Chapter 49

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: No Mercy 49

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자비는 없습니다

49화

Sierra guessed that Richel must have received some kind of order from Bellieta and botched it while carrying it out, which caused her falling out with Piolett.

"If we leave her like this and she dies, we're likely to get an earful."

"That would be a problem. Move Richel from the underground prison to a room in the inner castle and confine her there with guards. Summon a priest to assess her health and take more meticulous care of her."

"Understood."

"Also, bring Richel's parents for a visit. No need to go overboard with the pressure. Loosen up a bit. Keep the three locked in prison for another three days, then send them back. No point holding onto them longer—they look useless. However, since they've committed crimes, add a statement that we'll be watching to see how each family imposes severe punishments."

Baran gave a look that said there was no need for all that, but he nodded at Aden's fierce glare.

Aden flicked his hand as if to say he could leave now.

As Baran withdrew, Aden glanced sideways at his back before turning away.

"No word at all. Wonder if she's doing alright."

"Pardon?"

"...Nothing. Continue your report."

Aden shook his head with a bitter expression and turned his gaze back to the knight.

The report continued from the side, and the knights' movements were flashy and precise, but nothing registered in Aden's ears or eyes.

'Already half a month.'

Aden felt that even this brief time without Sierra had dragged on endlessly, and a faint sigh lingered constantly on his lips.

The Knight Captain kept stealing glances at Aden, who couldn't focus on the training with his distant, wistful eyes.

The Knight Captain tilted his head at the sight of Aden sighing deeply, his face a perfect match for a young mill hand pining for his beloved.

Afraid he'd get a glare if he asked if something was wrong, the intimidated Knight Captain quietly turned away.

Aden thought he was acting as if nothing was wrong, but everyone around him shared the same thought.

'Has he caught a case of lovesickness?'

"Haa..."

The Knight Captain's shoulder twitched slightly.

"Where are you off to?"

After breakfast, as I was preparing to attend the meeting, Rita came into the room and asked with wide eyes.

With her innocent gaze that knew nothing, she hurried over to help me into my coat.

Rita set down the vase she was holding and took the ribbon I was about to tie around my neck.

"If something's come up, you should tell me. I had no idea since I hadn't heard anything about a schedule."

Rita beamed as she tied the ribbon around my neck.

I looked down at Rita fiddling with the ribbon in her familiar way.

She really looks like a naive maid who knows nothing.

A good maid who had served faithfully by my side for nearly ten years.

I had quite liked Rita too.

She was quick on the uptake and skilled, so I never worried about assigning her tasks.

Which made the current situation all the more awkward.

"Where to today? If it's far, I can get ready too."

"No need."

"Coming back soon? Sir Riphert didn't seem to be preparing. Ah! Are you going with the new knight who just arrived?"

I nodded briefly and checked the ribbon Rita had tied.

I touched the long red ribbon trailing down and turned my head.

Her face, constantly smiling, used to spark anger in me before, but now it stirred pity.

But only for a moment.

I quickly brushed aside the pity.

The reason I'd suffered at Bellieta's hands all this time was because someone had been reporting my every move—and Rita stood at the forefront.

"Is your mother well?"

"Mom? She's doing much better these days. She used to be in so much knee pain she couldn't get up even with medicine, but after getting some new meds recently, she can walk around now. I can't tell you how relieved I am."

"Good. That's fortunate."

"They were a bit pricey, but I managed to save up from working here and buy them. The moment she could walk, Mom kept telling me over and over to be grateful to the Brilloxens for giving me this job."

So that's why her face had been brighter lately.

She'd always been cheerful, but not to this extent.

But that cheerfulness was like poison to me.

The medicine Rita mentioned buying for her mother wasn't something you could just purchase with money.

Temple-sold remedies were available only to nobles or executives of trading firms with connections.

They were rare, expensive, and reliably effective.

If Rita had obtained some, it meant someone gave it to her.

And I could guess who without asking.

Rita pulled out an accessory to try on me, then picked up a necklace.

"As I told you before, pale shades like this suit your skin better than gold. Rubies or sapphires draw the eye more, and they look great on you too. What do you think?"

"It suits me well."

I nodded while touching the necklace, and Rita grinned as if to say see?

As I stood, Rita waited with my bag in hand.

I glanced at her for a moment before turning to leave the room and head to the prepared carriage.

Jin and Riphert, already waiting there, spotted Rita following behind me.

Riphert took the bag from Rita's hand, loaded it onto the carriage, and gave Jin a nod.

Jin nodded back, mounted his horse first, and as I was climbing into the carriage, I paused and turned around.

I met Rita's gaze for a brief moment and said curtly,

"Rita. Don't you have something to say to me?"

"Pardon? Oh—take care out there, miss."

I stared hard at Rita's perfectly natural face before turning away.

I pulled Riphert, who was escorting me to the carriage, aside and whispered,

"Handle it while I'm gone. I've spoken to Head Butler Daytum, so just assist with the execution."

"Understood. But you said to put people on the fired servants too. If you need information, wouldn't it be better to ask them directly now?"

"You think they'll give straight answers if I ask now?"

I smirked at Riphert's puzzled tilt of the head.

"Stick a sword down their throats, and they'll spill things you didn't even ask. Once their lives are on the line, they'll finally realize what they've done. By then, they'll confess everything on their own."

Riphert pondered for a moment before nodding as if he got it.

I confirmed his response, then paused again as I was about to board the carriage and turned my waist.

"And I'll handle the report to my parents, so make sure there's no fuss."

"Yes."

After hearing Riphert's reply, I climbed into the carriage.

Through the carriage window, I stared fixedly at Rita's beaming smile before closing the door.

Deceiving me right up to the end was a foolish move, Rita.

I wonder if Bellieta will take in a maid whose usefulness has run out.

How long will that perky smile last?

I hope she feels the full, agonizing cost of using me.

"We've received word that she's departed."

The butler approached Bellieta, who was reading a book, and quietly continued.

"However, it seems she's only brought her escort knights, excluding the maid."

Bellieta glanced sideways at the butler whispering discreetly before returning her gaze to the book.

Flip. The page turned with the rustle of paper.

Bellieta spoke slowly with a bored expression.

"I was wondering why the reports had grown sparse lately. Looks like even Sierra's caught on to some extent. Time to clean house. Dispose of them soon—especially that maid named Rita. Make it certain. Don't keep troublesome loose ends alive and risk backlash. Handle it swiftly."

"Understood."

"And take care of that knight Gilbert we sent over today as well."

"He's still sending false reports to the Brilloxens, and we haven't gotten a report yet. Is it really necessary?"

"Butler."

Thud. The book closed with a sharp sound, and Bellieta's gaze turned.

The butler instantly realized his mistake and clamped his mouth shut.

Bellieta stared impassively at the butler, who averted his frightened eyes.

Cold sweat trickled down as the butler endured the savage glare overhead, finally managing to open his trembling lips.

"I-I'm sorry. I'll handle it."

Bellieta finally shifted her gaze from the butler, who had said what she wanted to hear, and opened the book again.

"No need to leave useless loose ends. They were going to die once their value ran out anyway. Make sure it's done right."

"It will be."

"Ah, Sierra might have set a trap. She could be planning to catch us pretending to release them. Keep that in mind. You know who'll pay if we get caught, right?"

Even with her flat, emotionless tone, the butler nodded frantically.

"You don't want your young son growing up without a father, do you? Be as careful as possible."

"Understood."

"Go."

Bellieta flicked her hand dismissively, as if swatting away an annoying fly.

As the bowing butler carefully turned to leave the room, a thud! rang out again from behind—the book closing once more.

His shoulder flinched, and his legs froze.

Bellieta's voice flew toward his halted back.

"Have you found Roth?"

Grand Archmage Ezekiel Roth.

The once-in-a-generation genius said to have mastered not just magic, but spirit arts as well.

A man who had once been teacher to both Bellieta and Sierra.

The butler turned back with a tense face and an awkward expression.

"We're searching high and low. But tracking someone whose survival is unknown isn't easy—it'll take time. And he's so elusive to begin with..."

"I don't need excuses, butler."