Chapter 12: Viscount Kalmais’s Confusion

Translator: Soafp

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[PoV former Viscount Kalmais]

“W-What do you mean?”

　Argus, my son, has a good point. It is natural for him to be confused when I return from the Marquis of Zafing’s mansion and suddenly hand over the title to him and tell him that in a week he will be the next Viscount.

“Dear, what’s going on?”

　My wife, Sara, has not recovered from her confusion either.

“Ghazel …….”

“What about Ghazel?”

“He is accused by Giorg-sama of poisoning the former Marquis of Zafing, Elphil.”

“Poisoned ……”

“Uncle….. poisoned.”

　The two of them were stunned by my words and muttered. There is no doubt that the Viscount Kalmais family will not get off scot-free if the person who poisoned the former Marquis was taken out of the family.

“And to take the blame, father gave up the title ……?”

　I couldn’t nod my head at Argus’ words.

“Dear, you have to hide the money from the Zafing.”

　Sara said, her face turning pale. It was only natural for Sara to think about how bad it would be to be suspected of complicity with Ghazel. But I shook my head at her words.

“Eh? Don’t tell me …… Giorg knows about this?”

　Sara’s face turned even paler as she realized everything.

“Yeah, Giorg-sama knows about it. And look at this.”

　As I left the Zafing residence, I showed Sara the document that had been given to me. Sara looked at the documents as if it was being snatching and began to tremble.

“Mother? What’s in that?”

“It shows when and how much money was provided by the Zafing family through Lord Ghazel …….”

“Then it’s …….”

“Yeah, the argument that we’re unrelated won’t carry ……”

　Sara’s words made Argus realize that the Viscountesses of Kalmais were in a corner.

“Sara ……Argus, take a look at this document.”

　I handed them the next document. Sara and Argus looked at it, wobbling even more. Their faces were as pale as could be.

“Father, how is it that the use of funds from the Zafing family is known in such detail?

“Dear….Are you saying that there are people from Giorg here are here? The reason you’ve been calling Giorg-sama respectfully…….”

　I answered both of their questions by nodding.

　”Yes, the reason I am addressing Giorg-sama is because I have noticed that the Kalmais family is under the watchful eye of the Zafing family.”

　The fact that they know the flow of funds in the Kalmais family in such detail means that the Zafing family is certainly keeping a close eye on the Viscount Kalmais family. When I realized that, I no longer have the confidence to just call him Giorg.

“What will happen to Lord Ghazel?”

“Death sentence.”

“EH!?”

“D-Death sentence is a bit…..”

　They were both shocked to learn that Ghazel had been sentenced to death, but it wasn’t the fact that Ghazel had been executed that was the problem. They were probably more terrified by the realization that Giorg-sama was a man who would show no mercy, even to his own father.

“It’s true. Could you, at only sixteen, sentence your own father to death? And that without any hesitation.”

　Neither of them answered my question.

“I’ve never met such a horrible person in my life.”

“……”

“Giorg-sama never rebelled against us, even though we despised him. Now I understand why. He could crush us at any time, and that is why he did not rebel. No, he did not find us worthy of any defiance.”

　I began to rattle and shake as I said it. The way Giorg-sama looked at Ghazel was like he was looking at garbage. And the same goes for when he nonchalantly asked me to retire. It was the first time in my experience that someone had looked at me so coldly.

“S-So, why doesn’t Giorg destroy the Kalmais family? Did he allow me to inherit the title?”

　Argus had a good point.

“Giorg-sama has declared that he will be your guardian.”

“Eh? Guardian?”

“Yes, and he’s sending an assistant from the Zafing family.”

“An assistant?”

　Both Argus and Sara looked aghast when they heard my words.

“As you know, ……. This is a virtual takeover by the Zafing. I think that Giorg has found some value in our family. That’s why he chose to take it over rather than destroy it.”

“It can’t be, can’t you do something about it? I pity Argus too much to let this happen.”

“There is nothing I can do. If Giorg-sama is so determined, we may as well be executed along with Ghazel.

“Eh?”

“Don’t you see? Ghazel assassinated the former Marquis, and the funds of the Zafing family flowed from Ghazel. If we are claimed to be accomplices, the whole family will definitely be executed. We are under the authority of Giorg-sama to live or die.”

“……”

　Sara and Argus are silent at my words. I myself had completely misjudged the boy Giorg-sama. I can’t even begin to regret that. Sara and Argus seem to think that they can handle it because they haven’t experienced the horror of Giorg-sama directly, but I know that they have to give up all such naive ideas to survive.

“If you both don’t want to die, …… no, don’t even think about rebelling unless you want to be crushed miserably. It is certain that the whole family will die in one way or another. Sara, don’t ever do anything to displease Giorg-sama if you don’t want to get your parents involved.”

　The two of them gave a small nod to my uncanny words.

　As of today, the Viscount Kalmais family has become an existence in name only. Rather than regret it, my mind was burdened with the fear of what I could do to avoid displeasing my new master, Giorg-sama.

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