“My daughter is not an assassin, but I am confident that I have raised her more than sufficiently. Drinking a little poison wouldn’t kill her. That’s why, when I heard about poisoning, I was suspicious. I’ve been searching for a reason this whole time.”
“Wait, wait, Wahash. Is it really suicide? Even with poison resistance, wouldn’t a lethal dose kill a human?”
“Listen to the end, Jared. Without a doubt, Liz chose to die herself. If that’s the case, what reason could she possibly have had to do so?”
Wahash’s words were a question directed not only at Jared but also at Karina. Jared cast his gaze towards his stepmother. He, too, wanted to know why his mother had to take her own life.
“If you know, please tell us, Karina!”
In response to Johan’s plea, Karina fell to her knees, sobbing.
“Mother!”
Roik embraced his mother protectively, but no one, not even Wahash, moved to do anything to her. They simply wanted to know the truth.
“You don’t mean… Mother really…? Why…?”
Her state made it clear to anyone not completely foolish. Everyone simply waited for the truth to be spoken from her lips. Finally, Karina, held by her son, began to speak with trembling lips.
“I’m so sorry, truly sorry. Mr. Jared, Husband, please forgive me.”
Karina’s apology was tantamount to admitting her involvement in her mother’s death. Jared couldn’t bear to believe it. He couldn’t accept that his gentle and loving stepmother was involved in his mother’s death.
“Didn’t you love me like your own son?”
His voice trembled. He wished it were a mistake, but his heart knew she wasn’t lying. It would be a lie in incredibly poor taste to try and deceive them. For one thing, in front of Liz’s father, such a lie could put her life at risk. Karina had no reason whatsoever to lie about being involved in her mother’s death.
“I do love you. Because you are Liz-sama’s son.”
“Then why are you involved in Mother’s death! Please tell me the reason!”
“Liz-sama and I were as close as sisters. But…”
Karina started to say something, but suddenly fell silent. She glanced at her son holding her, and her eyes, filled with guilt and anxiety, gained a resolute look. It was the look of a mother determined to protect those she loved, no matter the cost.
“I’m sorry, I can’t say, even if it means being killed.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Karina! Tell me, tell me, why did Liz commit suicide! Why!”
“I am sorry, Husband. However, I cannot say.”
“–You!”
Johan’s face contorted with rage, as if about to lunge at Karina. But it was Wahash who calmed him.
“Don’t scold her like that. Johan, be calm.”
“You’re talking about that girl, aren’t you!”
“I’m telling you to calm down. She has a reason she cannot speak. She doesn’t want to endanger her son’s life, isn’t that right?”
“–What? How do you know that?”
Karina’s eyes widened in surprise. But she wasn’t the only one. Jared, who still couldn’t believe his stepmother was involved in his mother’s death. Olivier, who was holding Jared. Even the enraged Johan was shocked, as if doused with cold water, his anger subsiding.
“Huh? Me?”
Of all of them, Roik was the most surprised. The idea of his mother being involved in the death of Liz Murphy, whom his beloved older brother admired, was already a heavy burden for the young boy. To have that compounded by the threat to his life sent a shockwave through him.
“I investigated everything over time. I sympathize with your circumstances. At the same time, I am even grateful that you loved Jared in such a situation.”
Wahash was the only one in the room who understood Karina.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Jared, try to remember. The last person you saw when you were taken to the facility, who was it?”
“…Why are you asking that?”
“Don’t you remember?”
“No, I remember. There was a retainer who often looked after me. He was friendly and a good person. What happened to him? I heard he retired from the knight order because he fell ill.”
He recalled a man who was his father’s subordinate and also a retainer. He had fond memories of the man who always called him “Young Master” and told him stories. When Jared returned to the capital city, he asked what had happened to the man, as he wasn’t at the mansion, and was told that he had quit the knight order due to illness and was working somewhere in the capital.
“Johan, do you remember that man?”
“I do. He was a trusted subordinate of mine. It’s true that he said he wanted to retire from the knight order due to ill health. I asked him to stay as a retainer, but he felt responsible for Jared’s incident and couldn’t be persuaded to stay.”
He, who had also been Johan’s subordinate, had apparently been greatly distressed when Jared disappeared. It was understandable. He should have been there as a guard, but even though he was strongly ordered by the consort Annette, he had prioritized her errands instead of his duties. As a result, he had sent Jared off alone. However, Johan, knowing Annette’s temperament, did not blame him.
“Unfortunately, he is also involved. And the mastermind behind Jared’s incident… is Annette Daum.”
