I Like Another Man, Not the Male Lead - Chapter 60
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 60
Even though Reina had returned, there were two knights who hadn’t come back. Rochester and Matthias were still searching through the forest to uncover the truth. They had to find the person who had done that to Reina.
“Rochester.”
Matthias had discovered something deep in the forest. His efforts to not miss even the smallest detail had paid off.
“Come over here.”
Rochester quickly moved at Matthias’s gesture.
“What did you find?”
“It’s a cabin. Looks like an abandoned one…”
The two approached the cabin cautiously.
It was an old, shabby cabin. It seemed to have been abandoned for quite some time. Whether it had been used as a Hunting Ground Keeper’s residence or as a shelter for Hunters was hard to tell. Since it was such an old hunting ground, its purpose might have changed several times.
The door was slightly open. Rochester drew his sword. Matthias also took a defensive stance. Ready to respond to whatever might jump out from inside. With one of the criminals presumed to be a trained knight, there was no telling what danger might strike.
“Be careful.”
“I know.”
Rochester pushed the door. The hinges made a chilling sound. There didn’t seem to be any particular signs of life.
Inside was dark. It was full of dust, with cobwebs hanging down. But even with just the light pouring through the open door, meaningful evidence was visible.
“Someone was here recently.”
Matthias pointed to the floor. There were traces where dust had been swept away. Footprints were also visible. There wasn’t just one or two footprints.
“And look at this.”
Rochester pointed to a corner. A blanket lay crumpled there. And an empty water bottle too.
“Someone was hiding out here.”
“Recently?”
“Yes. Looking at the dust condition… it seems like it’s been since a few days ago.”
The two began to thoroughly search inside the cabin. Soon Matthias discovered something in a crack in the wall.
“Rochester.”
Matthias carefully pulled something out.
A small badge made of metal. The Imperial Knight Insignia was engraved on it. It was a badge awarded when joining the Imperial Knights as a knight. It was both the honor of Imperial Knights members and proof of their identity.
Rochester took the badge and examined it. He checked the back. Since the badge also served as identification, the owner’s name was naturally engraved on it. Usually the name was on the back since the insignia couldn’t be damaged. Rochester’s face hardened coldly. A familiar name was written there.
Heyson Reliz.
Matthias muttered.
“Heyson…”
He gritted his teeth. The trash that the Knight Order had expelled was here doing more trashy deeds. Rochester ran his hand through his hair.
Expelling Heyson was partly because of Reina, but the appeals from Fellow Knights who found him uncomfortable were more decisive. Heyson kept taking Fellow Knights to the Entertainment District where Courtesans were, or to Gambling Houses. And he didn’t think that was problematic behavior. When pointed out, he would get angry instead, saying didn’t everyone do that much. Heyson was trash who was only decent on the surface. The Guy was a typical scoundrel who dreamed of rising in status by charming women well. The one outstanding thing about The Guy was his rumor management ability, just that one thing. How furious he had been when he learned that such a bastard had approached Reina.
Rochester straightened up and looked around the cabin again.
“So that guy is involved in Reina Regfield’s disappearance?”
“I think it’s highly likely. If it’s Heyson, The Guy would be more than capable of doing such a thing.”
Rochester put the badge in his pocket.
Heyson wasn’t particularly skilled either. Especially Heyson was weak in natural terrain like this. If they searched this area, they would surely be able to find his pathetic state. No wait, it was slightly more likely that he had returned to his residence knowing the search net was closing in. It would be better to leave the search of this area to the Knight Order and for the two of them to go check Heyson’s Residence.
Rochester left the cabin.
“Let’s go, Matthias. To catch that bastard.”
* * *
When the two arrived at Heyson’s Residence, the sun was already setting.
Heyson’s Residence was a small mansion located near the Hunting Grounds. Being in such a place, it would be easy to escape from that cabin to here.
Rochester and Matthias dismounted their horses. A shabby mansion came into view, too modest for the second son of the Count Reliz Family to live in. Matthias and Rochester exchanged glances. All the lights in the mansion were out. There was no sign of servants either.
The two carefully approached the mansion. They peered inside through the windows. Though they thought the lights were out, a small flame was flickering about. They could see one person moving around with a candle.
“He’s inside.”
Rochester grabbed the door handle. It wasn’t locked. Heyson was being careless. Or perhaps he hadn’t been back for long.
He applied force to his hand and slowly pushed the door open. Being careful not to make any noise. A small flame was visible beyond the dark, narrow corridor. Matthias and Rochester entered silently, muffling their footsteps. Someone completely unaware of the intruders was grumbling.
“Damn it. What a mess this is.”
Rochester smiled coldly. Rochester placed his finger to his lips and narrowed his eyes.
That voice that made his blood boil just from hearing it. It was Heyson. That damned bastard was here.
Light was leaking from one of the rooms. Rochester looked back at Matthias. He sent a signal with his eyes.
‘One, two, three.’
Bang!
Rochester kicked the door open and entered.
“Heyson Reliz.”
Matthias stood blocking the escape route.
Heyson was inside the room. He had a wine cup in his hand, and with his other hand he was tearing at chicken. He was living quite comfortably. Heyson dropped the chicken leg and raised his head.
“L-Lord Regfield?!”
Heyson’s face turned deathly pale.
“Why… why are you here…”
“Why do you think?”
Rochester approached Heyson. His heavy footsteps were intimidatingly menacing.
Rochester placed his hand on top of Heyson’s head. Heyson slid down from where he was sitting. Heyson trembled violently. The terror of being beaten by Rochester made his whole body tingle with fear.
“Looks like you just got home. You haven’t even washed, and you’re still wearing the same shoes.”
Rochester’s gaze swept over Heyson. Heyson was wearing the poor-quality boots that hunters typically wore. Heyson reeked of both blood and grass. Rochester wrinkled his nose and bared his teeth. He laughed quietly.
“You. You were at the Hunting Grounds all this time.”
“Hic!”
Heyson unconsciously covered his mouth. His body shook violently. His hands were also covered in dirt.
Rochester grabbed Heyson by the collar and lifted him up. Rochester’s eyes were far more savage than those of the wolf they had seen earlier. Heyson squeezed his eyes shut.
“N-no. I’ve been home the whole time!”
“Then what’s this?”
Rochester lightly shook the badge he pulled from his pocket. Glint, the light flickered like a firefly. All color completely drained from Heyson’s face. Rochester narrowed his eyes.
“Ugh!”
Heyson faced Rochester’s massive fist approaching before his eyes and let out a scream. Heyson trembled violently.
“Please spare me… I don’t want to die…”
“Begging for your life?”
Rochester let out a cold laugh. Those words were truly ridiculous. The fact that someone who had tried to kill another person now wanted to live. Rochester sneered coldly.
“It was you, wasn’t it? That whistle. Tell me who’s behind you. Then I’ll spare your life.”
Heyson gritted his teeth. He couldn’t say that even if it killed him. If he spoke, he would die by the Empress’s hand.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————