Lord of Caldera

Chapter 56

Everything was ready—evidence, counter arguments, alibis. Dani had prepared it all. As soon as Max accused him directly, Dani was prepared to dismantle the accusation piece by piece. But this idiot was only hinting at the truth, refusing to actually say the words!

"My goodness, could this really be happening...?""Even if they are half-brothers...""Shh! Don't say anything unnecessary!"

Hearing the servants whispering around him, a vein throbbed on Dani's forehead. They were already suspecting him without Max even confirming anything! Should he just shout his defense now? No, that would only make him look guiltier.

"Sniff... The one behind this is...!" Max stammered, still drawing out the moment.

'For God's sake, just say it! Please!' Dani thought, growing more and more anxious.

"The one behind it is... Mi... Mi... Miha...!"

Dani gripped his knees tightly. Yes! Just a little more—say my name!

"The one behind it is... Young Master Miha—!"

"Father!" Sylas suddenly shouted, standing up just before Max could finish. His voice was loud enough to redirect all eyes to him. Sylas glanced at Max before turning to his father, his face filled with determination.

"The identity of the mastermind is irrelevant. Let's just let this go."

"What!? Are you out of your mind?!" Count Bill shouted in disbelief, pounding the armrests of his chair in frustration. The servants and knights all began murmuring again.

Let the mastermind go? That was the most crucial part of the entire ordeal!

But Sylas nodded firmly, his expression resolute.

"Yes, I don't want to know."

"It's not about whether you want to know!" the count barked back.

"No, it is about that. We're family, aren't we?"

The meaning behind Sylas's words was ambiguous. Was he asking for leniency because he was the count's son? Or was it because the assassination attempt involved his family? Or, perhaps, because the one who orchestrated the assassination was family?

"Please, I beg you. Let's stop pursuing the mastermind behind this!" Sylas pleaded, kneeling before his father.

Count Bill clenched the armrest of his chair so hard that it cracked with a sharp sound. After a long moment of tense silence, the count exhaled heavily and sighed.

In other words, Max was asking for the harshest punishment he could imagine for himself.

"Sigh."

The count sighed again. If Max had simply begged for his life, the count wouldn't have hesitated to execute him on the spot. But now...

"Max's fate will be in Sylas's hands," the count finally declared.

"My lord!"

"This cannot be allowed!" several knights objected, but the count silenced them with a single glance. The fatigue and despair in their lord's eyes were far more unsettling than the rage he had shown earlier.

"I will hear no more arguments. There have been too many exhausting events today."

The knights, seeing their lord in such a state, bowed their heads and fell silent. They couldn't bring themselves to oppose him any further.

With the room now quiet, the count rose from his chair and made his way toward the door.

"The interrogation is over. Return to your duties," he ordered.

As he passed by Dani, the count gave him one last remark.

"Thank Sylas. If you even understand what gratitude means, that is."

"F-Father...!"

Dani tried to speak, but the count ignored him completely, walking away without another word.

Sylas rose from his knees and patted Dani on the shoulder.

"I had hoped we could truly be family, but it seems that's not to be. What a pity, little brother," Sylas said, his voice calm but cutting.

"...!?"

Dani was left speechless, his mouth opening and closing in disbelief. Sylas, meanwhile, helped Max to his feet and slowly led him away, disappearing into the distance. The knights dismissed the servants, and they too returned to their duties.

The only one left standing there, frozen in the cold wind, was Dani, stunned into silence.