The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 235
“……”
Freed from his restraints, the knight rolled his tingling wrists.
A sidelong glance.
Regaining physical freedom made the terror and anxiety that had been eating away at his mind begin to fade, and another thought crept in.
Maybe he should just kill that bastard and escape, then report to His Excellency the Count that Duke Bayern had caught on.
No matter how weakened he might be at the moment, he was still a knight. He could not possibly fail to deal with a scrawny clerk like this.
And besides, there was no guarantee that doing as he was told would really make them cover up his crimes.
Perhaps killing the clerk now and escaping was the only way to secure his future.
‘The corruption I committed can just be blamed on the ones who died first…’
He swallowed dryly and was considering how to strike Hozi down when.
“I trust you will not try anything foolish.”
He flinched.
The knight froze as Hozi spoke as if reading his thoughts precisely.
“F-Foolish? What foolishness?”
Blue light glinted between the man’s narrow eyes.
Despite being a government clerk, the killing intent radiating from him was so chilling that goosebumps swept the knight’s entire body.
“Surely you do not think I released you without any precautions.”
In other words, do not try anything stupid.
Realizing Hozi was far from an ordinary clerk, the knight hastily smothered the murderous impulse that had flickered up.
“…If, if I do exactly as instructed, you will keep ‘that matter’ quiet?”
Distrust shimmered in his eyes.
It was only natural, since his role was hardly important.
If he were eliminated here, the Count would realize the scheme had been exposed, and he would naturally abandon his attempt to change guardianship.
Why would the duke release him when killing him would be the simpler path to their goal.
“My lord has no desire to be threatened over the guardianship ever again, so you may trust us.”
“……”
“Otherwise, I would have no reason to let you live.”
“…I-I will trust you.”
* * *
Late at night.
Hozi quietly left the underground prison and sent the knight out through the side gate used by Bayern estate servants.
Once the knight staggered away into the darkness like a beaten stray,
Hozi watched him for a moment, then hummed a tune and descended once more into the underground prison.
Creak.
The knight who had been tortured all afternoon and left in tatters jolted at the ominous clang of metal.
“I thought you were dead, but you’re still alive, I see.”
“Gghh…”
Hozi let out a thin smile at the bubbling, blood-clogged groan and approached him.
For a knight, he had endured a level of torture that would have broken most men while fully conscious, and yet he was still breathing.
Hozi crouched before him.
“S-Spare… me…”
The eyes of a man who would normally swagger and crush the weak without hesitation were soaked in fear.
His pitifully trembling voice was almost laughable.
Hozi stared into the man’s sweat, tears, and blood-smeared eyes and spoke with mocking calm.
“You kidnapped innocent hostages and imprisoned them, so the least you could have done was treat them humanely.”
It had only been half a month, but they had torn a loving family apart and subjected them to cruelty without hesitation.
All for their own amusement.
Hozi also used others’ misfortune as entertainment, but he never targeted innocent women and children.
That was the bare minimum line a human had to keep to remain human.
He straightened his knees.
“P-Please spare me…”
“Your colleague pleaded earnestly to keep his place and apologized, so I released him.”
The knight’s eyes flew wide.
He had also spilled every piece of information he had and begged to work with the Bayern household.
So why?
In his bloodshot gaze, questions, frustration, and fury crashed together.
“He convinced me he was more useful than you. He was so desperate that I let it slide.”
“U-Urgh…”
Leaving the man to choke on betrayal and anguish, Hozi turned away.
Sowing discord was the foundation of interrogation.
Even lovers, friends, or family could be isolated and turned against one another with ease.
How much more for men who had no loyalty to their lord, filled their pockets with corruption, and committed cruel acts against innocent civilians.
What loyalty could such filth have to one another.
Hozi stepped out, leaving behind a man who swallowed every word without demanding proof, and a sly smile curled over his lips.
The betrayed knight would soon become a hunting dog that would tear out the throat of the man who had gone ahead to Azelot first.
