ADLG 46

Chapter 46

After I Die, the Little Groom

News of the death of Count Crimson spread quickly—from the capital all the way through the entire Crimson territory.

Count Crimson had been found in his townhouse office, poisoned.

In the corner of the office, a vial containing poison was discovered. There were no other injuries, so the situation was already being framed as a suicide.

Since the Crimson family served the Duke of Baldwin, Heinrich declared that he would protect the Crimson territory until the rightful heir returned.

Meanwhile, Heinrich, Nadia, and their companions held one meeting after another.

Some suggested that Count Crimson had taken his own life to avoid punishment.

Others argued that it couldn’t be related to the recent destruction of the criminal organization—how could Count Crimson have known to die beforehand? The two events must be unrelated.

So, had Count Crimson committed suicide for reasons unrelated to the human trafficking case?

Or had he been murdered by some method not yet uncovered?

And if so, why?

Hours passed, but with only uncertain information, they couldn’t piece the puzzle together.

Allison looked at Nadia with hopeful eyes and asked,

“Baroness Hess, what do you think?”

She must have wanted to borrow the wisdom Nadia had displayed until now. But Nadia only gave a vague answer.

“Well… I don’t think a self-conscious man like Count Crimson would die without leaving even a will.”

It was a guess anyone could make, so Nadia’s comment went unnoticed.

Finding further discussion meaningless, Heinrich dismissed everyone. Nadia was the only one left in the conference room—he had asked her to stay for a moment.

Knowing what Heinrich would say, Nadia spoke as soon as the room fell silent.

“Count Crimson did not commit suicide.”

“That makes half a day’s debate pointless.”

“You already know why I couldn’t stop everyone, right?”

Nadia and Heinrich were thinking the same thing.

In the cave where the criminals had been holed up, Nadia had brought up the subject of ‘black magic.’

“Do you still think this case is related to black magic?”

“Yes. There isn’t enough evidence yet, but it’s the only thing that connects what’s happening now.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Among the victims trapped in the cave, about a third had cores. In the Empire, only one in ten people has a core. If they had randomly captured people, the numbers wouldn’t line up.”

“Are you saying they captured mages?”

“No. The core is what’s important. Even if someone can’t use magic, they can have a core if they excel in a particular field. Arts are a typical example. Judging from what Baron Varden told me, it seems they wanted to steal other people’s cores.”

“Is that possible? I’ve heard that cores are the hearts of mages.”

“There wasn’t much time to investigate, but ordinary magic alone couldn’t do it. I need to look more into whether black magic could, but… the point is, Baron Varden intended to use black magic.”

Heinrich looked at Nadia suspiciously.

“…Have you ever seen black magic?”

Nadia swallowed hard. Her eyes, once full of certainty, trembled slightly.

“Perhaps… Actually, I’m not sure.”

“Is it from your lost memories?”

Her words contradicted themselves, but she nodded.

The black mana, thick and viscous like sludge, was so horrific that she couldn’t forget it.

Nadia didn’t even know when or from whom she had seen it, but she was certain that it was black magic.

Yet, lacking concrete evidence, she couldn’t say it in front of others—it would only spread unnecessary fear.

She ransacked her lost memories, but her mind was already a muddy mess, and she could find nothing.

Nadia ran her hands through her hair and exhaled in frustration. Her memories weren’t what mattered right now.

“I received a letter yesterday. Just before I heard the news of Count Crimson’s death.”

“…Who knew that you were in Crimson territory?”

“Everyone currently in Crimson territory. People from Hess territory would assume I was still in the Duke of Baldwin’s lands.”

That made it even stranger.

They couldn’t have gotten information from Hess territory.

This meant she had been under surveillance from the capital.

They must have anticipated that upon hearing news of the missing persons, Nadia would rush to Hess territory—and eventually reach Crimson territory.

Then the observer was likely connected to this criminal case.

“What did the letter say?”

“It said, ‘I apologize for the many inconveniences. It will never happen again.’”

Before Nadia finished, Heinrich’s gaze turned cold.

The wording was so vague.

What inconveniences had this person caused Nadia?

Had they killed Count Crimson?

If so, was his death the ‘price’ for those inconveniences?

The more she thought, the more questions piled up.

Yet some things were instinctively clear. This person had been watching Nadia all along, would continue to do so, and had no intention of hiding themselves completely.

Nadia clasped her hands tightly.

Even as she shared a secret conversation with Heinrich, she couldn’t reveal all her doubts.

Why was the anonymous sender watching her?

As an adopted daughter of a small, poor territory, she should have had little value.

But Nadia knew something herself.

She was different from everyone else.

“…Perhaps… it’s the one who revived me.”

Time passed swiftly.

The Emperor severely punished the Varden family for the incident. Their assets were confiscated, and anyone belonging to the family was stripped of noble status. Even nobles couldn’t buy and sell the Empire’s people, the Emperor reportedly said in anger.

By contrast, no major action was taken against the Crimson family.

They were only instructed to strengthen security and block passage to the north.

People whispered that this couldn’t have been the Varden family’s sole doing, but no one dared speak out.

Unlike the Vardens, many families would suffer if the Crimson family fell.

Among those without vested interests, some stayed silent out of sympathy for Yuria, suddenly left in charge of the family.

Yuria had never once been trained as an heir.

As a child, she was bedridden and incapable of doing anything. Growing up, she only learned the decorum of a noblewoman as she was to become the Duchess of Baldwin.

Wearing a black veil, Yuria appeared pitiable, showing none of the Count’s dignity.

Fortunately, she had her mother and Arkis.

Attending the funeral as the head of the household, Yuria managed her duties, clumsy but thorough.

People say positions shape people. Watching Yuria convey thanks on behalf of the deceased, she seemed more mature than before.

Nadia sat at the back of the funeral hall, watching Yuria.

Tears slipped down beneath Yuria’s black veil.

Nadia gripped her knees tightly, then slowly released them.

Count Crimson’s death was his own doing. Even knowing he would die, Nadia would have saved the people.

Yet, she couldn’t help but feel small before a friend’s tears.

She waited quietly until the ceremony ended, and when the crowd dispersed, approached Yuria.

Yuria leaned on Arkis’ shoulder, trying to soothe her sorrow.

“…Yuria.”

Calling carefully, Nadia saw Yuria tremble, then slowly turn her head.

Yuria still kept her veil, lips tightly sealed, but she smiled faintly through her tear-stained lips, as if determined.

“…Nadia, I heard. You resolved the crimes in our territory. Thank you so much.”

Yuria was naive, but not foolish.

She must have known that Count Crimson’s death—suicide or murder—was related to the recent case.

Yet she tried to speak in the clearest, cleanest voice possible.

When they parted in the capital, Yuria seemed like a bright young girl. Now, she felt like a mature woman.