Chapter 163: 163 Investigation Results

Chapter 163: Findings of the Investigation

Blanche was ushered in by Tom.

It was the first time in her life she had stepped into the bedroom of a male peer her own age. Compared to the typical noble chambers, Ronin’s seemed anything but opulent—no exquisite carvings or paintings, no rare collections, merely plain, simple, unadorned.

What she did not know was that many of the room’s furnishings had already been packed and transported by Ronin to the Forest Town.

“How are you feeling now, Ronin?” Blanche asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, her voice laced with concern.

For the past two hours since returning to Eagle’s Hold, she had been unable to find peace. Every time she closed her eyes, the scene of the assassination flashed before her—her own terror, Ronin’s arms around her as he slew the two assassins.

Even the calming tonic had done little to soothe her. With no other recourse, Blanche had come under the pretext of delivering the tonic to see him.

“I’m fine,” Ronin said, leaning back against the headboard with a smile. “I merely strained my spirit using a sixth-tier spell scroll. There’s no need for you to worry so much.”

Thinking of the precarious situation Eagle’s Hold now faced, Ronin paused briefly before speaking. “Blanche, there’s something I need you to help me with.”

Her eyes brightened instantly, as if hearing those words had lifted a weight from her heart.

“Say it. Whatever I can do, I will do it without hesitation.”

Ronin thanked her, then continued: “Your ordeal was due to our failure to protect you. Count Hesus and Sir Brol’s anger toward us is understandable—but for now, our focus must remain on uncovering the assassins’ identities. The rest…”

“I understand!” Blanche cut in. “This assassination has nothing to do with Eagle’s Hold. On the contrary, it was your desperate sacrifice that saved me. The Auduin family will never let an enemy go unpunished—but neither will we ever wrong a loyal servant.”

She paused, then smiled warmly. “Rest well. I’ll go find Uncle Hesus and Sir Brol right away and tell them not to hold Eagle’s Hold accountable for my misfortune.”

Blanche, after all, was a princess of the kingdom. Even though Ronin had spoken gently, his meaning was clear enough.

Though they had spent less than a day together, Ronin sensed her temperament was gentle, and so far, he had detected no peculiar quirks.

All in all, he felt quite at ease.

He also sensed she held a favorable impression of him—otherwise, she would not have come so eagerly to visit him, nor offered to mediate Eagle’s Hold’s embarrassing predicament.

On Earth, if both parties in a matchmaker’s arrangement felt this way, the union would be sealed.

But in this world, until King Bruno officially proclaimed it, countless uncertainties still loomed.

“Tom,” Ronin called out.

“Your Grace, what do you command?”

“Have Macken come directly to me when he returns. For everyone else, say I’m unwell and resting. No urgent matters until later.”

“As you wish, Your Grace!”

Macken had witnessed the assassination firsthand and had aided Knight Missy in repelling the assassins—he would naturally need to cooperate with Sir Torul’s investigation.

Ronin hoped Macken would relay the findings to him at once.

…

Meanwhile, Eagle’s Hold was in chaos.

One side, led by Hesus and Brol, the royal escort party; the other, led by Viggins, Osun, and Marvin, the lords of Eagle’s Hold.

The sole point of contention:

Hesus believed the assassination had been too meticulously planned to occur without the complicity of nobles from Eagle’s Domain. They demanded that Eagle’s Hold investigate every vassal noble, uncover the mastermind, and deliver a satisfactory explanation to Princess Blanche.

Viggins’ faction countered that they would find the culprits and provide an explanation—but the assassination had nothing whatsoever to do with any noble of Eagle’s Domain. Investigating all nobles was baseless.

*Crash!*

The great gates of Eagle’s Hold swung open. Rulans entered, leaning on his cane, and the clamor in the hall instantly died.

“Sir Brol,” Rulans said, stepping calmly to Viggins’ side and facing the deputy commander of the Gryphon Knights, “we have heard your demands clearly.”

“The First Knightly Order of Eagle’s Hold is now interrogating everyone in the arena and all spectators from today. We will have results soon.”

“These assassins insulted the dignity of the Crown. The House of Eagle is a vassal of Auduin—we will never tolerate such an affront.”

Brol bowed in knightly salute. “Your Grace, I trust your loyalty implicitly. But the assassination occurred mere moments after Princess Blanche arrived at Eagle’s Hold. Without the cooperation of Eagle City’s nobility, how could such a scheme have been orchestrated?”

Rulans shook his head. “I revealed the princess’s impending visit only yesterday afternoon. Do you suspect I arranged for her to be assassinated?”

“…That…”

Brol fell silent. The marriage proposal had been Rulans’ own idea. He had no motive.

“Not necessarily,” came a cold, hostile voice. “Rulans, you’ve cowered within these walls for decades. Who knows what rot festers in your mind?”

“Hesus, don’t push too far!”

“Hesus, watch your tongue!”

Vassals of the House of Eagle erupted in fury, hurling curses. They were Rulans’ men—they would not suffer even the shadow of insult to their liege, even if the accuser bore the name Auduin.

Rulans chuckled softly. This scene reminded him of thirty years ago, when his vassals had been utterly loyal. Now, how many of them merely spat empty words?

“Hesus, it’s been a long time. Your tongue remains as sharp as ever.”

Rulans asked, “Tell me—when exactly did you learn Princess Blanche would be arriving at Eagle’s Hold?”

“Me?” Hesus sneered. “I am of the royal family—I learned of it long before you—”

His face darkened. “Rulans, what are you implying? Do you suspect *I* would arrange to have my own niece assassinated?”

“Not impossible,” Rulans replied calmly, slowly ascending his throne. “History is not short of uncles killing nieces, or brothers slaying brothers.”

“You dare!”

Hesus narrowed his eyes and swung a fist. Bronze-tier aura erupted into a massive spectral fist, hurtling toward Rulans with crushing force.

He was no powerhouse—but he was undeniably Bronze-ranked.

Even unarmed, few could withstand such a blow.

Rulans grunted, raising his cane sharply and driving it into the floor.

Instantly, a chilling aura surged from him. As the fist neared, a crimson barrier materialized before him.

*BOOM!*

The fist shattered against the barrier, exploding into fragments.

The shockwave spiraled into a whirlwind that tore through the hall.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Dozens of figures leapt forward, forming a shield before Rulans—Lord Marvin, Sir Capel, Baron Germain, Lord Dennis, even Count Osun and Baron Resen stood among them.

The hall bristled with tension.

“Everyone, please—”

A clear voice rang from the entrance.

Princess Blanche, accompanied by Missy, had arrived.

(End of Chapter)