Chapter 75
As soon as news that the wanted Kenis couple had been arrested reached both the Imperial Family and the Temple, Dylan and Silbert began to move quickly and quietly, almost as if they had agreed on it beforehand.
Dylan publicly revealed the embezzlement case that had been happening over the past two years, as well as the crimes the Kenis couple had committed in collusion with slave traders. As expected, this incident caused great shock and massive outrage among both nobles and commoners alike.
He had expected the backlash, but he revealed everything anyway. When the anger of the people began to grow so fierce that it was almost impossible to control, the news of the Kenis couple’s arrest was announced.
Meanwhile, Silbert dispatched knights to completely eradicate the slave-trading organization. Determined not to make the same mistake twice, he shut down the harbor, tightened border checkpoints, and investigated every person involved in the incident—including all captured slave traders—and confiscated their assets. Not only their immediate family, but all relatives were arrested.
Normally, unless black magic was involved, collective punishment (punishing family members of the criminal) was not used.
But this time was different.
During the investigation, it was found that some slave traders had funneled huge sums of money earned by selling humans into cash, then secretly passed it to their families. Normally, only the person who hid the money would be punished.
The ones who received the money simply claimed, “We didn’t know,” and that was enough. Because they were family, it was impossible to prove whether the money was hidden assets or simply living expenses or child support. They had suspicions, but no physical evidence—so there was nothing the law could do.
However, to prevent that dirty money from becoming the seed of another monstrous crime like the slave trade, Silbert made the unprecedented decision to enforce collective punishment for this incident.
It was an unusually merciless decision, completely unlike his usual personality. But after learning that the Rebellion system—meant to help innocent children—had instead been manipulated by slave traders, causing harm rather than providing aid, Silbert was shaken to the core and issued his orders coldly.
When Dylan announced the arrest of the Kenis couple, and Silbert followed by capturing the slave network and formally declaring collective punishment, public outrage gradually subsided.
Finally, when they resumed the suspended sponsorships and charity programs, public opinion began to settle.
Only then were they able to turn their attention to the monster attack that had occurred in Nostri.
The date for a joint council meeting was set, and a letter arrived summoning the Marquis’ household as well.
The letter’s content was straightforward:
They were requesting Charlotte’s presence at the joint council meeting to testify about the monster attack in Nostri. It also stated that, because she had been instrumental in the capture of the Kenis couple, she would receive an appropriate reward.
Joint council meetings were held only when the Imperial Family and the Temple needed to discuss matters deeply—like the recent monster attack. Unless one was a high-ranking noble, it was nearly impossible to attend.
Being invited to testify and receive a reward could be considered an honor… but there was no guarantee Charlotte would want to go.
Word that Charlotte had returned to the capital spread quickly, just as expected. Since she had left quietly and returned quietly, the rumors reached society a bit later than usual. But once news spread that she had helped capture the Kenis couple, everyone became curious—why she had gone north, and how she ended up involved in such an incident.
Some people, unable to contain their curiosity, sent letters without caring about social etiquette. Others politely asked after her health and invited her to tea parties. The purpose was the same.
Looking at the pile of letters and invitations filling Charlotte’s study, the Marquis of Blanche clicked his tongue. Didn’t these people have anything better to do? If they had enough energy to pry into others’ lives, they should go pray at the Temple or volunteer somewhere.
But Charlotte seemed to share the same thoughts. The mountain of letters quickly became scrap paper for Aria to draw or fold. She didn’t reply to a single one or accept any invitation. In the past, she would have worried endlessly about what people might be saying behind her back—but not anymore.
“I don’t want to waste energy on that. I’d rather spend my time teaching Aria.”
To be honest, the Marquis was pleased. It meant Charlotte had finally grown strong enough to face things with composure. So he planned to let her decide whether she wanted to attend the council or not.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Grandfather.”
He had asked Anna to bring Charlotte, but Aria came instead. Holding something tightly in both hands, she ran up to him. The Marquis picked her up naturally.
“Grandfather, I want to eat this.”
“What is it?”
“Candy.”
The candy wrapper was all crumpled—she must have tried and failed to open it herself. Unable to resist those big sad eyes, the Marquis unwrapped the candy and put it in her mouth. But the moment she started sucking on it, the study door opened.
Charlotte stepped in, eyes widening at the sight. Aria froze mid-chew, then bolted away—still managing to bow politely and say “Thank you!”
“Grandfather, please don’t give Aria candy. She’s already eaten eight today.”
(!)
Ah, so that’s why she handed the candy to him instead of showing her mother. The Marquis let out a hearty laugh.
“She takes after someone.”
“She takes after me. She’s my daughter, after all.”
He hadn’t even officially approved the adoption yet, but Charlotte declared confidently that Aria was her daughter. What a stubborn child.
Shaking his head, the Marquis handed her the letter.
“Charlotte, take this.”
“What is it?”
“A request to attend the joint council. Read it.”
“Testify… reward…”
“There’s no need to go if you don’t want to. And there’s no need to feel pressured. Do whatever feels right.”
Charlotte skimmed the letter—then instead of agreeing or declining, she asked something unexpected.
“Can Aria come with me to the joint council?”
“Aria?”
Charlotte had been avoiding showing Aria to society. Partly because she didn’t want to deal with people, but also because it wasn’t the right time to reveal Aria’s existence.
But now she wanted to bring her—not to a party, but to the council where all the high-ranking nobles would gather.
Even though everything spoken there would remain confidential until the matter was resolved… would Aria’s existence be kept secret too?
“The monster attack… there was a time they were after Aria, not me.”
He hadn’t forgotten. If Charlotte insisted on bringing her, she must have a reason.
Charlotte wasn’t reckless. Yes, she had declared her intention to adopt Aria the moment she returned—but she did know time, place, and consequences. The Marquis trusted she wouldn’t put them in a dangerous situation.
Still, he hesitated.
‘Even when I was a holy knight on the battlefield, I don’t remember worrying this much…’
In the end, if anything went wrong, he could intervene. And Ash would be there too.
“Fine. I’ll send word.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
“Come to think of it, I need to deliver this letter to Ash too, but I didn’t see him earlier.”
Charlotte, who had been staring at the part of the letter mentioning the “reward,” remembered something. The snowfield scouting unit had been forced to leave the north because of the blockade order, so Ash had rented an entire mansion as temporary accommodation. Concerned something might have gone wrong, he had gone out very early in the morning.
“He should be back by now.”
The Marquis rose and walked to the window. A carriage had just arrived near the gates. He and Charlotte left the study. As they came downstairs, they saw Ash with Aria.
But Ash was holding something.
Candy.
They had hidden the sweets high in a closet so Aria would only get one a day. How did she find them? Worse, her pockets were full of candy and chocolate. Completely oblivious, Ash unwrapped a piece and handed it to her.
She would definitely end up crying later with a toothache.
“Duke, no!”
“Hm?”
Ash blinked at Charlotte’s sudden outburst—but Aria had already popped the candy into her mouth. Charlotte pressed her hand to her forehead.
The day of the joint council arrived.
Although they had been formally invited to an important meeting, for Charlotte it felt like her first outing in a long time, and for Aria—her first real trip outside the capital. Wearing a light-blue dress adorned with lace, she looked like a small fluffy cloud floating under a clear sky. Seeing the crowded plaza for the first time, she peered out curiously and smiled.
“Is the Duke coming separately?”
“Yes. He said he had business. He’ll arrive on time. Why?”
“I’m… a little nervous to go in alone.”
“Well, it’s unnecessarily big. The structure is strange too.”
The joint council building had two floors. When the audience chamber wasn’t used, important trials and meetings were held here. The Kenis couple’s trial would also take place in this very hall. Because it was used for serious matters, it was nearly as grand as the throne room or temple sanctuary.
But that wasn’t the part making Charlotte shake.
At the front of the chamber was a raised platform with the thrones of the Emperor and Empress. On both sides, stretching long and high, were rows of seats for the high nobility—on the second floor.
Charlotte would be on the first floor, giving testimony… while every noble up above stared down at her.
When she first received the summons, she thought she could handle it. But now that she was standing in front of the building, fear began to creep in.
‘No. I’m not just there to testify. I have other things to do. Stay focused.’
She stroked Aria’s hair—then suddenly realized half of Aria’s body was hanging out the window. Startled, Charlotte grabbed her up.
“Mommy, flower!”
“Flower?”
Aria was holding a flower.
‘Ah… it’s spring.’
When spring arrived, there were always vendors handing out flowers on the streets. It was a tradition of the Azhent Empire.
Aria had received a white peony. Having grown up in the cold north, where flowers hardly bloomed, she seemed fascinated by the soft, delicate petals—holding the stem tightly while carefully inspecting the blossom.
“A white peony.”
“You like them?”
“Not like… more like I remember them. Whenever Ronan looked at Layla, he always gave her white peonies. For a while, the entire Marquis estate smelled like them.”
Charlotte knew her father often brought her mother flowers, but she hadn’t known they were white peonies.
“Of course, Layla rejected them every time.”
“Mother rejected his proposal?”
“Well, telling my daughter that her father got rejected more than ten times isn’t very dignified. Do you want to hear how they met?”
Charlotte nodded. She had heard that her father fell in love at first sight while hunting monsters—but never the full story.
“People like to call Ronan and Layla’s story a fated romance. Well… I suppose it’s not wrong. Ronan was about to die, and Layla is the one who saved him.”
