Chapter 27

Nicole and Jay arrived at the cabin in the abandoned mine, completely exhausted. Nicole has been silent for a while.

Jay didn’t look well either. It was even more so because he used healing power on Freya.

Nicole barely opened her mouth and asked.

“Jay, are you okay?”

“Yeah. I can’t heal Mother’s illness, but at least I could relieve her pain.”

“You did your best.”

Nicole said.

“More than that, if this gets bigger, the villagers will come here.”

“Then…”

“They will investigate why the mountain was on fire. We could be held responsible. So take it easy.”

Jay got goosebumps when he heard Nicole’s calm words.

‘Since when have you been this kind of person?’

She judges the situation calmly and even takes measures. Her calmness made her look a few years older than her actual age.

Nicole and Jay slowly searched the cabin.

“Noona, here…….”

There was a backpack that seemed to belong to Jen and Karen.

Inside, what the siblings were looking for came out.

An identification card of the size of two palms combined. It was issued in the border area.

‘These people are certainly free people.’

Usually, these wanderers do not have proper identities, so this was lucky.

‘Besides, Karen is the same age as me, and Jen is only a year older than Jay.’

Nicole scrambled to tidy up the cabin.

??

Finally, the fire that night turned into a forest fire.

The house burned down for a very long time, slowly.

It was because the dried wood could not even hold the fire properly.

In the meantime, the fire spread to the forest and grew little by little.

“Is it a forest fire?”

Raul, who was staying in a nearby village, said. In front of him was a complex stack of ledgers and trembling men were kneeling.

All of them have been pocketing the village’s subsidies for a long time.

“Yes, it’s a small forest fire, so it’s so hot.”

“The mountain is where Master lives.”

Raul clicked his tongue.

“I should go there myself. I can fix it. It’s about an hour’s drive by horse.”

“You’d better be careful when you use your ability.”

“Yes. It would be wise to be careful until Master is burned to death.”

Raul said sarcastically. Bastard had a shuddering look.

“By the way, why does he have to deal with such minor corruption? Today, he’s here to investigate money laundering and embezzlement by the upper management group.”

Estok, who was waiting outside, said while watching the men sweating on their knees.

“You don’t know? He usually reprimands other people’s corruption only when he’s in a foul mood. That’s his hobby.”

Another knight standing next to Estok spoke quietly.

“They are still noble.”

Estok poked his tongue out.

“Master is pretty good, too.”

“……She’s one of the few people who can influence him.”

The previous Duke died early. Raul was orphaned, and the Valentine family was shaken.

At that time, Grace accepted Raul and raised him with dedication.

However, it was said that their relationship fell apart after Sienna, the only daughter Grace loved, grew up and naturally loved Raul.

Raul neither gave her affection nor treated her badly.

However, Sienna was known to have loved Raul excessively, so she did not mind going to the dangerous missions, and eventually died during a mission.

Raul was not at fault in this matter. However, Grace later resent Raul and developed a severe mental disorder.

However, even though resentment remained, they were still like a family.

“What will we do?”

The horse is ready.

Raul came out with Bastard and climbed the horse.

Pointing to the room where he had just emerged, he told Estok calmly just before leaving.

“Choose one and execute him. You’re good at things like that.”

“Why do you give me such a heavy task?”

“We need to set an example everywhere.”

“Well, then……. It can’t be helped. All right, I’ll pick a good one.”

“Oh, don’t kill them gracefully. The example should be cruel.”

Raul said calmly, pulling the reins.

“Yes!”

Estock nodded vigorously.

Then, humming, he entered the room, dragged a chair and sat down.

“Come on, we received 30 testimonies last year, that you held a lavish party with courtesans while the residents of the territories were dying of an epidemic last year. Who do you think should die when the receipt for calling these courtesans is revealed? Who should I pick? Let’s guess.”

“Eup, eup!”

The men who were speechless looked at each other and shouted something.

“What? Who should I pick?”

“Ugh, eup!”

“Let’s not be resentful. Whoever goes, this is also considered a public service. Originally, power and love are similar. The farther away you are, the more relaxed you become. You’re far from central power, so your brains become loose, aren’t you?”

Estok said excitedly.

“Anyway,  ignorant people like you think that when the government gives a lot of money for a good cause, it is a chance to pocket it. Besides, it’s so novel that once you start doing it, you can’t stop. Do you know that word? Oh, would you know it since you’re educated?”

Estock grinned and said. Then he pondered.

Wow, my boss. Grand Duke Valentine, what a man. Even though he* is a village lord, he is kneeling down in front of a knight.

(t/n: he here refers to the corrupt men kneeling earlier)

‘And by the way…….’

Since he asked me to look for an example today…….

“He seems to be in a foul mood. Won’t he be angry at whoever caused the forest fire?”

Estock said. Then he pulled a silk string out of his arms.

Since it’s been a while, he thought it would be better to do a decent strangulation.

??

Nicole arrived at Grace’s mansion earlier than expected.

A damp wind blew. It seemed likely for the fire to spread into a forest fire. Maybe it’s already started.

“This is the house she lives in? How could there be a place like this here?”

Jay’s reaction was also similar to when Nicole first discovered the mansion.

“The world has many secrets that we don’t know.”

Nicole said in a low voice.

But something was wrong. Grace obviously brought her mother here, gave her first aid, and asked to go down to the village with her.

But the house was empty. When Nicole entered the house, only a rustle rang.

“No way.”

Nicole hurried up the stairs in the living room.

Nicole knew where valuables were usually stored in these noble houses. It was in the landlady’s bedroom.

“Take this jewel, and this…….”

Someone murmured. Nicole opened the door to the room believed to be Grace’s bedroom.

Inside, Isabel was rummaging around and packing valuables in her bag.

“You, you!”

Isabel raised her head with a start at the sound of the door opening. Even her usual pretty face looked haggard.

“Are you trying to steal Grace’s stuff and run away?”

Nicole had no energy to feel contempt or disgust anymore.

What the hell is wrong with this kid?

“Evil! You tried to kill your own family with Grace’s help. How could you do such a thing?”

However, Isabel did not feel shame, but rather cursed Nicole with a devilish face.

“Evil? Who’s evil?”

Jay, who followed Nicole in a hurry, said. Now Jay’s face was filled with intense hatred and disgust.

“Jay, it’s like that for you. Have you ever trusted Isabel in this situation? You’re only on her side!”*

(t/n: this is Isabel speaking)

“You tried to kill the whole family. Yet you have the audacity to say that?”

Jay couldn’t hold back any longer and grabbed Isabel by the collar.

“Are you going to hit me? Are you sure?”

Isabel had a tearful look on her face as if she was really innocent.

Jay went blank for a moment. He felt like he was dealing with a monster.

“Don’t deal with her.”

Nicole said. She approached Jay. Isabel squealed as Jay loosened his grip on her collar.

“Brainwashing Jay to bully Isabel! It’s not Isabel who set the fire. Because Mother abused me, that’s why my friends were trying to save Isabel and the misunderstanding grew! Karen set the fire! Isabel is innocent.”

Isabel had no guilt at all while doing evil things.

She truly believed in her excuses as she rationalized her evil deeds.

Now Nicole knows how to deal with Isabel. The key was not to respond.

Tsak!

Nicole slapped Isabel on the cheek. Isabel faltered.

“You!”

Isabel raised her hand. Nicole took her hand and slapped Isabel again on the cheek.

Slap, slap, slap!

Nicole didn’t stop until the blood burst around Isabel’s mouth.

“How can you, you, you…….”

Nicole grabbed Isabel by the collar and pushed her against the cabinet. The cabinet made a bang.

Isabel’s eyes trembled and her beautiful face bled.

“What? I’m not killing you now.”

Nicole whispered without taking her eyes off her.

“It’s because Mother and Father’s blood flows through your body. Today I learned you’re evil beyond my imagination, so next time I see you, I’ll really kill you. In a way you can’t imagine.”

Nicole pressed Isabel on the shoulder. It was her shoulder that was grazed by the magic gun’s bullet.

“Ugh!”

Isabel struggled, but she didn’t let go and continued.

“Forget what you heard today. Even whose descendants you are.”

Isabel’s eyes got bigger.

“Whose descendant is Isabel?”

Nicole was relieved. Isabel was unconscious when she told the story of the Yveschapel family earlier.

She suspected that she pretended to faint since she was Isabel with such a sly stomach. But from her expression right now, Isabel seemed to have heard very little of the important story, since she fainted.

“Whose descendant are you? A descendant of the devil. Would you have done this otherwise?”

Nicole pressed Isabel’s wound more forcefully.

“Ugh, sister, it hurts! It hurts!”

“Leave now. Before I tear that smug face apart.”

‘It will be hard for her to survive after tonight anyway.’

Nicole slapped her face one last time.

Isabel picked up one or two pieces of Grace’s piece that fell on the floor while grinding her teeth and rushed outside.

“Can we let her run away?”

“The forest fire will spread soon, and it will be hard for her to survive.”

Nicole said calmly. She has committed murder before. If she was as strong as Raul, she would surely have killed her today.

But she meant to kill Isabel when she meets her again.

The dawn broke before they knew it. The haze of dawn was cleared and the morning was beginning.

Nicole stared blankly at the light.