Translator: Latte Proofreader: Adulldoll

It might be because of the documents I had dropped when I bumped into her!

The documents consisted of summarized information regarding the revision of the legislation.

Only the vassals were allowed to see it.

But it would be impossible for ordinary people to understand the bill, only those who had studied law since childhood would be able to!

He couldnt believe it.

Did she figure everything out while I was busy picking up the scattered papers? But isnt she just a ten-year-old kid?! This is absurd!

But Arias card didnt end there.

Solicitation, establishment of false institutions, embezzlement, tax evasion, prejudice against women Theres no end to it. You dare try to deceive the House of Valentine by committing these kinds of crimes?

Lloyd didnt raise his voice, but it sounded as if it were completely ruled out of emotionas cold as ice.

How dare you?

Damn it.

The scribe broke into a cold sweat.

Though the vassals were ignorant of the law, they wrote and organized the documents as tidy as possible. But in the end, their corruption still got caught.

It was a ridiculous mistake.

Are these reports true?

I asked if these reports were true, Count Beauport, Tristan asked while staring at Aria with a strange look.

Lloyd lifted his sword and pointed it to the counts neck without saying a word.

W-why me?

All of the vassals eyes turned to Count Beauport.

The answer was obvious. Since he was the one holding the holy relic, it was obvious that he would be the representative of the vassals.

What should I do?!

The Count looked around desperately, asking for help.

However, the other vassals just avoided the counts gaze.

In the absence of any hesitation, Beauport gritted his teeth.

He had no choice but to answer.

He already knew the answer from the moment when the holy relic appeared.

Cough! Baron Stewart, you have committed a grave sin.

The count handed over the holy relics to the scribe standing next to him.

What?! I only followed your instructions! Didnt you promise to promote me to a law enforcement officer if I followed your commands?

Oh, and when did I do that?! Dont make up lies, you sinner!

Surprisingly, the holy relic had no reaction, which means that the scribes words were the truth.

He dug his own grave, Aria clicked her tongue.

The vassals kept passing bombs towards one another, only to belatedly realize that they were self-destructing themselves.

Are you aware that youve toyed with the Grand Duchys law? Tristan finally spoke.

He continued, pulling out a sword from his knights sheath.

I shall dispose of you all.

Aria shuddered.

She had felt this killing intent before.

In the Ingo Mountains where she first met Tristan, and when Lloyd first entered the palace.

The overwhelming aura that makes ones existence feel like a mere ant.

Lloyd was about to pull out his sword as well. However, he stopped once he looked at Aria.

With a short sigh, he raised his hand and put it in front of Arias eyes.

At the same time, Aria heard the sound of a blade cutting through the air.

Rather than a sharp cutting sound, it sounded more blunt.

Have mercy! Argh!

Y-Your Highness, please Oh my Lord!

The screams of the vassals could be heard, one after another, until it finally stopped

They breathed their last.

The smell of blood entered her nose.

Suddenly, Vincent approached Aria and covered her ears with both his hands.

Huh?

Aria stood in confusion. Her vision was covered and now her ears were blocked.

Count Beauports final plea filled the basement.

Your Highness Please hear this humble servants words! In fact, Im here because I know a great secret.

The Count could not die alone.

Now that things have come to this point, he was going to bring down the second prince with him.

D-do you want to know why the second prince wouldnt tell you the reason for being in the feeding den? Because his mother was a prostitute!

Who his mother is doesnt bother me.

The Count knew that he would answer that.

But that didnt matter.

After a moments pause, the Count gave Vincent a crooked smile.

The boys hand, which was wrapped around Arias ear, trembled in fear.

The Count spoke in a more dramatic tone, Hes the son of a prey.

This is what Vincent was trying to hide.

Being the children of a prey was considered to be a great disgrace in the Grand Duchy. It was extremely taboo that many children have been banished from the land.

Vincents biological mother was a prostitute from the gutter.

In addition, his mother voluntarily cut off her own tongue to become a prey to the gutter rat.

Fortunately, Vincent ran away before his tongue was cut off and headed for the Valentine Palace.

And like a miracle, he was adopted as the Grand Dukes second son, despite having very little Valentine blood.

Everyone knows that their children are the preys right-hand. The offspring of a prey are fed to become another prey without a single exception!

Even if one were to thoroughly erase their traces so that they could hide their tail, one could easily reveal them if their tail was long.

The Count overheard the story in a brothel.

An angel-looking noble boy with blond blue eyes who frequently visits the gutters feeding hole.

He only heard of those rumors after bribing a bunch of prostitutes.

Cause the deadliest secret is to wander in the darkest place, not the brightest.

The Count thought this must be the Grand Dukes first time hearing it.

Does Your Majesty know that hes been in and out of the gutter for five years! He plans to sneak out the prostitute, no, the prey, out of the gutter!

Count Beauport has always regarded Vincent as an eyesore.

Even though Ive married a witless woman from the imperial family.

The House of Beauport had a long history.

Although the house was very wealthy, the count was not satisfied and so he married the late emperors niece.

His wife, the late emperors niece, was cherished by the late emperor himself, thus, he was able to establish a relationship with the imperial family.

Nevertheless, he had been completely pushed out of the imperial government since the death of the late emperor.

Vincent, on the other hand, was regarded and praised as a genius for being a distant relative of Valentine.

Why was the world so unfair?

Why do people say that only nobles have blue blood? Because we were chosen by God!

So why is it that the count, his wife and his children live less than the son of a gutter rat?

It was absurd!

By Gods bones, this young lad is mad! To think of sneaking food out of a feeding den! You want to save her? Or are you bringing your mother to her demise? Either way, Ill make sure that never happens!

Even if Vincent blocked Arias ears, she could still hear everything.

Your Highness cannot let this be as the Grand Duchy is at stake! Even if he looks fine, he might have already been brainwashed! Or even if hes alright now, he might be influenced by his mother someday! The Count shouted in a voice seething with evil.

Aria felt Vincents hands loosened from her ears.

Thus, she placed her hand on the boys palm and held it tightly.

As if she already knew.

She wanted him to know that there was nothing to tremble about.

He had nothing to be ashamed of.

The hand that covered her eyes and ears flinched at the same time.

Suddenly

It doesnt matter where hes from, Tristan spoke as if he had read Arias mind.

He continued, You know, no one has heard me say the same thing three times.

Then a sharp metallic ring cut through the air.

Because I killed them all.

The sound of breathing completely stopped.

And red blood soaked the floor.

Now all that was left in the basement were the three men of Valentine, the Black Falcons, the stunned preys, and Aria.

Now, move the little ones out of this room, Tristan said as he forced them out of the basement.

The Black Falcons escorted the children to the hall.

Then, they bowed down, and stepped back.

Lloyd was stunned for a moment.

Was he kicked out for being a kid?

When its such a huge family matter

He wanted to get back in.

Suddenly, he saw Aria from the corner of his eyes.

He softened his expression.

.?

What? Just now

Lloyd tried his best to calm his expression, but he still looked sour.

He spoke calmly, I did what you said.

From his inner pocket, the boy took out the card that Aria had handed him.

[Is the authority you gave me still in effect?]

The first time he saw the card, Lloyd thought, Of course it is.

The power was absolute and will never cease to exist. Once she had attained it, no one would be able to defy her orders. It could only be taken away from people of the same power or higher.

Yes, its valid, Lloyd replied.

He wondered what she was about to do.

[Then do as I say.]

Aria suddenly gave him an order.

It was the most unbelievable thing Lloyd had ever experienced in his entire life.

He couldnt believe she was using the authority he gave her just to order him around.

Still, he had no choice. So he followed her for the rest of the day, not knowing what kind of order she was about to make.

However, Lloyd expected her commands to be more human-like.

Nasty and selfish.

Of course, he was completely off the mark.

I didnt give her the authority to use it for this.

Thanks to Aria, Vincent was able to avoid being evicted under false accusation. She even dealt with all of the corrupt vassals at once.

Though, the outcome was good.

This isnt what I wanted her to wish for.