The Villainous Lady Doesn't Speak Chapter 130

Exchange of Opportunities 8

The curtain that had barely fluttered would normally have gone unnoticed. Duke Ealdred, however, remained oblivious to it as he brought the wine glass to his lips. As the rim of the glass touched his lips, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly—and the ring on his little finger gleamed faintly.

“—You’re earlier than expected,”

Duke Ealdred murmured. A thin needle aimed at his neck lay on the sofa. The ring on his little finger was a magical artifact that provided a protective barrier against physical attacks.

Quickly grasping his concealed cane, he gracefully set the wine glass back on the table. With a light tap of the cane on the floor, a golden magical circle was drawn across the entire room.

“—!”

A soundless scream echoed as a shadow emerged from what should have been an empty space. As the magical circle vanished, the blinding light also disappeared.

“Pleased to meet you. What is your name?”

The man in black, revealed by the magical circle, glared at the duke. The emaciated figure with a pale complexion bit his lip tightly, with a trace of blood seeping from it.

“[By my name, I command you to reveal your true identity.]”

As the duke chanted, golden light wrapped around the man’s body. A hoarse voice leaked through the man’s clenched teeth.

“――――Cocoefuki.”

“A member of the Great Calamity Clan, I see.”

“—Y-yes,――”

The magical circle and chant Duke Ealdred used were complex. It was a technique used not only to reveal hidden entities but also to extract confessions about concealed truths. Though not forbidden, it was a technique permitted only to a select few.

Sweat began to bead on Cocoefuki’s forehead, while Duke Ealdred’s hand, maintaining a composed demeanor, also began to sweat due to tension and the expenditure of magical energy.

“State the name of the client and all other targets besides me.”

“—Ugh,”

The grim-faced assassin, despite feeling intense pain, resisted. Nonetheless, he couldn’t fully withstand it, and just as he began to utter a few words in a hoarse voice, the air in the room exploded. The duke’s cane was hurled from his hand. The protective barrier from the ring was shattered, and the duke’s eyes widened in shock.

“Ugh—”

A searing pain assaulted his throat. He placed a trembling hand on his throat but felt nothing unusual. Yet, he was struck by a cold so severe that his whole body shivered, and blood poured from his mouth. Despite his frantic attempts to stanch the flow, he could not manage it and collapsed to the floor.

His poisoned body convulsed. The intellectual light in his eyes faded, becoming a sluggish, wandering gaze. His lips trembled, and he seemed to murmur something that sounded like a name. But the words were lost amidst his labored breathing.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Cocoefuki cast a cold gaze at the fallen duke.

“—Foolish schemes.”

He spat out in irritation. Cocoefuki had known from his prior investigation that Duke Ealdred was neither skilled in martial arts nor magic. Thus, he hadn’t expected the duke to employ the draining technique for forced confessions. Although he had initially entered stealthily, he had assumed it would be a simple task. Caught off guard, Cocoefuki had inadvertently spoken more than intended but was already preparing the counter-spell.

The spell Duke Ealdred had cast could induce confessions but could not halt the incantation. The extensive magic required for the confession spell also demanded precise magical control. The longer it went on, the more it would disadvantage the duke. Seizing an opportunity, Cocoefuki performed the counter-spell and simultaneously threw a poisoned needle at the duke. The first throw was a feint, but the second was precise. The needle pierced through the duke’s protective barrier and into his throat.

Usually, Cocoefuki would leave the scene immediately after eliminating his target, avoiding any unnecessary delays. However, he couldn’t remain calm this time. Approaching the duke with unusual roughness, he kicked the slumped body with force. The duke, a man of considerable stature, was hurled through the air like a ragdoll and slammed into a bookshelf with a loud crash. A cascade of books fell on top of him from the damaged shelf. Yet, the duke lay motionless, his fingers twitching.

Even a man called one of the three great dukes was ultimately just a man. As Cocoefuki observed the duke’s condition, he carefully left the room, ensuring no trace was left behind. His gaze fell on the concealed cane lying on the floor.

“A magical tool, I see.”

Regaining his composure, Cocoefuki identified the cane as a magical artifact. Squinting at the inscribed circle, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Troublesome.”

Muttering under his breath, he wasn’t in a rush, having already completed his task. Just as he had arrived, he vanished from the room, leaving no trace behind.

“—Abby,”

With the final whisper of his beloved wife’s name, the room fell into silence.

*****

The knights' morning begins with training. That day, Austin awoke to a routine morning. After a light breakfast, he headed to the training grounds. As he started preparing with his training sword, he caught sight of Deputy Commander Eden approaching him briskly. Turning to face him, Austin saw that Eden seemed to have a matter to discuss.

“Austin, the commander wants to see you.”

“The commander?”

Austin tilted his head in confusion. He had no reason to be summoned by the commander. However, noting Eden’s unusually flustered demeanor, it was clear that the situation was urgent. Austin nodded.

“Understood. Should I head to the commander's office?”

“Yes, let’s go together.”

Austin and Eden jogged side by side towards the commander's office. They noticed the curious looks of passing knights but had no time to dwell on them. Reaching the commander's office, they took a moment to catch their breath. Eden knocked on the door and announced their presence, and a voice from inside called out, “Enter.” Following Eden, Austin entered and was stunned by the sight before him.

“Brother?”

Austin blinked in surprise. His brother, Ulysses, was supposed to be instructed by their father to avoid the palace while Prince Roland and others were staying there. Although the barracks was not technically the palace, it was almost adjacent, making it unlikely for him to visit. Moreover, as a bureaucrat by nature, Ulysses had no reason to come to the barracks.

What was most troubling, however, was Ulysses’ pallor. Austin had never seen his brother look so haggard.

“Austin, listen carefully,”

Commander Hegaty spoke. With a sinking feeling, Austin swallowed hard. The commander, devoid of any visible emotion, delivered the single, devastating piece of news.

“Duke Ealdred has passed away.”

The world fell into a hushed silence. Austin’s mind went blank. He couldn’t immediately comprehend the words he had just heard. No, he didn’t want to understand.

“W-why?”

Why, why had his father…?

He couldn’t make sense of it. Staring blankly, he turned his gaze to Ulysses standing near the commander. Despite his pale face, Ulysses answered his younger brother with resolve.

“This morning, he did not wake from his bed. The doctor said—his heart had failed.”

“Impossible,”

Austin swallowed the words that rose to his lips. He had never heard of his father suffering from illness. Always in good health, his father had built several villas in the territory, suggesting that he would visit once he had grandchildren. Austin had never doubted that his father would live a long, healthy life.

He clenched his hands tightly. No matter how hard he squeezed, his palms didn’t hurt.

Feeling the concerned gaze on his cheeks, Austin remained frozen. The commander called out his name. Slowly, Austin raised his head. The calm, composed eyes of the commander met his own.

“Return with your brother now. You may take time off to mourn.”

“—Understood.”

With a strained thank you, Austin accepted the offer. Ulysses approached and put an arm around his shoulder, leading him out of the commander's office.

“Austin, your belongings?”

“Just a few things.”

Austin had personal items at the residence in the capital as well. So, there was no need to return to the dormitory. Still, he decided to return to his room briefly. He packed a few personal items into a bag and headed to the guest room, where Ulysses waited, gazing out the window.

Inside the carriage heading to the residence in the capital, neither Austin nor Ulysses spoke. The reality still seemed unreal. Glancing at his brother’s profile, who stared out the window, Austin bowed his head. He tightly gripped his hands resting on his lap. The nails dug into the wounds from earlier, but he felt no pain.

Austin wondered why he felt no pain when injured during training, as he numbly thought in the corner of his mind.

“Austin.”

Ulysses’ voice called his name. Looking up, Austin saw his pale brother gazing at him with concern.

“Your hands are meant to hold a sword. You shouldn’t hurt them like this. —Take care of them.”

“—Brother,”

Austin’s lips trembled. He took a small, deep breath and consciously relaxed his hands.

“Father truly is—”

He couldn’t continue.

—Father is truly gone. Is it that we can no longer speak with him?

The thought of receiving confirmation was unbearable. Seeing his younger brother at a loss for words, Ulysses tightened his lips and spoke softly.

“Our father lives on in our memories. You must feel the same, right? I—can always recall Father’s words. I remember how kindly he watched over us.”

Ulysses spoke as if trying to reassure himself and comfort his younger brother, whom their father had loved just as much as he loved Ulysses. Austin bit his trembling lips. A single tear that he had been trying to hold back fell down his cheek. He struggled to suppress a sob that rose uncontrollably. Ulysses, moving to Austin’s side, extended his arm and pulled his brother close.

—Though his brother was crying, Ulysses felt that he, as the elder, was not allowed to cry.

Ulysses reminded himself to stay strong. With their father gone, it was his responsibility to support the family. As he approached his mid-twenties, Ulysses had already joined the ranks of adults. However, Austin was still only eleven. Since he had dreamed of becoming a royal guard, Ulysses’ younger brother had always been diligent in his self-improvement. Ulysses often thought that perhaps Austin should be allowed to act more like a child. Despite his attempts to advise their father, who had been a prodigy himself and couldn’t understand, Ulysses had continued to watch over his brother. He had always hoped that Austin could at least be his age when in front of him, and he made an effort to help Austin act that way.

Although not entirely, Ulysses had taken over some of the responsibilities of managing the territory from their father. He reassured himself that, although there were many things to learn from the butler and house steward, he would manage.

If he didn’t face reality, he felt he might collapse on the spot. He feared that he might break down and cry uncontrollably, leaving his sobbing brother behind. For Ulysses, Duke Ealdred was a great man, a pillar of support. His father had been someone he could always count on without reason.

“Fa—Fath, ah—”

Austin’s raspy voice emerged from Ulysses’ chest. Gently stroking his not-quite-grown brother’s shoulder, Ulysses clenched his teeth to keep from breaking down himself.

----

ToC

Chapter 131