Chapter 224: The Transformation of the Lavender Barony, Part 2
“What nonsense… There’s no way I would kill my son and daughter-in-law, no, not the two of them…!”
Loser’s face turned pale, his lips trembling as he tried to explain himself.
“My son was killed by the Empire… Yes, during a covert investigation, he fell into their hands…”
“That’s not true.”
Ula shook her head vigorously. Cutting through her grandfather’s defense, she mercilessly confronted him with the truth.
“Father intended to reconcile with the Empire. That’s why you killed him.”
“Ugh…!”
“Mother tried to escape with me. That’s why you killed her.”
“N-No!”
Loser waved his hands vigorously. In the process, items on his desk clattered to the floor, spilling ink that spread across the ground. His face had turned a shade beyond blue, now as white as paper. His reaction revealed that Ula’s words were indeed the truth, yet the old man continued to scream.
“No, no, no… I am not at fault, no… not at all!”
“…………”
“My son… He was naive, thinking he could understand the Empire, unworthy of inheriting the name Loser…! He abandoned his mission and made contact with the Empire’s nobles… I cannot face our ancestors who have passed on!”
“So, you killed him?”
“That woman too! I welcomed her because she possessed the special power of the Spirit Eye, yet the moment my son died, she tried to flee! She attempted to take my grandchild… my grandchild who carries my blood… It is unforgivable, utterly unforgivable!”
“So, you killed her?”
“It’s the Empire’s fault! All of it, all of it is the fault of the Empire, our sworn enemy, the Lavender Barony!”
“…………”
As the old man shouted, Ula’s expression softened just a bit with sadness.
“Ge-beh…”
And in the next moment, a thin, needle-like object pierced Loser’s neck. The projectile had come through the slightly open window, a wooden tube slipping inside.
“Be-beh… Guh-geh…”
Loser fell to the floor, his face turning a deep shade of purple as he convulsed. Looking down at her grandfather, Ula narrowed her eyes.
“Thank you.”
“No, we merely fulfilled our mission,” came the reply from Arly.
“We, the Shadow unit… Sora-Magic, have long been indebted to the Lavender Barony, serving with our lives. Words of gratitude are unnecessary.”
“Mm.”
“That said… now that we’ve relinquished the ring, there may be those who refuse to comply. Was it truly wise to give it to him?”
“No.”
It was deemed acceptable. The covert unit, Sora-Magic, was subordinate to the Lavender Barony. While the ring was necessary to command them fully, there were still those like Curly who would follow without it. For Ula, that was sufficient.
“…It was fine.”
Looking down at her fallen grandfather, Ula sighed softly.
Yes… it was fine. Even if he was the one who killed her father and mother… he was still the grandfather who raised her. If only a single word of apology had escaped Loser’s lips, she might have considered forgiving him.
But there were no apologies. The reason to hold back had vanished along with that absence.
“It was fine.”
Ula knew the truth—that her grandfather was the one who had murdered her parents. Few could lie to someone with the Spirit Eye. Still, Ula, who felt little emotion, harbored no hatred. Not until she fell in love. Not until she met Rest.
“You’re a nuisance.”
Yes… he was a nuisance. The specter of the past, the vengeful spirit that was Loser Lavender would inevitably become an obstacle to Rest in the future. Therefore, he had to be removed. She had ordered the use of her Spirit Eye to steal the ring and shoot Loser before passing it on to Rest.
“He is still alive… what shall we do?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
It was of no concern. Though Loser still drew breath, he was beyond recovery. She had no interest in an old man who could do nothing.
“Do your best.”
“Yes, my lady. From now on, let us strive to take control of the Lavender Barony.”
This house would soon belong to Rest. Even if it didn’t, Rest’s child would inherit it. Because Ula had decided so.
“Do your best, do your best.”
She couldn’t burden Rest with trash. Before she surrendered this house, she had to expel the rot.