The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Chapter 998

‘Amy Silran...’

The Silran Barony had fallen from grace after being punished for their involvement in an assassination attempt, losing their right to inherit their noble title.

Amy had regained their noble status through Davey, but had it not been for her, her family would’ve inevitably been reduced to commoners over the course of several generations.

Though he had just learned that her mother had once served as his own mother’s lady-in-waiting, and that she had been the Baroness of the Silran family, he had long been aware that Amy carried the name Silran.

That was what made the situation even more confusing.

‘If Baroness Silran truly assassinated my mother...’

Crack!

The fountain pen in his hand—one he had brought from Earth—crumbled, its pieces falling like dust between his fingers.

‘If she was executed for her crime, then why...? Why did Amy stay by my side for nearly a decade, dedicating herself to me?’

He supposed it was possible that she simply followed him because of her naturally pure-hearted nature.

If that were the case, it’d be easier to accept this new information. But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to it.

He closed his eyes and began thinking about her other possible true intentions.

For six years, she had devoted herself to him without anyone’s support. Even now, she remained unwaveringly on his side.

If the diary was true, then that very Amy’s mother was the one who poisoned his mother.

Trying to calm his tangled thoughts, Davey wandered along the hallways—only to come across Amy, who was carrying a stack of documents.

The moment she saw him, she flinched in surprise, remembering that he had ordered her to take a break.

“Amy.”

“Y-Your Highness!”

“I gave you time off, didn’t I?”

“Well, that’s...”

‘This workaholic.’

He nearly laughed, but irritation quickly overtook it.

“You think my words are a joke?”

Hearing the coldness in his tone, her eyes widened.

“Y-Your Highness...?”

“Amy. Put that down and go.”

She fumbled for a moment before bowing deeply.

“I... I’m sorry!!”

She then turned and hurried away.

Watching her retreating figure, Davey let out a sigh.

Amy had been by his side for so long.

She had stood by him in every situation, never wavering, and he knew for certain that she had never lied during her service.

But if she— no, if her mother had been the one to poison his mother...

If Amy also knew that truth, and such was the reason she remained by his side?

“Haaaa. What do I do, Mother?”

No matter how hard he tried, his emotions refused to settle.

“Davey.”

He turned to see three people standing before him, having watched in silence before stepping closer.

“What are you doing?”

Perserque looked at him with an unreadable expression, while Illyna—clearly upset—glared at him.

“Was there really a need to be that harsh?”

“Illyna. No matter how comfortable you are with someone, hierarchy must still be maintained.”

“But, Sister Per! Amy stayed by his side even when he was in a coma! No matter what, that was too—”

“Neither of you is entirely wrong.”

Illyna was emotional, while Perserque was logical.

“But Davey—of all people, did you really need to speak so coldly to Amy?”

With a teasing smile, she lightly brushed her fingers against his cheek.

“Can I ask what’s troubling you so much?”

“...”

“If you won’t tell me... Illyna.”

Illyna moved without hesitation—grabbing his shoulders and pulling him down into a kiss.

He could smell the soft fragrance with the tender sensation.

Once he snapped back into focus, he looked at the three of them.

“As expected, Illyna is quite bold. I’m almost jealous.”

“Well, I’ve been through a lot. I make sure to express myself whenever I get the chance—that’s my thing.”

Davey knew she wasn’t always like that... but he couldn’t have cared less.

“Now, tell us. What did you learn that has you so conflicted?” Perserque asked in a tender voice.

Davey simply sighed and handed them the small diary.

Without a word, Illyna took it and stepped back.

Perserque flipped through the pages with her, scanning them quickly.

Then both of them froze. Their eyes widened in shock.

“Silran? Davey, this...” novelbuddy.cσ๓

“It’s Amy’s family name.”

* * *

Having finished reading the diary, Illyna crossed her arms and muttered, “Even the most over-the-top dramas on Earth wouldn’t be this messy.”

“I feel the same way. What a cruel twist of fate,” Perserque commented.

Seated in his chair, Davey stared silently at the small brooch in his hand.

He had originally intended to give it to Amy.

As he silently fiddled with it, Illyna let out a sigh.

“Davey, you’re showing a sensitive side of yourself that we don't often get to see.”

It was no surprise; the murdered woman was his mother, someone who had once been so precious to him.

Though it had been years since she passed, and he had long since moved forward, moving forward did not mean forgetting.

“If it were the normal you, you would’ve said something like ‘the sins of the parent are not the sins of the child’ and moved past it.”

“I know that.”

And yet...

He still couldn’t help but feel bitter.

“Then why are you only looking at it from one perspective?”

At that moment, Aeria—who had been deep in thought—suddenly raised her hand.

Everyone turned to her in surprise, watching as she perked up her ears and lightly swayed her nine tails.

Normally, she kept six of them hidden. But at that moment, all nine of them shimmered with light, swaying gently.

That could only mean one thing.

“It’s been a while.”

“It has. Not since the time you beat me ruthlessly.”

“...”

Sporting a seductive smile, she playfully waved at Illyna and Perserque.

“Both of you, thank you. If not for you, this could’ve turned into something far worse.”

“If you hadn’t taken all the blame and run off on your own, it would’ve been a lot easier.”

Illyna huffed, clearly annoyed, but Aeria only chuckled.

“Well, well. My dear husband.”

“...”

Hearing her address him with such a strange title, Davey turned to look at her directly.

“I’ve been listening for a while now, and I can’t help but wonder... Are you really allowed to just show up like this whenever you want?”

“At some point, it just became the usual. But since you’re more attached to my outer persona, there’s usually no reason for my instinctual self to interfere.”

She stood up and spoke.

“Why not try thinking about it differently?”

“Thinking about it differently...?”

“Yes, Sister. For example—what if the person who killed our dear husband’s mother wasn’t Baroness Silran?”

‘Not Baroness Silran?’

“But that’s—”

“Why are you only considering one possibility? This diary could be a forgery.”

She had a point.

He had lost his objectivity.

He had been so drawn in by the overwhelmingly happy entries at the start of the diary that he must’ve subconsciously empathized with the author, Count Gobaal’s daughter.

“And even if the diary is authentic...

“Is there any direct statement that Baroness Silran actually poisoned your mother?”

There wasn’t—only circumstantial evidence.

“So then we should also consider the possibility that it wasn’t her.”

“But what if Amy knows this, and that’s the reason why she’s been serving Davey all this time?”

Perserque then spoke up to answer Illyna on Aeria’s behalf.

“She might’ve misunderstood, and truly believed her mother to have killed Davey’s mother. Carrying that kind of guilt, she could’ve decided to stay by his side as a form of atonement—for a sin that her mother may not have ever committed.”

If such was the case, it would make Amy beyond foolish.

It made no sense for someone to dedicate their entire life to atone for something that never even happened.

“That’s exactly it. As expected, Sister Perserque understands me so well.”

“There’s certainly some logic to it.”

His mother had passed away such a long time ago, so he knew it’d be difficult to uncover the truth.

But it wasn’t something he could just let slip from his mind and forget.

“I’ll handle this. Illyna, keep an eye on Tiara and Aeonitia on Earth.”

“Well... If you say so. Oh, by the way, did you know?”

She suddenly asked, tilting her head.

“You hit over 800 million views on that video streaming platform again.”

The simple piano performance with no special techniques or elaborate skills and flourishes.

And the backstory of his playing was simple—even cliche.

But—

“For the people on Earth, it was probably the first time they heard you play seriously.”

And it wasn’t just music.

It was a direct, raw approach to human emotion.

“Yeah, it’s not something they’d see every day.”

“They must’ve felt it to be really foreign and mesmerizing. And even if someone else tried to put the same emotions into their music... they wouldn’t be able to express it quite as spectacularly as you did.”

Davey smirked bitterly.

‘Damned Mute, I can’t even remember how many instruments I had to play to master that technique.’

* * *

Aina brought Davey the information he’d requested.

“I can’t believe you really managed to find it.”

He quickly read through the contents of the document.

“Honestly, I thought it'd be nearly impossible... but an unexpected person held the truth in their clutches.”

He looked up at Aina.

“An unexpected person?”

“Royal Highness Krianes.”

‘Is this bitch really standing before a prince and openly admitting that she had broken into the royal chambers to steal confidential documents?’

“Hey. Do you realize that if you were caught, your actions would’ve been considered treason?”

“Even if I’d asked for permission beforehand, wouldn’t you have ordered me to obtain it by any means necessary?”

“Next time, discuss these things with me first... Got it? If a problem arises, I won’t hesitate to abandon you.”

“And yet, Your Highness always ends up saving me.”

“You think I’m a pushover? You really expect me to clean up after your recklessness every time?”

‘This bitch... Is she unaware of the implicit agreement to not cross lines? Does she even know what hesitation means?

“To be precise...”

Her eyes gleamed mischievously.

“Royal Attendant Bespard handed it to me.”

“What?”

“I happened to get caught. And after telling him that you were investigating this matter, he willingly gave me the documents.”

“...”

For a brief moment, he thought of giving her the boot.

Having reviewed the information she had brought, Davey then dismissed her.

Not long after, he traversed space to arrive in the royal capital.

“Mother, I’m here.”

He placed the southern wine she used to love atop the gravestone, then set a cup down beside it. Sitting beside the tomb, he looked up at the sky.

Three moons shone brightly above, framed by countless stars.

“They say Baroness Silran was the one who assassinated you.”

In the end, Aeria had been wrong with her suspicions.

Reality had crushed that hope.

Baroness Silran had indeed been threatened by Queen Lynesse Bariatta to poison his mother’s tea.

She had been executed for her crime, and by law, her direct family—Baron Silran and Amy—should’ve been executed as well.

But according to the agreement with Lynesse Bariatta, only the Baroness was killed.

Though they survived, the family lost their status and right to pass down their title.

Sigh...

“I thought you might come here,” said Royal Attendant Bespard.

Davey closed his eyes.

“Royal Attendant.”

“Marquis Peiltris wanted to come as well, but I decided to come alone.”

Davey quietly asked.

“And Baris...?”

“The Crown Prince is well.”

“...”

“Your Highness... Are you troubled?”

“I won’t say I’m not. I thought I had already dealt with the ones responsible for my mother’s death, but things got messy recently.”

“Do you resent Amy?”

Davey closed his eyes again.

“It was His Majesty who told her the truth.”

“...”

“Did you know? His Majesty claimed he never once visited you while you were in a coma.”

“I’m aware.”

“That is not the truth.”

- I’m sorry... I’m so sorry... I was a fool.

“In truth, His Majesty resented you.”

‘Resented... me?’

“Because my mother died because of me?”

“Yes. But over time, he changed his mind. He realized that you weren’t the one at fault.”

The true blame was his, as he had failed to control the situation in his own family.

“After that, he could no longer bring himself to visit you.”

Even the king could feel guilt.

“He kept saying he was sorry—that no matter how long he lived, he could never atone for it.”

Bespard took the cup of wine Davey handed him.

“Your Highness, you have a power that others do not have.”

“I do.”

“Even when others know the truth, they are forced to endure. Even when they shed tears of blood, there are things they cannot change.”

Lynesse Bariatta, his mother, his father.

In the end, they were all merely pieces in a wretched game of politics.

“Thinking back now... Former Queens Lennie Alishad and Lynesse Bariatta were once the closest of friends.”

Their bond had been broken by Duke Bariatta in that damned political landscape.

“Amy... It was part of why she dedicated her life to serving you, trying to atone for the sins of her mother.”

“I know.”

“What do you intend to do with her?”

Davey took a moment to think, then asked in return, “What do you think I’ll do?”

“You will decide as you see fit.”

“Hah...”

Amy was the daughter of the woman who’d killed his mother.

But that premise itself was a flawed foundation for treatment.

“Yeah... You’re right.”

“Have you made your decision?”

“I have. Thanks, Royal Attendant.”

* * *

“Amy, it’s time to tell the truth.”

“Sir...”

Bernile, the Royal Attendant of Heins Territory, looked at the girl before him with deep concern.

Her eyes were so swollen, it was hard to tell how long she must have cried for.

She muttered in a melancholic voice.

“I don’t want him to know. His Highness should continue to live peacefully, just as he is now. I will remain by his side and do everything I can to preserve the happiness he lost, having been taken away from him.”

“You’ve already devoted your entire life to him. Will you continue to do so?”

“Yes.”

Her unwavering response made Bernile make a dark face of pity.

At that moment—

Thud!

The door to her quarters swung wide open.

Davey stepped in with an expressionless face, then silently looked at Amy.

“Y-Your Highness?!”

Amy jumped to her feet in shock, anxious that he might’ve overheard their conversation.

She glanced at him, her heart pounding.

“Amy, this is for you.”

Davey handed her the diary.

Her hands trembled as she accepted it and flipped it open.

“It’s written by Baroness Silran—the one who poisoned my mother.”

She collapsed to her knees as Bernile gasped.

“Your Highness! Surely not—”

“Yes. I know everything.”

Silence filled the air between them.

Then, Amy pressed her forehead to the floor and kowtowed.

“Your Highness. If you wish to take my life, I will offer it without hesitation.”

“Amy!!! Please, Your Highness! Please reconsider! Amy has dedicated nearly ten years of her life to you!”

“Royal Attendant Bernile, just shut up.”

His cold tone made Bernile flinch.

A heavy silence followed.

Davey gazed down at Amy, his expression unreadable.

“Amy. Do you truly think I’d kill you?”

“If that is Your Highness’s will.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I have no intention of killing you.”

His voice was as cold as ice.

“From this moment on, I am placing you on indefinite suspension.”

Her eyes widened in shock.

“Your Highness!!!”

To her, such a thing was punishment far worse than death.

Staying by his side was her final act of atonement, her only means of redemption.

“Your Highness! I cannot accept your command. If that is truly what you want, then I beg you, take my life instead! Amy—”

“I told you to be quiet, Royal Attendant.”

Bernil flinched again and took a step back.

“Amy. You knew your mother poisoned mine, didn’t you?”

“Yes...”

“And yet, you kept it from me. You instead chose to stay here, believing you could atone for her sins.”

“Yes, Your Highness...”

“Do you want to avoid suspension?”

“I would rather die than suffer such a thing, Your Highness. I will take responsibility for the destruction she brought upon your life.”

Davey reached into his coat and tossed something at her.

“Your Highness?”

“If you want to avoid suspension, meet these five conditions.”

Her eyes widened.

“Firstly, from now on, you must attend at least three social gatherings per month. While attending these events, you will eventually find a worthy man of your choosing.”

“...”

“If not at the gatherings, then in Heins Territory. Anywhere is fine. But you will find someone to share love with.”

Amy and Bernile both looked at him in utter disbelief.

“Forget politics, and forget everything else. I want you to find someone who loves you for who you are. If you need to use the name of Heins Territory, I will lend it to you indefinitely. But if you refuse, I will not revoke your indefinite suspension.”

“Y-Your Highness?”

“Now for the second condition. You will accept and wear the jewelry provided by Heins Territory. Additionally, you will take ownership of a portion of the northern lands in the territory. If you don’t accept this condition, it too will lead to indefinite suspension.”

“What...”

Her eyes trembled in a frenzy.

“And the final condition.”

His voice turned even colder.

“Never again serve me out of guilt. Instead, serve me as one of my people. If you cannot do that, your suspension will not be lifted.”

“Your Highness, then...”

Davey slowly approached her and helped her to her feet.

“If you find someone you love, that you wish to marry, all the necessary resources—your wedding expenses, personal care, anything you need—will be provided. Either by Heins Territory, or from my own pocket.”

He paused.

“But if you refuse...”

Her suspension would never be lifted.

A single tear slipped from her eyes.

“Your Highness! Please, just kill me! I cannot accept such generosity! My mother—she was the one who killed Queen Lennie Alishad!”

After she cried out in despair, Davey spoke calmly.

“It was Baroness Silran who killed my mother, not you. She was already punished. And as my mother wished, you are still alive. That means it was my mother who spared your life.”

To be frank, there was no reason for hesitation from the beginning.

Even Aeonitia had accepted the truth.

A parent’s sins were not their child’s burden to bear.

She never had a reason to atone in the first place.

“But...”

“Lastly.”

His voice softened slightly.

“Amy Silran... The one who had been by my side for as long as I can remember... Do not make me abandon you.”

The line between forgiveness and vengeance was so very thin.