Tia’s Smooth Life After Regression - Chapter 127

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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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Tiya’s Smooth Regression Life

Chapter 127

When suspicion arose that the Mark of Death might be a disease created by someone.

The thought that came to people’s minds when deducing the culprit was this:

‘Who benefited the most from this epidemic crisis in the North?’

Most people easily thought of Count Valoz.

In the early stages of the outbreak, he had chosen Palantio as the Royal Court’s relief supplies, and later monopolized the purchase of Palantio, earning quite a tidy profit—this was known to anyone in the know.

At the time, people thought it was just good luck and didn’t think much of it, but as the situation developed this way, suspicious gazes gradually intensified.

Was Count Valoz just really lucky? Though he was said to be well-versed in pharmacy, how knowledgeable could a high-ranking noble really be in medicine?

Perhaps the reason he was able to find the remedy for the Mark of Death at once was because he had created the epidemic himself.

“The motive is also sufficient, isn’t it? It’s obvious he did it to get revenge on the Duke. He was expelled from the family without even knowing the reason.”

“The Count’s children haven’t reached adulthood yet, so if the Duke had died from this incident, he would have reclaimed the position of family head.”

“Though he didn’t personally travel back and forth to the North, he sent countless of his people to the Northern Territory under the pretext of expanding his business network. Spreading an epidemic wouldn’t have been difficult.”

Criminal motive, related actions, and circumstantial evidence.

Just when people were whispering with all sorts of speculation, at an incredibly opportune timing, the source of the epidemic infection was even discovered in his personally owned research lab.

With clear evidence found, the Emperor could no longer just stand by and watch.

“Does Your Majesty also think the Count really committed such a terrible act? I find it so hard to believe…”

The Empress’s voice broke the Emperor’s reverie.

Her face had turned pale with shock.

The Emperor gently patted her hands, which had grown cold with tension, and answered.

“You can know ten fathoms of water but not one fathom of a person’s heart. Perhaps his hatred toward the Duke ran that deep.”

So perhaps Count Valoz had coveted the Duke’s title that he had lost, just as people said.

Nevertheless, the Emperor was inwardly convinced that Count Valoz was not the culprit.

The source of the ‘Mark of Death’ infection being found in his research lab in the first place.

‘If it really was the Count’s doing, he wouldn’t have handled things so stupidly.’

True to his nickname of ‘Poison Scorpion,’ he wouldn’t have hesitated to cross over to the North himself and contract the disease to disguise himself as a victim, ensuring he wouldn’t even be mentioned as a suspect.

Wasn’t the timing of the rumors spreading among people and their content too perfectly aligned?

It was probably the work of someone targeting Count Valoz.

However, with such clear evidence revealed, even the Emperor’s ability to intervene on the Count’s behalf was extremely limited.

Raiding the Count’s residence in the middle of the night without warning and arresting him was one of the few strategies available.

This was to fundamentally block any opportunity for external forces to intervene during the arrest process.

Afterward, he was secretly moved not to the underground prison where ordinary criminals were held, but to a secret prison exclusively for VIPs whose location wasn’t even recorded.

Count Valoz had so many enemies that if he were imprisoned in an ordinary underground prison, the possibility of someone assassinating him couldn’t be ruled out.

What remained now depended on how quickly and accurately the Count’s people moved while investigators organized evidence and prepared for trial.

“The Imperial Palace will be in an uproar tomorrow morning.”

The Empress, who let out a light sigh, finally brought the wine cup to her lips. Frowning at the strong alcohol scent, she whispered with a face that couldn’t hide her worry.

“Anaël will be heartbroken.”

“Please comfort her well.”

The Emperor, well aware of the friendship between Count Valoz’s daughter and the Princess, said this, trusting the Empress.

He knew how sincerely she devoted herself to the Prince and Princess.

* * *

The next day, not only the Imperial Palace but the entire Dominion was in chaos due to the incident that had occurred the night before.

This was because news that Count Valoz had been taken to the Imperial Palace spread like wildfire.

Investigators dispatched from the Imperial Palace once again stormed Vladijef Manor and confiscated every single piece of paper in the Count’s Study.

Several investigators even took personal items that had nothing to do with the investigation, but the Count’s side couldn’t even protest.

Amidst all that chaos, Tiya listened to Winter’s words with a resolute expression.

【I’ll only explain this once, so listen carefully. Originally, the false accusation against the Count wasn’t about creating and spreading an epidemic.】

Deep lines inappropriate for her age formed on Tiya’s brow. After looking around to make sure no one was listening, Tiya cupped her hands and whispered.

“You said Father would be imprisoned for treason…!”

【That’s right. In the future I know, the Count was taken away on charges of trying to poison the Empress.】

The same wrinkles appeared on Winter’s brow as on Tiya’s. However, this was just a habit that emerged when searching through old memories, and his voice remained dry and emotionless.

【At the time, the Count had prepared medicinal tea for the Emperor, but the Empress, who drank it instead, was on the verge of death. Since he was caught in the act, he was immediately taken away and imprisoned in the Imperial Palace’s underground prison…】

Winter stopped speaking there and closed his mouth.

It was because memories he had wanted to forget came flooding back.

Winter, who had been staying holed up in the Mage Tower without returning home at the time, learned of the news a little later than others.

Count Valoz’s execution was unavoidable.

Though he was a father he hated and despised, he couldn’t stop his feet from heading toward the palace where the Count was imprisoned.

This would be the last, the very last time he would see him.

And he would shake off all lingering attachments. He would mock that man, saying how satisfying it was. He would ridicule his death, asking if this pathetic end was all he got for abandoning his family.

Winter had mocked the Count, who had lost consciousness from severe torture, to his heart’s content.

“How satisfying. You’re paying the price. Just rot and die in prison like this for the rest of your life!”

The day he hurled those curses and turned away.

In the middle of the night, she once again, this time secretly, infiltrated the Imperial Palace.

Because at that time, she had magic powerful enough to spirit away a prisoner or two from the Imperial Palace.

Because she had enough power to head to the North with the Count.

Because after hating Father for so very long, for a lifetime, she wanted to forgive him when he was about to die.

So she thought the Count shouldn’t die now.

She put everyone in the underground prison to sleep with magic and cut through the prison bars.

She barely managed to support Count Valoz, who could hardly maintain his balance, and tried to escape the prison, but a pitch-black shadow blocked her path.

“Sorry, but I won’t let you help a criminal escape, Astiya.”

A cold voice and the chilling bloodlust of a beast that made her spine shiver.

The moment she took in her opponent’s face, she felt sharp pain in her ankle.

Noir’s bright red eyes gleaming in the darkness and the agony of fangs digging into living flesh.

“Broth-“

Before she could even finish her words, Winter fell into the abyss of a terrible nightmare.

And when she woke up, everything was already over.

Count Valoz had been executed, and she had failed to witness her father’s final moments.

That guilt and emptiness became sharp awls that tore at her own flesh before finally butchering an innocent person.

“It’s because of Brother! Father died because of Brother. Why… why did you stop me?”

What had Rodion answered then?

Just as Winter, wandering through the past, was trying to recall Rodion from that time.

“Winter?”

Winter snapped back to attention. Tiya was blinking and looking up at Winter.

【It’s nothing. To continue, the Count’s treatment in the Imperial Palace’s underground prison was by no means good.】

Though she hadn’t noticed it at the time, there was no need to torture a prisoner whose execution was confirmed and leave him in tatters.

Yet the Count’s condition had been terrible. In other words, it meant someone targeting the Count had made their move even in prison.

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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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