Chapter 282. Epilogue, Part X

Translator: Khan

Editor: Aelryinth

At Iron's rebuttal, Julietta replied with a stern look. "They're not people who make things that hurt people. I looked at the letter that Luar had received, and there was nothing special about it. It was an ordinary letter. If there was something strange about the letter, wouldn't my Manny not notice?"

At Julietta's words, the eyes of the two children turned toward Manny sleeping on the sofa. "But..."

When the children accepted and nodded at the words that the divine animal would never fail to notice the weirdness of the letter, Julietta continued, "There's definitely something suspicious. Even if it's coincidence, it's weird that only the person who receives the letter of misfortune gets sick and gets hurt. It's weird that Luar had a sudden fever without any illness."

She stood up all of a sudden. "Iron, let's go to your mansion. I'll go see if there's anything unusual."

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Countess Lazar rushed to meet Julietta's sudden arrival. "Your Majesty the Empress, welcome."

"I am on my way, so I stopped by to see the Countess as I picked up Iron."

Julietta asked as she entered the mansion, "I heard your cousin is here?" Behind her, one of the rising figures these days, Count Caden, followed Luar and Iron.

Countess Lazar's mother was a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Lebatum, and her cousin, who was now staying at the mansion of the Lazar family, was also a royal.

"Yes. My cousin is here for business. He wanted to say hello to you, but I'm afraid he's out right now."

"I'll invite him later. Come to the Imperial Castle together then."

Julietta looked around carefully after saying so. "Have you done anything special in the mansion these days?"

Mrs. Lazar's eyes flickered at her question. The lady asked Count Caden, who looked around with keen eyes, with a look of fear. Count Caden, a nephew of Madame Maribel Grayson, had recently been promoted to captain of the Royal Guard. Mrs. Lazar felt something strange about the behavior of the Empress, who was accompanied not by a simple escort knight, but by the captain of the Royal Guard. "No. Did Iron make any mistakes?"

"I am just asking you in a friendly manner."

Come to think of it, the Countess couldn't care too much about the injuries of the attendants in the mansion. There seemed to be nothing suspicious about, except her surprise at the sudden visit of the Empress. Julietta thought her doubts would only create unnecessary anxiety, so she decided to go back without doing anything. "I'll invite you to the Imperial Castle next time. I will see you then."

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"Your Majesty, Countess Lazar's cousin is dead. They reported it as suicide."

It was a day after she had gone to Countess Lazar's mansion because of the letter of misfortune. Philip and Luar were gone to study fencing, and the youngest, Charlotte, was taking a nap. Marquis Valerian had been reporting to Killian, who was relaxed and having lunch with Julietta.

"You mean their cousin, of the royal family of Kingdom of Lebatum?"

It was natural for them to pay attention to the long-term residence of an important foreign figure in Austern. Because he was a man Killian paid attention to, Julietta asked about the dead man.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I'm here for approval to send a team of investigators."

As soon as Killian received the document from Marquis Valerian, Julietta sprang up. "Your Majesty, I think I'll have to go myself."

Killian's hand stopped in mid-signature. "Is there anything suspicious?"

"Something troubles my mind. I don't think it's suicide. I'll go and see for myself."

Yesterday she had ordered Count Caden to keep a close eye on the family of the Count of Lazar, but it seemed to have happened before he could notice anything.

Killian also stood up, looking at Julietta with a slight furrow on his forehead, as if something didn't fit. Since a member of the royal family of Kingdom of Lebatum had committed suicide in Austern, it was not unusual to go and see it for themselves. Killian ordered Ian, "Prepare the wagon."

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Looking out from inside the carriage to the mansion of Count Lazar, Killian asked, "Count Caden seems to have adapted without any problems."

"Yes, I think he was more shocked that he did not see her real character, not that he loved her. I think when he remained in Tilia after it was discovered that he wasn't connected to Dian it was that he wanted to train himself a little bit more and develop his eyes as a sensible man." Julietta answered, looking at Count Caden, who was escorting them from the side of the carriage.

Sir Caden did not return to the capital last year after his father died, and took over the title, but earlier this year he accepted the guard duty for Julietta and moved up from Tilia.

As the Royal Guard were the closest escorts, the screening conditions were very strict. They couldn't give the captain's seat to just anyone. His family, sincerity, and ability were important, and above all, he should be a man Julietta could give her trust to.

In the end, Killian, who had been agonizing over the post all the time, called up Count Caden. There was no resistance from the central forces, as he had already demonstrated his ability to manage such areas as Tilia and Baden. Above all, there was no one to oppose him, since he had the support of Empress Julietta.

Maribel's role was great in her belief in Count Caden. Maribel would watch Count Caden closely, seeing whether he might be troublesome. So Julietta agreed to call him to the Imperial Castle despite his past with Dian.

Maribel's presence was very beneficial to Killian and Julietta, because she was willing and able to do anything for Julietta, the one who supported her.

Killian thought it was very convenient, as Maribel took care of things one step ahead of time, even if he didn't give any instructions to her. He left everything to Maribel about Count Caden, and would keep an eye on her.

When Count Caden entered the Imperial Castle, Marquis Valerian was given the post of Commander of the Royal Guard for Killian. At last, everything seemed to be in order, but he was very displeased that a loach, the Kingdom of Lebatum, was bothering him.

Julietta had noticed his feelings. "Thinking of Lebatum reminds me of Dian all by itself," she mused aloud coolly.

Killian's eyes and ears were always monitoring Dian. At Julietta's unasked question, he patted her hand. "Mrs. Grayson has closely watched her, attaching a person to her. She lives in the place where she used to live by doing chores. People around her know she is cursed. They were brainwashed that no one should speak with her, and she has been completely isolated."

The secret Dian knew was not a small one. Until Dian's death, Maribel's surveillance of her would continue. So would Killian's watch on Maribel.

Julietta knew that Killian hated that she was disturbed by the past, so she held his hand in a sign that she would not talk about Dian anymore.

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Upon arriving at the mansion of the Count of Lazar, Julietta went to the room of the Duke of Lanon, where he had died Looking at the body lying on the floor, she asked, "Why did you think it was suicide?"

"All the entrances were locked, and the keys were left on the floor here. I have stored all the keys of the mansion, and I don't know why they were found here," the butler answered Julietta, his face pale.

"The lock on this window is locked from the inside and cannot be touched from the outside. If the keys were in the room with the windows and doors locked, it would be suicide." Valerian checked the locked window and agreed.

Killian shook his head silently, looking down at the body. "There's something awkward about killing himself. It's weird that he was dead with a knife in his hand..."

On the left chest of the Duke of Lanon, lying there facing the ceiling, there were deep stab wounds, and a knife in his right hand. But it wasn't enough to judge it wasn't suicide...

When Killian questioned Valerian's opinion with a look of disapproval, Julietta responded, "I believe you're right. I don't think it's suicide. The Duke of Lanon is left-handed."

As Killian looked at her, wondering how she knew that, Julietta pointed to the desk. "The pen is on the left. Right-handed people don't arrange it like that."

Count Lazar had been surprised to learn that a royal of Lebatum had committed suicide at his home, and pressed the butler, "Is the Duke left-handed?"