The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 146

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I heard the sound of Ailren drawing in his breath.

Apart from trusting me, it seemed he had been half-doubting whether my method would really work.

“How did you know? That the magical tool would be effective.”

“Well, I don’t know much about magic, so I thought about it from a general perspective.”

You can’t hypnotize someone who is dreaming.

Since they already lack a sense of reality and their consciousness is blurred, suggestion and immersion induction become impossible.

So then?

“If we can’t wake them from the dream, I thought we could use that state in reverse. Make them talk in their sleep.”

Of course, I couldn’t expect logically coherent answers.

But in dreams, people become bold and honest. Because they think it’s not reality anyway.

So I thought gently encouraging them with a magical tool might work.

‘Rather than breaking the dream state, we strengthen it.’

Just like how the kidnapper had drowsily answered my questions.

“Of course, we can’t use it as official evidence, but we can refer to it.”

Ailren nodded.

Tesagh’s voice could be heard.

“Why did you ruin the Late Delphia Duke’s dedication ceremony?”

“…Because I wanted revenge.”

“Ruining a dead person’s dedication ceremony counts as revenge?”

“Of course. It does.”

Duie chuckled and then closed his mouth.

Blood vessels bulged in Tesagh’s neck, but he suppressed his emotions and took out another magical tool to light it.

It was when the smoke became thick.

“It’s unfair, isn’t it? That Father, who locked me in a tomb, who mistreated and despised his son just for being a Mage, would become a saint and be praised.”

“So you wanted to ruin it?”

“That’s right… And in the way Father would hate most. I was prepared to do anything if it meant tarnishing that name.”

The abuse disguised as discipline by the Late Duke that Duie testified about was harsh.

After first awakening as a Mage, he said he had been confined in the Underground Crypt the entire time.

“He said someone like me was useless to this world.”

They even gave him Holy Water to drink, so he had to endure the agony of his throat burning every time he drank water for years.

“But I was useful, wasn’t I? That hypocritical and vicious person’s sainthood was eventually canceled. That’s a good thing, right?”

Duie laughed as if crying.

It sounded pitiable at first glance.

“I’m not the truly bad one. That person is. I’m a victim, I was just struggling to survive…”

“Yes, you could think that way. There must have been people who looked at you with compassionate eyes.”

But no one in this place sympathized with Duie.

“If only you hadn’t touched innocent people!”

Crack.

Tesagh ground his teeth.

Duie stared blankly into space.

“Innocent people… Yes. I’m a bit sorry to the Woman who was wearing Countess Devin’s shell.”

“…Shell?”

“But it was what ‘That Person’ wanted. I had no choice but to follow…”

It seemed Duie knew that I had been in disguise.

‘So he was testing me. But who is this ‘That Person’?’

Before Tesagh could even interrogate further, Duie’s mouth moved.

“I didn’t want to do such things either, but he said it was something I had to do.”

“Something you had to do?”

“He said he would trust me, so he would watch over me…”

After thinking, Tesagh asked.

“This ‘That Person’ you mentioned must have been among the attendees. Who was he disguised as?”

“…Hm? No, disguised?”

“Eivor! He was there. He put the ruby tablet in the storage box and cast magic to bind the Duke…”

Tesagh’s words were cut off.

“Eivor?”

Duie, who had been staring into space, suddenly turned his head.

“Ah, is that That Person’s name?”

“…What?”

“He said he would tell me his name once I finished the job… Ah, this is your test. Right?”

Duie’s words gradually became faster.

“Everything was my doing, everything was my failure. But you were still watching with those clear and beautiful green eyes, you kept your promise!”

“Hey.”

“You trusted me so much… Ah, I failed. You heard my prayers but I couldn’t offer the sacrifice you wanted…”

“Snap out of it!”

“You said you liked my eyes, that you’d find a use for them. So… at least me!”

Duie, who had been muttering as if entranced, raised his restrained hands and was about to stab his own eyes.

Bang―

Tesagh grabbed his arm and pushed Duie against the wall.

Tesagh gripped the neck of Duie, who had slumped down powerlessly, and spat out through gritted teeth.

“He’s unconscious.”

Silence lingered in the Interrogation Room for a while.

*

In the Carriage returning to the Pawnshop, I was lost in thought.

‘Rosaline’s answer was similar too.’

“…A Man with green eyes I’d never seen before…”

Her last memory was of him approaching her when she had just entered Prison, not in her right mind from the shock of having her wrist cut off.

‘I wanted to ask Rosaline more about Grandfather, but it wasn’t the right situation.’

Promising myself a next opportunity, I organized what I had heard.

Duie and Rosaline’s words were rambling like those of dreamers, but there were things I had gained.

‘That Eivor’s eyes are green. That he’s skilled enough to secretly enter the Royal Prison.’

And that these characteristics matched Tesagh’s testimony.

Though I didn’t learn much, I had achieved my goal of building a foundation of trust.

Judging by Ailren’s quite complex expression in the Carriage, it seemed he had decided to believe that Tesagh at least wasn’t lying.

“We’ve arrived. Please get out, I’ll escort you to the Shop.”

“I’ll do that.”

Of course, Tesagh was also in the Carriage.

He added.

“Ah, and it would be better to keep what happened during today’s interrogation secret from the Princess.”

I thought he would object, but surprisingly Ailren nodded.

“I think it would be quite shocking for her. Also… if Princess were to learn the details of that man’s activities.”

“The Mage might target the Princess.”

“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m concerned about. I’ll embellish it when I report.”

While saying this, Ailren looked at me with a troubled expression.

If just knowing could put someone in danger, I would be the most worrying person in his mind.

But my thoughts were a little different.

‘Eivor targeted me because I pose a threat to him.’

There’s something that even Eivor, who’s wary of me, doesn’t know.

That I know the future.

I was planning to make the most of that knowledge.

“Well then, I’ll be going… Oh.”

I habitually started to extend my hand to Ailren but stopped.

A handshake was one thing, but it would be awkward to show myself flying away in front of Tesagh.

Ailren seemed to understand this too, as he bowed his head to see me off.

“Then please get home safely.”

“Yes, Count Ailren.”

I nodded and got out of the carriage first.

Tesagh handed the interrogation magical device to Ailren, saying ‘Use it if you need to,’ then followed me out.

It was when Ailren’s carriage had moved away that he suddenly asked.

“What were you trying to do just now?”

I thought he had his back turned, but when did he see that?

“Say goodbye.”

“With a handshake?”

“Yes. With a handshake.”

A handshake wasn’t anything strange, so I thought he’d let it pass.

“…But why did you check my reaction? If it’s just a greeting, you could have just done it.”

He’s like a ghost, really.

I clicked my tongue and spoke jokingly to Tesagh, who looked somewhat sullen.

“I was worried you might misunderstand.”

“…Does my misunderstanding bother you?”

“Yes, Your Grace might spread rumors. What if Count Ailren’s marriage prospects get ruined because people say he goes around shaking hands with strange women?”

“Why would I spread such rumors, and why would his marriage prospects be ruined by something so trivial? More importantly, aren’t you worried about your own marriage prospects?”

“I’m not really worried about that.”

Huh.

Tesagh, who had been looking at me with an expression like ‘what kind of person is this,’ relaxed his face.

After looking up at him for a moment, I cleared my throat.

“Thank you for today.”

“What, for having the cigarette magical device?”

“No. …For deciding to cooperate with the Empire.”

Tesagh hesitated.

It must have been a really big decision for him.

In the future I know, Eivor being publicly wanted came much later than this.

And perhaps the reason he extended his hand much faster and more actively was.

“I might be mistaken, but I think my safety was also one of the reasons.”

Maybe it was partly for my sake.

‘Of course, it’s more accurate to say he realized the danger and seriousness through the incident I was involved in.’

Tesagh averted his gaze.

Was the guilt still not gone?

But instead of pointing out that he didn’t need to feel guilty, I decided to be grateful for his actions.

“…You’re not mistaken.”

After a long while, Tesagh muttered quietly.

“But that reason isn’t everything. So…”

“Don’t feel burdened by it? I understand.”

“Good grief.”

Tesagh raised one eyebrow and laughed as if amazed.

Indeed, he looked good when he smiled.

“I should say thank you too.”

“What? To me?”

“Thanks to you lightening the mood, we could focus on the task instead of engaging in pointless confrontation.”

As expected of someone perceptive, he seemed to have noticed my intention to start with emotions.

Then Tesagh spoke with some hesitation.

“Oh, and about the reward the Border Guard promised you.”

“Gasp, are you asking for the money back because you gave too much? I thought the amount was…!”

“What do you take the Duchy for? Not that.”

I answered reflexively, then realized.

Could he be trying to give me the Root of Blindness materials?

“Are the materials completed?”

“Yes. They said the data compilation would be finished around your day off. …So, are you interested in visiting the Duke’s residence?”

“The Duke’s residence?”

“It’s your day off. You could look at the materials while also touring the Duchy a bit, which would be nice.”

Tesagh, who was saying this.

“…Want to go together?”

Strangely, seemed shy.

Seeing his reddened ears, I smiled.

When I smiled, Tesagh hastily added.

“If you don’t want to, you can refuse. I’ll bring you the materials as soon as they’re ready…”

“No, I’d like to go together.”

“Really?”

“Yes, when else in my life would I get to tour Your Grace’s house?”

“…House. Right, it’s a house.”

Tesagh, who had been muttering “house,” nodded a bit late.

‘Wait, if this is a house invitation…’

This is trouble.

Now I suddenly have to worry about finding a housewarming gift suitable for a Duke.

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