Chapter 123

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 123

Chapter Title: The Prodigy's Betrayal

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Duke Ballua's wavering gaze fixed on one spot and refused to budge. On his eldest son, Heyton.

A face drained of color, a bowed head, fists clenched tight. Everything screamed an unbelievable premonition.

"No way... you...!"

"......"

Heyton's silence was the most unequivocal answer.

Duke Ballua shoved through the crowd and grabbed Heyton's shoulders, shaking them roughly.

"What did those Duvered bastards do to you? What did that wench do to make you...!"

Heyton slowly lifted his head. His pale blue lips trembled as he met his father's eyes without flinching and murmured,

"You taught me to follow the trend."

"......What?"

"You said to discard what's unnecessary without delay and seize what's needed without mercy. So I did exactly as I was taught."

"You... you... you ungrateful wretch!"

"Just like you discarded Mother when you no longer needed her, I discarded you, Father."

"......!"

As Duke Ballua froze, Heyton gritted his teeth and shoved his hand away.

"I did exactly as I was taught!"

Duke Ballua, pushed back and collapsing to the floor by his own son, stared at the monster he had created with utter disbelief.

Leblain, who had been watching them, broke into a bright smile.

A few hours earlier.

Right after the investigators left, the person I sought out was Duchess Ballua.

With her marriage to her husband already in ruins, someone of her temperament would desperately need a new pillar to lean on.

But the person I sent returned empty-handed.

"Duchess Ballua turned you away? That can't be."

"No, she refused to see us."

"Did Duke Ballua, furious to his core, impose some kind of lockdown...?"

As I muttered, Curtis—Ceria's childhood friend and vice-leader's aide at the Hope Merchant Guild—tilted his head with a strange expression.

"Possible, but... Leader, there's something off."

"Something strange?"

"Our spy in Ballua says none of the duchess's belongings were moved into the new residence. Even the children don't know where she is. The second son, Nils Ballua, is frantically searching for his mother."

"Just Nils? What about Heyton?"

"The eldest is holed up in his room and hasn't come out."

In that instant, a chilling foreboding crawled up from my toes.

Ceria, who had listened in, groaned, "Hmm......"

"Not even letting in her belongings? Is Duke Ballua considering divorce?"

"......No, that's not it."

"Pardon?"

"Perhaps Duchess Ballua... Curtis, go back to the new Ballua residence. This time, in my name, to Heyton."

"What should I say?"

"......'Where is your mother?'"

"Will that do?"

I nodded, and Curtis left.

Heyton's a smart kid. He'll understand what that means.

And if he comes to me, my grim suspicion will have been true.

I gripped my hands tightly and sat on the sofa, sorting my thoughts.

As dusk fell, Curtis returned. With Heyton in tow.

I gazed steadily at Heyton, whose face showed surprise. He hadn't expected me to be the one summoning him.

"......Your mother was murdered."

"......"

"It must have been terrifying."

I stood from the sofa and looked into the boy's trembling eyes.

"I'm not going to say I'll protect you from the monster."

Heyton flinched and looked at me.

"You know I called you because I want something from you. If you want to get what you desire from me, pay the price!"

"You want something from me too, don't you? That's why you followed my man, even with your father out for blood."

"......What do you want?"

"A proper deal. No emotional appeals."

I slammed the documents down on the table with a thud.

The contents promised monthly living expenses until Heyton Ballua turned eighteen.

"Protect your own body. I'll give you money and opportunities."

"That paltry sum of money..."

Heyton Ballua ground his teeth, and I crossed my arms, turning my head.

"Think carefully. You know you can't keep living under your father's protection like before. You followed my man out of fear that you'd be the monster's next target after devouring his own wife, didn't you?"

"......"

"Even if you can endure the fear, your house is done for. I'll make sure of it, one way or another, with Duvered. You, being clever, know there's no chance of winning."

"......"

"What then? Ballua's debts are far more than you imagine. Once your father is arrested, the creditors will swoop in and take everything down to the teacups. Can you even picture living in a rundown shack without proper cooling?"

Heyton Ballua couldn't muster a single retort. As his eyes clouded, I repeated in a clear tone,

"So grab the opportunity while I'm offering it."

"......What do you want?"

"The rite chamber. Where the demon was summoned."

"......!"

Heyton Ballua muttered in a small voice, "How do you know about that..."

"Where is it?"

"......"

He hesitated. But it didn't take long to decide.

Since I even knew that Duke Ballua had summoned a demon, he must have realized it was a game with no chance of victory.

"The study."

"The investigators and I searched Duke Ballua's study top to bottom, but found nothing."

"......Because the button to open the study's bookshelf isn't there."

"Portable? Where is the item?"

"I never said it was an item."

Heyton quietly rolled up his sleeve.

A scar? ...No way!

A vivid scar marred his forearm.

It was hideous, like someone had wildly scribbled a drawing with a knife tip.

Ceria, disguised as an elderly woman, covered her mouth at the gruesome sight.

"The previous 'button' was Mother. Now... it's me."

That's how Heyton had been able to witness his mother's murder.

That explained why Duke Ballua hadn't discarded her despite all her scandals.

I carefully placed my hand on the tattoo scarring his forearm.

"It must have been scary."

"......"

"And it hurt a lot."

"......"

He abruptly turned his head, as if ashamed to show his reddened eyes.

"It's just ugly, that's all."

"Lea said scars are badges of overcoming pain!"

"......"

"This scar will be your badge of escaping the monster."

I smiled broadly, and Heyton's gaze trembled faintly.

After that, Heyton and I opened the bookshelf door together, found evidence of alchemy and the summoning circle inside, and reported it to the imperial palace.

Heyton had done well.

He'd tipped me off that Duke Ballua was bringing a sacrificial child to the manor today and contacted me at just the right time.

The evidence in the Ballua manor, the summoning circle left in the secret warehouse of the commercial district he owned, and even the child brought as an offering.

It couldn't have been more perfect as proof of demon summoning.

"You damned bitch, what have you done to my son...! Let go, I am the 21st head of House Ballua, a meritorious lord of the empire!"

I didn't take my eyes off Duke Ballua as he wailed desperately while being dragged away.

After the imperial troops hauled away Duke Ballua and his guests, the new Ballua manor resembled ruins after a war.

An aide approached me as I stood dazed in the silence.

"His Grace has summoned the great nobles."

"Regarding Duke Ballua?"

"Yes. It seems he plans to hold an expedited apostolic trial to ensure no escape."

"Of course. Father would handle it thoroughly. Oh, and the child who was nearly used as a sacrifice this time..."

"The guild will look after them. Might even be one from Hope House with Ceria."

"Yeah......"

I staggered as I answered.

My head spun dizzyingly.

I'd already depleted my divine power keeping the demon summoned for so long, and I'd been on edge the whole time to corner Duke Ballua. It would have been weirder if I wasn't exhausted.

My head won't turn. I need to get back and rest soon.

As I thought that, someone supported me. Not the aide's hand. The firm hand of a boy scarred from scratches.

"Adrian."

Adrian was the one I'd chosen as the contact for reporting to the palace.

It was too suspicious for a young child like me to spot alchemical evidence so quickly. Especially while at odds with Ballua.

It could even look like I'd fabricated evidence to frame Duke Ballua.

So I'd asked Adrian, who had ties to me among the imperial princes nominally leading the audit team.

To say he'd discovered something suspicious during the final inspection after the investigators left.

I'm truly grateful to Adrian.

Empress Yvonne had deep ties to House Ballua, so there could be fallout for him, yet this boy followed my words without question.

"Adrian, today was really..."

"I'll hear the details later. Rest for now."

"Then I'll visit later... Ack!"

Adrian scooped me up in both arms.

"I'm heavy!"

"Not at all."

"But..."

Adrian smiled faintly and spoke in a gentle voice.

"You're falling."

I hesitated, then wrapped my arms around his neck.

I was struggling to stand anyway. Adrian's so perceptive.

Might as well enjoy the ride since it's like this!

"Really not heavy?"

"No. Not one bit."

I felt a bit amazed. When had this little kid grown so much that he could carry me effortlessly?

Come to think of it, his hands and muscles were almost like an adult's now.

He was as tall as Yohan, and his hands had grown huge.

A pleasant scent wafted from his firm shoulders to his straight neck.

With his vast divine power, he must have grown much faster than his peers.

Just as Adrian and I were about to leave the wrecked reception room, someone grabbed my wrist.

I startled and nearly stumbled.

Whoa, almost fell!

If Adrian hadn't quickly wrapped his arm around my waist, I might have landed on my butt.

Heyton, who had grabbed my wrist, glared at Adrian with displeasure. Yet he spoke to me.

"Where do you think you're going? You have business with me."

"I'm tired. Can't it wait until tomorrow?"

"Do it now."

"No, tomorrow's fine..."

"Take responsibility."

As I gaped in confusion, Adrian asked in a low voice,

"Responsibility?"

But Heyton ignored him, fixing his intense gaze on me.

"If you're going to save me, see it through to the end."

What nonsense is this kid spouting?

"Let go of my hand."

"I can't."

"I don't warn twice."

And why is Adrian angry?!