Ch. 24 Munchkin – Chapter 24
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 24
Theodore, who had left the banquet hall, began looking around.
First, he checked near the restroom, and then he searched the garden, thinking Lucy might have gone for a walk, but he couldn’t find her.
Even when he asked people passing by, it was the same.
Theodore stood still, deep in thought.
‘…This is strange. Where could she have gone?’
Just then, he noticed a soldier in a corner of the castle.
The soldier was standing guard in front of a door leading to the basement, and something about him seemed suspicious.
Theodore approached the soldier.
“What are you doing there?”
“!”
The soldier flinched in surprise.
“I-I’m just standing guard.”
“Guard? There’s no need for a guard here.”
“W-well…”
The soldier stammered, clearly flustered.
“Today is special…”
“Special?”
“I-I mean…”
Theodore’s voice grew stern at the soldier’s suspicious behavior.
“Step aside.”
“…”
The soldier didn’t move and stood his ground.
Theodore drew his sword.
Swoosh—!
“I am Knight Theodore. I’m searching for a girl on Young Master Ed’s orders. If you don’t step aside, I’ll use force.”
“…!”
The soldier’s face turned pale.
Knight Theodore was quite famous in the castle.
He was known for his exceptional swordsmanship at a young age.
Though usually gentle, he had a fiery temper when angered.
Blocking Theodore’s path was practically suicide.
The soldier finally stepped aside, and Theodore pulled open the iron door leading to the basement.
However, the door was locked.
Theodore spoke again.
“Open it.”
“…Yes.”
The soldier fumbled with the keys and unlocked the padlock.
Theodore gave the soldier a sharp look and quickly descended the stairs into the basement.
He would interrogate the soldier later, but for now, checking the basement was his priority.
There was a chance Lucy had been caught up in something dangerous.
As he descended the stairs, a dim underground passage appeared.
‘I didn’t know there was a place like this in the castle.’
Theodore moved forward.
Soon, he reached the end of the passage, where another door stood.
Theodore tried to open the door, but it was locked from the inside.
He banged on the door.
”Open the door! I am Knight Theodore!”
After a moment, the door clicked open.
Theodore roughly pushed the door open and entered.
“…?”
Inside, a surprising scene unfolded.
Lucy was standing there, unharmed, while a fat man lay collapsed on the floor.
“Are you okay?”
Theodore first checked Lucy’s condition.
Fortunately, Lucy didn’t seem injured.
“Why are you here? Did this man bring you?”
“Well…”
Lucy handed Theodore something.
It was a small vial containing a strange liquid.
“This man told me to give this to Ed.”
“…Huh?”
Theodore examined the vial closely.
The liquid inside looked suspicious at first glance.
It seemed like poison.
Theodore’s expression turned serious.
“He told you to give this to Young Master Ed…?”
“Yes.”
This was clearly no ordinary matter.
Considering the recent incident with Hoff, someone was definitely targeting Ed’s life.
Theodore looked at the man lying on the floor.
“Using a child for such a despicable scheme is unforgivable… Huh?”
But something was off.
Why had this man been lying on the floor since earlier?
Was that… blood pooling around him?
Theodore cautiously approached and examined the man.
The man was covered in blood.
His face was so badly beaten that it was hard to recognize him.
Theodore could only identify him as Groose by his bald head and fat build.
“Groose is the confidant of the lord’s wife… So, does that mean…? No, more importantly…”
Theodore looked back at Lucy.
Lucy was staring into space with a slightly awkward expression.
“D-did you do this?”
At Theodore’s question, Lucy nodded slightly.
“Y-you… did this to Groose?”
Theodore couldn’t believe it.
Even though Groose was an out-of-shape, scheming fat man, he was still an adult.
How could an adult end up in this state at the hands of a small, delicate girl like Lucy?
Moreover, the damage was severe.
It looked like he had been beaten to within an inch of his life.
From the looks of it, he was barely breathing.
‘Even if he recovers, he’ll never live a normal life again… What on earth did she use to beat him like this…?’
Just then, Lucy tapped Theodore on the shoulder.
Tap tap—
“Eek!”
Theodore, who had been preoccupied with examining Groose’s condition, jumped in surprise.
“Wh-what is it?”
Theodore asked, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Screaming in front of a child was somewhat shameful.
Lucy spoke quietly.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Oh, sure, what is it?”
“Please keep it a secret that I did this.”
“…Huh?”
◈
The banquet was interrupted.
An incident had occurred.
During the banquet, Knight Theodore dragged Groose to Lord Leyton and said,
“My lord, this man tried to poison Young Master Ed.”
Lord Leyton was shocked by Theodore’s words.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. He threatened Lucy, Young Master Ed’s friend, to give this poison to Ed.”
Theodore held up a small vial.
Inside the vial was a suspicious-looking liquid.
“Fortunately, I found Lucy at the right moment and stopped his plan. There was a bit of a scuffle in the process, but I avoided killing him. This is so we can uncover his mastermind and ensure he receives proper punishment.”
At Theodore’s words, Lord Leyton immediately halted the banquet.
He then moved the proceedings to his office, bringing along Theodore, Groose, Ed, Lucy, and other relevant individuals.
Lord Leyton sat behind a large desk, with knights lined up on either side.
Ed stood beside his father, while Lucy stood quietly behind him.
Theodore stood before Lord Leyton, firmly holding Groose.
Groose’s face was a mess.
The signs of severe beating were evident.
“Now, speak.”
Lord Leyton spoke in a heavy voice.
“Who ordered you to do this?”
“Th-that is…”
Groose was barely conscious, and his speech was slurred.
It seemed all his teeth had been broken.
“Th-the l-lady… ordered…”
“The lady? Are you saying Michela ordered this?”
“Y-yes…”
Lord Leyton let out a deep sigh.
In truth, there was no need for further interrogation.
Groose was Michela’s confidant, and if he had carried out such an act, it was undoubtedly connected to her.
Moreover, the motive was clear.
If Ed died, Ron would become the heir.
That was what Michela had always wanted.
“Michela… to think she would go this far…”
Lord Leyton clenched his fists.
He loved Michela.
But now that she had done something like this, he couldn’t let it slide.
“First, throw this vermin into the dungeon. Don’t bother treating him, even if he dies. Don’t give him food or water, and don’t fulfill any of his requests. He’ll be executed soon anyway.”
“Yes.”
At Lord Leyton’s command, the soldiers dragged Groose away.
Groose lost consciousness again as he was being dragged.
Once Groose was gone, Lord Leyton called for Michela.
Michela was trembling as she entered the office.
She, too, realized that things had gone terribly wrong.
“…I-I’m sorry, my lord. It’s just that…”
Michela prostrated herself on the floor.
Lord Leyton hadn’t even said anything yet, but she had already confessed.
“I-it’s just… my lord…”
“Did you try to poison Ed?”
Lord Leyton asked, though he already knew the answer.
Michela banged her head on the floor.
“I-I’m sorry… It’s just… it’s just…”
Michela was trembling so much she could barely speak.
Lord Leyton let out a deep sigh.
“How could a woman as timid as you plan something so terrible?”
“M-my son, Ron… Ron…”
Bang!
Lord Leyton slammed his fist on the desk.
Michela flinched violently.
“You wanted to kill Ed and make Ron the heir?”
Lord Leyton’s voice grew stronger.
“Did you think Ron would be happy about that? Do you think Ron would be happy to become the heir through his brother’s death?
No. I didn’t raise Ron to be such a coward. You don’t understand Ron at all. This was just for your own sake. You couldn’t stand the fact that a child you didn’t give birth to was the heir!”
Michela didn’t deny it.
She just lay on the floor, trembling.
Silence fell over the office.
Lord Leyton wore a pained expression.
The crime of attempting to poison the heir was no small matter.
It was tantamount to treason.
Therefore, execution was the appropriate punishment.
Lord Leyton opened his mouth.
“Michela, you…”
Just then.
Ed rushed forward and knelt beside Michela.
“Father… please show mercy to Mother…”
Ed pleaded in a desperate voice.
“I know Mother did wrong… but she’s surely reflecting on it now. So, please, just a little mercy…”
“…”
Michela looked at Ed in shock.
Lord Leyton was equally surprised.
“Ed, do you understand what you’re saying right now? This isn’t a simple mistake. Michela tried to take your life. And yet you’re asking for mercy? If you’re this soft-hearted, how will you lead the territory in the future?”
Lord Leyton’s voice was stern.
“A lord must sometimes be cold. Forgiving someone who tried to kill you isn’t mercy—it’s foolishness.”
“…I’m not asking for mercy because I forgive Mother. It’s for my siblings, Ron and Ellie. If they lose Mother, they’ll surely be deeply hurt. And you too, Father…”
“…”
A long silence filled the office.
Translator Note
T/N (Translator’s note):
10 year old by the way.
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