In This Life, I'll Assist You (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 11

The Grand Duke of the North merely asked calmly—whether the deceased had any connection with the South. Yet upon hearing those words, Medea’s face flushed red.

It was a direct echo of her own question from yesterday, when she had asked whether the Yellow Caterpillar was acquainted with the North. Yet the Grand Duke Belfast’s expression remained far too serene to be considered retaliation.

It was Lahert who grew furious.

“Your Grace! Without any evidence, what outrageous nonsense is this!”

“Your Grace, ‘outrageous nonsense’? I simply expressed the same sentiment as Lady Medea did to us yesterday. A matter this grave cannot be investigated carelessly, can it? We must leave no possibility unexamined and do our utmost. Or perhaps… Your Grace has no intention of giving your full effort to this investigation?”

Lahert fell silent.

“We of the North came all this way, to this distant South, risking our lives as the shield of the Delphast Empire for the sake of your people. I trust the Grand Duke of the South, whose duty is to safeguard southern security, understands this well.”

“……”

Lahert’s face turned not just red—but blue with fury.

“I—I have also done my best for the people…”

“And is the price of risking our lives merely the lives of myself and my aide?”

“!”

Flustered, Lahert glanced around at the onlookers before speaking again.

“Let us not stand here—come inside. You’ve traveled such a long, arduous journey, and led your people through such a great battle—you cannot remain standing out here.”

“We cannot enter. I do not yet deem this location safe. As leader of the North and Grand Duke of the Empire, I protect my subordinates—my people.”

Every word was indisputably correct. And each one struck directly at the Grand Duke of the South’s sense of inadequacy for failing to protect his own people.

‘Was the Grand Duke always this way?’

The Grand Duke of the North I knew in life never boasted of his own merits nor pointed out others’ “mistakes.”

Precisely because of this, he became the silent target of every person who wished to fabricate his faults or inflate their own nonexistent accomplishments—especially the House of the Grand Duke of the South, who coveted the North’s legitimacy and authority.

Lahert spoke again.

“Now see here—if you keep this up without a shred of evidence, I’ll have no choice but to get angry! Dragging some stranger’s corpse here—who you’ve never even met alive—is this not sheer bullying?”

At that, the Grand Duke of the North’s blue eyes cooled like ice.

Arcadia Nugent stepped forward.

“From the deceased’s belongings, I—Arcadia Nugent—recovered a suicide note accusing me of plotting to poison His Grace the Grand Duke of the North.”

“And written on paper made from a tree that does not grow in the North.”

Belfast added.

Lahert ran a hand down his face, then cast a fleeting glance toward his daughter—neither clearly meeting her eyes nor completely ignoring her.

Medea stood tall, facing the Grand Duke of the North, her smile unwavering.

The Grand Duke spoke with a faint smile of his own.

“Since Your Grace is implicated in such a serious matter, I presumed you would desire a thorough investigation. Thus, I have already sent a dispatch to the capital. In such circumstances, I believe it right to widely share the issue and gather the wisdom needed to find both culprit and resolution.”

“What—what did you say?!”

“By now, the knights from my capital residence should already be presenting themselves before His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. The Chancellor will likely accompany them.”

“……Hah.”

Lahert let out a dazed sound and staggered slightly.

The very secret he wished to conceal had now reached the last place he ever wanted it known.

I glared at Lahert.

He had always positioned himself as the victim in his dealings with the Grand Duke of the North. Yet now, exposed before the Imperial Court in a case where he could only be the perpetrator—accused of attempting to assassinate a Grand Duke of the Empire.

‘Now, what will you do, serpent’s tongue?’

“Please, Your Grace—please do not doubt the friendship of our South. I am truly, deeply regretful that such an incident has occurred. It shames me that our strength is so lacking that the security within our own stronghold is so inadequate… Forgive me.”

For the first time, Lahert bowed his head to Belfast.

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Two days had passed since the corpse of the Black Worm was hung in the central courtyard of the stronghold. Knights of the North stood guard over the body, vigilantly watching the surroundings.

It was as if the North’s knights had seized control of the Grand Duke of the South’s own fortress.

The sight filled me with a strange satisfaction.

And there was something else.

Rumors had already reached my ears—Lahert was lavishing Belfast with gifts, allegedly as a gesture of apology.

On the third day, Lahert’s performance of contrition reached its peak.

With no one coming forward to claim the Black Worm, and his corpse beginning to rot, they could no longer leave it as it was.

At the North’s insistence, the South agreed to burn the Black Worm’s body publicly before all nearby townsfolk and stronghold servants.

I had hidden the still-unconscious Yellow Caterpillar in a corner of my room and went out to witness the execution myself.

The Worm’s corpse lay atop oiled logs. The Grand Duke of the North sat upon a high platform, watching silently. The Grand Duke of the South stood below him.

“I, Grand Duke Cramnel Lahert, hereby sentence to burning the one who conspired to assassinate His Grace Zion Belfast, shield of the Empire! Even if His Grace himself might object!”

Lahert glanced up toward Belfast, seated above him, and gave a slight bow.

“If there is anything the North requires, I stand ready to offer it as a token of friendship! Even if it means giving my only daughter, Medea, as Your Grace’s consort—hahahaha! So, Your Grace, ask for the Blue Salt Flats, or my Pink Diamond mine—I shall grant you anything your heart desires!”

Lahert laughed heartily.

The servants beside me began murmuring.

“Wouldn’t it be advantageous for the North to take the Grand Duke’s daughter as a wife? An alliance through marriage might earn the Emperor’s favor.”

“I’d ask for the Pink Diamond mine.”

“Still, our Grand Duke truly has a generous heart. Though this crime wasn’t even his own, he bestows such magnanimity—truly admirable.”

It seemed Medea had planted agents among the servants. They spoke loudly enough for even the distant townsfolk to hear.

‘If he asks for the mine or salt flats, they’ll call him greedy. He won’t request Medea. Asking for one thing freely offered… what a performance.’

At that moment, the Grand Duke of the North raised a hand. Silence fell over the courtyard.

“Very well, Your Grace. Once the burning is complete, I shall state my one request.”

At Belfast’s words, Lahert beamed once more with hearty laughter.

The Black Worm’s corpse began to burn. Soon, it collapsed into a pile of white ash.

I couldn’t tear my eyes from the Worm’s end. It seemed the fate of anyone who took another’s life in the wrong way.

‘I am no different from the Black Worm.’

When the burning ended, Lahert called out.

“Your Grace, have you decided on your one request?”

“Yes, I have.”

“What is it?”

The Grand Duke of the North paused briefly. His gaze fell upon the crowd of townsfolk—upon me.

Grand Duke Belfast, whatever it may be, ask for something truly precious—something that will aid your future.

Nervous without reason, I kept my head bowed, awaiting his words. This was the opportunity he had seized—even at the cost of poisoning himself.

“Grant me the woman who hides her face behind a half-mask—the confidante of Lady Medea.”

For a moment, I doubted my own ears.

Could that resonant baritone truly belong to the Grand Duke of the North? Or was it someone else?

When I lifted my head, I was shocked once more.

Zion Belfast was staring directly at me.

“I want that masked woman standing there.”

This time, he raised his hand and pointed precisely at me.

“What? What’s going on?”

“Why that monster? What could he possibly see in that insect?”

Everyone who knew me began murmuring in confusion.

Unconsciously, I gaped at the Grand Duke. At that moment—

“That’s impossible!”

“No! Absolutely not!!!”

Lahert and Medea shouted almost simultaneously—their tone harsh, nearly aggressive.

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I fled back to my room in the basement like a fugitive.

[Do you intend to break your promise? You clearly pledged before all these people that you would grant me one single request.]

The Grand Duke of the North’s words echoed painfully near my heart.

‘Will they really let me go?’

Just then, the door burst open violently, and someone stormed in. I turned from the doorway—only to be slapped hard across the cheek and fall to the floor. It was Medea.

She didn’t even lower the hand that had struck me, panting furiously.

“You… ungrateful wretch! How dare you! What did you whisper to make the Grand Duke ask for you!”

Medea seemed utterly unhinged by rage.

In that instant, I was glad I’d hidden the Yellow Caterpillar beforehand.

I subtly licked the inside of my mouth. My cheek had split, blood seeping out—but I felt no pain.

I looked at her, smiling inwardly. All traces of the kindness she once showed, calling me her “friend,” had vanished.

“Tell him you won’t go! Say you’d rather die! I… I won’t let you go.”

Medea gritted her teeth, eyes blazing.

I met her gaze—not angry, not shaken. I simply observed her emotions with cold clarity.

Of course you can’t let me go. You know exactly who I am.

You must regret not killing me outright, as your father once advised.

Medea raised her hand to strike me again.

At that moment—

“Does the Grand Duke’s daughter have the authority to refuse?”

The Grand Duke of the North stood at the doorway of my shabby room, his expression chilling enough to freeze my heart.

This basement corridor was dark even by day without torchlight.

Firelight glinted off the Grand Duke’s black hair, deepening its hue. Stark shadows made his clear blue eyes seem even more profound.

He looked at Medea with faint mockery.

“I was taught by my predecessor: the House of Delphast never breaks its word.”

Having said that, his eyes shifted to me.

Seeing his gaze, Medea spat out her words bitterly.

“Your Grace—if the Pink Diamond mine isn’t enough, how about the Lahert family’s Gold Mine north of the capital? Anything else is acceptable—but not this girl.”

“And why is that?”

The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if amused. Medea swallowed hard.

“She’s not merely my servant—she’s been my friend since childhood. I cannot send her to your cold North, where she has no connections whatsoever.”

“I see. So the Grand Duke’s daughter keeps her childhood friend in a basement like this, gives her no proper name, and even strikes her?”

At the Grand Duke’s calm words, Medea clasped her hands together. Though she feigned composure, her lips trembled faintly as she spoke.

“Why this nameless girl? Please, explain so I may understand.”

“She warned me to beware of ‘poison.’ Because of her, I suspected someone in your household used poison. I stayed cautious—and thus saved my life, though I nearly spat blood. This girl is the savior of my life. Is any further explanation needed?”

His startlingly honest answer left me frozen.

Medea turned to me, her pupils glowing like embers stoked with fury.

“What absurd nonsense… Bella.”

Her voice trembled.

I stared at the Grand Duke—unable to read whether he meant to rescue me or condemn me here. It was baffling.

But—

I had made my decision.

“Your Grace, I wish to speak with the young lady alone.”