Chapter 54 : Lana’s Testimony of the Frost (3)

The attendance at the Council of Nobles varies greatly depending on the agenda. If the matter isn’t particularly significant, attendance is poor. 

Conversely, when the agenda is important, attendance soars.

In other words, this indicates that attendance at the Council of Nobles is not mandatory. 

Except for a few exceptional cases, attendance has so far been left to individual discretion, and this will likely continue in the future.

For regular council sessions, the maximum attendance rate was around 90%. 

However, the session held today set a new record with a staggering 98% attendance rate.

Saintess Jeanne glanced around. Not only was Grand Duke Frost present, but even nobles and knights rarely seen were almost all here at this Council of Nobles.

This implied that the kingdom’s nobles were taking this matter very seriously. 

Although they were slightly caught off guard at first, a victory today could help regain lost ground.

Wolfgang certainly wouldn’t be unaware of this fact. 

While she didn’t particularly enjoy political fights, this didn’t mean he was ignorant of them. 

Wolfgang smoked her cigarette, deep in thought.

“Now, what move will they make?”

Frankly, this situation wasn’t entirely unreasonable. 

After all, Theodore von Frost had betrayed the kingdom and sided with the empire. 

It wasn’t entirely out of place to think it was all prearranged.

If the situation had been reversed, he too would have pointed to this as the primary issue. 

Of course, Crown Prince Jaiha seemed to trust his old friend Theodore unconditionally.

Finally, after a long wait, King Barclayon of the Kingdom of Mines appeared, bringing the waiting to an end. 

He was much older than expected, with a head full of white hair and a long white beard. 

His wrinkles spoke of the storms of time.

But his unyielding posture made it clear he still wished to prove his strength.

“Is everyone here?”

“Everyone is present except for the Duke of Xert.”

“I see. Let’s not drag this out and get started immediately.”

“Your Majesty, if I may humbly address you, the Frost family cannot help but express regret over this meeting being convened.”

The first to speak was none other than Grand Duke Frost. 

Although his expression betrayed some displeasure, he did not forget his manners—a demeanor befitting the pinnacle of nobility.

“The Frost family has already accepted Lana Frost’s return to the duchy and acknowledged the wrongful accusations against her. Why would further evidence even be necessary here?”

In short, the Frost family had already declared that Lana Frost was indeed one of their own, making any further discussion unnecessary. 

The mere fact that this council had been convened was offensive.

It was akin to saying that the duchy wasn’t trustworthy and demanding tangible evidence. 

Under normal circumstances—when the duchy’s influence remained intact—this situation wouldn’t have occurred.

But repeated failures and public disgrace had tarnished the Frost family’s authority, and the aftermath lingered even now.

“Isn’t it already apparent that trusting the Frost family is futile?”

“Theodore von Frost attacking Prince Jaiha and siding with the empire was beyond shocking.”

“Oh look, he’s right there. If you have anything to say, feel free to explain yourself!”

Theodore, who was attending the council alongside Wolfgang, chose to remain silent, his eyes closed. 

The crimes of attacking the prince and knights and deserting were severe enough to warrant immediate execution.

The only reason he wasn’t dealt with was because the Frost family had to contend with Wolfgang Leonhardt’s overwhelming strength. 

But that didn’t mean Theodore could be left alone.

Wolfgang and the Vendetta Corps might be overwhelmingly powerful, but Theodore was also called the kingdom’s strongest swordsman. 

Keeping him near Wolfgang was simply too dangerous.

“I understand Sir Frost’s sentiments, but your actions are unpredictable and far too dangerous. His Highness’s life was nearly lost.”

“What exactly are you trying to say, Saintess?”

“I believe Sir Frost should be placed under restraint. Rest assured, we mean no harm to his life.”

“Such trivial matters can be settled later.”

As the Frost family faced mounting criticism, Wolfgang, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. The attention of everyone present shifted to her.

Even Jeanne, though she maintained her composure outwardly, couldn’t hide her tension. Grand Duke Frost, noticing this, sighed deeply, feeling anew the weight of his family’s decline.

“The Frost family is nothing more than a toothless paper tiger now. Ultimately, their real target is Wolfgang Leonhardt.”

The nobles, who had been attacking like hyenas, backed off, wary of Wolfgang’s overwhelming power. If not for him, the Frost family would already have been devoured, reduced to mere bones.

Although it was humiliating to have the family’s fate depend on one individual, the Grand Duke steeled his resolve. 

Even in dire circumstances, opportunities could arise.

He would seize this as a chance to revive his family. 

For that, he was even willing to make a deal with the devil—though what he allied with now might be worse than any devil.

Political warfare was only beginning.

Meanwhile, outside, a boy clad in the imperial army’s uniform leaned against a wall. 

His lavender hair marked him as Jakal, ranked fifth in the Vendetta Corps and infamous as the “Cannibal.”

However, Jakal did not attend the council, even though he could have. 

He chose not to, knowing himself too well. If anyone attacked his commander, even slightly, he would lose control and retaliate.

If it ended with mere anger, it wouldn’t be an issue. 

But the consequences would likely go far beyond that. 

Thus, Jakal opted to stay away, despite wanting to be by his commander’s side.

“I’d only cause trouble.”

Living and dying for the commander was the mission of the Vendetta Corps, and Jakal fully understood this. 

So, despite his desires, he restrained himself and stayed away.

Those who knew Jakal’s true nature—whether nobles or servants—avoided approaching him.

“The Cannibal.”

“A monster that devours humans.”

“If I’m not careful, I might end up as his meal too.”

He felt a familiar emotion in the eyes of those who looked at him.

However, he didn’t care—it had always been this way. At least, until someone actually approached him.

The first thing Jakal noticed was a fragrant scent.

He wasn’t someone who paid attention to such things, but the aroma was so pleasant that it unconsciously eased his tension.

“Pleased to meet you, Sir Jakal.”

“Who are you?”

“Oh, my apologies for the late introduction. You can just call me Sara.”

Turning his head, Jakal saw a girl who appeared to be about his age. 

She wore a maid’s uniform that matched her jet-black hair. 

Yet, Jakal felt a strange sense of discomfort. 

How should he describe it?

Jakal’s instincts were akin to those of a wild animal. 

That meant he would normally feel cautious toward anyone who approached him first. 

However, for some reason, the girl exuded harmlessness from the very start.

Was such a thing even possible? 

A girl who approached so close that he hadn’t even sensed her presence? 

Yet, even that discomfort gradually faded, replaced by a sense of familiarity, as though he were meeting an old friend.

“Are you not afraid of me?”

“Huh?”

“Look at those people. Every one of them looks at me with fear. They call me a cannibal, even stationing knights here for protection.”

“Hmm, now that you mention it, I did wonder why there were so many knights around here.”

Jakal wasn’t exaggerating. Nearly an entire squad of knights had surrounded him, standing guard as if to contain him. One knight even approached the girl to warn her.

“This man is dangerous. It would be best to keep your distance.”

“Why?”

“Haven’t you heard of the Empire’s Cannibal?”

“…I have heard of it.”

“That’s right. I’m the Cannibal who devours people.”

Before the knight could speak further, Jakal interjected. 

He figured it was better to say it himself than let others speak for him. 

After all, she was probably just like everyone else.

“So, it’d be best for you to stay far away from me. Otherwise…”

“You’ll eat me? Even me?”

…That’s not exactly the case, but…

Jakal’s top priority was to obey Wolfgang’s orders. 

Wolfgang had explicitly instructed him not to harm innocent civilians. 

Jakal had accepted this command willingly.

In other words, the girl standing before him wasn’t his prey. 

Moreover, her reaction was so different from anyone else’s that Jakal found himself flustered.

Seeing his confusion, the girl smiled and spoke again.

“Then it’s fine for me to stay here!”

Perhaps because her response was so completely different from everyone else’s, Jakal, caught off guard, failed to notice. 

For a brief moment, the girl’s black eyes flashed gold before returning to normal.