Vol. 1 - Ch. 23 - Come, Follow Me Into the Room
Don't Burn Them! Even Witches Have Value!This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
An exasperated Lynn was stopped by the guards beside him from letting loose a string of curses.
Although he felt that Lynn's angle of rebuttal seemed a bit off, Viscount Milangell still nodded, his tone becoming serious:
"Your Highness, are you serious?
Do you have absolute evidence to accuse the vassal that the Emperor of Milan enfeoffed to me?"
(ED: Enfeoffed is a historical feudal term (as a verb) meaning to invest someone with a fief or fee; formally giving a person possession of land or a freehold estate in exchange for a pledge of service or vassalage.)
He emphasized his tone on "Emperor of Milan".
Even if the Frost Kingdom had recovered from the chaos of the previous dynasty, the Milan Empire was still an undisputed regional power.
Unless there was irrefutable evidence, even if the current Lynn was just a Baron, he was still a vassal of the Milan Empire, not a target that the Princess of the Frost Kingdom could casually accuse.
"I do, of course. As I said, I came this time specifically to investigate this matter."
She spoke with full confidence, completely unaffected by the pressure of the Viscount of White Pine invoking the Emperor's name.
"However, I respect Milan's judiciary, and therefore, before formally proposing extradition, I will not do anything more...
Except for questioning."
Her slender eyes narrowed, her scarlet dragon pupils gazing at Lynn:
"I wish to ask this Baron of Blackstone some questions, and then decide on the subsequent procedures."
Hearing the other party state Lynn's title, the Viscount of White Pine's expression changed slightly.
Clearly, this princess had indeed investigated Lynn. Although the investigation might not have been deep, she had indeed obtained relevant information.
Then, was Lynn really related to the crime the other party accused him of?
He thought of the other party's attendant.
That bizarre appetite was indeed very much like a demi-human's... however, a normal demi-human didn't seem to be able to eat that much, did they?
But, he was quite certain that even if that young girl were truly a demi-human, Lynn could not possibly be involved in that kind of matter.
"Your Highness, if you have truly investigated clearly, then you should understand.
This Baron of Blackstone is the one least likely to be related to the crime you speak of."
The Viscount of White Pine took a deep breath and continued:
"Because his surname is Elcasinoreas, and he only officially succeeded to the title of Baron of Blackstone last week.
Before that, he was the Count of Lion's Ridge in the Imperial Shore."
...
The princess, who was pointing at Lynn, her expression froze.
She indeed had not meticulously investigated that bastard's background.
(SHMOLL: Is she mentally retarded? Shit, here we go again.)
At the place where all the clues intersected, a suspect matching the description appeared, and he even had a demi-human who was a suspected victim by his side.
Under normal circumstances, anyone would think they had caught a big fish.
However, if what the Viscount of White Pine said was true, then Lynn had indeed completely deviated from the basic conditions of the description—
A noble who had been rooted in the northern border for years and had the ability to establish an underground market.
In other words, her accusation had missed perfectly.
Therefore, extraditing Lynn was no longer possible...
So what?
She had given up her hidden identity and come to his door directly, and it wasn't just because of the slave trade matter.
(SHMOLL: Redemptation? Hmm…)
In fact, the weight of this matter had been very small to begin with.
So, this change could not alter her determination.
"Oh my, so that's how it is?"
The princess revealed a gentle smile:
"So I have wrongly accused Your Excellency. Please accept my apology."
She lifted the hem of her skirt and performed an elegant salute.
Faced with the princess's salute, Lynn's reaction was—
Sweating profusely
This wasn't right, was it? Why was this woman's killing intent even heavier?
"However, I still have some doubts about certain matters, and Your Excellency happens to be related to them.
So, could we step aside to talk?
Rest assured, I have already understood the mistake of my previous rash accusation."
Her peerless smile was so gentle that the Viscount, who had originally been angry, now felt that what had just happened was merely a small matter.
"I will have my attendants wait here, Lord Viscount. Could you arrange a room for me and the Baron of Blackstone?
I believe that he, having been proven innocent, will be helpful to this investigation.
Subsequently, we will take the initiative to contact the Milanese officials, share the intelligence obtained, and conduct a cooperative investigation."
‘No, I absolutely cannot be alone with her!’
The cold sweat on Lynn's forehead was about to become a waterfall.
"Lord Viscount, I..."
Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by the exaggerated voice of the attendant across from him:
"Your Highness! This is very dangerous!"
"Silence. I trust the Viscount's guarantee for the Baron of Blackstone, and I also trust that he will ensure my safety.
So, I wonder what the Viscount thinks?"
Looking at the princess's radiant smile, the Viscount pondered for a moment.
Clearly, the other party had already agreed not to accuse Lynn.
Furthermore, he was also very certain that Lynn would not pose any threat to the princess.
Looking at it this way, the other party's request was completely reasonable.
So, he nodded:
"Of course, I will arrange a safe private room."
Lynn watched this scene with a dumbfounded expression.
‘Then who would make up for his safety?’
‘The person across from me is a triple-element witch! Lord Viscount!’
Just as he was about to object, his arm was grabbed by a pair of ice-cold hands.
A palm as cool as ice and snow slid down his arm and pressed against the left side of his chest.
In an instant, the bone-chilling cold made his heart skip a beat.
"So then, let us go, Your Excellency Baron."
Looking at that smiling face pressing close, Lynn read the information contained within those dragon pupils—
[If you dare to run, I will kill you immediately.]
Just like that, under the envious gazes of the onlookers, Lynn, on the verge of tears but having none to shed, was led into the room arranged by the Viscount.
"Thump!"
As the door closed, a terrifying cold air suddenly spread throughout this room.
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【D-Rank Magic Fluctuation detected, Touch of Frost has taken shape】
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When the stunningly beautiful back turned around, Lynn saw that the doorknob had already frozen into a lump of ice.
"So then, respected Elcas... well, what a stinking, long surname."
A mocking and cold voice came from that gloomy face.
Lynn felt his legs trembling as they never had before.
Damn it, he was clearly facing a fellow who was trying to snatch away his Security Captain.
Thinking of this, his gaze suddenly focused.
Then he clenched his jaw, and his trembling legs suddenly exerted force.
"Swish!"
Faced with Lynn's sudden change in posture, the corners of the Frost Princess's mouth curled up slightly, and she was just about to raise her hand.
But then she was stunned.
Because she shockingly saw a figure prostrating itself in a full kowtow:
"I am truly and deeply sorry! I will return Iyanna to you!
I only took her in at first because she ate a lot of my food for free! And I was short of a Security Captain!
I did not know she was your prey! I am truly and deeply sorry!"
What was this?
She was at a loss for what to do for a moment.
Because she neither understood how a noble from an ancient family could kowtow, nor did she understand what he was talking about.
Just as the princess was hard-controlled by Lynn, he slowly reached a hand toward his own neck.
And then he abruptly grabbed the necklace hanging on his chest.
That necklace, a gift from his grandfather, a magitech device from the ancient empire that had a price but no market.