ITIF Chapter 62

Beyond Imagination

Turning his gaze forward, Kavelaseth said curtly in a low voice.

“Sit properly.”

“…….”

The Third Prince, his broad shoulders drooping like an abandoned puppy, sat facing forward. Then he kept glancing at Kavelaseth’s profile.

“Why are you taking me with you?”

“To send you back to your home country.”

“If that’s the reason, couldn’t I have stayed by Giselle’s side until matters here were completely resolved?”

It wasn’t an incorrect statement, but a faint crease appeared between Kavelaseth’s brows.

“Giselle…….”

Kavelaseth quietly rolled her name around in his mouth.

The Third Prince would have to remain in the imperial capital, whether he liked it or not, while they rounded up and investigated those connected to Baron Cypress.

Whether he stayed at the Amaterasu ducal residence or the Cardia ducal residence didn’t really matter, but it would save the trouble of having to visit the Amaterasu residence again before sending him back to his home country.

However, he didn’t bother bringing up that point. What truly bothered him was something else.

Just one day. What on earth had happened between them in that short time that he was calling Giselle Grante by her name……?

When they weren’t even family.

In any case, he thought they were moving far too fast.

Given that the slave youth’s true identity was actually not a slave but a prince from a neighboring kingdom who had lost in the succession struggle, even accounting for the status gap between them, it was an undeniable fact that this was far too familiar a form of address between an unmarried man and woman.

“You seem to feel quite close to the Young Lady.”

At Kavelaseth’s question, the Third Prince nodded with a rather serious expression.

“Of course! Giselle is my lifesaver.”

Again.

Each time the Third Prince familiarly called her ‘Giselle,’ it made his insides boil.

“Your master is now me.”

As if revealing his displeasure, Kavelaseth narrowed his brow slightly and snapped irritably.

The Third Prince’s pupils shook violently, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

“What do you mean by that! Didn’t you say you’d send me back to Solzakai?”

The Third Prince muttered as if to himself that it was merely a change of masters. Seeing him in distress, Kavelaseth’s mood improved considerably.

Afterward, the two didn’t exchange a single word on the way to the Cardia ducal residence.

Even without looking, he could feel that the Third Prince was glaring at his profile with an expression full of discontent.

But Kavelaseth was equally displeased.

‘Giselle Grante. Just what did you do to the Third Prince?’

If she were in front of him, he wanted to ask her that.

He had heard that Solzakai’s Third Prince was an arrogant man who could be described as completely haughty.

And yet she had made the word ‘master’ naturally come from his lips.

Indeed, Giselle Grante seemed to be far more extraordinary than he had imagined.

****

It was shortly after bringing Solzakai’s Third Prince to the Cardia ducal residence.

“Today seems to be the right time, Your Grace.”

The knight who had been staking out Baron Cypress’s slave trading establishment reported. All this time, Kavelaseth had been waiting for the day when slave trading would take place in order to capture solid evidence.

And it seemed that day was today. Setting down the documents he had been reviewing on his office desk, Kavelaseth said.

“Summon the knights.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The knight bowed and left the office, and Kavelaseth also rose from his seat.

The butler standing by the door immediately held out Kavelaseth’s jacket. Having threaded his arms through the jacket sleeves, Kavelaseth collected his sword and left the office.

Then he led the knights in a raid on Baron Cypress’s establishment.

“Urgh…….”

The guards stationed at the passages leading to Baron Cypress’s establishment had their breath cut off without even managing to scream.

Having fully grasped the internal layout, including not just the main entrance but also the back door and side doors, Kavelaseth quickly deployed his knights.

“Subdue the slave traders as quickly as possible. Take care not to harm the captured people.”

As the order to enter the building was given, the knights simultaneously entered.

“……!”

Despite being sufficiently vigilant of their surroundings, the slave traders were caught helplessly, unable to even resist the knights who had approached without a sound.

“No, why! Why are you doing this? What did we do wrong…….”

To the thugs protesting while bound tightly with rope, Kavelaseth asked.

“Is there anyone here who will testify only to the truth?”

These were people who had been working for Baron Cypress for at least a few years, and as long as over ten years. Naturally, no one came forward to betray Baron Cypress.

“…….”

Kavelaseth quietly looked down at them as they glanced at the knights with insolent eyes, then his lips curved in a refreshing smile.

“I understand your intentions well.”

Not understanding the meaning of his smile, the slave traders tilted their heads in puzzlement, but soon vivid terror appeared on their faces.

While his face was still undeniably handsome enough to captivate even men, unlike moments before, an ominous and chilling aura emanated from him, enough to make one’s hair stand on end.

And bad premonitions never lie.

After slowly scanning the slave traders, Kavelaseth swung his sword toward the leader of this establishment, who was right in front of him.

Shwaaaaak.

Along with the sound of something being cleanly severed, hot blood splattered.

“Aaaaah!”

“……P-please spare us!”

The surviving subordinates of Baron Cypress screamed and crawled backward on their knees.

Looking at the terrified slave traders, Kavelaseth added with an expression as if granting a great favor.

“Is there anyone here who will testify only to the truth?”

“I’ll do it! I’ll do anything if you spare my life!”

“I’ll testify too!”

The slave traders repeatedly bowed, banging their foreheads on the floor.

“At least you know your lives are precious.”

“Your Grace! We’ve found the captured people!”

At the timely news, Kavelaseth nodded and divided his forces. A small number of knights to guard this place and knights to subdue Baron Cypress.

Leaving behind the pleading eyes of the captured people, Kavelaseth nimbly mounted his horse.

“We go to Baron Cypress’s residence.”

Then he pulled sharply on the reins.

****

Inside the dining room of Baron Cypress’s residence, brightly lit by the fireplace and candles, a warm heat and peaceful atmosphere circulated.

On the long, wide table that could easily seat ten people, meat and fish, fresh vegetables and bread were abundantly laid out.

Beside Baron and Baroness Cypress, who were enjoying an intimate dinner while occasionally conversing, servants busily attended to their master.

It was then that a faint noise intruded upon the peaceful and abundant dinner scene, as always.

“……?”

Baron Cypress, who had been bringing a wine glass to his lips, raised one eyebrow and said.

“My dear, did you just hear something?”

Baroness Cypress, who had paused briefly to listen for external sounds, soon shook her head.

“No, what sound?”

It was when Baron Cypress, thinking it must have been his imagination, raised his wine glass again.

The sound of footsteps pounding in the corridor could be heard.

“I’ve always told them not to run about so frivolously.”

As her husband clicked his tongue and poured out complaints, Baroness Cypress rolled her eyes and retorted.

“That’s why I said we should hire servants who had originally worked in noble houses.”

The majority of servants working at Baron Cypress’s business establishments or residence were of humble origins. Born in slums, they had grown up rough enough not to feel much aversion to stealing from others or harming people.

Baron Cypress himself had spent his childhood like them, so he had previously considered it natural.

However, after accumulating wealth, obtaining a proper noble title, and even taking as his wife a lady raised in a noble family, his thinking gradually began to change.

He had just been contemplating whether to stop the dirty work he’d been doing and try some clean, respectable business instead.

“I’ll consider my wife’s opinion on this occasion.”

“Really?”

It was just as he was about to lay out his plans to his inquiring wife.

The dining room suddenly burst open without warning. Soon the butler, breathing heavily, shouted.

“Baron! This is terrible.”

Baron Cypress, gauging his wife’s reaction, elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin before giving his attention to the butler.

“What on earth is the matter?”

Clear anger permeated his voice. It was extremely fortunate he hadn’t let loose profanity in front of his wife.

“You must escape! It seems the Cardia ducal house’s knights have surrounded the residence!”

“……What?”

Baron Cypress’s brow furrowed deeply.

He had no acquaintance whatsoever with Duke Cardia.

For what reason, and by what authority, was Duke Cardia using force against him?

He couldn’t quite understand, but from the butler’s desperate expression, he could sense that something had gone seriously wrong.

“Stand up for now. It would be best to leave.”

Rising hastily from his seat, Baron Cypress gestured to his wife.

At her husband’s urging, Baroness Cypress set down the bread she was holding on her plate and rose from her seat.

“Dear, what’s happening?”

Instead of answering, Baron Cypress led his wife toward the side door used by the servants.

“Why exactly, for what reason has Duke Cardia come to my residence leading knights?”

“We haven’t yet ascertained the exact reason, but I suspect there may be a problem with the slave trading business.”

Baron Cypress’s eyes widened.

Today was a day for slave trading. By now, a report should have come up about who had purchased how many slaves, how much payment was made, and how it was paid.