Everything was ready—evidence, counter arguments, alibis. Dani had prepared it all. As soon as Max accused him directly, Dani was prepared to dismantle the accusation piece by piece. But this idiot was only hinting at the truth, refusing to actually say the words!
"My goodness, could this really be happening…?""Even if they are half-brothers…""Shh! Don't say anything unnecessary!"
Hearing the servants whispering around him, a vein throbbed on Dani's forehead. They were already suspecting him without Max even confirming anything! Should he just shout his defense now? No, that would only make him look guiltier.
"Sniff… The one behind this is…!" Max stammered, still drawing out the moment.
'For God's sake, just say it! Please!' Dani thought, growing more and more anxious.
"The one behind it is... Mi... Mi... Miha...!"
Dani gripped his knees tightly. Yes! Just a little more—say my name!
"The one behind it is... Young Master Miha—!"
"Father!" Sylas suddenly shouted, standing up just before Max could finish. His voice was loud enough to redirect all eyes to him. Sylas glanced at Max before turning to his father, his face filled with determination.
"The identity of the mastermind is irrelevant. Let's just let this go."
"What!? Are you out of your mind?!" Count Bill shouted in disbelief, pounding the armrests of his chair in frustration. The servants and knights all began murmuring again.
Let the mastermind go? That was the most crucial part of the entire ordeal!
But Sylas nodded firmly, his expression resolute.
"Yes, I don't want to know."
"It's not about whether you want to know!" the count barked back.
"No, it is about that. We're family, aren't we?"
The meaning behind Sylas's words was ambiguous. Was he asking for leniency because he was the count's son? Or was it because the assassination attempt involved his family? Or, perhaps, because the one who orchestrated the assassination was family?
"Please, I beg you. Let's stop pursuing the mastermind behind this!" Sylas pleaded, kneeling before his father.
Count Bill clenched the armrest of his chair so hard that it cracked with a sharp sound. After a long moment of tense silence, the count exhaled heavily and sighed.
"Yes, we are family. No matter what was done, we are still family."
"...!?"
Dani's eyes widened in disbelief. What madness was this? He had prepared everything—the evidence, the alibi, everything—and now, without even a word, he was being seen as the culprit!
"F-Father…"
"Be quiet!" the count snapped, glaring at Dani with a fiery gaze.
Dani instinctively shrank back, swallowing his words. The count stared at him for a few long seconds before leaning back into his chair, exhausted.
"Sylas, what do you want to do about all this?" the count asked, his voice weary.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean the whole situation," the count clarified, his question open-ended. Did it include Max's fate? Or was it about the mastermind's role in this affair? It was up to Sylas's interpretation, and Sylas chose the former.
"I will take responsibility for Max," Sylas declared.
"What? The man who tried to kill you?" The count's incredulous laughter echoed in the room. No matter how much of a sob story Max had, he was still an assassin who had aimed to kill Sylas. And now Sylas wanted to take responsibility for him?
"He's a man who sought redemption. He was no longer an assassin. He was simply pushed to the edge," Sylas argued.
"Even so!"
"Please, Father."
Seeing Sylas kneel down in front of him, the count trembled. He turned his gaze to Max, who was a tearful mess, his face covered in snot and tears. The count's eyes showed a mix of frustration and pity.
"Max, do you have anything to say?" the count asked.
"Sniff… What could a sinner like me possibly say? Only… only…" Max trailed off.
"Only what?"
"When you execute me, please burn my head separately. I broke my vow and picked up the sword again. I have no face left to see my friends, even in death… sniff…" Max sobbed.
To separate the head from the body and burn it, leaving no trace of bone, was a serious punishment. It was believed that the soul of a person whose remains were treated in this way could never reunite with their loved ones in the afterlife. Though denounced as mere superstition by the clergy, the belief was widespread in rural areas.
In other words, Max was asking for the harshest punishment he could imagine for himself.
"Sigh."
The count sighed again. If Max had simply begged for his life, the count wouldn't have hesitated to execute him on the spot. But now...
"Max's fate will be in Sylas's hands," the count finally declared.
"My lord!"
"This cannot be allowed!" several knights objected, but the count silenced them with a single glance. The fatigue and despair in their lord's eyes were far more unsettling than the rage he had shown earlier.
"I will hear no more arguments. There have been too many exhausting events today."
The knights, seeing their lord in such a state, bowed their heads and fell silent. They couldn't bring themselves to oppose him any further.
With the room now quiet, the count rose from his chair and made his way toward the door.
"The interrogation is over. Return to your duties," he ordered.
As he passed by Dani, the count gave him one last remark.
"Thank Sylas. If you even understand what gratitude means, that is."
"F-Father…!"
Dani tried to speak, but the count ignored him completely, walking away without another word.
Sylas rose from his knees and patted Dani on the shoulder.
"I had hoped we could truly be family, but it seems that's not to be. What a pity, little brother," Sylas said, his voice calm but cutting.
"...!?"
Dani was left speechless, his mouth opening and closing in disbelief. Sylas, meanwhile, helped Max to his feet and slowly led him away, disappearing into the distance. The knights dismissed the servants, and they too returned to their duties.
The only one left standing there, frozen in the cold wind, was Dani, stunned into silence.