He asked abruptly, but the meaning behind the words was clear.
However, the man hesitated to answer readily.
Looking at him with cold eyes, Herdin threw the cigarette to the ground, extinguishing it, then opened his mouth.
“Does it tickle to have a few fingernails pulled out?”
He called the knight commander who was waiting behind him.
The man, realizing what was about to happen, shouted frantically.
“I, I don’t know! I really don’t know!”
“I don’t feel like answering properly yet.”
“I, I really don’t know! We just take money and do what we’re told!”
Looking into the man’s eyes to gauge his sincerity, Herdin motioned the knight commander to step back with a glance. Approaching the man, Herdin asked, “What were you ordered to do?”
He knew it wasn’t just about killing Blair. If killing was the command, those bastards wouldn’t have combed through the entire forest claiming Blair had escaped.
As the man hesitated to answer quickly, Herdin’s gaze shifted back to the knight commander behind him.
Upon seeing this, the man promptly responded, “Erase memories. Erase childhood memories…”
“How were you planning to erase them?”
“I was going to use dark magic—”
The man, realizing his mistake, abruptly shut his mouth, but it was too late, as he had already mentioned dark magic.
Herdin’s eyes narrowed as he read the information the man hadn’t spoken yet.
“It seems like you’re not a dark magician, and there are more in your group.”
“N-no, not a group. More like a cooperating party.”
Herdin chuckled at the term ‘cooperation.’ It was an amusing word for those doing dirty work.
Apparently interpreting the meaning of Herdin’s laughter as a dangerous signal, the man confessed voluntarily.
“But we don’t know their identities either. After investigating the Duchess’s actions, we were told to contact them after the kidnapping…”
“Where is that contact?”
The man mentioned the address where they were supposed to contact. The knight commander, hearing the address, left the prison.
“Probably won’t yield much even if we go, but…”
According to the man, even among the ‘cooperating parties,’ they were so secretive about each other’s identities.
There was a high probability that they had come near the mansion, smelled something, and fled. Of course, they would have left no trace.
Herdin moved on to the final topic.
“The Duchess was said to have one document. Have you seen it?”
The man, thinking about what document Herdin was referring to, shook his head after a moment.
“I don’t remember well, but… we brought the Duchess’s belongings when we kidnapped her, so it might be in that mansion…”
Herdin narrowed his eyes at the man’s response.
The mansion was almost completely burned down. If that was the case, it meant that the documents inside were destroyed by the fire.
Herdin concluded the interrogation and left the underground prison.
Although he wanted to get rid of the abductors who almost made a mistake or something else, Blair still had some usefulness.
Herdin ordered Ruth, who followed him out, “Investigate thoroughly tomorrow morning. Tail someone if needed. Whether it’s the mastermind or a dark magician, we might have another contact.”
“Yes.”
“And spread the news about today’s events. We need to tighten security inside and out.”
“Understood.”
In reality, there was a suspected mastermind.
No, it was not a suspicion; ever since this incident occurred, the first person who came to mind was there.
“… Empress Taehwang.”
Blair noticed Blair’s attempt to find the memories of the accident ten years ago and even advised her to stop using hypnosis.
However, there are only suspicions.
If it were a simple kidnapping case, revealing the culprit publicly and exacting appropriate retribution to show the consequences for tampering with Delmark would be the appropriate course of action. However, this case was not that straightforward.
If this kidnapping case was related to the incident ten years ago, it couldn’t be rashly publicized without evidence.
A heartless mother who abandoned her daughter for ambition, and the pitiable daughter used by her.
Or a daughter who betrayed her mother, swayed by her husband.
The lawyers could easily manipulate the situation in favor of either side.
If that happened, the biggest casualties would be Delmark and the royal family, and on a smaller scale, the parties involved in the rumor, Katrina and Blair.
Even with just the truth that her mother used her own life, the woman who already felt bitter had no intention of throwing her into the lawyers’ feeding ground.
Many people would have witnessed Delmark’s knights moving in force today, and it would be inevitable for rumors about the kidnapping case to spread.
“But if Delmark doesn’t publicize it first, it will likely remain as baseless speculation.”
This case had to pass quietly until concrete evidence was found.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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