Chapter 77: Spring Cleaning
"Mmm... For Liselotte to be so infatuated... I can't help it, I'll allow her to be with Liselotte."
"Oh, really? It wasn't that easy! It was unexpectedly life-threatening!"
"Thank you!! I love you, Father!"
Liselotte, overwhelmed with emotion, clings to the Margrave. Uh-oh, that doesn't look good...
"Y-yes, f-for the sake of my dear daughter..."
Margrave David, sweating and enduring the tension, but is he okay? He looks pale.
"Kyaa! I'm sorry, Father! I was just so happy!"
Probably fractured something... Here, have some healing water.
"...I'm sorry. Thanks to you, I'm saved. So, what's the urgent report?"
Margrave David, genuinely angry now. He's biting his lip so hard that blood is coming out.
"Well, the main issue is that there are multiple names of nobles from this Margraviate in the organization's customer list. I came to inform you before the evidence could be destroyed."
Yes, that's the main reason I came here. I hurried because I wanted to get ahead of the investigation, rather than waiting for Marigno's contact.
"I see. Such a thing happening in my territory..."
Oh no, Margrave David is seriously angry. He's sweating heavily, and his face looks terrible.
"So, about the main topic, there are several names of nobles from this Margraviate in the organization's customer list..."
***
"What? Liselotte has returned?"
"Yes, Lord Palermo. And Margrave has requested your presence."
"Oh... So, does that mean I finally have permission for marriage with Liselotte?"
Baron Palermo, with a sly smile.
"I spent quite a bit of money to arrange this."
"It's all for the sake of making the Margraviate mine. It was worth pretending to be a good person for so long."
"So, we must prepare for a celebration tonight."
"Hahaha! You're getting ahead of yourself! Alright, bring out the finest clothes, I'm going to win that girl over for real."
***
"Oh, isn't it Baron Palermo?"
"Oh, it's Baron Cuscus. What a coincidence!"
Why is this guy here? Could it be that he's weighing which one of us to marry?
If that's the case, it's troublesome. He looks good on the surface, and Liselotte might be easily deceived, just like that. If needed, I might have to expose Baron Cuscus's scandals to the Margrave. Well, preparedness is key, Baron Cuscus.
The two were summoned to the Margrave's office. Since it's not an audience in the hall, it's definitely about the marriage. Both of them naturally start to smile.
They are led to the office, bowing their heads.
"Sorry to have you both come here. Do you understand why you were called?"
As the two lift their heads and attempt to speak with smiles, knights burst into the office and restrain them.
"W-What is going on?"
"L-Let go! What have I done?"
The two barons, futilely struggling and shouting.
"You are both suspected of involvement with the human trafficking organization."
The Margrave informs them, and the barons' faces change.
"...It seems there's no need to investigate further based on your reactions. Your estates have already been seized and searched by the knights. Surrender!"
"Dammit! We were so close..."
The two barons glare at the Margrave with resentment.
In the subsequent investigation, several people who had been kidnapped and illegally sold by the organization were found in the basements of the two barons' estates. Furthermore, evidence of tax evasion, illegal drug trafficking, and even selling their own subjects to the organization was discovered. Naturally, the two barons were executed, and their titles were revoked. However, relief measures were taken for those who were unrelated to the crimes.
The people found in the basement were physically and mentally weakened, but with the power of holy water, they were able to regain their strength. Although the time and painful memories they lost couldn't be recovered, the power of holy water is truly remarkable.
In the end, the matter of the customer list was investigated secretly, and it was recommended that the King's personal knights carry out a simultaneous nationwide investigation.
We can't be involved in everything, but we plan to cooperate as much as possible, especially in helping the victims recover.
"My responsibility for not seeing through this incident is significant. I'm grateful to you, my son-in-law."
"Uh, son-in-law... Margrave, we only found out by chance. Understanding the inner workings of a person's heart is impossible unless you're a god. What's important is what we do from now on, I think."
Actually, it was Chloe's ability to sniff out scents that allowed us to notice.
Honestly, even though the world is on the brink of destruction, I wish they wouldn't add unnecessary work. How can we fight when people can't trust each other?
"Hahaha, my son-in-law, you have your own duties to attend to. But when you have a child, I won't allow that child to inherit. Until then, I'll make sure to protect this Margraviate, so rest assured."
At first, I thought he was a scary person, but he's a kind father who genuinely cares about Liselotte.
"W-Wait, isn't it too early to talk about children?"
Liselotte blushes, but we need to reassure her father.
"Leave it to me! How many would you like, Liselotte?"
"W-Why would you involve my knights! I don't know!"