I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 85

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 85

“So we’ve finally reached this point.”

Ponia muttered as she looked at the article she had brought today.

It had already been a year since Sionel returned to the capital. Many things had happened during that time.

Many people voiced concerns about whether he could properly fulfill the role of duke as he inherited the ducal title.

Though he had now become a criminal, Gideon, who had served as the proxy for the ducal house, had played the role of duke so perfectly.

While all the nobles despised and cursed Gideon for his heinous criminal acts, there were certainly many who had admired him.

Everyone watched Sionel, who had ascended to the ducal position, with interest and curiosity disguised as concern.

And Sionel showed himself to be a perfect duke, as if to prove them wrong.

The regular Imperial meetings where nobles’ abilities were evaluated.

Regular meetings usually flowed with experienced older nobles at the center.

Moreover, considering that the noble who had led the meetings until just before was Gideon, it was quite a harsh position for him.

Young upstarts who stepped forward in meetings claiming they would make their mark became their prey.

However, Sionel, who attended his first regular meeting, showed a different approach from them.

He remained calm throughout, listening to the opinions of other nobles who attended the meeting.

He neither displayed the arrogance of high nobility nor tried to gloss over his shortcomings with seemingly impressive words.

While maintaining a humble attitude throughout, his expression remained composed. Sionel naturally blended into the regular meetings.

Later, Sionel’s moment to shine came during the third regular meeting.

When several nobles who judged that Sionel fell short of Gideon’s abilities tried to break his spirit in the meeting.

Sionel exposed their secret private lives and presented evidence of tax evasion.

At that moment, everyone attending the meeting realized.

That he was different from Gideon, who had always been admired by everyone for his upright appearance.

While Gideon had maintained friendly relationships with everyone and made no enemies, Sionel maintained courtesy but never let anyone get close.

He didn’t bother trying to win over those who tested and probed him. Instead, he clearly showed the hierarchy and demonstrated lines that should not be crossed.

The voices of those who had tried to tear him down naturally disappeared.

Thus, the current Devonham Duchy was showing a solid appearance equal to, perhaps even stronger than, when Gideon had led it.

‘That was the content of the newspaper article I read.’

Though it was him who had gained recognition from the nobles, Ponia felt proud.

She knew how tirelessly he must have worked to become an excellent duke.

Moreover, today he had even received ownership of Mirban Forest from the Imperial Court.

‘I thought it would take three years.’

It was the Imperial Court’s sincerity born from regret for not detecting Gideon’s crimes earlier and gratitude for exposing the nobles’ tax evasion.

‘Setting aside whether the Emperor truly remained unaware of the full story of the tragedy that befell the Devonham Duchy until the end.’

This was getting close to the happy ending for Sionel that Ponia had hoped for.

Ponia, who had been smiling while reading the article, made a serious expression.

Sionel was safely following the main thread of the novel’s development well.

‘So, the main thread, that is.’

Recently, there had been things said about Sionel in the articles.

Turning two pages of her notebook, she could see the recent articles.

Bloody winds blow through the Devonham Duchy, is Duke Devonham the cause?

Mass dismissals of servants occurred at the Devonham Duchy. This is the third dismissal since Sionel Devonham inherited the title, showing ruthlessness in firing servants who had served for decades.

Devonham Duchy, discord between brothers continues…

The suspicions continue as the two can rarely be seen together even at banquets. It has been revealed that Aren Devonham used to follow Gideon Devonham quite closely.

Iron-blooded Duke, Sionel Devonham. Noble ladies’ complaints burst forth…

Duke Devonham, who attended a banquet held at the Sonia Marquessate, knocked down an unmarried noble lady, causing great controversy.

Among the noble ladies who witnessed this situation, there are claims that the duke is like a ruffian who doesn’t know how to respect ladies…

“Haah…”

Even looking at it again, she could only sigh.

‘Iron-blooded duke for the world’s most gentle man. A ruffian!’

Though he was indeed a ruffian who couldn’t even communicate properly in the forest!

“There’s no greater injustice than this. Sionel is so gentle…”

At that moment, Ponia stopped speaking.

The image of Sionel looking at her lovingly, as if he didn’t know what to do with his emotions, came to mind.

‘I missed you, Ponia.’

‘I like you.’

Even his voice when he called her name and spoke words of affection.

‘Let’s leave this place together.’

As she thought of Sionel, it was only natural that these words he had said would come to mind.

Words she had never been able to answer in the end.

“I don’t regret it.”

Ponia spoke to herself as if making a resolution.

For a year, Sionel had pursued Ponia’s whereabouts, and Ponia had hidden and fled from him.

However, the Devonham Estate’s information-gathering capabilities were excellent, and there were clear limits to how long Ponia could avoid them.

If she hadn’t received help, she would have been caught long ago.

At that time, the one who helped her was…

Knock knock.

Someone called for Ponia along with the sound of knocking.

“Are you inside? A letter has arrived!”

It was the mail carrier.

“Just a moment!”

Ponia quickly came downstairs, put on the black cloak hanging on the chair, and opened the door. The carrier handed her an envelope.

“Again, there’s no sender written on it.”

“Thank you.”

The delivery man narrowed his eyes at Ponia, who accepted it so nonchalantly. Ponia, who always covered her face with a hood and often received suspicious letters, seemed very strange indeed.

Ponia gave an awkward smile and looked at the envelope from her seat.

Just as the delivery person had said, the envelope had no sender’s name written on it, only the name “Nia.”

That alone was enough for Ponia to know it was from Custin.

‘Ominous, so ominous.’

Kerstin had sent letters like this about three times. All when something happened at the count’s house. The cause always involved family members.

I felt torn between wanting to leave the envelope unopened just like this and wanting to check it right away.

Ponia finally sighed and opened the envelope.

The letter’s contents were very brief. However, Ponia kept her mouth tightly shut and just stared at the letter.

Kerstin had always been the type to get straight to the point, but this letter was unusually short.

Just one line.

And even then, worried that someone else might read the letter first, he wrote it in a way that only she would understand.

Miss, the young master takes after the viscount so much.

Ponia crumpled the letter in her hand.

The delivery person, who had lingered out of curiosity, flinched.

“Albio, this bastard really….”

The delivery person hurried away as if fleeing after hearing those words.

Meanwhile, at the Harbel baronial house, there wasn’t a single peaceful day.

Meanwhile, the baron and his wife were having a leisurely day, enjoying tea time at an outdoor table.

“Honey, how do you like the dress I bought this time?”

“Oh! How beautiful! Your eye for beauty is always spot on!”

“Hehe. I thought so, didn’t I?”

The baroness had further threatened the already strained finances that the baron had lost to investment fraud.

However, there was no one to stop them.

Although Kerstin nagged them, he was merely the baronet’s butler, and there were limits to how much he could interfere with the baronet and his wife’s spending.

The only thing stopping them was the eldest daughter Ponia, but Ponia had left home and hadn’t returned for over a year.

I was worried about my daughter who never sends word about how she’s doing, but since she seems to exchange letters with Kerstin occasionally, she’s probably doing well.

Their daughter is always confident and capable, so she’ll do well wherever she goes.

So, they just need to freely enjoy the freedom given to them.

“Huh? Kustin?”

The Lord was the first to spot Kustin coming out to the garden. However, Kustin didn’t spare the couple even a glance and headed toward the main gate.

As the couple watched him with puzzlement, Kustin began to open the main gate himself.

Looking closer, there was someone in a cloak waiting in front of the main gate.

No matter how capable a butler he was, to bring someone of unverified identity into the manor without the master’s permission.

The Lord thought he should say something and rose from his seat.

However, as soon as the main gate opened, the cloaked figure looked around and spotted them.

“Uh…?”

And then began running toward them at a terrifying speed. The cloak came off from the speed.

The Lord’s eyes widened.

Could he possibly be dreaming right now?

“Po, Ponia?!”

After one year and four months, his daughter had returned.

Dong. Dong. Dong.

The bell from the Town Square Clock Tower rang to announce noon.

For Lord and Lady Harvel, it was the bell that signaled the end of their freedom.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————