The Northern Duke simply asked calmly, “Is the deceased known to the South?” But upon hearing these words, Medea’s face flushed red.
This was a turnabout of her own words from yesterday, questioning if the Yellow Caterpillar had ties with the North. Yet, Duke Belpast’s expression remained too serene to be considered a retort.
It was Rahert who erupted in anger.
“Duke! How dare you make such an accusation without evidence!”
“Duke, an unfounded accusation? I was simply empathizing with the concerns expressed by the Lady yesterday and sharing them in the same context. In light of such a grave matter, we must explore all possibilities thoroughly. Are you not willing to fully cooperate in the investigation?”
Rahert was left speechless.
“As a shield of the Delpast Empire, we in the North risked our lives fighting for the people of the South. Surely the Southern Duke, who should be safeguarding the South’s security, is not unaware of this.”
Rahert’s face turned from red to a deep purple.
“I, too, have done my best for the people, but…”
“Is this the price of risking our lives? The lives of myself and my lieutenant?”
Caught off guard, Rahert glanced around at the onlookers before speaking.
“We shouldn’t be discussing this here. Let’s go inside. After such a long and arduous journey, especially after that great battle, we can’t just stand here.”
“I cannot enter. This place doesn’t feel safe. As the leader of the North and a Duke of the Empire, I must protect my subjects.”
Each of his words was irrefutable, and every sentence provoked the inferiority complex of the Southern Duke for not protecting his own people.
‘Was the Duke always like this?’
The Northern Duke I knew in his lifetime was not one to boast about his achievements or point out others’ mistakes.
Because of this, he became the target of covert attacks from those who wanted to air their nonexistent grievances or non-existent achievements, especially from the Rahert family, who coveted the North’s legitimacy and authority.
Rahert spoke up.
“Look here, if you keep this up without evidence, I’ll have to get angry. What kind of insolence is this, bringing a dead stranger to my door?”
Then the Northern Duke’s expression turned icy.
Sir Arcadia Nugent stepped forward.
“A suicide note was found on the deceased, claiming that Sir Arcadia Nugent intended to poison you, Duke.”
“And it was written on paper made from a tree not found in the North,” added Belpast.
Rahert ran his hand over his face, then glanced at his daughter, not quite looking but not ignoring either.
Medea stood tall and confident, facing the Northern Duke without losing her smile.
The Duke, too, with a faint smile, said,
“Such a grave matter surely requires a thorough investigation by the Southern Duke. Hence, I have sent a dispatch to the Empire. It seemed right to share this widely, to gather wisdom for finding the true culprit and solutions.”
“What, what?!”
“By now, a knight from my estate in the Empire must be meeting with His Imperial Majesty. Probably along with the Minister of State Affairs.”
Rahert staggered briefly, overwhelmed.
The news he wanted to hide the most had reached the very place he least wanted it to go – the Empire.
I glared at Rahert.
He always maintained the role of a victim in his relations with the Northern Duke. But now, he was publicly exposed in an incident where he could only be the aggressor. An incident involving an attempt on the life of an Empire’s Duke.
‘Now, what will you do, serpent’s tongue?’
“Please, do not doubt our Southern hospitality, Duke. I truly regret such an incident occurred. It’s embarrassing that our security is so weak… I am sorry.”
For the first time, Rahert bowed his head to Belpast.
Two days had passed since the Black Caterpillar’s corpse was displayed in the center of the Southern Duke’s castle. The Northern Knights guarded it vigilantly, effectively occupying the front of the Southern Duke’s castle.
This sight brought a peculiar satisfaction to me.
Additionally, rumors reached my ears that Rahert was bombarding the Northern Duke with gifts, supposedly as a gesture of apology.
On the third day, Rahert’s display of penance reached its peak.
With no one claiming to know the Black Caterpillar, and the body beginning to decay, the South, complying with the North’s request, decided to cremate the corpse publicly in front of local citizens and all castle employees.
I, having hidden the still unconscious Yellow Caterpillar in a corner of my room, also went out to witness the ceremony.
The Black Caterpillar’s body lay on a pile of oil-soaked wood. The Northern Duke sat on a high platform chair, watching solemnly, while the Southern Duke stood below.
“I, Kramnel Rahert, Duke of the South, have decided to execute by burning the man who plotted to assassinate the Empire’s shield, Duke Sion Belpast! Even if the Duke does not wish for it.”
Rahert slightly bowed his head towards Belpast, seated higher up.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
