Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 302: The Scheming Marquis
Count Dareder arrived at Marquis Van Dyne’s residence shortly before noon.
They barely completed their greetings before Marquis Van Dyne, Count Graunewald, Count Dareder, and Tauro departed for the headquarters of the Kingdom Knights to accuse Viscount Saissi formally.
Although Saissi held only the rank of viscount, his considerable wealth had recently made him an increasingly prominent member of Marquis Halagoura’s faction.
The sight of three major nobles from the Prime Minister’s and neutral factions presenting a joint accusation against him immediately unsettled the officers on duty.
The visitors were shown into a private reception room, where a senior official listened to Marquis Van Dyne’s explanation and examined the evidence.
Once the official understood the gravity of the case, he hurried away to notify his superiors.
Before long, Count Ombini, commander of the Kingdom Knights, entered the room.
The Kingdom Knights protected the nation and ranked above the ordinary guard forces. Cases requiring the arrest of nobles commonly fell under their authority.
The commander’s personal appearance showed that the accusation had already been recognized as a matter of national importance.
Tauro remained silent while the nobles presented the case again and showed Ombini the recovered documents.
The commander’s expression soured.
“We received the report concerning the destruction of the Assassins’ Guild branch in Count Dareder’s territory. I didn’t realize evidence of this kind had also been recovered.”
Ombini glanced at Tauro, the intended victim, and looked even more reluctant.
“If I recall correctly, your wife is a daughter of Viscount Kiranwaren, who belongs to Marquis Halagoura’s faction,” Marquis Van Dyne observed.
“That’s true. However, I’m Count Ombini and a member of the neutral faction. My wife’s family connections would never cause me to show favoritism.”
Realizing that the marquis had recognized his hesitation, Ombini immediately defended himself.
“Even so, her relatives will make your life difficult afterward,” Count Dareder said, seeing through him completely.
“Well… if the matter could be resolved without unnecessary conflict, that would be preferable.”
The commander finally admitted his true concern.
Tauro stared at him in disbelief. The person responsible for enforcing the law was already searching for a way to avoid inconveniencing himself.
Noticing Tauro’s expression, Ombini flinched.
“Naturally, a crime remains a crime. I’ll fulfill the duties of the Kingdom Knights. However…”
He was still attempting to qualify the promise when someone knocked and entered the reception room.
Tauro recognized the knight immediately.
“Commander Ombini, I overheard part of the discussion while waiting nearby. If the Kingdom Knights are unable to perform their duty, shall the Royal Guard assume responsibility?”
The speaker was Count Connoen, commander of the Royal Guard, who had previously assisted with Aeris’s protection in the Royal Capital.
“Count Connoen, wait. If the Royal Guard intervenes, it means the royal family itself has intervened. That would make the situation far more serious. We should remain calm.”
Ombini visibly panicked.
“Then the Kingdom Knights must act. I understand that the evidence is complete. Viscount Saissi arranged the attempted assassination of Count Graunewald’s heir, the successor to one of the neutral faction’s leading houses.”
Count Connoen folded his arms.
“At minimum, Saissi must immediately be ordered to answer the accusation. Given the severity of the evidence, arrest would be more appropriate. Fortunately, he’s currently in the Royal Capital. If he returns to his territory, matters will become needlessly complicated.”
Connoen’s tone hardened.
“The safest course is to detain him now and resolve the case before it grows into a national scandal. Should the affair expand because the Kingdom Knights hesitated, questions will inevitably be asked about who bears responsibility.”
“My responsibility?” Ombini exclaimed.
The commander’s hesitation vanished instantly.
“You’re correct, Count Connoen. Someone, dispatch a knight squad to Viscount Saissi’s residence immediately. Arrest him and begin a full investigation into the attempted assassination.”
Fear of being blamed accomplished what duty alone hadn’t.
“Count Ombini, we were scheduled to meet later today, but you’ll clearly be occupied. I shall return to Royal Guard headquarters and make whatever preparations may be necessary regarding the Saissi affair. We can postpone our meeting.”
Ombini nodded quickly.
“Yes. I can’t remain here. I must mobilize the Kingdom Knights and prepare for any response.”
Once the commander committed himself, he acted with impressive speed. After hurriedly bidding farewell to Marquis Van Dyne and the others, he left the room.
Marquis Van Dyne grinned and shook Connoen’s hand.
“Your acting has improved.”
“Ha ha ha. I was still nervous, Marquis.”
Count Connoen answered with a strained smile.
Tauro looked from one man to another.
“Acting?”
“Count Connoen’s appearance was arranged in advance,” Marquis Van Dyne explained. “He deliberately scheduled a meeting with Ombini for this time so that he could wait nearby and interrupt at the most effective moment. His threat to involve the Royal Guard was the push our indecisive commander required.”
So even that perfectly timed intervention had been part of the plan.
Marquis Van Dyne truly was a schemer.
Tauro could only marvel at the plot hidden beneath the entire exchange.