before he could study her further, the woman pressed a dinner knife to her own throat and shouted:
“Don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll kill myself right here!”
“That won’t be enough to kill you, Madam,” Ban replied evenly.
“Then come closer and see for yourself! You’ll find out whether I die or not!”
A dangerous tension filled the air between them. Ban hesitated, his mind racing.
‘Wait. To take the Marchioness away, surely she wouldn’t have come alone…’
A chill of dread ran through him as he scanned the surroundings. Just as he feared—a man armed with weapons was moving toward her from behind.
“Anna!”
At that moment, Edwin roared and charged at the man.
