Turning Chapter 1103

Chapter 1103

"...To be honest, I find it hard to believe that Duke Diarca could be affected by family matters."

Especially when that family member was Kiolle.

"I think you might be interpreting the word 'care' too warmly. Caring for someone isn't always made up of such warm intentions. People can judge that they need to care for someone for various reasons. And influence doesn't always go in just one direction."

"That's..."

Hearing it that way, Yuder understood a little better. Even that Katchian certainly cared for Yudrain Aile, didn't he? Even if it looked like he was just holding onto a useful weapon to avoid losing it, it was true that he listened to Yuder's opinions more easily than others and gave him a lot of money and honor.

Even Katchian's absence on the day of Yuder's execution could be seen as a result of being affected by the fact that the weapon he had cherished was about to disappear.

"You shouldn't try to understand the emotions of someone like Duke Diarca by comparing them to the image of ordinary parents. Duke Diarca himself probably doesn't think at all that he's someone who could be shaken more than usual because of his children. But results don't lie."

Anyway, for whatever reason, it was a fact that after Kiolle's death, Duke Diarca showed behavior unlike himself and then quietly died. It felt like Kishiar's words that if that was all that remained after eliminating everything else, then that answer must be correct, applied here as well.

Yuder nodded and answered.

"I also suspected that Crown Prince Katchian must have been greatly involved in the cause of Duke Diarca's death. I thought he might have killed him using an unknown poison like Dudureli and announced his death blaming it on his existing chronic illness."

And now, with Kironne's unstable situation and Kiolle's early death added to that, the answer seemed even more apparent.

"If he tried to deal with Duke Diarca alone, excluding me who wasn't yet greatly trusted at the time, he would have definitely needed the existence of an internal helper. It's not surprising since he already has a record of trying to manipulate House Apeto similarly in this game."

Some people never change. Katchian La Orr was even more so.

The fact that his past schemes could be guessed based on his actions in this life made Yuder think this even more.

Kishiar slowly nodded as if he had read the words Yuder had omitted.

"Yes. This time, he probably won't be able to make a similar attempt, or even if he does, we'll handle it right away on our side."

"I'm also... quite looking forward to seeing how Duke Diarca will react to what happens to Kiolle from now on."

"I feel the same. And since we've come to guess these facts, I feel the need to investigate Kiolle da Diarca more in-depth."

"Is there any need to go through such trouble? He's a completely transparent guy, so if I just send someone to ask him right now, he'll answer on his own."

At that, Kishiar smiled faintly for a moment and shook his head.

"That's true, but aren't there secrets about oneself that even one doesn't know? I wonder if there might have been more reasons for Duke Diarca to be shaken by his death besides our current speculation."

The idea that something might be hidden about Kiolle was truly hard to get used to, even while hearing it. But there was some kind of indescribable faint certainty in Kishiar's words.

"Well... if there's something more that even he doesn't know, it might be better to investigate from the outside. Do you have any hunches about something?"

"His origin."

"Pardon?"

Even if there were a hundred suspicious points about Kiolle, wasn't his origin the one thing that was impeccably clean? The unexpected word that came out overturning expectations made Yuder unconsciously blurt out a question.

"Do you know that Kiolle's mother is different from the other children's?"

Yuder shook his head.

"I don't know much about it."

"Duke Diarca had two wives. The first wife bore the other children besides Kiolle but passed away in an unfortunate accident, and after leaving the position vacant for a long time, he took a new wife. That second wife is Kiolle's mother, known to be from a humble noble family as an illegitimate daughter."

Being an illegitimate daughter from a noble family meant she was a child who had at least been acknowledged by her parents, even if she was born out of wedlock. She wasn't like Kanna who wasn't even acknowledged, so she was a noble in status.

'But... it would have been easy for high-ranking nobles to dismiss her as no different from a commoner.'

It was really a status far from suitable to be the wife of a duke who was the head of a family like House Diarca.

"From the information I've gathered, Duke Diarca apparently knew the second wife even when his first wife was alive. The reason why he didn't immediately take the second wife after the first wife's death is not certain, but I think the biggest reason was probably due to her status. Anyway, she gave birth to Kiolle about a year after becoming the second wife, left for recuperation immediately after, and died about 10 years later."

Up to this point, it seemed like there was no particular problem with the circumstances. Kiolle's mother might have been looked down upon within the family because of her humble origin, but was Kiolle ever intimidated because of that? In any case, Kiolle was legally the legitimate child born from a properly married wife of Duke Diarca.

'And that mother was still a noble after all.'

But the fact that Kishiar had decided to investigate again meant that he thought there might be something hidden between this seemingly ordinary story.

"Are you planning to investigate Kiolle's mother's side?"

"Yes. Duke Diarca's second wife hardly did any official activities during her lifetime, so there's almost no information or records left about her. I wonder how much Kiolle himself knows about his mother. She lived and passed away with so little presence."

"If you find out anything, please let me know too. If I ever encounter Kiolle again... I should ask him about it once."

Although he wasn't sure if such an occasion would arise.

***

"My lord. I report the completion of the mission and my return."

Nathan Zuckerman had returned. Despite achieving the feat of entering Apeim, where people unfavorable to Peletta were swarming, and capturing those presumed to be the Shuden Trading Company impostors, his face was no different from usual.

With the same expressionless and calm attitude, he knelt on one knee and reported what he had done.

"In the town we stopped by just before going to Apeim, there were people who had coincidentally bought goods sold by the Shuden Trading Company a few days ago. When we inquired, it turned out to be shoddy goods without the real Shuden Trading Company's emblem. Believing that those who sold the goods must certainly be the ones we were looking for, we pursued them."

Peletta's secret influence across the entire North showed its power here without reservation. Nathan Zuckerman entered Apeim with the cooperation of other territories that had formed cooperative relationships with Peletta, and likewise found the culprits based on extensive intelligence.

"So, did you see their faces?"

"Yes. When we removed the clothes covering their faces, most of them were of southern descent. They claimed that they had committed the impersonation crime because they had no money, and that the goods themselves were just common junk. Since they seemed to think they were only caught for impersonating the Shuden Trading Company, I didn't explain anything for now."

"As expected."

"I intended to capture them and bring them back as quietly as possible, but because the process became a bit noisy, when we were leaving, I had to show the letter with the seal of the third son of Apeto that you gave me to the Apeim side."

A smile bloomed on Kishiar's lips.

"How was their reaction? It must have been worth seeing."

"They seemed greatly shocked."

The people of Apeim apparently had a small dispute over whether they should submit to Revlin's name or not. However, in the end, the lord of Apeim concluded that Revlin's seal was real and should be followed, allowing Nathan to leave Apeim very comfortably.

"It was clear that they didn't like us, but Revlin's name seemed more important to them."

"Yes. That's also as expected."

"Additionally, according to the information we collected... it seems that an anomalous crack briefly appeared in Apeim as well. Although they claimed there was none on their side, the residents were honest."

Kishiar just nodded once as if he had expected that.

"Well done, Nathan. Now then, it's time to meet those we've captured. You've heard that Mick brought the Cat Whiskers Trading Company people, right?"

"Yes. Before coming here, I already relayed the news to that side as well. If it's Head Mick, he would have explained appropriately and should already be at the prison with them."

"My subordinates are all so capable that I have nothing to do. Shall we go now then?"

They rose from their seats and headed to the basement of the castle. There was a warehouse there, but also a prison that typically exists in any castle.

Mick and Gohum from the Donabi Manaik Trading Company, who were already at the entrance, saw them and bowed their heads in greeting. Judging by Mick's wide grin, he seemed to be in a very good mood.

"You've come! I feel so refreshed at the thought of finally seeing those guys in person. Sir Zuckerman, I'll send you the most precious liquor we've brought in from our trading company as a token of gratitude!"

"I hardly drink alcohol, so that's not necessary."

"Oh come on, don't refuse."

While Mick was trying to force a gift of alcohol with a shameless face, Gohum was glancing at Nathan Zuckerman's face beside him. Although she was trying hard to hide it, judging by how her gaze kept lingering, she seemed to find it fascinating to confirm that he was really of southern origin.

'It doesn't seem to be a negative feeling, so Nathan Zuckerman also seems to be pretending not to notice.'

"Gohum. Have you heard who is in this prison?"

"Ah, yes."

Gohum turned her head at Kishiar's question and answered politely.

"I heard they are the impostors that Head Mick had been looking for. He asked if we could come along to see if there was anyone we recognized... but I'm not sure if we'll be of help."

"Hmm. In my opinion, I think you can definitely be of some help."

"Pardon?"

"The culprits are of southern descent. That means there's a high chance you might know them."

Gohum's eyes widened.