Why the Northern Duke Wanders the Snowfields - Chapter 69

“Why isn’t Cedric coming?”

At Kaeloc’s low, ominous voice, not only Sion and Razen but even Viscount Drachen, who had come as the Queen’s messenger, flinched and tensed.

Tap, tap.

Kaeloc, who had been tapping the desk with his gloved hand, abruptly rose to his feet.

“Please forgive my rudeness.”

Kaeloc swept his gaze around the office as though it were unfamiliar, then turned back to him.

“So, what did Her Majesty say?”

Viscount Drachen cleared his throat. Word had spread that the Duke of the north had lost his memory, but his statue-like face was as sharp as a whetted blade.

The atmosphere made the man feel as though one wrong word might cost him his head. He cleared his throat once more and recited the Queen’s message.

“Her Majesty requests that you clear away every last trace of the utterly hideous Carnu tribe.”

Sion clenched his fists tightly, but nothing showed on his face. Razen asked, “Does that mean she wants even those of mixed blood removed?”

“That is correct. Her Majesty the Queen said she couldn’t remain on the same land as those irreverent people.”

The Viscount turned and held out a document to Kaeloc.

“She also said that Duke Tennant would faithfully comply with her command.”

“I accept. See that the place is cleaned up before Her Majesty arrives.”

Without even taking the document, Kaeloc instructed Sion.

“Your Grace! To do that so suddenly….”

“Suddenly? Isn’t there still some time before Her Majesty arrives? Take care of it as you see fit.”

As Kaeloc approached the door, he muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“Since I’ve lost my memory, I wanted to hear the acting head’s opinion, but he hasn’t even shown up, so it can’t be helped.”

Kaeloc shrugged and disappeared, and Sion apologized to the Viscount on his behalf.

“Please understand. His Grace hasn’t recovered all of his memories yet.”

Viscount Drachen gave a hearty laugh, his round face appearing amiable. He concluded by saying that he was glad the Duke looked healthy, then rose from his seat.

“Why not rest here for the night?”

“This isn’t the only place where I must deliver Her Majesty’s message. I plan to head directly to Alandor from here.”

Viscount Drachen headed toward the castle entrance. A rather modest black carriage for a royal messenger stood there, harnessed to two horses.

However, the chamberlain, attendants, and servants who came out to see him off all knew that the carriage was decorated with magic stones of the finest quality.

After the messenger departed, Sion frowned and looked around.

“Where on earth has Sir Cedric gone?”

A servant had clearly been sent to look for him, but they said there had been no trace of him after he left Lady Lott’s room.

“Should we send someone to the red-light district as well?”

At Harrick’s words, Sion sighed and shook his head. Now that Kaeloc’s memories had returned, Cedric’s existence was unnecessary.

“His Grace has returned anyway, so there’s no need to go that far.”

Sion turned away with a contemptuous expression.

After considering it for a moment, Harrick called over a fleet-footed servant and ordered him to search the red-light district for Cedric.

‘Whatever the case, he still bears the Tennant name and remains the head of the family for now, so I should keep an eye on him.’

Harrick was also delighted that the Duke had returned, but he no longer wanted Cedric to tarnish the family’s honor.

“Hurry back.”

“Yes, Chamberlain.”

The sun was already slowly setting. It was the hour when the chaotic lights of the red-light district began glowing garishly.

***

“Where did she go?”

“W-Well….”

Renee swallowed hard. She’d seen him several times while staying at Count Bellone’s villa, but she’d never seen him look this frightening before.

His blue eyes swept sharply over every corner of Aubrianna’s room as though tearing it apart.

“Did anyone come by?”

Someone who came by….

“Oh! That maid came by. She seemed to be close to Miss Aubrianna.”

“What did they talk about?”

“S-She was trying to find a boy, but said she couldn’t find him. I think she said he was on leave?”

“A boy?”

“Yes, yes. She said he’d done something worthy of recognition and was working with the knights.”

After recounting everything she heard, Renee clasped her hands together. Just then, Theo began crying, apparently awake from his nap.

“It seems the young master is awake.”

Renee was about to turn around when the large figure swiftly brushed past her and headed into the nursery.

“Abbu-baa.”

Kaeloc’s expression softened as he emerged carrying Theo.

“Is he eating his solid food well?”

“Pardon?”

His expressionless face was terrifying, yet he looked entirely different when dealing with Aubrianna and Theo. Renee always found it fascinating.

“Yes, he still eats well and isn’t picky about anything.”

“That’s a relief. Pay particular attention to whether anything unusual gets into his food.”

“Of course. Don’t worry. We’re using special tableware that detects poison.”

It was Aubrianna’s request. Kaeloc nodded, then tried to recall who the boy the lady’s maid mentioned was.

“There was a boy who helped us. His name was Hardin.”

As he walked down the corridor, recalling Aubrianna’s voice, Sion hurried toward him.

“Your Grace!”

“Perfect timing. Do you know a boy named Hardin?”

At the mention of Hardin’s name, Sion paused and nervously swept back his hair.

“That isn’t the problem right now. Sir Cedric….”

Sion approached and whispered into his ear. Kaeloc’s eyes wavered, then narrowed slightly.

His long eyelashes trembled.

“Is it true?”

Doubt and shock filled his low voice.

“We’ve summoned Edmond to determine the exact cause of death.”

“Show me the way.”

He needed to find Aubrianna, but something more urgent had arisen.

Cedric Coville had been murdered.

***

Cedric Coville, who indulged in every form of corruption and debauchery after becoming the acting head of House Tennant, met his end in a particularly hideous state.

His trousers and underwear were tangled around his ankles, and he was kneeling with his upper body bent forward. The center of the exposed back of his neck had been pierced by something sharp.

Behind the sofa, Edmond examined the corpse with a deep frown, then looked at each person in the room in turn.

There was Kaeloc, the Duke, and his aide, Sion. Razen, his lieutenant, and Harrick, the castle’s chamberlain, were also there. All of them wore solemn expressions, but none showed any grief.

‘Well, I suppose that’s only natural.’

He removed his gloves, took disinfectant from his bag, wet his hands with it, then wiped them with a handkerchief.

“What was the cause of death?”

Razen asked while glancing at the hideously bent, dark-red mass of flesh between Cedric’s legs.

“The cause of death was… respiratory paralysis.”

Edmond put his gloves back on and moved aside the hair covering the back of the neck.

“Someone severed his spinal cord in a single strike with a sharp, pointed, cylindrical object.”

“That’s surprising.”

Razen and Harrick exchanged glances. Their expressions clearly said they thought he’d died because of what happened to his lower body.

“There’s almost no blood.”

At Sion’s words, Kaeloc’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“That’s what’s remarkable. The blood vessels were barely touched. Literally only the spinal cord within the cervical vertebrae was damaged. When this area is injured….”

Edmond pointed below his own rib cage.

“The human diaphragm can no longer move properly. His breathing probably slowed until it stopped, killing him.”

“For someone who couldn’t breathe, there are hardly any signs that he struggled.”

“He probably died without even realizing what was happening to him. Or perhaps the pain in his penis was so severe that he was too preoccupied with it to notice.”

Unable to draw in the oxygen he needed, his mind might have gone blank before he lost consciousness and died.

‘Compared to his past atrocities, he got off easy.’

While everyone was thinking the same thing, Kaeloc furrowed his brow and spoke, “Then what happened down there?”

“Well. Most likely….”

Looking around, Edmond picked up the ornament lying on the floor. He tested its weight and swung it before holding it out to Kaeloc.

“It seems someone struck him with this.”

It was a statue of the Goddess made from snowwood, which was renowned for its hardness. As they examined the long statue without a single scratch on it, darkness seeped through the window.

Harrick lit the candles on three candelabras, illuminating the room.

The wavering shadows of the living flickered across the walls, while a single corpse lay facedown on the floor, stiffened in death.

The empty room filled with an eerie silence and chill.

“What should we do?”

“Well.”

At Sion’s question, Kaeloc stroked his chin.

The Queen would soon be visiting the castle, and now there was a murder….

“The Duchess will look for Sir Cedric.”

Kaeloc agreed with Harrick’s words.

He might have been a wastrel, but he was also her nephew. If she hadn’t cared for him, she wouldn’t have summoned him and appointed him acting head of the family.

Moreover, if he disappeared, she would grow anxious about what foolish thing he might be doing and search for him even more desperately.

“We don’t know who did this, so for now, summon and interrogate every outsider who entered the castle today.”

Kaeloc called Razen. “You find the boy named Hardin and bring him here.”

“Pardon? Why do you need that boy…?”

“Do I have to explain that too?”

“He’s currently on leave. He’s been working with the knights as a reward for helping find Your Grace, but his younger sister fell ill recently, so we sent him home.”

Kaeloc crossed his arms at Razen’s slightly defensive attitude.

“Then bring me his home address.”

Razen was about to ask why once more, but at Sion’s gesture, he closed his mouth and left the room with Edmond and Harrick.