Spring in My Grasp - Chapter 45

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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(45) The Vanished Belua Family

“Drink this before you go.”
Rowan, her mind still clouded by last night’s indulgence, extended a bowl on a tray toward Alexis. He paused mid-motion while donning his coat, regarding her with an expression of utter bewilderment.
“You haven’t even sobered up yet, and here you are pressing drinks on me at dawn—what’s gotten into you? You should have the servants handle this.”
“No, it’s just… I wanted to do it myself.”
“If anyone needs this remedy, it’s you, not me.”
“I’ve already had some myself.”
At Rowan’s halting words, Alexis let out an exasperated sigh, casting her a brief glance before finally accepting the bowl.
“I hear you’ve been skipping breakfast lately. You’ll ruin your health. Make sure you eat properly.”
“….”
Without a word, Alexis drained the bowl in one go and set it back on the tray.
“Don’t do this. I work so you won’t have to.”
“It’s not like I do it all the time. It just happens occasionally.”
Rowan stepped closer to Alexis, brushing her hand across his coat before melting into his embrace. He held her wordlessly, her form limp as a paper doll in his arms.
“Besides, I can rest once you leave. You’re the one truly suffering. You’ve been so busy lately—I wish you could come home earlier today and get more sleep.”
Alexis listened in silence to Rowan’s murmured words against his chest.
After holding her for a moment, he gently grasped her shoulders and drew back to face her. Rowan’s eyes, still hazy with lingering intoxication, gazed up at him.
“I’ll be back soon, so get some more rest.”
Alexis pressed a light kiss to her lips and turned to leave. Before stepping through the door, he glanced back to see Rowan already making her way to the bed, burrowing deeply beneath the covers.
Perhaps it was the warmth of the herbal broth he’d just consumed—a gentle heat seemed to bloom throughout his entire being.
“Butler. My wife isn’t feeling well today, so see that she doesn’t overexert herself.”
With that instruction to the Butler before departing the Castle, Alexis made his way directly to the Temple. The preparations were complete; now he was simply curious to see how those who had lost their hand would make their move.
***
Audrey’s birth family, the Belua Family, had accumulated wealth for generations through the spice and medicinal herb trade.
Long ago, they had merchant origins and faced disdain from the nobility for a time, but their ancestors conducted themselves with such wisdom that they earned the Royal Family’s trust, naturally gaining entry into aristocratic society and establishing themselves firmly.
With such formidable wealth, they spared no support for the Royal Family, eventually receiving a Baronial title, and now as a Count’s House, they lived as a stable noble family.
Even now, Count Belloa was renowned for his unwavering loyalty to the Royal Family, never forgetting where their standing originated. Thus, he enjoyed considerable trust and favor from the King, allowing him to influence positions within the Royal Court.
It was in this way that Francis, as a son-in-law of the Belua Family, had gained entry to the palace and taken on duties within the Royal Court.
“What did you say?”
Audrey, who had been lounging on the sofa while a Maid attended to her hair, rose abruptly. Before her stood a Maid sent by Francis from the Royal Palace.
“Count Belloa is currently under investigation, it seems. The exact charges have not been disclosed, but he was taken away discreetly and swiftly, and is now held in the Royal Palace Prison.”
The Maid’s voice trailed off, her expression deeply uncomfortable.
“Father—why so suddenly!”
Audrey sprang to her feet in shock and indignation.
“This is a message from Francis. Even if we attempt to confirm Father’s situation, the Royal Knights refuse to speak, and visitation is not permitted. Furthermore, he himself will likely face investigation regarding Father’s matter and cannot return home immediately. The situation is most grave.”
I had wondered why Francis was returning so late, but never imagined it was for something like this.
Audrey moved quickly to prepare for departure. This was utterly absurd. Since childhood, whenever she accompanied her father to the Royal Palace, everyone showed them respect. The Royal Family could not possibly abandon them. Above all, there was no reason for them to do so!
The carriage carrying Audrey hurried toward the Belloa Mansion. Upon arriving at the estate’s entrance, Audrey sensed something amiss the moment she stepped inside. The Butler’s face greeting her was deeply troubled, and faint sounds of weeping echoed from the Reception Room.
“Mother!”
On the Reception Room sofa sat Audrey’s mother, the Countess Belloa, and her aunt. Upon seeing Audrey, they burst into louder sobs.
“Audrey! What are we to do now!”
The Countess Belloa grasped Audrey’s collar and cried out.
“I cannot fathom what has happened. I simply cannot understand!”
“Please, Mother, explain slowly. What has happened? Father—where is he?!”
At Audrey’s words, her mother, still trembling, slowly gathered her thoughts.
“It happened this morning. Suddenly, Knights from the Temple burst in. Your father went out to see what the matter was, and without warning, they said an investigation was necessary and dragged him away. When your father demanded to know who was responsible, they said the investigation would proceed under the Temple’s authority and His Majesty’s permission.”
The Countess Belloa’s hands trembled uncontrollably, her heart still racing with shock.
“I was so startled that I followed them out, and there were even Royal Knights stationed outside the Main Gate. So many Knights surrounded your father and took him away without letting anyone see. It seems this is no ordinary matter. I tried to find out what was happening, but there was no way to learn anything. I even grabbed one of the departing Knights and begged them to explain, but they only said that if he is innocent, he will be released safely. Audrey! I cannot comprehend what this is all about!”
Hearing her mother’s words, Audrey too felt dazed and could not speak for a moment. Father investigated by the Temple so suddenly? And His Majesty permitted it?
The world suddenly seemed to spin. Audrey asked, gritting her teeth against the throbbing headache.
“Father was truly taken away like that, without any explanation?”
Even if the Belua Family was not among the greatest nobility, they were certainly not a house to be easily disrespected. Yet they had dragged her father away like a common criminal, without any procedure or courtesy. This made no sense whatsoever.
“This cannot be…”
Audrey murmured thus, her lips pressed tightly together. The Reception Room continued to echo with weeping, when suddenly her mother’s head lifted as if remembering something.
“That’s right! Audrey, your step-brother became a Holy Knight, didn’t he! And with such remarkable holy power that the Temple cherishes and protects him. Why not ask your step-brother to look into this? Hmm?”
Step-brother… Alexis… At the thought of him, Audrey’s face went deathly pale. Unaware of Audrey’s distress, her mother, as if finally finding a way out, wiped her tears and clung to the idea desperately.
“How did I not think of that! I should have sought you out sooner.”
Yet Audrey’s expression grew darker and darker.
***
No matter how discreetly the affair had been conducted, the head of an entire household could not be dragged to the Royal Palace Prison without word spreading. Soon enough, rumors rippled across the entire Kingdom—Count Belloa had committed a crime and been imprisoned.
And not long after the rumors began circulating, whispers emerged that the Belua Family had been privately distributing and trafficking in forbidden pharmaceuticals.
The King did not officially acknowledge it, yet his prolonged silence served as proof that the people’s suspicions were not unfounded. The High Priest was far more explicit. To commit acts that violated the sacred in this Kingdom was tantamount to declaring the Temple an enemy.
The Belua Family was struck from the Temple’s records. And much later, Count Belloa was finally able to leave the Royal Palace Prison. He emerged with his limbs intact—partly because the crime was difficult to prove without circumstantial evidence, but primarily because the Belua Family had sacrificed vast portions of their wealth to secure his release.
Yet his physical wholeness was merely appearance. The aftereffects of prolonged confinement in the Royal Palace Prison, of interrogation in his weakened state, proved far more devastating than anticipated. Moreover, the pride he had carried as a nobleman was brutally trampled in those underground dungeons, leaving his mind and spirit in an indescribable condition.
Upon his release from the Royal Palace Prison, Count Belloa descended into illness and required constant treatment. He would likely spend the remainder of his days confined to his bedroom, dependent on physicians.
And months later, the Belua Family could no longer afford to maintain their mansion in the Capital. They gathered only what was necessary and descended to the barren Northern Lands. Thus, a household that had once flourished in wealth and glory under the prudent stewardship of previous generations vanished into squalor and ruin.

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