I Was Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Who Gets Killed Midway Through the Story but It Looks Like I’ll Be Executed as a Traitor if I Try to Do Good Deeds

32: A Formidable Foe

After Camila and Felicia were attacked, I was on high alert. Someone was trying to frame me. I understand that now, and I’ve taken a step forward.

But it’s unforgivable. They’re putting the girls in danger just to attack me. I’ll make them pay no matter what.

The suspects are still my father, brother, and brother. That’s why I’m keeping my distance. If they suspect I’m onto them, they might take more drastic action. It’s possible that someone close to me might get caught up in this.

I’m searching for a way to catch the culprit without putting anyone in danger, but it’s a tough struggle.

In the midst of this, I received a summons from my father. I wonder if he’s trying to confirm something or test my reaction.

“Rex, you’ve been summoned to the palace. I can’t go, so I’ll have Aria take care of you.”

That’s all I was told, and I was on my way to the palace in a carriage.

“Rex-sama, please take care on the way.”

“Yeah. Make sure I have a comfortable journey.”

“Of course, Rex-sama. I’ll serve you with all my might.”

As I traveled with Aria taking care of me, I felt extremely comfortable and grateful to have her as my maid. In reality, Aria had been taking care of me since I was reborn, and it was fortunate that we met. It wasn’t like I built a relationship with her; rather, it was like my parents had arranged for a good maid to be by my side.

After a while, we arrived at the palace and headed towards the throne room. There, King Alfonso was waiting. I approached him and kneeled.

“Rex, you’ve done well. It seems that someone with the Black family crest is planning to attack the palace. If we interrogate the culprit, they’ll say it was by your request. Is that true?”

Someone was using my name to plan an attack. Considering the situation, the princesses might be in danger. The thought made me furious. I couldn’t forgive anyone who put my acquaintances in harm’s way.

Moreover, I might be in a precarious situation. If I were accused of being the attacker, I’d face severe punishment. First, I needed to get out of this predicament.

“I may not be trustworthy, but it wasn’t me.”

“Ah, I understand. If I were to take the same measures, I wouldn’t use my own name to make a request. And Rex would think the same, wouldn’t he? At the very least, he’s not foolish enough to cause trouble under his own name.”

I was prepared to escape with Aria, but it seemed I didn’t need to. It seemed I was being highly evaluated, which was suspicious. Still, it was true that if I were to plan an attack on the palace, I wouldn’t use my own name. That’s what a wise king would think.

“I believe you, and I’m deeply grateful.”

“I, personally, have high expectations for Rex. You’ve taken care of my daughters’ relationships.”

Well, in the original story, the daughters were at odds with each other, which pained me. However, I made mistakes in handling the situation. It was a mix of my strengths and weaknesses.

“Thank you.”

“The method was sloppy, so there were no casualties in the palace. But it seems there’s a troublesome problem.”

“…”

Something ominous was happening around me. That was certain. But how should I respond?

“I, too, understand the situation. Rex, there’s someone who wants to frame you.”

“I’m aware of it.”

“And that person is close to you. At the very least, they have a position where they can use the Black family crest.”

“Yes. That means it’s one of my relatives.”

“The possibility is high. Rex, be careful.”

“I will.”

I was relieved that my suspicions were cleared. Now, I needed to think about how to deal with the mastermind. It would be nice to discuss it with someone, but I wasn’t sure if I should ask.

“Since you’re here at the palace, why not interact with my daughters? Meera and the others are looking forward to it.”

This was a good opportunity. But if I were suspected of being the mastermind, I wouldn’t be allowed near the princesses. That would be proof that I wasn’t suspected.

“I understand.”

“Stay at the palace for a while. My daughters have preparations to make, so it will start tomorrow.”

So, I had some free time. I decided to interact with Aria more.

“Aria, you said you could use a bow and magic. Show me.”

“Of course. Let’s head to the training grounds.”

In the original story, this didn’t appear, so I didn’t know what kind of abilities she had. Considering the situation, I thought she might be an elf, and my mother might have killed her. It was an absurd story. If I thought about it now, it was ridiculous. She might have used elf blood to rejuvenate herself.

At any rate, I was able to rejuvenate my mother using my magic. So, I could relax for now. But I still needed to be cautious. I couldn’t let Aria be killed.

As we headed to the training grounds, Aria took out her bow. I had heard her mention using a bow and magic before, but I didn’t know to what extent. I was curious about her abilities.

“Now, show me your skills.”

“Rex-sama, please stand over there at the target.”

“Do you plan to hit it? From here, it’s hard to even see the target.”

“For me, it’s a simple task.”

She walked a considerable distance away, waited near the target, and fired two arrows. The first one hit the center, and the second one pierced the first arrow. From here, Aria looked like a small dot. Yet, she hit the target with ease. It was a terrifying technique.

I felt the wind, so she was probably using wind magic to control the arrows. Even thinking about it, it was an absurd skill. I was amazed to have such a skilled human as my maid.

“How was it, Lord Rex?”

“Unexpectedly, I hit two bulls-eyes in a row. You’re amazing, aren’t you?”

“I’m honored to receive your praise, Lord Rex. If you wish, I’ll use my power to serve you. With my longbow, Wind Sniper, even assassinations are easy.”

Assassinations…not a method I’d prefer. Besides, I don’t want to make Aria kill anyone. If I’m going to kill, I don’t want to shift the responsibility to someone else. That’s what I thought.

“I’m the strongest, so I don’t need to make you fight.”

“Thank you for your concern, Lord Rex. Everything I do is for you. As long as you live, I will continue to serve you.”

Aria’s face was incredibly calm. She must think I’m a good master. From now on, I’ll make sure to be a good master to her.

Anyway, tomorrow is the exchange with the princess sisters. It’s been a while since we’ve met, so I’m really looking forward to it.