The Lady and the Stableman

“Isn’t it a little too quiet for the wild beasts to be on the rampage?”

Walter said sarcastically to Baron Humphrey, who was stuttering.

“W-well, that’s…”

“If we go deeper, there will be plenty of prey, right?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t have lied to the Little Duke of Lexion?”

As he said that, Baron Humphrey’s back became damp with cold sweat.

The reason he complained to Walter, saying that the territory was in danger due to the hungry wild beasts running wild without hibernating, was due to the test given by Gilbert.

『 The beasts should have eaten their fill and gone to sleep for the winter…』

Although some sleepless beasts appeared occasionally, their numbers were significantly low, causing constant tension.

If things continued like this, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Little Duke of Lexion saw through his lie at any moment, so his heart continued to pound.

『 Gilbert… that guy made it look like he was coming with me, but he sent me alone.』

Of course, he knew that Gilbert had to be out of the picture to keep the plan from being discovered, but when he saw Walter, he couldn’t help but feel nervous and scared.

His inherent animalistic instincts sent warnings whenever the reins were shaken.

Planning to threaten the Little Duke of Lexion, riding horses side by side, is like an act of suicide against that threatening beast-like man.

『 But now I can’t cancel it…』

The Baron tried to clear his complicated mind and became conscious of the small piece of magicite in his inner pocket.

Naturally, the conversation he had shared with Gilbert came to mind as he received this.

⋙“All you have to do is hold this tightly when the Little Duke is near the magicite mine. Don’t worry about your own safety; the rocks will fall, targeting only the Little Duke.”⋘

⋙“Mr. Gilbert. Is my safety truly guaranteed?”⋘

⋙“I told you already. Don’t you trust the skills of the mages hired by Gerturk? The magicite possesses hidden magical powers that completely block anything, so Walter, that man will not know that you have it.”⋘

『 Surely he wouldn’t betray someone he was in the same boat with.』

Baron Humphrey made a concerted effort to suppress the cascade of thoughts. The only good thing was that it was only a short distance from the mine.

“From here, it’s better to walk instead of riding. The terrain is rough.”

“If the Baron says so, then so be it. Everyone, dismount.”

Walter motioned for the men to get off their horses. Baron Humphrey was relieved to see them obediently following his instructions.

The Little Duke even helped him with an unexpected comment.

“The hunt may continue until late at night, so I suggest you set up camp. I’ll be the only one doing the scouting, right, Baron?”

“Of course. Hey you, I’ll also go scouting, and you can help out here.”

Baron Humphrey quickly responded.

If by any chance the spell were to be triggered, it would certainly be advantageous for him if all those who would be willing to sacrifice themselves for the Little Duke of Lexion were gathered here, starting a bonfire.

『 If there are no witnesses, it will be easier to manipulate the situation since I am the only one who can explain the accident scene.』

Baron Humphrey, with a clumsy posture and a sword in hand, began walking along the mountain path alongside Walter. He wondered how much time had passed.

『 Surely, the magicite mine started around here clearly…』

It seemed like there was quite a distance between them and the subordinates who were setting up the camp. Just as he was about to reach for the magicite that Gilbert had given him…

“Baron Humphrey. Is there something you’re hiding from me? Your complexion is suddenly different.”

“Yes, what?”

Baron Humphrey’s face showed that he had hit the nail on the head.

『 No wonder he’s flustered.』

Walter stared with indifferent eyes at the pale face of Baron Humphrey far below him.

⋙“Walter. I think what Baron Humphrey is hiding is a magicite mine. It looks like the Imperial Consort hired mages to develop the mine… several of them.”⋘

⋙“…?”⋘

During the break at the Rob-berry Fair, Walter was speechless for a moment after hearing Edith say that.

The first thought that crossed his mind was how Edith figured this out.

When Edith casually mentioned that she gathered information from the shipping area and approached a lady named Betty, a disbelieving laugh escaped from his lips.

『 Why is she so good at this?』

Edith had a tendency to describe the process as easy even when the task was far from simple.

『 Well, finding out the necessary information is M’lady’s specialty after all.』

If it really was a magicite mine, it wouldn’t hurt to verify it personally.

Therefore, Walter accepted Baron Humphrey’s suspicious hunting request. Then he immediately called Cassius and had him confirm whether it was the magicite mine that the Baron was hiding.

Among the vassals who had followed them to Lexion Territory, there were many mages, and if the Baron was really hiding a magicite mine, they could use the magic power of the mages to confirm the truth.

The Imperial Consort’s idiots from the capital had come to check the condition of the mine, so after a few days of surveillance, they would be able to pinpoint the location without difficulty.

『 I heard that there is a large amount of magicite buried in the mine just a little further from here.』

Back when he was the stableman in Fortrion, some money-grubbing bastards begged for money and prayed every day when they were drunk.

Please, let at least a small piece of magicite fall in front of my eyes.

However, the reason for silently owning an entire mine of magicite with substantial economic value while keeping quiet and secretly forming ties with Imperial Consort’s faction was obvious.

Baron Humphrey planned to use it to buy power. Once he had it, he would sell some magicite for money.

Walter could clearly see what cunning instructions Gilbert, a sly character, had ordered the greedy, dull-headed Baron Humphrey to do.

“Baron Humphrey. There are gold mines and iron ore mines in the mountainous areas of the Lexion Territory. Is there any mineral extraction here as well?”

“…!”

To a third party, Walter’s question might have seemed somewhat out of the blue, but Baron Humphrey stiffened as if his heart had been pierced.

It was useless to ask whether he knew something. Just as he was about to clear his doubts, Walter used his magical powers to create a small flicker of light and sent it towards the direction of the mine. If his magical energy was simply buried in ordinary soil, that would be the end. However…

Swoosh―

The luminous magic that Walter cast seeped into the magicite and made the mine shine as brightly as the moon for a short time.

“…”

The Baron, who was watching the entire scene unfold, felt the strength drain from his legs.

It was clear that Walter knew and followed him from the beginning. He had come here aware that there were magicites buried here, so he just came to confirm it with his own eyes.

“It looks like there are magicites buried there.”

As if declaring that there was no escape, the narrowing eyes and the intimidating green eyes exuded a sense of intimidation, causing the Baron to stop breathing.

“T-that…that is…”

The Baron’s thoughts came to a halt when he realized that the resource that should have been used exclusively for his own reversal of fortune had been exposed to the Little Duke of Lexion. He was so overwhelmed by the situation that he couldn’t make any excuses.

His hand unconsciously twitched to reach for the magicite piece that Gilbert had given him.

“…”

Walter didn’t miss that subtle movement and swiftly reached into the Baron’s pocket.

“Seeing as the Baron also has a magicite, it seems you were well aware of the mine.”

“That, that is…”

“I think you’re also well aware that reporting the discovery of magicite, a special mineral, to the Imperial Family immediately was the right thing to do under imperial law.”

“…”

“But to have been secretly communicating with the Imperial Consort while possessing a mine of this dangerous thing—.”

Walter created a strong shield with magic and held in his hand the magicite he took from the Baron’s pocket.

Rumble—

In an instant, the ground shook, and a cloud of dust rose. The rocks that were precariously placed came crashing down fiercely.

As Gilbert had said, a vibration spell caused the rocks to fall.

The only problem was that the Little Duke of Lexion, who was supposed to be underneath the rocks, was holding him by the throat with a mocking smile, as if to say, “How pitiful.”

“Baron Humphrey. I thought your sexual preference was the only thing that sucked, but apparently your brain is too. The man who gave you this was trying to kill you, too, and you didn’t realize it.”

“…!”

Walter tightened his grip on Baron Humphrey’s throat. His men, who had subdued the Humphrey’s knights as he had instructed earlier, were approaching him with no problem at all.

“Baron. I think you need to talk to me now, not the Imperial Consort or the Gerturks.”

“I-I promise. If it’s a deal, it’s now exclusively with the Little Duke—.”

With the last ounce of strength, the Baron made a grunting sound and wrinkled form on his face. Walter’s mouth twisted up in a sneer as if he didn’t think it was funny, and he even more lifted his hold on the Baron’s throat.

“I wouldn’t call it a deal. I have no intention of promising the Baron anything other than sparing your life.”

At that moment, Baron Humphrey felt no pain from the grip on his throat. It was the fear of how far this predator before him could toy with his life. That alone pushed him into a pit of pain.

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