IPAMB 14

Chapter: 14

“It’s just that it hasn’t been revealed yet. If you understand the principle, it’s simple, or so they say. I know the principle too. If we commission a mage, we can clearly identify the culprit—”

“That will not be necessary!”

“….”

At Tristan’s shout, the surroundings instantly fell silent.

‘I messed up. I got too excited!’

Flustered, Tristan broke out in a cold sweat and hurried to recover.

“Ahem! Th-that’s not what I meant. I only meant that since the culprit has already been identified, there’s no need to commission anyone.”

He absolutely could not allow an investigation. Absolutely not!

‘At a time when this is almost over, she wants an investigation just to raise her credibility?’

He didn’t like her reasoning either.

But the murmurs around them didn’t die down easily. Everyone seemed to be whispering, “Wouldn’t it be fine to at least hear her out?”

“Didn’t Lady Winiel say she saw it herself?”

Tristan quickly shifted the responsibility onto Winiel. At times like this, blaming someone else was best.

“Well, actually…”

Under everyone’s gaze, Winiel fidgeted with her hands and hesitated.

“I did pick up the fountain pen, but I didn’t actually see the knight signing it myself.”

Why are you saying that now?!

Tristan felt the back of his neck stiffen.

He wanted to accuse her of lying, but she had never explicitly said she saw him sign it.

She had only said she saw him using black magic.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve clarified that he only took out the paper.”

Her sincere apology made it even harder to press her.

“Anyway, that’s why I think we should make sure. Considering someone dared to use black magic in the duke’s estate and even tried to frame a saint candidate, there might be an accomplice.”

Tristan flinched.

‘Don’t tell me she knows everything?’

He eyed her suspiciously, then shook the thought away.

No. If she truly knew he was the culprit, she would have pointed at him directly instead of speaking in circles like this.

“If there is an accomplice, I will uncover it through interrogation.”

If he could just get through this moment, he could manage somehow. Even if he had to push stubbornly.

“But it would be more certain to ask a mage. The signature used in black magic would appear clearly.”

“I am quite skilled in interrogation myself.”

“…That’s strange. Why do you keep trying to stop it? Do you have something to hide?”

“I’m merely concerned that if we involve an outsider like a mage, rumors might spread that a demonic creature appeared within the duke’s estate. There’s no need to damage the duke family’s reputation with unpleasant gossip.”

Winiel, growing frustrated, pressed him further, but he had no choice.

“I also don’t wish to cause unnecessary concern to the already busy Duke.”

As he said this, Tristan glanced sideways at Cain, hoping for support.

“…?”

But instead of looking distressed as usual, Cain appeared perfectly calm.

‘Why? He should be stepping in and telling her to stop!’

Though it was clear from the way he stared at Winiel that he didn’t like the situation, he showed no intention of siding with Tristan.

“…You don’t want to cause concern to the Duke?”

As Tristan was puzzled, Winiel quietly spoke up.

“Y-Yes… That’s correct.”

“You mean that sincerely? Like, thinking of the duke family… out of respect?”

“Of course. I have always intended to devote myself to House Argent.”

“Ah…”

Winiel faltered and stepped back, as if she had just heard something shocking.

“I’m sorry. I find that a little… hard to believe.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“There’s something I happened to see… Ah! I didn’t mean to look on purpose, I just happened to see it…”

Winiel suddenly began rambling.

What is this?

A bad feeling crept over Tristan—and it proved correct.

Winiel pulled something out of her pocket.

That’s…!

At the sight of the familiar pale pink envelope, Tristan’s breath caught in his throat.

The heart-shaped sealing wax attached to it dangled loosely, as if it had already been opened once.

“No…”

Tristan muttered weakly.

Though quiet, it was loud enough for Winiel to hear.

“Oh, you’re wondering what this is? I think it’ll be clearer if you hear it directly, so I’ll read it aloud.”

Ignoring him, Winiel answered the surrounding questions and pulled out the letter inside the envelope.

“Oh! My mistake.”

As she sorted through the five sheets of paper, one slipped and fell.

She quickly picked it up, but everyone had already seen it.

“There’s a dried flower attached?”

“Isn’t that a love letter? I heard attaching dried flowers to love letters is trendy these days.”

“I know that flower. Its meaning is ‘new love,’ isn’t it?”

Ignoring the murmurs, Winiel cleared her throat.

“Ahem.”

And began reading.

“To my beloved goddess, Bellatia Argent. The moment I first saw you, I realized my world had become yours.”

“Nooooo!”

Tristan lunged at Winiel.

But as if she had expected it, she deftly stepped aside and continued.

“When I see you suffering because of Gerard, it feels as though my own heart is being torn apart. If it were me, I would never leave you that way—I’ve thought about it over and over. But I can no longer endure it. In the duke’s house, the only one who can comfort you, the only one who truly cares for you, is I—Tristan Nelson. So now, lean on me—”

Swish!

“Haah… haah….”

In an instant, utterly drained, Tristan snatched the letter from her, breathing heavily.

Winiel’s reading cut off abruptly.

“….”

But there was no one there who hadn’t understood the contents of the letter.

“…So Lord Tristan was aiming for the Duke’s position?”

“To harbor such thoughts while Sir Gerard lay unconscious! Weren’t the two of you supposed to be close friends?!”

Tristan couldn’t utter a single word. He couldn’t even gather his thoughts to escape this situation.

Yet even amid the chaos, Winiel continued calmly.

“Anyway, that’s why I wondered if Lord Tristan might be trying to cover up the incident to gain favor with the Duke. If one truly cares for the duke family, shouldn’t uncovering the truth be the top priority?”

“….”

“So please, to remove any suspicion at all, let us confirm it with a mage.”

Winiel bowed politely.

‘Phew. I did it.’

I let out a deep breath.

Tristan didn’t answer. But there was no need to rush him. His response wasn’t that important.

‘He’s already under heavy suspicion. Whether the pen is investigated or not, people will talk.’

Honestly, I hadn’t planned to go this far.

I’d intended to subtly present the evidence after the Duke arrived.

‘But Cain tried to throw me out of the estate.’

It must have annoyed him that I refused to leave quietly and instead waited for a duke who might not even come.

So I had no choice but to act decisively. I needed to clear my name quickly—by any means necessary.

And somehow, I managed it.

‘Still, I wasn’t sure Tristan had actually signed it. But I guess he really did.’

Even if it only looked like the knight had signed, I would’ve let it slide. What mattered most was staying safely in the duke’s estate.

But after seeing Tristan’s and the knight’s reactions, I became certain midway through.

So I used the love letter I had previously picked up from Tristan’s office to corner him.

‘He looks seriously shocked.’

I thought he’d make a scene, claiming it was forged and demanding handwriting verification.

But Tristan was still staring blankly into space.

To an outsider, he might even look pitiful.

‘Why aren’t they arresting him already? Why just leave him standing there?’

Of course, I wasn’t pitying him.

I shook my head at the knights hovering uselessly around him.

“….”

Then my eyes met Cain’s, who was glaring at me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

I hurried over to him. He looked extremely displeased, and I had no idea why.

“…Is this what you meant by doing whatever you want?”

“Excuse me?”

“Never mind.”

“…?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

But Cain said nothing more.

‘Anyway, we still need to wrap this up.’

I was a little worried Tristan might suddenly snap.

Just then—

“Huff, huff…!”

A servant came running, out of breath.

“The Duke has arrived!”