NOVEL NEXT chapter 12
12 – Into the Abyss
After the Moonlight Knights ransacked the mansion, my father and I fell into panic.
The reason was obvious; we could end up accused of treason at this rate.
“…First, we need to understand the situation. We have to assess the situation first and then come up with a plan.”
“But how can we know why the knights suddenly stormed in like this?”
My father fell silent. Yes, we had no way of knowing or doing anything. At least for now.
“Now that it has come to this, it seems telling the truth might be better. We must somehow avoid giving them a reason.”
If the Huang family had no justification, as one of the Empire’s five major noble houses, we might be able to navigate this situation somehow. Engaging in a direct power struggle would also be burdensome for the emperor.
My father and I spent the night with that thought.
And the next day, our expectations were shattered into pieces.
It was because of the imperial decree.
[Based on the report from the Duke of Ircali, it has been confirmed that the Duke of Kainus has obtained the Morning Star. After discussion, punishment will be decided.]
As soon as my father saw it, he grabbed the back of his neck.
“Ughhh!”
The Ircali family could be considered one of the leading moderate families in the empire.
However, considering that this moderation does not mean neutrality but rather involves meddling for profit everywhere, one could understand the seriousness of this incident.
Even though I didn’t know how the Ircali family got hold of information about the Morning Star, the fact that they came forward and reported it to our family meant they had allied with the imperial faction.
We were now dealing not only with the imperial family and the imperial faction but also with the Ircali family.
I felt a cold chill running through my entire body. Trembling, I clenched my fists.
“Father, first… let’s somehow recruit allies. We need to find a way to survive somehow.”
Even though my father twisted his face at my words and sighed heavily, he said, “Hmph, fine. We need to find a way somehow. We can’t just sit back and take it.”
…
The hearing about the Kainus family was taking place in the palace. Numerous nobles were buzzing with discussion.
Naturally, the provocative term “treason” was attached to the prestigious Kainus family, making it difficult to even imagine such a prominent family engaging in rebellion.
Many were discussing the outcome of this incident and what the aftermath would be like. In the midst of it all, I was sitting beside my father.
Several days had passed, and my father was already significantly thinner due to immense stress. Other nobles, seeing him in such a state, whispered and conversed among themselves.
“Well, then let’s begin the hearing.”
The emperor said with a smile. As he did, Duke Ircali, in charge of the investigation, opened his mouth.
“This hearing is about the treasonous acts of the Duke of Kainus.”
I glared at him, but he continued speaking in a dry and emotionless voice as if devoid of any change in sentiment.
“This incident involves a report that led the Moonlight Knights to discover the artifact ‘Morning Star,’ which was lost 53 years ago, in the Duke of Kainus’s mansion. Please share your thoughts on this matter.”
“There’s nothing to say. Artifacts lost decades ago were discovered in Count Kainus’s mansion, and Kainus knew about it but kept it hidden. That’s all there is to it. Without a doubt, it’s treason.”
At that moment, Count Derrin, my father’s ghost, rose from his seat and spoke.
“Don’t make me laugh. I handed over that item to the Kainus Duchy. I was only there to follow the judgment of the Kainus Duchy because I couldn’t handle the responsibility of that thing!”
In response, Viscount Akaya chuckled and said.
“Oh, really? Funny, the information I heard… is quite different.”
“Whether it’s different or not, what’s the point of babbling about something that’s true from the beginning…”
“As far as I know, the one who first reported it clearly stated that Kainus deliberately obtained that item to extract Aurichalcum and moved for it to happen.”
Upon hearing this, my father grimaced and said.
“Ridiculous! I swear, I had nothing to do with such a thing!”
Viscount Akaya shrugged and said.
“Oh, really? How do you know that? Logically, if the information about the Morning Star being in Kainus’s mansion is correct, it’s also true that Kainus’s intentions are known.”
“What nonsense…”
As he spoke, Duke Ircalli silently observed. Despite being the one who reported it, he remained passive, just watching.
It felt like a stroke of luck in the midst of misfortune. I thought that if Duke Ircalli had intervened, the chances of redemption would have completely disappeared. However, even now, the chance of redemption seemed extremely slim.
The only thing worth hoping for was Ariel’s… Cielaine’s support. But Ariel remained silent, beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead.
…I knew. Even if Ariel tried to help, there was nothing she could do to assist me right now.
Because we were engaged, paradoxically, we couldn’t even engage in a dispute to protect me.
The emperor opened his mouth with a satisfied smile.
“Well, it seems like the answer is becoming clear now.”
As he said that, the atmosphere in the current inquisition was evident. My father and I had no way to argue innocence or present any evidence. Knowing that, the emperor confidently opened his mouth, declaring victory.
“So, let’s come to a conclusion. The Kainus family dared to conceal an imperial artifact in their mansion and attempted to use it for their own purposes.”
The words of denial surged to the tip of my throat. However, I couldn’t bring myself to speak. Neither could my father. We were helpless.
“But certainly, the Kainus family has made contributions to the empire, albeit not insignificant. However, we cannot execute them for conspiracy.”
The emperor spoke openly with a smile. I couldn’t shake off a foreboding feeling.
“The punishment will be the confiscation of the estate and demotion to the status of a commoner.”
“What?”
I pondered the words with a vacant expression.
Bongto was more than mere land; it was the wellspring of power and wealth held by a noble lineage. Stripping it away was akin to dismantling the very backbone of that lineage.
And to degrade the social status was to strip away even the veneer of that lineage.
In essence, my lineage, the Keynes, had lost everything overnight.
As I found myself reeling in shock and gloom, the inquest came to an end.
…
Darkness lingered in the mansion. Once I knew the lineage had essentially crumbled, there was no going back to how things were.
I decided to seek my father. It was an instinctual act. In my bewildered state, where even grasping the situation was elusive, I thought my father might offer some answers.
Yet, he was nowhere to be found. His room remained dark, shrouded in obscurity.
Still, I ventured inside. It felt almost necessary. And there, I found a piece of paper.
“Due to my foolish actions, an indelible stain has marred the history of Keynes, spanning centuries.
The revered Bongto, the pride of the lineage, all vanished.
I know this shouldn’t have happened. I understand the irresponsibility.
But for me, there is no hope left to go on.
Keynes… will likely fade into the bylanes of history, never to recover.
Sorry, son. The burden is heavy for a wretched father to leave behind.”
The contents were written in my father’s hand. As I read it, a chilling sense of foreboding gripped me.
I hurriedly searched my father’s room.
Soon enough, I found myself sinking to the ground in shock.
My father’s body dangled, tongue lolling, suspended by a rope in the empty air.
“Dad… Father.”
I called out, unable to believe, but, as expected, there was no reply.
“Father!”
I clutched the lifeless form that was once my father, now cold, and cried out in despair.