Chapter 64

Iona knew how to manipulate and elevate someone like Fin.

Those who had lived their lives only for others did not know how to determine the direction of their own lives.

Only another person became his path and future, just like Iona.

In her previous life, Iona had failed to realize this fact, which allowed her to reap Fin.

Using the freely given favor as leverage, she made him her pawn and without any sense of problem, entrusted him with illegal aftermaths. Competence, in its nature, was more versatile in the realm of treachery.

The desired future might not have been what it turned out to be, but nonetheless, Fin silently stood by Iona's side.

Perhaps he knew that the moment he expressed dissatisfaction, she would abandon him without a trace of regret.

Fin did countless things for her and Richard without ever refusing. And one day, he was suddenly assassinated by someone filled with resentment.

"I want to give you a chance to make all things right."

"...."

"You've been with the baron for a long time. As you've handled many tasks, you must also know many unjust stories. Make them restore their original lives directly. Otherwise, your death will be remembered as a cowardly escape. Isn't that right?"

As Iona descended to the Modrov territory, she made a silent determination.

Just as she was determined not to live as before, she would show him a different future. At least, she would ensure that he would not fall back into the life he hated.

That was why she couldn't demand him to work for her as she did before.

Rather than that, she sincerely told him to live for others who he had sinned against. She said it with genuine intent.

"And if you still want to die, come and tell me then. I'll personally bury you next to the grave of Baron  Franz. It's not an ending I would recommend, though."

Concluding the words like a joke, Iona smiled bitterly.

Although she packaged it as something for his sake, she couldn't deny the fact that her way of dealing with him was still cowardly.

She knew from the beginning what kind of answer Fin would give her.

Finally, the man's burning red eyes showed determination. Fin looked straight at Iona and asked.

"What should I do from now on?"

***

It was that evening that the nameless guards broke into the manor house to arrest Baron Franz.

No special work was required for Iona to mobilize the head of the guard.

Iona was the kind of inspector who came to oversee the territory on behalf of the lord, and, above all, there was a reliable witness who shared her intentions.

Upon learning that Fin had revealed all the irregularities, the captain of the guard quickly sided with Iona.

No matter how much Robert had been flying and crawling within the territory, he was only a vassal. It was obvious which of the two would be the wiser choice: Count Modrov or Baron Franz.

However, when the guards entered Robert's room, he was already gone.

At the same time, Robert was trembling with anxiety and fear in a remote location, inside a storage shed for agricultural materials.

As soon as the gag was removed from his mouth, Robert shouted in astonishment.

“Dame Iona! What the hell is this!”

"The gag, should I put it back on?"

The man who had brought Robert here asked. He was one of the operatives whom Iona had personally brought from the capital.

Of course, he wasn't an ordinary servant, and Iona did not hire him to do ordinary servant work here either.

After a moment of contemplation, Iona nodded her head and ordered him to go outside.

Soon, only Iona and Robert were left in the warehouse.

Iona silently pulled a wooden crate over and sat down. Robert watched Iona's reactions with growing unease.

"W-where is this? Why are you... This is kidnapping!"

"I don't want to bother with explanations, so I'll say it briefly. Baron Franz, you are currently wanted for the suspicion of embezzling the Modrov family's property."

Iona said in an overbearing voice.

As soon as Iona's explanation was over, a heavy silence fell within the warehouse.

Robert unconsciously moistened his dry lips. He asked as if denying reality.

"W-what are you talking about? Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong? Huh? After dedicating myself entirely to the Count..."

As soon as he heard the word 'suspicion,' Robert's voice filled with indignation.

Of course, Iona didn't have much patience to listen to his pointless excuses.

Iona spoke with a sharp voice.

“Baron, Fin has confided everything.”

Robert, who had been approaching Iona on his knees, stiffened his body.

The nape of his neck was drenched with cold sweat.

"How could he... How did he...?"

“The risk factor should have been sorted out long ago when the deterrent was gone.”

At Iona's advice, Robert quietly gnashed his teeth.

His instincts were telling him. The woman standing in front of him was the one who informed Fin of the fact that his father had passed away.

From the beginning, she had intended to come to the Modrov territory for this purpose.

Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense.

Why bother inspecting an unimportant area, detaining the peasants and creating a scene, or summoning Fin under the pretense of investigating the account books...

It was all to hold him down and make him kneel here.

"What... What do you want from me?"

Robert asked in a trembling voice.

He had woken up in this secluded place, a truly desperate situation, but even in the midst of it, he tried to find a way to survive.

If the other party had intended to punish him formally, they wouldn't have created a conversation like this.

Either let him go after revealing something that shouldn't be revealed to others or secretly eliminate him.

Robert chose to hope for the former possibility.

“Is it money?”

Robert asked nervously.

Since there was nothing else she could demand from him, he spoke with a certain level of confidence.

"Let's make a deal. If you cover up this matter, I will give half of the amount I have collected so far to you. I will continue to send you things to embezzle in the future. It's not a bad deal, right?"

After all, even if he were to die like this, the money would only go back into the Count's pocket. As someone who had revealed all the circumstances, it felt regrettable.

Robert hoped for a positive answer from Iona's mouth. However, Iona merely looked down at him with indifferent eyes.

“No, you will take the money and run away.”

"What..."

Robert's face twisted in confusion at the incomprehensible words.

On the surface, it seemed like she was offering help, but he knew that the other party wouldn't show him such unreasonable favor.'

Iona calmly whispered to the anxious Robert about the upcoming external events.

"The money you embezzled will be concealed along with your whereabouts. I will report to the Count that the culprit stole the money and ran away, and then the Count will concentrate on tracking down your disappeared self."

After discussing the whereabouts of the money with Robert, it meant that she would take all the money.

Robert was astonished and stumbled over his words.

"That, that's absurd..."

"Think about it. Isn't it a proposal that doesn't harm you as well? After all, if you get caught by the guards, you'll be dead. While I help you escape, at least you'll be safe."

For a moment, it might be possible. It was a self-evident fact that the Count would never forgive someone who embezzled his fortune.

However, even if Robert followed Iona's proposal, there was no guarantee that he would survive. In the end, she would kill him to eliminate any evidence. If he were to be captured by the Count and spill the truth, it would be troublesome.

'Damn it, damn it!'

Robert cursed inwardly with frustration.

He needed to think. He had to find a way to survive no matter what.

Robert desperately racked his brain, searching for a topic that would pique her interest.

Then, a thought flashed through his mind, and Robert quickly raised his head.

"Aren't you curious about your... your mother?"

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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