Chapter 117

 

Saskia blinked several times as if she had heard wrong, then abruptly lifted her head and asked.

 

“Didn’t you say it wasn’t the case last time?”

 

Seeing the light return to her eyes, it seemed she was back to a state where a reasonable conversation could be had.

 

Iona, sitting across from Saskia, gave a canned response.

 

“His Majesty always holds all of us knights in deep affection and love.”

 

“Are you mocking me now? How can someone who cherishes his subordinates gather them on their way home from work and dismiss them? What kind of love is so sadistic?”

 

Saskia, incredulous, scratched the back of her head vigorously as she sat up.

 

It seemed she took Iona’s previous answer as a mere courtesy to keep the conversation going.

 

Iona, sensing the topic was a dead end, remained silent.

 

Saskia, seemingly pleased just to have someone to share grievances with, began to rail against Richard as if she had been waiting for the chance.

 

“Ah... that damned crown prince. How are those working under him supposed to cope when he wields his authority so recklessly? Do I have to stay up all night drafting temporary duty rosters because of him? If I knew it would be like this, I wouldn’t have bolted; I should’ve just stayed put...”

 

“Captain, please watch your language.”

 

Despite Iona’s polite intervention, Saskia paid no heed.

 

Muttering something incomprehensible about not abandoning her subordinates, she then held her forehead as if in pain.

 

“All the kids have been forced out by the prince anyway. They’re out in the scorching sun pulling weeds right now...”

 

“Weren’t they temporarily assigned to guard the outskirts of the castle?”

 

“Yes, that’s right. But weren’t there already people working there? If there’s nothing else to do, he told them to tidy up the surroundings, our gracious prince did. We’re short on hands as it is here.”

 

As Saskia grumbled, she suddenly stopped and stared intently at Iona.

 

Here was a subordinate who hadn’t been reassigned, who always managed to stay on the prince’s good side, and who competently handled any task given.

 

With hopeful expectation, Saskia asked.

 

“So why are you here? Did you come to work?”

 

Ignoring Saskia’s nonsensical question, Iona went straight to the point.

 

“I have a favor to ask.”

 

“A favor?”

 

“Count Modrov and Nils will soon be brought here, captured.”

 

Given the violation of the contract with the royal family, it was highly likely that the Royal Knights would be the first to be deployed.

 

Once an investigative body is designated, jurisdiction usually doesn’t change, so Count Modrov was likely to continue being interrogated here.

 

‘Above all, the crown prince would prefer to handle matters where it’s easiest for him.’

 

Iona felt the same way.

 

For Iona, there was no institution as accessible as the Royal Knights, given that she was working there herself.

 

“I have a small wish that Count Modrov’s imprisonment here be somewhat... uncomfortable.”

 

Iona said this calmly, fixing her gaze on Saskia.

 

Iona was not joking, and Saskia quickly realized this, her expression turning serious.

 

Straightening her posture, which had been slightly hunched, Saskia asked.

 

“Why is Count Modrov being captured?”

 

“There’s been a legal dispute with the royal family. Additional corruption is expected to be uncovered as well. It’s unlikely he’ll retain his title.”

 

Of course, those additional corruptions were to be kindly provided by Iona, who had been gathering evidence.

 

Hayden was a man blinded by greed. Using his close ties with the royal family as a shield, he had bitten off more than he could chew.

 

Exposing just those actions would have been damaging enough for Hayden, but the most effective measure was to completely sever his connections with the royal family.

 

That way, he would never dare to make a comeback.

 

Iona briskly added.

 

“Meaning, you don’t need to worry about any repercussions.”

 

Instead of readily agreeing, Saskia fell deep into thought.

 

After a long silence, Saskia abruptly said.

 

“Iona, come back.”

 

Iona looked troubled.

 

“Haven’t I mentioned I’ll be retiring upon getting married?”

 

“But you’re the right person for this job. Come and conduct the interrogation yourself. And break Nils’s leg while you’re at it.”

 

“It’s absurd for me, a Modrov myself, to oversee the investigation of my own family. Everyone would object.”

 

“Isn’t it planned for you to be exempt from punishment anyway? Then it might actually quell the controversy more if you’re seen treating them harshly. After all, you’re not blood-related.”

 

“It’s not impossible.”

 

Saskia frowned, clearly displeased with Iona’s firm refusal.

 

“Expecting me to do what you can’t. Do you think your superior would misuse power for a subordinate’s personal request?”

 

“My apologies if that was inappropriate.”

 

“Good, because I’d very much like to see the Count in agony without any requests! I’ve always wanted to give Nils a beating, and now’s the perfect chance. Might as well break both his legs.”

 

Saskia exclaimed, seemingly relieved.

 

Every time Iona showed up with injuries, Saskia always had something to say about it.

 

Sometimes she would scold her for looking unsightly or harshly advise her not to get beaten up, but it all stemmed from a place of concern.

 

Feeling somewhat ashamed, Iona bowed her head.

 

“I’m sorry, Captain.”

 

She knew Saskia was a good person, but now felt uncomfortable having imposed such an unwelcome request.

 

Iona was about to leave her position and felt she had been too burdensome to her Captain.

 

Saskia, as if not wanting to hear anymore, stood up and retorted, “If you’re going to quit, then write your resignation now. I need something to show the higher-ups later.”

 

“I will.”

 

“And make sure I get the best seat at your wedding. Just so you know, I don’t want to be anywhere near the crown prince.”

 

Iona planned to wrap up her life in the capital as soon as the Modrov family fell into her hands.

 

There were no plans to hold the ceremony, and even if a date were to be set later, it was likely not to be in the capital.

 

Though it was a matter she couldn’t confirm, Iona rashly assured it would be so.

 

Saskia, having expedited the resignation letter, chose not to exploit Iona for unpaid labor but instead kicked her out the door, which, in its own way, was a relief.

 

***

 

Nils hastily tied his cravat as he left his room.

 

Frustrated with leaving it to a servant, he had taken the matter into his own hands, but due to his haste, the result was far from neat.

 

Nonetheless, with no time to spare, Nils quickly descended the stairs.

 

After all, it had been over 10 minutes since he heard that his father’s carriage had passed the main gate.

 

Even accounting for the time to unload luggage, Hayden should have been entering the foyer by now.

 

And sure enough, as Nils rounded the last landing, he saw a familiar figure.

 

With a light cough, Nils approached his father.

 

“Father.”

 

Hayden, who had been instructing a servant, finally turned to Nils.

 

Hayden’s complexion, after a forced march, was far from well, to say the least.

 

At this, Nils expressed his surprise.

 

“My word, Father. I heard you were far away, but you rushed back so suddenly. You should go up and rest first...”

 

“And leave my daughter implicated in a crime. For what? To chase after some noble bastard whose whereabouts are unknown? Enough, spare me the nonsense and explain the situation in detail. What exactly happened?”

 

“Didn’t you hear the full story from the messenger?”

 

“I did hear it. But one must understand it fully, mustn’t they?”

 

Hayden spoke in a weary voice.

 

He had roughly heard the details of the case, but he couldn’t grasp how things had turned out this way.

 

It wasn’t so much a problem of understanding as it was his subconscious refusing to accept the truth.

 

Therefore, even as Nils began explaining again, Hayden kept sighing, unable to comprehend how things had come to this.

 

“I should never have left the capital; what a grave mistake I’ve made.”

 

Certainly, had he been present, it might not have been entirely impossible to extricate Yvonne from the investigation.

 

Was it greed, the anticipation of a hefty sum, that had clouded his judgment too much?

 

Before he knew it, he had spent far longer chasing Robert than initially planned.

 

And now, having returned empty-handed and for such a disgraceful reason, his reputation was severely tarnished.

 

“It’s not too late, even now. Instead of wasting time here, I should immediately go and see my superiors...”

 

It was then, as Hayden turned back towards the entrance in a fluster, that someone burst through the main door and into the mansion.

 

However, ‘someone’ was hardly the right term—it was more appropriate to say ‘someones’, as the uninvited intruders were not alone.

 

Among the men dressed in Royal Knights’ uniforms, a woman with short black hair stepped forward.

 

It was Captain Saskia.

 

With a cool smile that had made many a young knight weep, she said, “It’s been a while, Count Modrov. I trust your household is well. Ah, but with your son and daughter taking turns causing trouble, perhaps that’s too much to hope for?”

--- End Of The Chapter ----

 

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