𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫
. . .I am being watched.
I live my life always cautious, piling precaution upon precaution. It was only natural that I would notice it.
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. . .Where did the information leak from?
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In my own room, the only place I can assert without a doubt that I am not being watched, I swirl a glass filled with ice. I watched as the ice and the liquor mixed with a cool, clinking sound.
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“The spy who crept into my house has been dealt with. The Dyson family has installed numerous magical security devices. They should not have been able to take any information back.”
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Since there’s no evidence of poisoning left in this house, there should be no information for a spy to obtain.
I take a sip of the liquor.
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“. . .Could it be because we failed to capture Shiro Wanko?”
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The one who was ordered to capture Shiro Wanko died by a collar of submission. It’s unlikely that man divulged anything.
If it’s for meeting Marie Ange, he would do anything. He’d choose death over capture.
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Although we were able to retrieve the man’s corpse, in the end, we failed to capture Shiro Wanko. The collar of submission we put on Shiro was not designed to release poison with a specific word. That’s because it would be troublesome if he died before spilling Linus’ information.
The same goes for Emilia Telhar. I allowed her to be taken as leverage for Shiro’s confession, but it may have been a bad move.
At least, I should have set Emilia Telhar’s collar of submission to release poison.
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I had thought of killing Shiro and Emilia if I couldn’t make them my pawns, but that dog was stronger than I thought. After Shiro took Emilia and escaped, I sent men capable of fighting, but they were all turned back.
From the start, I have few pawns. The more pawns I have, the more likely it is that the plan will come to light.
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With no one left who could fight, I reluctantly outsourced the job. A mercenary skilled in killing, a despicable creature that would kill anyone for the right price.
By the time I made the request, Shiro had disappeared.
The location information on the collar of submission was gone, and I could no longer tell where he was.
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It would be better if he were dead.
But he’s alive. To disable the location function, one must dismantle the collar of submission in a specific sequence.
Only someone skilled in handling magical tools could do that. If it were simply broken, the poison would be released, and Shiro would be dead. And if Shiro died, the location would still be traceable.
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Shiro is alive. Probably sought help from Coleesh.
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“. . .Coleesh must have sensed the poisoning.”
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There was a sudden personnel change. It was a nightmare day when what my pawns and I had built over many years was torn apart.
The one who procures the poison. The one who brings it into the castle. The cook, the carrier, the taster. When I decided to poison, the path I had built over many years disappeared in an instant.
It’s no coincidence that the head chef was the only position that didn’t change.
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Linus has disappeared. Still not found.
Emilia and the Telhar couple also fled. Despite all the threats, they never broke.
Either they were prepared to die, or help arrived.
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The ice melts.
I remembered the drink I was still holding, but I didn’t feel like drinking it.
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“. . .It’s not possible to kill Coleesh instantly. Early weakening is also not good.”
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If Coleesh were to fall ill from poison and had little time left, discussing the detached palace would be put aside.
Politics come first, and he would surely not recall such a place as the detached palace.
Coleesh said that the detached palace is locked from the inside, so it can’t be opened from here.
It sounds like something that rotten king would think of, but I can’t believe it’s true. There’s also the possibility that Coleesh has locked it.
If that man were to come out of the detached palace in his madness, it would only cause confusion and trouble. It’s better to lock it from the outside to avoid being bothered.
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“After all, Coleesh must not be killed until he has had some time to talk.”
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. . .My pieces are diminishing.
Everything was going smoothly until now, why?
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It began with Linus disappearing under the pretense of a transparent illness.
Even though I finally pinpointed him in the Fourth Knight Order, I failed to capture him. The kitchen maid meant to be a hostage also ended up being an unidentified young lady.
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On holidays, knights came to the kitchen maids’ dormitory. I could have captured and threatened one if she were alone, but reports say that Edgardo, Valka, and Rene Kukura were too sensitive to presence to even get close enough to eavesdrop.
Edgardo only noticed the presence, while Rene was on guard.
I instructed to infiltrate the dormitory, but I couldn’t because of the security magic tool. It was difficult to sneak in using valuable magic tools, so I had to give up.
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Regarding the magic tool, Maurice Maigret was the right person, but I was being watched and couldn’t contact him.
I had Maurice create poison. It must not be known that there’s an absolute connection.
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“Maurice Maigret. . . that detestable man.”
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The only one who could make the poison I desired.
Even though I extended a helping hand, he modified the magic tool to record our conversation and blackmailed me.
The price was a modest one, “to go outside,” so I decided to grant it. . .
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No matter how much I watch, he disappears at some point. It’s Maurice who’s killing.
That man is talented and necessary to meet Marie Ange. But his actions are erratic and unreadable.
Why does he insist on going out to buy herbs? I can’t understand the meaning.
However, I have no choice but to comply. Otherwise, he would reveal the poisoning and I couldn’t meet Marie Ange.
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“Why threaten me when you say you want to meet Marie Ange?”
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Without me, there’s no chance of meeting Marie Ange.
I don’t understand Maurice’s thinking, but as long as he quietly makes the poison on the condition of going out, I can’t act.
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“I will dispose of him once the necessary amount of poison is made. . . Ah, the surveillance is troublesome.”
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I must do something about the eyes following me if I am to move freely.
Frustrated with the circular conclusions, I gulp down the alcohol.
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“Marie Ange. . . Why is it so difficult to meet you?”
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All I want is to see Marie Ange’s face once more.
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“If only they would let me meet her, there would be no need to kill Coleesh.”
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Why can’t the royal family understand this?
Indeed, the royal family is hopeless. They took Marie Ange away. I can never forgive them.
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“Marie Ange. . .”
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There is no reply from the portraits of Marie Ange that adorn the walls without a gap.
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