Chapter 187
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A few days later, the investigation team returned after securing evidence connected to the cultists.
According to their findings, rituals worshipping Tiramer were indeed being held regularly on the outskirts of the village, and there was a very high possibility that those leading the ceremonies were secretly cooperating with the people of Zram. Over the past few months, the volume of goods traded by certain villagers had increased noticeably.
It seemed they had been hiding the plundered goods before passing them on to Zram agents disguised as traveling merchants, acting as intermediaries in the process.
The investigators immediately arrested those who had been collaborating with the enemy in secret and imprisoned them in the underground dungeon beneath Laedgo Castle. After harsh interrogations accompanied by torture, they managed to extract several pieces of information regarding the people of Zram.
"It seems the raiders usually avoid being tracked by scattering across the region disguised as merchants or mercenaries, only regrouping when they're about to carry out a large-scale raid."
Baredon said as he climbed the stairs leading up from the underground torture chamber, pulling off his blood-soaked gloves and tossing them aside.
"It looks like they have messengers spread all across the East. Apparently, there are even three people inside Kalmor who are cooperating with the Zram."
"Did you learn the names of the collaborators?"
Slouching lazily in a hard wooden chair while casually flipping through a stack of parchment documents, Lucas asked without much interest.
Baredon shrugged.
"We identified two of them. One's a wool merchant named Tarnek from the Wool Guild, and the other's an herbalist named Silvar. As for the third... I don't think even they know who that person is."
"Ha! You actually believe that?"
"Well, they kept denying it even after every bone in their fingers had been crushed. I think they were telling the truth."
Looking stiff, Baredon rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and let out a sigh.
"Well, whatever. Two names are enough. Now we just need to bring those men in and make them tell us where and when the raiders are gathering. Then we can wipe them all out in one strike... But what have you been looking at this whole time?"
Walking behind him, Baredon leaned over to examine the parchments. His expression immediately turned puzzled when he saw a woman's portrait drawn in silverpoint on the yellowed paper.
"What's with the picture?"
"My elder brother has graciously sent me candidates for my future fiancée."
Still rocking his chair back and forth at an angle, Lucas answered with open sarcasm.
A delighted grin immediately spread across Baredon's face.
"His Grace the Grand Duke certainly doesn't waste time with anything. At this rate, House Siorcan will probably be celebrating a great occasion before long."
"You'd better hide those teeth before I smash your face."
Lucas growled.
The young man instantly pressed his lips together.
Glowering at him irritably, Lucas flipped to the next portrait.
This time, it revealed a young woman with a round face and large eyes.
Recognizing her, Baredon spoke cheerfully.
"That's the young lady from House Kalihof! She's famous for being exceptionally kind and deeply devout. She looks about the right age too... I'd say she'd suit you perfectly, Young Master."
"I don't like women who look so... round."
Lucas replied indifferently before flipping to another portrait.
Baredon tilted his head.
"Then what kind of woman is your type?"
"A woman with pale skin... and a slender neck."
He answered absentmindedly while carefully studying the portrait of a woman who looked considerably more strong-willed.
Then he felt an odd gaze fixed on him.
Raising his head, Lucas found Baredon looking at him with an unusually complicated expression and frowned.
"What?"
"It's just... if those are your standards, you'd probably have to look for a bride among the noble houses of Osiria."
Baredon forced an awkward laugh as he muttered the words.
Lucas replied flatly.
"It's just my preference. Realistically speaking, marrying the daughter of an eastern house is the best choice."
"Well... that's certainly better for strengthening unity within the East."
The problem was that among all the daughters of respectable families, there wasn't a single one who genuinely caught his interest.
Clicking his tongue, Lucas continued flipping through the portraits before finally standing up.
If he were being honest, he wanted to throw the entire bundle into the fire. But he restrained himself, fearing the consequences.
For now, it would be wiser to at least pretend he intended to obey his brother's wishes.
Rolling up the stack of parchments and stuffing it into the pouch hanging from his belt, Lucas strode out of the barracks.
Without slowing down, he issued instructions to the Baredon following behind him.
"Gather the investigators immediately and have them keep the apostates under constant surveillance. Make sure the suspects don't notice anything and flee."
"And what about you, Young Master?"
"I need to report everything we learned during the interrogation to my brother."
Looking troubled, Lucas turned and descended the stairs.
At this very moment, Varkas was probably locked in heated arguments with the lords from across the East {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} over the reorganization of the regional garrisons.
Actually... that worked out perfectly.
He would simply leave the report with the page waiting outside the office and disappear before Varkas returned.
Walking briskly along the passage atop the inner wall, Lucas suddenly heard a sharp voice from somewhere below.
Almost absentmindedly, he looked over the railing.
On the garden path, he saw Talia and Raina confronting one another.
The dire wolf had bared its fangs at Raina, who seemed furious and was speaking in a razor-sharp voice.
The guards hurriedly stepped between the two women.
The tense standoff lasted only a moment.
After staring at Raina with eyes as cold as ice, the Grand Duchess silently led the wolf away in the opposite direction.
Only after watching the entire scene in silence did Lucas finally rush down the stairs.
"Raina!"
His younger sister, who seemed to be heading toward the stable through the inner gate, turned around.
Lucas signaled the soldiers to step back before grabbing her wrist and leading her somewhere more secluded.
"What did you say to Sister-in-law?"
"You stopped me just to ask that?"
Raina jerked her wrist free from his grip and let out a disbelieving laugh.
Lucas looked down at her sternly.
"I already told you to stop picking fights with Sister-in-law every chance you get. Whether you like it or not, Talia Roem Siorcan is the Grand Duchess of the East. Don't you understand that if she wanted to, she could make your life miserable whenever she pleased?"
"You make it sound like you're actually worried about me."
Raina sneered.
Lucas immediately raised his voice.
"Of course I'm worried about you! Who else would I worry about if not you?"
The smile disappeared from Raina's lips.
She stared at him with an unreadable expression.
For some reason, Lucas felt his face growing hot beneath the gaze that seemed to see straight through him, and he looked away.
"Anyway... stop creating problems where there aren't any. We've already got more than enough to deal with..."
"Don't act like you and Brother are the only ones who care about this family."
Raina's voice suddenly turned sharp.
"I care about the East too."
"Then stop causing unnecessary—"
"The one causing problems isn't me. It's that woman!"
Her reddish-brown eyes flashed as she glared at him.
"Why can't you see that she's the source of everything? Ever since she came here, everything has gone wrong! And now she's even brought a monster into the castle, stirring up trouble everywhere, yet somehow I'm the only one who's blamed...!"
Lucas hurriedly clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Please, Raina! Do you really have no idea what will happen if Brother hears you?"
"Let go!"
Strengthened by years of horseback riding, Raina shoved him away with her sturdy forearm.
Then she ground her teeth, glaring at him viciously.
"Do you think I'm acting like this just because I'm jealous? I questioned her because she was behaving suspiciously!"
"Ha... what's this ridiculous accusation now? Enough already..."
"I'm telling the truth!"
Raina snapped.
"I've seen her secretly leaving the castle before dawn over and over again! She's definitely doing something suspicious every night. Even that healer's death is suspicious! The day he disappeared, she secretly left the castle with that wolf too!"
Lucas looked at his sister skeptically.
Every entrance to Laedgo Castle was completely sealed after sunset.
Without the night watch's permission, not even a mouse could leave the castle.
So how could the Grand Duchess possibly come and go whenever she pleased?
"If that's true, then why are you the only one who's ever seen Sister-in-law leave the castle?"
"That's..."
Raina's eyes darted back and forth as if she were struggling with something.
Then she simply fell silent.
Lucas let out a long sigh.
"Enough with these baseless accusations. You're an adult now. How much longer are you going to behave like a spiteful child?"
The irritation in his voice caused his sister's slender face to freeze over.
She glared at him with bloodshot eyes before abruptly turning away.
"Believe whatever you want."
She walked through the inner gate and across the training grounds without looking back.
Lucas stood rooted to the spot, staring after her retreating figure before roughly raking a hand through his hair.