The Mad Dog of the Duke's Estate-Chapter 218. The Truth (3)

In the guest room of the lord's manor in Riad, a voice on the other end of the communication orb said, "...I understand. You've been through a lot."

"Sir Luke said he would go to Azureocean Castle himself and explain everything in detail. So I think it's best if you hear the full story from him, Grandfather," Caron said.

"This is a grave matter," Halo replied coldly. "I'll summon a Council of Elders the moment Sir Luke arrives."

Even through the communication orb, the chill in Halo's voice carried a tangible edge. Caron could almost feel the killing intent pouring through the channel. It had been a long time since he'd heard that side of his grandfather.

"Shall we return, then?" Caron asked cautiously.

"No. You and Leo are to focus on the Coming of Age Ceremony," Halo ordered with finality.

Caron understood immediately that his grandfather's words weren't just orders, but a form of care, shielding him from the political firestorm to come.

"Once you arrive in the North Sea, conduct the ceremony, and then inspect Cain's tomb. After that, return as swiftly as possible," Halo ordered.

"Alright," Caron answered.

He had already reported the encounter with Cain's doppelganger. Though Halo had shown no visible reaction, Caron knew his patience had worn thin.

Fortunately, judging from the level of the doppelganger, it likely hadn't absorbed the entirety of Cain's corpse. They'd have to check the tomb to be sure, but chances were high that only a part of the body had been taken or damaged.

"Grandfather, may I ask one question?" Caron began.

"Go ahead," Halo said.

"Was there any part of Sir Cain Latorre's body that couldn't be recovered?" Caron asked.

"After we defeated Cain and dragged the Malevolent Emperor off the throne, we returned... only to find Cain's right hand missing," Halo answered.

"Ah, I see..." Caron replied.

An image began to form in his mind. It seemed more and more likely that someone had deliberately taken a part of the corpse. They would know for certain once they inspected it firsthand.

The idea of facing the remains of his previous life felt strange. But given how far things had already escalated, there was no room for hesitation.

Caron gave a solemn nod and said, "Understood."

"Remain in Riad for now," Halo instructed.

"Sorry?" Caron asked.

"I dispatched someone the moment your signal went dead. He should be arriving soon. Stay there and rest as much as you can. Ah—and we'll also be discussing Rigor," Halo answered.

"Will that cause any problems?" Caron asked.

"If that sword has chosen a descendant of the Leston family, then it too is our legacy. There shouldn't be any issue. If anything changes, I'll inform you through Zerath. May fortune be with you," Halo explained.

With that, the communication ended.

Caron set the orb down and let out a quiet breath, then turned toward Luke standing nearby. He said, "You should head to Azureocean Castle now, Sir Luke."

"...Understood," Luke replied.

Luke's expression churned with conflicted emotions, and Caron could empathize.

The man's liege was clearly orchestrating something, and uncovering and investigating it meant betraying that very master. In a way, it also tarnished the honor of the Imperial Guards. Under those circumstances, hesitation was only natural.

But Caron looked him square in the eyes and spoke in a clear, unwavering voice, "Sir Luke, do you think the Imperial Guards who once protected the Malevolent Emperor fifty years ago truly believed themselves to be honorable?"

Back when the Imperial Guards served the Malevolent Emperor's wicked reign... Caron remembered that era well.

There had been no honor, no pride. Some had been enthralled by the Malevolent Emperor's power, and others simply couldn't abandon those who had already fallen under his sway. Not a single person had remained by the Malevolent Emperor's side out of some noble sense of duty.

The former Commander of the Imperial Guards, who had died in utter disgrace, now stood silently, gazing at the next generation.

"Turning a blind eye to your lord's injustice and simply obeying—there's no honor in that," Caron said quietly. "I don't know what path you wish to follow, Sir Luke, but... At least for me, that's how I see it."

He meant every word. There was no judgment in Caron's voice, but only the earnest concern of one with experience toward one who lacked it. His words came from the heart, a plea born of experience and regret. They carried a desire that those who came after him wouldn't repeat his mistakes.

"I want the Imperial Guards to be honorable," Caron continued.

Coming from a seventeen-year-old, perhaps it would normally have sounded arrogant—even laughable. But Luke felt the sincerity behind those words. That conviction was raw and powerful.

At that moment, Caron Leston no longer seemed like the youngest of the Ducal Family of Leston. He was like a true senior of the Imperial Guards.

And so, Luke could only stand there, silently meeting his gaze.

"The Imperial Guards failed to correct their lord's mistake fifty years ago. And we paid a heavy price for it, didn't we?" Luke eventually said.

They'd failed to uphold the ancient tradition of glory and honor. And the moment the Malevolent Emperor was torn from the throne, the Imperial Guards lost everything. The organization they served now was merely a reconstruction atop the ruins of the past.

"Sir Luke," Caron said gently, turning to look at Amy. Then, he smiled faintly and continued, "We can't make the same mistakes. You need to leave behind a knightly order that the younger generation can be proud of."

One mistake was more than enough.

And yet, Amy herself was proof that the Imperial Guards still had hope and still had a path forward. The girl he'd seen in the capital was very different from the one standing here now. Her eyes had once been dim—devoid of pride, of purpose.

That kind of gaze didn't suit her. It didn't suit Luke, either.

"That's all I wanted to say. The choice is yours now, Sir Luke. And once you make it... my grandfather will make his own," Caron said.

Just as Halo said, Caron had done what he could. The rest was up to others.

"The empire is going to be shaken. Blood may even be spilled... but rot has to be cut away. Otherwise, the empire—this vast, living being—might not survive at all," Caron added with a bitter smile, then offered a respectful bow. After that, he turned to Amy.

"So, how about we deal with the profits from the doppelganger hide after all this business is done? It was really good seeing you again, Amy," Caron said.

Amy's voice trembled slightly as she replied, "Caron, I—"

"It's all right," Caron interrupted as he gave her a reassuring smile and gently patted her back. "It's not your fault. What could a low-ranking knight have done, really?"

Caron added a playful tone to ease the weight of guilt—half jest, half comfort. Perhaps it was because Amy was Kerra's relative... but Caron genuinely wished her well.

He held her gaze, still smiling. He continued, "You can change things from the roots up. Right? I believe you can. Remember the person who gifted you the Dew of the World Tree? If they saw you now, they'd be proud."

Someday, he wanted to introduce Amy to Kerra. He knew Kerra would welcome her with open arms—because in old age, there was nothing warmer than family, even if the blood shared was thin.

"Well then, we'll be off first. Leo? Let's go. We've got to collect our commission from Count Kandle," Caron said.

With that, he stepped out of the guest room alongside Leo.

Just as the two were about to cross the threshold, a voice called out softly from behind, "Thank you... Caron."

Caron raised a hand in reply, gave a small wave, and said, "Eh, it's nothing."

He had done all he could—as a senior and as a guide. Smiling to himself, Caron stepped into the corridor. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

***

After parting ways with the Imperial Guards, Caron made his way straight to the lord's office.

Count Kandle was waiting there, and seated beside him was none other than Natasha.

"You've arrived," Count Kandle said, his voice impeccably polite. It was a stark contrast to earlier, when a hint of suspicion had still lingered in his tone.

"Count Kandle, I'm here to collect payment," Caron said casually.

"...Please, have a seat. Natasha? Would you bring some tea for our guests?" Count Kandle requested.

"Yes, brother," Natasha replied.

Caron had heard that Natasha once lived here as a child, but hearing her calling the Count 'brother' made him wonder if they were blood-related.

Once Caron and Leo took their seats, Natasha poured a cup of tea for Leo. But what she set down in front of Caron was something entirely different.

"This is the finest vodka produced by the Riad distillery. I heard you enjoy a good drink, Sir Caron," Count Kandle said.

"Oh? Going all out for me, huh? Well, I won't say no," Caron replied.

He then lifted the glass and downed the vodka in a single smooth motion. Despite its high proof, the flavor was rich and smooth. It was nothing like the cheap swill he'd tasted at the inn. It was on an entirely different level.

"Excellent. You have quite the capable sibling, Count Kandle," Caron remarked.

"...I never imagined Natasha would end up an informant for a ducal house," the Count murmured.

"You're not planning to disown her for colluding with us, are you?" Caron asked.

"Disown her? Not at all. If anything, I owe her a reward. Thanks to Natasha, this city was saved from a real threat. And... The decision to leave the estate was made entirely on her own. I always wished she would stay here," Count Kandle answered.

Caron realized that there was more going on beneath the surface here. He glanced toward Natasha.

At that, Natasha turned to Count Kandle and said, her tone cool but edged with emotion, "My existence is a blemish on your name, brother. Even when you were in the capital, you were mocked for having a sister with tainted blood."

"You shouldn't let the whispers of others weigh on your heart. I don't mind it, Natasha," Count Kandle replied softly.

Even without them spelling it out, Caron had guessed the truth. Natasha was clearly the illegitimate daughter of the previous Count of Riad. How she had gone from bastard child to informant for a powerful ducal house was still a mystery, but it was one he could unravel later.

Right now, what mattered was what they could secure from this city.

Riad was one of the more promising trade hubs in the northwestern part of the empire. Though it lacked a railway line, its roads extended to many corners of the region. In short, it was a strategically valuable location, the one that could greatly benefit the future plans of the Ducal Family of Leston.

Given its importance, it wouldn't be wise to strong-arm the Count from the outset.

"Is there a reason you asked the royal family for aid instead of the Ducal Family of Leston?" Caron asked.

Riad was closer to Azureocean Castle than to the capital. There was no way Count Kandle hadn't heard the recent news from there.

At Caron's question, the Count let out a long sigh and nodded, then said, "My father—the previous Count—left behind a will."

"May I ask what it said...?" Caron asked.

"He told me never to align with the Ducal Family of Leston. While there was no direct conflict between our lands, as far as I know, he held a deep grudge against Duke Halo," Count Kandle explained.

"A grudge?" Caron raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. He claimed that, in his youth, he had once been brutally assaulted by Duke Halo without provocation," Count Kandle continued.

"Ah," Caron murmured, slapping his knee and nodding in recognition.

There had been a time when Halo was famous as a reckless brute. It was probably during that period that he'd beaten Count Kandle's father within an inch of his life.

"I doubt that was the only reason, though," Caron said as he quickly downed the fresh vodka Natasha poured him.

He hadn't paid much attention earlier, but it didn't seem as if Count Kandle was the kind of man to make such a significant decision based solely on a dead man's will.

Count Kandle gave a bitter smile in response to Caron's sharp observation. "The Ducal Family of Leston's expansion lately has been... overwhelming," he admitted. "I started to fear that, if I wasn't careful, we'd be swallowed whole."

"So you reached out to the royal family to keep the ducal house in check," Caron said with a smirk. "You're bolder than you look. Most people would take that kind of secret to the grave."

"I didn't want to insult those who just saved this city—and my domain—from disaster," Count Kandle replied.

Perhaps it was because of his station, but even in that brief exchange, layers of political nuance were carefully woven in. What the Count really meant was that he was willing to side with the Ducal Family of Leston—but not to be consumed by it.

Well, I guess we have been pushing hard lately, Caron thought.

Between the aggressive development projects and strategic spread of influence into surrounding territories... From the outside, perhaps it genuinely looked as if the Ducal Family of Leston was trying to secede from the empire.

But Caron made sure to draw a clear line.

"As you probably saw with the case of Belrus Barony's land, we aren't looking to subjugate or conquer anyone. It's more about uniting neglected regions and standing together—that sort of idea," he explained.

Without missing a beat, Caron launched into his well-practiced pitch, not even pausing to wet his lips. Then, rubbing his palms together, he grinned.

"Now, Count Kandle, it's only natural that the County of Kandle would end up aligning with the Ducal Family of Leston. But what I'd really like to discuss now... is a little personal compensation," he said.

"...Personal compensation?" the Count asked cautiously.

"Yes, you see, I got a hole punched through my abdomen while fighting that Doppelganger Lord. Look here—bloody bandages and all," Caron replied.

The wound had long since been healed with elixirs, but Caron had deliberately wrapped his midsection to look the part.

Count Kandle looked at the bandages and nodded sympathetically, and said, "I see... That must've been quite the ordeal."

"I'm not asking for much," Caron said cheerfully. "Just wondering... Could I invest in your distillery? Nothing fancy. I'd like my share of the profits in liquor, not money..."

Caron's tongue was just hitting its stride when...

Knock, knock, knock.

"Count Kandle! There's a serious situation!" a knight shouted from outside the door.

"Come in," the Count called.

Bang!

The door flew open, and a knight—presumably one of Kandle's own—burst into the office, his voice sharp with urgency. "An unidentified lifeform is approaching the city from the north at incredible speed!"

"Is it a monster?" the Count asked quickly.

"I-I don't know, sir! There are reports that it seems like a human, but... No human should be able to move like that! I strongly advise immediate evacuation—" the knight shouted.

Right then, something clicked in Caron's mind. A voice from earlier echoed in his memory.

"I've sent someone."

Someone from the Ducal Family of Leston, not quite human in speed, approaching from the north where someone had been staying...

There was only one person who fit those criteria perfectly.

"No need to worry, Count Kandle," Caron said with a calm smile.

"Are you aware of something?" the Count asked.

"Yes," Caron said, turning to gaze out the northern window. "Azureocean Castle's original mad dog is coming to visit."

It was Sabina Leston. She was sprinting at full speed for the sake of her grandnephews.

And Caron couldn't help but smile at the thought of seeing her again after so long.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢