Using her position, she may have approached Noel too.
Even though she knew it was all meaningless speculation, the thought of ‘what if’ repeatedly intruded into her mind.
And at the same time, anger against the current emperor and the Duke of Windress rose. However, Irene took deep breaths and calmed her mind. It wouldn’t change anything if she were indignant all on her own.
By the way, how much time has passed?
Irene checked the clock she hung on the wall. She stayed there for about two hours.
Is the meeting over?
Her worries about him, which she had momentarily flown from her mind, came back.
Irene, who had been waiting impatiently, could not bear it and went out to meet Noel.
Meanwhile, around the time Irene was just starting to see Undi’s memories, Noel was also opening the door to the meeting.
“General, what on earth is this? How long has it been since he became the heir? It’s not an emergency meeting.”
One of the summoned vassals argued with resentment. Others also nodded in agreement. The Grand Duke looked at Noel with suspicion and concern, as he had only heard that he had found out new facts about the former Grand Duke’s death.
Receiving countless eyes intertwined with various emotions, Noel proceeded to the central table. He beckoned, and Tom, who was waiting, brought something and placed it on the table.
What on earth was that? The vassals and the Grand Duke got up and checked the objects on the table.
“That’s…”
“A bow.”
“Yes.”
Noel answered the vassal’s question bluntly. He looked into the eyes of the Great Kristen. His eyes fluttered; he had recognised the identity of the bow at once. The vassals, unaware of this fact, we’re busy raising their voices in frustration.
“It’s not an ordinary functioning bow. It’s all worn out! How is it that you have called a meeting so hastily?”
“It’s not any ordinary bow.”
“Then what is this?”
Another vassal asked. Noel looked at the Great Kristen instead of answering. Since he was sitting in a higher position than anyone else, the bow could also be seen at a glance. After a moment’s silence, the Grand Duke opened his mouth.
“That’s... Lux’s bow.”
When the name of the deceased former Grand Duke was mentioned, the conference hall was in a state of commotion. In the quiet commotion, the gaze of the Great Kristen shifted to Noel. He was hoping for an explanation as to why the former Grand Duke’s bow was here.
Noel no longer hesitated. “This bow is the bow that my brother and I had the last time we went hunting.”
“...! Amongst the items of the Grand Duke, no bow was found. How could the Grand Duke…! Perhaps...”
At the end of his statement, the vassal wavered, but no one could have predicted what Noel would say. He was a strong suspect who killed the former Grand Duke, and he even possessed an item from the time of the incident. Wasn’t the accusation too obvious?
Had Noel not been still in the position of the Grand Duke, they would have tried to inquire as to why he already had the bow. Some impatient ones would have driven Noel as the culprit.
However, he was not an ordinary Grand Duke but the one who would inherit the next Kristen estate, so no one was willing to speak.
Amid silence and only glances, none other than the Great Kristen spoke up.
“Why do you have it?”
Some people shuddered at the voice of the Great Kristen. Was it because there was an unbearable sense of intimidation in his voice?
What a foolish Duke.
He should have kept hiding it.
Now, it’s difficult for him to inherit, let alone remain the Grand Duke.
This is an opportunity.
Some laughed at Noel, who they so thought was foolish enough to confess now.
He should have kept his mouth shut.
“Is it something that pricks at your conscience that makes you do this?”
All those present at the event expected the Great Kristen to be angry. Because no one knew how much he loved his dead grandson.
But their expectations were completely wrong.
The Great Kristen was not angry, nor did he suppress his anger. He was just calmly questioning the authenticity of why Noel had the bowstring. Noel looked up at the Great Kristen quietly and answered.
“It was found in the treasury of Count Rixis.”
“...that, what is that! Is it true?”
“No, why does Count Rixis have items from a former Grand Duke who died?”
“I can’t understand it at all. The Grand Duke means to say the Count assassinated the former Grand Duke?”
At the last words of the vassal, the air inside became frigid, as if it had been doused by cold water.
��...Grand Duke, say what you want to say.”
Amid the silence, the Great Kristen asked. His voice trembled, hinting at a crack in his composure. Noel looked at the armrests he was clenching for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“On that day, the day my brother died, he called me to the forest.”
Everyone held their breath when Noel started talking. It was because they had only now heard the story of that day when the only speculation was rampant. The Great Kristen also fixed his eyes on Noel without blinking.
“My brother wanted me to be his successor.”