Chapter 187
### Chapter 187
A few days later, the members of the investigation team returned, bringing with them evidence related to the heresy.
According to their findings, rituals of worship to ‘Teramir’ were regularly held on the outskirts of the village.
Furthermore, reports followed indicating a high probability of communication between the agitators and the town of ‘Zram’. In recent months, the volume of commercial trade of some residents had increased notably.
Apparently, they played the role of intermediaries, hiding the loot from the plundering to later deliver it to the members of ‘Zram’, who disguised themselves as traveling merchants.
Immediately, the investigation unit secretly arrested those involved with the enemy and confined them in the underground dungeons of Raidego Castle. After a severe interrogation that included torture, they managed to extract information about the town of ‘Zram’.
—It seems that the plunderers avoid being captured by dispersing and living disguised as traveling merchants or mercenaries, and they only gather to carry out large-scale plundering —said Baridon as he removed his blood-stained gloves after climbing the stairs leading from the torture chamber.
—It seems that the communication network is spread across different parts of the east. It is said that there are three people within ‘Calmore’ itself who cooperate with ‘Zram’.
—Did you find out the names of the accomplices? —Lukas asked indifferently as he leaned back in a solid wood chair, leafing through a bundle of parchment documents.
Baridon shrugged his shoulders and said:
—We woke up knowing the identity of two of them. One is a wool merchant named ‘Tarnik’, belonging to the wool textile guild, and the other is an apothecary named ‘Silvar’. As for the third, it seems that not even they know their identity.
—Ha! And do you really believe that story?
—Considering they insisted on denying it until the bones of their fingers were crushed, it seems to be true. —Baridon sighed as he rubbed his neck with his hand as if he were tense—. In any case, knowing two is enough. Now we only have to capture them and make them confess the location and time of the plunderers’ meeting. Then we can wipe them out in a single blow… But, what is it that you have been looking at for a while now?
Baridon frowned and approached from behind to take a look at the documents. When he saw the portrait of a woman drawn in the ‘silverpoint’ style on the yellowish paper, he showed signs of bewilderment.
—What is this painting?
—These are the candidates to be my fiancée, the ones my brother sent —Lukas pronounced with a wry tone as he rocked his chair back and forth.
At that moment, a gleeful smile formed on Baridon’s face.
—His Highness the Grand Duke never likes procrastination. With this momentum, it is certain that the ‘Shirkán’ family will witness a happy occasion very soon.
—You better hide your teeth before I smash your face.
As soon as Lukas pronounced that with the sharpness of a roar, the smiling young man closed his lips immediately.
Lukas looked at him with annoyance and then flipped through the images nervously. This time, the face of a young woman with round features and large eyes appeared.
Baridon exclaimed in a cheerful voice, as if he knew her:
—It’s the young lady of the ‘Calihof’ family! A lady famous for her extreme kindness and deep piety. Her age also seems appropriate… I think she is the perfect match for you, my lord.
—That kind of round women are not to my taste —Lukas replied coldly and turned the page once more.
Baridon tilted his head with curiosity:
—Then, what is your taste in women?
—A woman with white skin and a slender neck —he replied with apathy while examining the drawing of a woman who seemed to have a strong character, but he felt a strange gaze.
Lukas raised his head to see Baridon observing him with an enigmatic expression, so he knitted his brow.
—What? What’s with that look?
—Nothing… I just felt that such requirements can only be found in the noble families of ‘Useriana’ —Baridon said with an awkward laugh, as if avoiding the answer.
Lukas retorted in an indifferent tone:
—That is just my taste. From a practical point of view, it would be better to take the daughter of an eastern family as a wife.
—Well… That would certainly help strengthen internal cohesion.
The problem was that his heart felt no attraction toward any of the daughters of the suitable families.
Lukas clicked his tongue with annoyance as he flipped through the images quickly and then stood up from his seat.
He would have liked to use them as kindling to start the fire, but he suppressed his desire for fear of the consequences.
“It will be better to pretend to follow my brother’s will for the time being.”
He rolled up the bundle of parchments and stuffed it into the pouch hanging from his belt; then he left the military camp at a quick pace, directing his instructions to Baridon, who followed him:
—Gather the investigators immediately and keep a close eye on the apostates. Tell them to be especially cautious so that the criminals do not suspect anything and flee.
—And what about you, my lord?
—I will go to inform my brother about what we discovered in the interrogation —Lukas replied with a worried face, then turned around and went down the stairs.
Varkas was supposed to be in the boardroom at that time, engaging in intense discussions with the lords of the regions regarding the total reorganization of the eastern guard.
“This is better. I will leave the report with the subordinate waiting in the office and then I will retire.”
He was walking with long strides along the corridor located above the inner wall of the castle when, suddenly, he heard a sharp voice.
Lukas cast a glance below the railing without intending to and stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing Talia and Lina confronting each other on the pedestrian path that led to the garden.
The massive wolf, the ‘direwolf’, bared its fangs at Lina, who was screaming sharply as if something had infuriated her beyond measure.
Seeing that, the guards rushed to separate them.
A great tension reigned for a moment; then, the Duchess shot Lina a look as cold as ice and retired, leading the wolf in the opposite direction.
Lukas observed the scene with bated breath and then ran down the stairs.
—Lina!
His sister, who was walking toward the inner castle gate as if heading to the stables, turned around.
Lukas signaled the soldiers to step back a little, then took his sister by the wrist and led her to a quiet place.
—What did you say to my sister-in-law?
—Did you stop me just to ask me that question? —Lina let out a sarcastic laugh as she forcefully pulled her wrist from his hand.
Lukas looked at her severely:
—I told you to stop looking for trouble with her over any nonsense. Whether you like it or not, ‘Talia Roim Shirkán’ is the duchess of the east. Why don’t you realize she can make your life a living hell if she sets her mind to it?
—You speak as if you actually care about me? —Lina said with a repulsive disdain.
Lukas became agitated and raised his voice:
—Of course I care about you! Who else would I be interested in if not you?
The smile disappeared from Lina’s face and she looked at him with a strange expression.
Lukas felt his face warm up for some reason under that gaze that seemed to penetrate the secrets of his chest, so he averted his eyes.
—Anyway, don’t look for trouble unnecessarily. I already have a mountain of work giving me a headache…
—Don’t talk as if you and my brother are the only ones who care about this family —Lina’s voice suddenly became sharp—. I am also worried enough about the east.
—Then, stop causing unnecessary trouble and…
—I am not the one causing the trouble, it’s that woman! —Lina looked at him with her reddened brown eyes, which were flashing sparks—. Why don’t you understand that that witch is the root of all evil! Since she arrived, everything is a chaos! Furthermore, she brought that beast into the castle and has caused all kinds of discord, why do you blame only me…?
Lukas rushed to cover his sister’s mouth with his hand:
—I beg you, Lina! Do you really not know what would happen if these words of yours reached my brother’s ears?
—Let go of me! —Lina pushed him away forcefully with her arms, which had grown stronger from riding horses. Then, she gritted her teeth while looking at him with resentment—: Do you think I do this out of simple stubbornness? I have seen that woman commit suspicious acts, and the only thing I did was question her!
—Bah, and what kind of groundless accusation is that now? Stop talking nonsense and…
—I am telling the truth! —Lina was panting with rage—. Do you know how many times I have seen her sneak out of the castle at dawn? I’m sure she plans something shady every night. Even the death of that healing priest arouses suspicion! The day that magician disappeared, she also sneaked out of the castle with the wolf!
Lukas looked at her with an expression tinged with doubt.
All the entrances of Raidego Castle were tightly closed at sunset.
Not even a mouse could sneak in without the permission of the night guard. How could the Duchess enter and leave the castle?
—If what you say is true, why has no one other than you seen my sister-in-law leave the castle?
—That’s because…
Lina began to shift her eyes as if she were in an internal conflict, and then she fell into absolute silence. Lukas sighed deeply:
—Drop the groundless conspiracies. You are already an adult. Until when are you going to keep behaving like a capricious child?
His sister’s thin face froze coldly at his words, which were pronounced with annoyance. Lina glared at him with a look from her reddened eyes and then suddenly turned around:
—Think whatever you want.
Then she crossed the inner castle gate and walked through the training courtyard.
Lukas stood in his place watching her leave, and then ran his hands through his hair violently.
Comments for chapter "Chapter 187"
MANGA DISCUSSION
Madara Info
Madara stands as a beacon for those desiring to craft a captivating online comic and manga reading platform on WordPress
For custom work request, please send email to wpstylish(at)gmail(dot)com