[Chapter 126] The Count's expression changed constantly before he sighed deeply

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"I never thought I would experience something like this as I approach death. It's a situation that's too difficult for this old man on the frontier to accept, Madam. Anyway, it's true that Blie saved my life."

"I did? Or Blie did?"

"Yes. It was also Blie who told me to hide my will if there was one. She also told me that the Grand Duke or His Highness the Crown Prince would kill me as soon as I became an obstacle."

"So, the Count's death was staged from the beginning?"

"Yes, the carriage where the accident happened was empty. I pretended to be in it and got off halfway. Fortunately, the manor was so small that I knew in advance who the Grand Duke's spy was. I checked and confirmed that the spy was in frequent contact with the Grand Duke, so I acted with my guards before I was harmed."

One by one, I recalled the moment I was heartbroken because I could never find the Count's body. And the face of Noebian who kept insisting that he didn't kill the Count of Acacia.

Noebian wasn't lying. It was just that when he had made up his mind to kill the Count, the Count had pretended to be dead.

I felt my heavy eyes blink slowly, as if crushed by the weight of the truth.

"So, it's true that the Grand Duke tried to kill the Count?"

"Blie Madam said that His Highness the Crown Prince or the Grand Duke would definitely do anything to get the mana stone mine. Perhaps the reason why she married me and you was to use the inheritance law to get the mine from the Grand Duke."

My fingertips turned cold quickly.

"After all, an old man without an heir didn't have such a great will to leave. She said that if I died, Blie would become the Count of Acacia, and her lover, the Grand Duke, would persuade Blie to get the mine. She also said that she might tamper with the will. The Grand Duke is such a thorough person, so he would set up double and triple safety measures."

As expected.

There was no way that Noebian would have made Blie, such a bomb, his mistress just out of love.

[Even the Count of Acacia was just someone who would be used and discarded by Noebian Trovica.]

It was clearly written in Blie's diary that I found in the Count's safe.

Blie knew that Noebian wanted to use her to get the mine.

"But Count, how could you believe everything Blie said? She didn't seem like someone you could trust."

"How could I not believe her? Blie had been interacting with the Grand Duke even before we became husband and wife in documents. She already knew about the mana stone mine and even explained in detail why the Grand Duke created the inheritance law."

Incredible stories poured out.

I followed the Count of Acacia into the cave and stared at him, alive and moving.

'This is how it feels to see someone you thought was dead alive.'

The longer the Count spoke, the more I realized he was alive, and I patted my chest.

It was because I always had a heavy heart, as if carrying a rock, thinking that he died because of me.

"Although Blie was a bit rough and extravagant... Unlike what the servants thought, she was sometimes exceptionally intelligent. Although I didn't see her often because I was busy, she once said this."

I listened intently to the traces of Blie that came out of the Count's mouth.

"That even if she suddenly became strange, I should complete the planned task."

Lottie, who was walking ahead of the Count, turned her head and looked at us with sparkling eyes. I immediately made eye contact with Lottie.

"She said that from the moment she demanded a divorce, she would probably have to prepare for death at all times. She also asked for the key ring of the mistress when she calmed down a bit."

The Count smiled faintly, remembering that time.

"Wasn't it because you were happy when I said I wanted a divorce?"

"Yes, well... It's true that I was eager for a divorce because I was caught in the middle. But I listened to what Blie told me as a last piece of advice before she went to the Grand Duke. I always wanted to continue the legacy of my ancestors who stayed in the territory and guarded the mine, rather than entering central politics."

"That's how it was. She was rough-mouthed. Although she seemed to say everything honestly according to her mood, she always had other thoughts in the back of her mind and was good at scheming. She was a pro at deceiving people. So she tricked me, her teacher, and stole the medicine without a trace."

Lottie said, exasperated, as she listened silently, but I was marveling at where Blie's plan started and ended.

"Miss. We have a long way to go. We don't know what other variables there might be, so let's wake Blie up and hear the whole story first."

I agreed with that.

What's the point of chasing after the past? First, I had to recognize the magic that might be in my body and, with the help of Lottie, wake up Blie.

I quietly glanced at Roaldness, who was following us.

His dark gaze briefly touched my face before falling away, like someone who had done nothing wrong but had no confidence to meet my eyes.

As if he was still conscious of the lingering smell of blood, he flinched and retreated whenever I tried to approach him.

"Count. It's good to tour the mine, but we came here to borrow some raw stones for a while."

Finally giving up on a conversation with Roaldness, I sighed and asked the Count.

"Yes, that's not difficult. But what about the mine investigation that Blie ordered?"

"Is the work Blie ordered to investigate this mana stone mine?"

"Yes. In fact, the Grand Duke and His Highness the Crown Prince knew about the existence of the mine, and they ordered me to offer it as a proof of loyalty. But since this barren and small territory only has this mine, I agreed to lend it for a while..."

Compared to the small entrance, the inside of this mine, which stretched out like an ant's nest, was as vast as another world.

We passed through several winding paths like a maze and finally reached our destination.

A thorny fence, which seemed to forbid anyone's entry, greeted us.

It was the same as the thorny bushes that had blocked the entrance to this cave.

Roaldness strode forward and tapped the fence, and the wriggling thorn fence made way.

And Roaldness, who had entered the fence, stopped abruptly at the entrance.

The Count nodded as if he had expected it and said with a slight tremor.

"As you can see..."

I walked towards Roaldness, passing the Count who couldn't continue his words, and both Lottie and I were speechless.

I unconsciously turned my trembling gaze towards Roaldness.

Roaldness' eyes, which seemed to have forgotten how to breathe, reflected the torch held by the Count and flickered before collapsing instantly.

"What... is this?"

We heard another group of people behind us.

Epero and Neil, who seemed to have followed us secretly, and even Vincento, who should have been in the capital, were there.

"What is this!!"

Epero's scream echoed through the space, bouncing off the cave walls.

Epero, who passed even the motionless Roaldness, ran inside past the thorny fence.

Then, Epero's inhaled breath was clearly heard in my ears.

With trembling steps, I approached Roaldness and grabbed his hand tightly. Unlike before, his hand, which didn't even try to avoid me, was cold.

Inside the space where our gazes were focused...

There were seven glass cases containing the bodies of seven people, including Empress Retinia.

"Her Majesty Empress Retinia and... if my memory serves me right, the six princes who were sent early by Her Majesty Empress Grace, the current Empress."

After countless screams, astonishment, and silence, the Count finally answered.

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