Chapter 264. Punishment, Part IV

Count Baden was called back as the meeting proceeded after a brief break. The Marquis of Oswald rose up and approached the Count of Baden. "The Count of Baden, did the Duke of Dudley borrow the grain distribution network of Baden in Bertino and Dublin, the capital?"

The Count of Baden nodded at the Marquis's question. "Yes, Your Excellency. They said that there was a newly converted grain from Dudley Territory, and they offered to sell it through our dealers. We agreed to sell it on a trial basis, and they would pay a few percent of the profits if it sold well."

At the testimony of Count Baden, Oswald signaled Valerian. A moment later, Oswald pointed at the Count of Baden as a worker in a worker's garb and a man in a neat suit came in. "Do you know them?"

"He's the general manager of the Baden Shop. I don't know the other," the Count of Baden answered, pointing to the man in neat clothes.

"Mr. Higgins, you're the general manager of the Baden Shop, right?"

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Oswald pointed to two sacks carried by two knights. "Do you remember this sack of grain here?"

The man looked around at the sack and said, "Yes. These are the bags that the Dudley family left behind a few weeks ago for special storage. That is the seal of the Dudley family. I received ten sacks and sent three to Bertino and seven to Austern. Only two extra bags were kept in the warehouse because they said they would need to be used later."

Oswald asked the imperial knights who had brought the sacks of grain, "Are these all the sacks with Dudley's seal from the warehouse?"

"Yes, Your Excellency. There were other sacks with a seal of another family, but these were all that were for the Dudley family's grain."

Oswald looked at the Emperor and said, "The thing in the two bags turned out to be grain with a mixture of poison powder. This is the medium for the fake epidemic that swept the capital recently. It is certain that Duke Dudley designed a plot to assassinate Prince Killian, and Prince Francis also has something to do with it. When Princess Kiellini was poisoned, we accidentally discovered a medicine, and when the medicine was released, Prince Francis tried to escape blame by posting notices on the walls which incited the people of the Empire."

Duke Dudley sprang up at Oswald's accusation. "That's ridiculous! It's a conspiracy to frame our family and His Highness Francis!" the Duke of Dudley protested with a red face. He thought it had already gone wrong, but did not want to stand by and be attacked.

"The epidemic spread there after the Dudley family's grain was sent to Bertino. Is that correct?" Oswald asked.Higgins nodded, "Yes, that's right."

"Is it true that there had been casualties wherever the grain sacks of the Dudley family were sent?"

At Oswald's question, Higgins looked toward the Duke of Dudley and after hesitating for a moment, replied, "Yes, that's right."

"Didn't you think it was strange?"

Higgins lowered his head at Oswald's question. "I thought it was strange that there were casualties wherever the grain was delivered, as if it were a perfect fit, but I just dismissed it as a coincidence."

It was possible for a common citizen to think that. It was such a big deal that even if he had found out the conjecture was true, he wouldn't have been able to reveal it. It was the Dudley family behind it, who could drop even the flying birds!

Oswald looked around the nobles talking in whispers in Higgins' testimony. "Are there any people here who have been to or from the Baden Shop?"

At his question, Higgins shook his head, but the laborer looked at Marquis Marius. Oswald stepped over to Marquis Marius and asked the worker, "Was this man there?"

"Yes, Your Excellency. Though he is now dressed differently, he is the one who came to the warehouse to manage the grain sacks himself."

The testimony of the worker hardened the face of Marquis Marius. He hadn't thought anyone would recognize him. In fact, even if one of them recognized him, he didn't think a humble commoner would dare to point him out. He did not know the hatred of the people of the Empire for the fake epidemic.

"I had no idea what was in the sack. It was just the errand from the Duke of Dudley, to manage the special grain."

At the words of Marquis Marius, the Duke of Dudley looked angry, but he did not open his mouth. Francis could not be involved in this. That was the only way to make a plan later.

The Duke of Dudley recalled what Marquis Marius had said during the break...

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"Count Baden was brought in, and it's already been discovered. So you should be the prime mover of all this."

"What?"

Francis stepped in when the angry Duke Dudley tried to say something. "Grandpa, you've been preparing something for me. Even if the poison case turns out to be grandfather's plan, they won't be able to do anything right now. If the execution is decided, I will delay it. In the meantime, we can assemble an army and strike the Imperial Castle. I can't delay and see Killian become Emperor."

In the village between the Barden Territory and the border of Bertino, knights of the Dudley family had long settled down and waited for orders. They were the ones who had killed the Empress before.

They had been preparing for a long time, so they would not fail. All they had to do was block the Magic Square and the border. Afterwards, there was a chance to win if the Knights of every family were called in and quickly advanced to the Imperial Castle. Moreover, two-thirds of the aristocrats in the capital were under their influence, and would help.

Duke Dudley nodded after he had finished calculating. "Okay, there's no other way, so I'll shoulder everything first. So, you have to move fast."

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The Duke of Dudley stood up in retrospect of what had happened earlier. "The Marquis of Marius doesn't know anything. Do you think I'd explain it to him in detail? He's only guilty of working by my order in the middle."

The eyes of Killian and Oswald met at the words of the Duke of Dudley. As expected, the Duke was going to take all responsibility for everything. 'So is their conclusion treason, as expected?'

The Duke of Dudley began to talk about why he had orchestrated the affair. "I realized that all I've dreamed about was useless when I heard that Prince Killian was from the main line of descent. But it happened that the Kiellini family's poison recipe was in my hand. I thought it was an opportunity and I took it."

The Emperor, who had remained silent at the Duke of Dudley's confession, opened his mouth, "The Duke, do you admit to spreading poison in the capital and Bertino to assassinate Prince Killian?"

"I admit it."

The admission of the Duke stirred up a commotion in the conference hall.

"The Duke of Dudley will be condemned to death because of the heavy burden of sin. Take him away. The execution takes place as soon as those involved in this matter are revealed."

When the Duke of Dudley was dragged out by knights, the Emperor held his head. "Let's stop here today and continue the rest of the agenda tomorrow. Killian, come with me."

The case of Lady Anais was not important at this moment. They had to prepare for the admission of guilt by the Duke of Dudley.

Francis gritted his teeth, watching the Emperor and Killian leave the conference hall side by side. "Now they don't care about me. It doesn't even matter if I'm involved in this."

Before he knew it, Marquis Marius approached and whispered, "Your Highness, let's get out of here first." He pointed to the aristocrats talking in whispers as they looked at Francis.

"I can obviously see what they're thinking. They don't think I don't know. Gee! Why is nothing working out for me?"

Francis sprang to his feet and as he left the conference hall he asked, "What about Christine? Weren't they supposed to talk about Christine's punishment afterwards?"

"She'll be in the waiting room right now. I think they are going to forget about Lady Anais for the time being, with today's incident."

"Good. Let's go to Christine." Francis entered the waiting room right next to the conference hall.

"Your Highness?" Christine was enjoying her tea leisurely, receiving a luxurious refreshment as if she was not waiting for a trial.