NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7
Chapter 07: Beating Up Dad and Stepmom. Also Beating Up Their Families Together.
“Now, Gazel and Almada… You two tried to take over the Zafing Marquess House after assassinating my mother. You used the money meant for the subjects of the Zafing House for your own greed.”
“……”
“I already have the evidence. It’s impressive how lavishly you spent it in just five years. Do you have anything to say in your defense?”
Gazel didn’t open his mouth. Even if he wanted to correct things, he couldn’t say anything because I already had the poison, the merchant, and the perpetrator under control. Of course, he was probably desperately trying to figure out how to wriggle out of this, but his thoughts were too scattered to form a coherent defense.
“Seems like you don’t. Do you know how I got this evidence?”
“Huh?”
“It’s simple. I wasn’t the only one who doubted my mother’s death. It was everyone serving the Zafing Marquess House. Well, except for the few people Almada brought from the Edior Viscount House.”
“Wh-what do you mean…?”
“Did you really think everyone would swear loyalty to your family, who dared to act like the heads of the Zafing Marquess House as mere in-laws? Especially you, Gazel, who never even bothered with the Zafing House’s affairs. You’re just a freeloader. There’s nothing about you worthy of respect.”
Gazel and Almada had nothing to say in response to this merciless evaluation.
“I secretly ordered everyone to investigate the evidence of my mother’s assassination.”
“……”
“You fools got carried away thinking the servants were obediently following you. That made it easy for me to gather solid evidence.”
“Ah, ah…”
“Oh, by the way, the hardest part was stopping the servants from trying to finish you off when you were beating and kicking me under the guise of ‘discipline.’ It was surprisingly tough to stop them from acting on my behalf. You’re alive right now thanks to me.”
When I finished speaking, Gazel and Almada glanced at the servants’ faces. Fear was clearly written on them. They knew my words weren’t lies, as they had been captured under my orders.
“Well, it seems there’s no rebuttal. Good, that saves me some trouble. Not that I wouldn’t have crushed your arguments anyway. Now, as the Zafing Marquess, I hereby sentence you to death for the murder of the former Zafing Marquess, Elphil.”
“Wha—”
“Th-that’s…”
At the word “death penalty,” everyone except those from the Zafing House was left speechless.
“Giorg!! Are you really going to execute your own father!?”
“Th-that’s right!! I may be your stepmother, but still!!”
Gazel and Almada, shaken by the death sentence, immediately started arguing to save their lives.
“If you want to overturn the death penalty, prove that the evidence I presented is wrong. Stop relying on blood ties. With your attitudes, why should I forgive you?”
“Do you have no human compassion!?”
“That’s right! How can you be so calm after killing your own parents!? Doesn’t your conscience hurt!?”
“Not at all.”
“Wh-what…?”
“Why should I treat you with any decency?”
At my heartfelt question, the two of them moved their mouths but no words came out.
“First of all, things like conscience and compassion should be shown to decent people. I can’t see any value in you deserving such treatment. Are you even capable of being treated like proper human beings?”
“……”
“You killed my mother and lived freely for five years. You should be satisfied, right? Well, no one will mourn your deaths, and your lives were utterly meaningless.”
Gazel and Almada had no response to my words.
Deep down, they knew how vain and empty their lives were. Having it pointed out to them must have felt like their hearts were being ripped out.
“Karmais Viscount, Edior Viscount… These two have been sentenced to death for the murder of the former Zafing Marquess. If you have any objections, feel free to appeal to His Majesty the King. I don’t mind at all. Of course, if you want to save these two, your families will have to cover the costs.”
“Uh…”
“Th-that’s…”
The two viscounts hesitated. The evidence I had was irrefutable, and there was even more I hadn’t presented yet.
Realizing they had been abandoned, Gazel and Almada fainted. The fact that they fainted at the same time might show how deep their bond was.
“Good, the two viscounts are being reasonable, so that saves me some trouble. Now, with these two convicted, I need to clarify my relationship with your families.”
“Huh?”
“What?”
“What are you talking about? There’s a suspicious flow of money to both viscount houses, so you’re not unrelated.”
Under my gaze, the two viscounts visibly paled.
“Right, Karmais Viscount, let’s hear your explanation about the money flow earlier.”
“Th-that’s…”
“Oh? I gave you plenty of time to think of a defense, didn’t I?”
“N-no, there isn’t one…”
“I see. What about you, Edior Viscount? I didn’t give you much time, but it shouldn’t be a big deal, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Good. The funds that flowed to both houses were substantial. You used them for your own desires instead of managing your territories.”
The viscounts’ faces turned from pale to ashen. They no longer sat in their chairs but knelt on the floor, begging for mercy.
“Marquess Zafing, we apologize!!”
“We will definitely repay it!! Please have mercy!!”
“I don’t mind waiting for repayment.”
“Ah, thank you!!”
“We are grateful!!”
At my words, their faces lit up slightly, some life returning to them.
“Of course, there are conditions.”
“Y-yes.”
“Both viscounts must retire and pass your titles to your heirs.”
Upon hearing this, their faces darkened again.
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