Doctor Hailey

Hetos’s words made Hailey’s expression harden.

“Dad?”

Hailey’s voice trembled.

She had somewhat guessed that the imperial family was trying to push the Salisbury Family aside.

However, hearing it from someone else’s mouth made the fear truly sink in.

“There is nothing wrong with the Count. He only considered my situation and was considerate in many ways. But that kindness has now backfired on him…”

Hetos clenched his fists tightly.

“All the lords welcomed me at first. But if I didn’t forge swords, they openly pressured me. When I continued to refuse, they resorted to threats and intimidation.”

“That kind of thing would never happen in our territory.”

Hailey said firmly.

However, unlike the Salisbury Family, other territories were not managed transparently.

How delighted the lords must have been when Hetos, the continent’s greatest blacksmith, walked into their domains?

Even if he didn’t forge legendary swords like the Ten Swords of the Continent, he could still create swords for their knights, forge weapons, and craft armor!

All these would significantly boost the military strength of their territories.

But Hetos only made agricultural tools.

While this was greatly beneficial to the common folk, it did not satisfy the lords.

Helping the common folk would lead to the development of the territory, but the foolish lords, short-sighted as they were, oppressed Hetos.

When they heard of Faello’s seizures, the lords must have thought it was an opportunity to exploit the situation.

Hetos would have made substantial donations to the Church of the Sun to prove that Faello was not possessed by a demon nor cursed by a witch.

Despite Hetos’s renowned skills, he couldn’t settle down because of Faello’s epilepsy and the nobles who only wanted to exploit his abilities.

“Our family’s territory has no Church of the Sun, and Dad treats the common folk like family. But if that is considered wrong…”

“Wrong? Absolutely not! Not only wanderers but also serfs and common folk bound to other lords want to come to the Salisbury Family territory. That’s why the other lords, feeling threatened, have surely made false accusations against the Count!”

Hailey felt a bitter taste in her mouth.

She knew better than anyone else about her father’s innocence.

But how many people thought the same way Hetos did?

If things continued this way and her father’s guilt was acknowledged, and he was held back…

Hailey shook her head, dispelling the increasingly dark thoughts.

Instead of asking about Count Salisbury, she asked Hetos.

“Why did you wander all this time? It would have been great if you had come to our territory earlier.”

“Because I stayed mostly in the southern part of the empire, and it was daunting to travel this far.”

“The Salisbury Family’s territory is close to the imperial capital, so the imperial family must have also been on your mind.”

Faello added.

“The imperial family?”

Hailey nodded in agreement.

It wasn’t just the lords who coveted Hetos’s skills. The imperial family also desired his talents.

“This time, the imperial family might be conspiring to restrain the Salisbury Family while trying to make my brother the exclusive blacksmith of the imperial court.”

Faello said in a determined voice.

“My brother has already received several invitations, but he refused them all. The imperial family, like the other lords, wanted him to forge weapons for them.”

Hetos, with his arms crossed and eyes closed, listened as Faello raised his voice.

Hailey looked at him with a newfound curiosity.

His analysis of the situation was remarkable.

‘If he can immediately deduce that the imperial family is trying to check our family, he must be well-informed on many matters.’

Just as she was about to speak again, a thudding noise was heard.

The three of them naturally turned their gaze toward the end of the corridor.

Three men quickly arrived in front of the cell, and one of them, a familiar face, looked down at Hailey.

“Are you having a social gathering here?”

Chief Investigator Grand smirked at Hailey before slapping the guard hard across the face.

“Why are you managing prisoners so poorly?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

The staggering guard quickly straightened up and shouted.

Hailey’s face hardened.

“Get that girl out of here immediately, and lock those two up!”

As the guard approached, Hailey hesitated and stepped back.

But she was soon caught and handcuffed.

“Where are we going?”

Hailey asked.

Grand leaned close to her face.

“To get your confession. With the evidence secured and the witness’s testimony, we won’t even need a trial once we add your confession.”

He then stepped back.

“Take her away!”

Before she could respond, the guards grabbed her by the shoulders.

With a sigh, she reluctantly started to move.

‘A confession?’

She steeled herself. She hadn’t committed any crime, so there was nothing to confess.

“My lady!”

“My lady!”

The voices of Hetos and Faello called out.

“Seems like you’ve made loyal followers even in prison. But what do you plan to do with those lowlifes?”

Grand sneered.

Instead of responding, Hailey turned her head, looked at Hetos and Faello, gave a faint smile, and waved her hand.

* * *

“Hurry up!”

As soon as they were outside, Grand urged Hailey forward.

She walked silently, biting the inside of her cheek without realizing it.

She stifled a gasp of pain that threatened to escape.

Her chest felt tight, but she refused to show it.

Her legs felt stiff as she walked, so she forced herself to keep moving.

“Where are you taking me at this time of night?”

“Shut up and follow me.”

Grand snapped back.

The surroundings were already dark. It must have been evening when she was taken.

The moonlight was exceptionally bright.

She felt the time spent here was a waste. She was so close to finalizing the anesthetic.

They walked for a long time.

In the morning, she had been dragged here in such a rush that she hadn’t noticed, but the prison was quite isolated. She hadn’t known such a place existed in the capital.

“This place is…”

She stopped for a moment.

They had arrived at the medical academy after a long walk.

Beyond the main gate, three stately buildings stood in elegant form.

The building furthest in was the dormitory for students.

Most students were commoners from the provinces, making the dormitory essential. Among the various academies, the medical academy was the only one with a dormitory building.

Next to the dormitory was the main building, housing lecture halls and the dining hall. It was the largest building.

Lastly, the building adjacent to the main gate contained the offices of the president and professors. Students only visited there when necessary.

“Open the gate.”

At Grand’s command, the guards immediately opened the gate.

Hailey narrowed her eyes at his unhesitating stride.

Why have they come to the academy? To extract a confession here?

Hailey managed to smooth her frowning face.

Well, at least they weren’t taking her to a torture chamber.

In this place, the concept of human rights didn’t exist.

It was a society where one’s status determined their treatment.

But what if she had been born into a commoner family instead of a noble one? Or if she had been born a slave?

She shook her head.

Even with just the suspicion of a crime, a noble lady could be treated so poorly.

“If you dawdle one more time, it won’t end with just a slap.”

Grand’s voice pierced her ears.

She wasn’t afraid. Instead, she felt oddly calm.

Whatever awaited her, she knew she had nothing to confess.

“If you lay a hand on me one more time, I won’t let it slide.”

Hailey’s voice was cold and steady.

Grand’s lips curled into a smirk as he stepped closer to her.

He raised his hand.

“I wonder what you’ll do if they don’t let it slide.”