Selected as the New Stepmother (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 74

Rumors have a way of spreading farther and faster the more you try to stop them. The Artenbach butler did his best to silence the servants, but the rumor that Count Arche had attempted to assassinate Viscount Dely began to spread rapidly.

Among the nobility, theories circulated that it might have been Loomps who ordered it, or that Count Arche had acted out of frustration at failing to make his daughter the Duchess.

And the rumor grew flesh and mutated, spreading beyond the walls of Artenbach.

“What?”

Ascal leapt to his feet upon hearing the shocking news. The desk on the uneven floor rattled.

“It’s what I heard from the nearest village. Count Arche assassinated Viscount Dely, and both Viscount Dely and the Duchess are in a coma. The Duchess collapsed from shock…”

Ascal pressed his forehead and staggered.

“Are you alright?”

The commander of the patrol squad rushed over in alarm. Ascal waved his hand to dismiss the concern.

Since leaving the estate, he hadn’t slept properly and had swiftly eliminated several beast packs. The scribe who accompanied him for records was astonished at the unprecedented time savings. All of it was to return home as soon as possible.

“How many habitats remain?”

“One remains.”

The commander pointed to the map with his hand in response to Ascal’s question.

“The Black Fox pack. This one can be easily subdued with torches alone—depart immediately. I’ll take command; gather two squads, that should be sufficient.”

“But…”

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