It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 207
Even he had thought Dana’s plan this time was not bad.
They had hired two elite mercenaries from the Kingdom of Undva, men who had no qualms about murder, trafficking, or anything else so long as it made money, and sent them into the Luanax estate while Lionel was absent.
Through the imperial intelligence guild, Rex Ruina, they had obtained the supply list for goods delivered to Luanax, then disguised the two mercenaries as employees of that merchant caravan to infiltrate the estate.
Not stopping there, they had even acquired Luanax knight uniforms in the right sizes for those men, so the preparation had been perfect.
Then what happened, what variable had ruined everything?
“Have you found out what happened, the reason for the failure?”
“We just received the information from Rex Ruina. Unfortunately, early this morning, Duke Calitas visited the Luanax estate.”
“…He visited to see his fiancée at that hour?”
The Council Meeting was held early in the morning. Most noble ladies would not even have been awake at that time, and it was certainly unusual to visit someone as a guest at such an hour.
“That man really is impossible to predict.”
Axion pressed his forehead and let out a dry laugh.
The Emperor often said that those from the North were inherently rough-tempered and wild, and it seemed that was exactly right.
And what a temper he had.
When Lionel was late for their planned visit to the estate, Halid had rushed to the Imperial Palace and paced frantically. That memory resurfaced.
To that degree, one might even wonder if he had some mental illness.
Losing his parents young, surviving in that frozen land drenched in the blood of monsters, perhaps that was how he turned out this way.
For the next Emperor, Halid Calitas’s mental instability was not a particular concern.
He had no interest in the politics of the capital anyway. It was enough if he stayed in the North and ensured that monster incursions never crossed into imperial territory.
“Vivian Luanax, was it? I hope he marries that bastard daughter quickly and returns to his domain.”
I had heard rumors that despite her mediocre lineage, her pretty face had several men persistently seeking her hand.
Unfortunately, among them was Dantère Ortatum, the disgrace of the former Emperor.
‘How troublesome.’
Because this failure was the result of overlapping coincidences, there was no blaming Dana this time.
“To remove the variable, we will have to get rid of that woman, Vivian first.”
“Get rid of her, how? Surely you do not mean to kill her?”
“What, are you frightened now?”
“It is not that…”
Dana hesitated before speaking.
“If something bad happens right after another, Lionel might grow suspicious. He might realize someone planned it deliberately.”
“It is too late to avoid suspicion already. Even if the Duke of Luanax has the reputation of being a madman, he is not so stupid that he could not figure that out.”
“But it will still be fine for now. Those mercenaries do not know who is behind them after all.”
Crossing his arms, Axion leaned back comfortably in his chair.
“I heard your hopeful opinion well, Dana.”
At the deceptively gentle tone, Dana flinched and glanced up at Axion.
She knew very well that Axion became most cruel not when he scolded or openly raged, but when he showed a calm, mild face like this.
“I shall personally visit the Luanax estate tomorrow afternoon. To confirm whether the Duke suspects us.”
“Really? Then I want to go with you!”
Eager not to miss a chance to see Lionel, Dana cried out with brightened eyes.
“I will even prepare gifts myself, ones your lady and the Luanax bastard girl would appreciate.”
“…Gifts. Yes, one must not forget that.”
Axion stroked the corner of his mouth, sinking into thought.
A woman’s face surfaced in his mind.
Sasha Dilottete. A name that both suited her and did not.
Soft-looking pink hair like a fledgling’s down, innocent eyes that seemed both timid and curious, and lips so plump and red they looked unbearably sweet when bitten.
Even though some time had passed since he last saw her, the image was as vivid as if she stood right in front of him.
“Love surpasses all desires. Even if the entire world were placed on a scale, it wouldn’t match the happiness Lionel has given me.”
That cute, chattering voice.
‘You are wrong, Lady Dilottete. It is not Lionel Luanax you should place on your scale. It must be me.’
No, that balance scale should have been smashed to pieces from the start.
