When The Moon Tilts West - Chapter 10

Chapter 10 – Part 1

“Where?”

Leon’s voice, which had sunk to a low level, was clearly brimming with dangerous energy.

What about the eyes? It was cooler than the glaciers of the North Continent. Even though his tone was polite, it was impossible to even think of it as a servant’s face looking at the Emperor.

Frightened by Leon’s face, the attendant glanced at Eric’s eyes.

“What do you mean?”

Nevertheless, the Emperor was the Emperor. Despite the bloody gaze, Eric smiled and looked down at Leon. He even crossed his legs.

“Is it because you don’t know?”

“It’s because I don’t know.”

“Olivia Claudel, where is she?”

Eric frowned and asked back.

“Why are you looking for that person to me?”

“Didn’t Marchioness Philistines take her? When I investigated the Marchioness’ whereabouts, there was no other place than the Imperial Palace. I called the Marchioness because I wanted her to take care of Miss Claudel, not to steal her away.”

“Then, why didn’t you ask the Marchioness?”

“She said she shouldn’t speak of it unless it was in Your Majesty’s name.”

“Hoo, Gosh. Jane always uses the fact that I am the Emperor at times like this. How cute.”

Hearing his words, Eric smiled and continued, “Well, Duke, I thought you should treat her well when she was there. Huh?”

Leon furrowed his eyebrows at that sarcastic attitude of knowing everything.

“I regret that I was drunk and told the truth to Your Majesty.”

“What, aren’t we good friends? You are stupid enough to drink alcohol even though you know your drinking habits are like that. Leon.”

Leon stared at him with a scorching gaze at that smile.

Meanwhile, Eric was still relaxed.

“If you think that because you forcefully held her, you mean that the relationship wasn’t normal, but didn’t you mean to bring her back to normal?”

Hearing these words, Leon hardened his mouth and clenched his fist. He furrowed his eyebrows and lowered his eyes with a painful expression.

“It could not have been normal. Because I wanted her, and she didn’t want me.”

“Hoo.”

“That is what happened between us.”

“….”

“So, where is she?”

“What if I don’t want to tell you…?”

“I have to make you want to tell me. Your Majesty will lose me. And, I will be Your Majesty’s most powerful enemy.”

At that, Eric glanced at those words and shook his head, clicking his tongue. Has he ever seen Leon get so angry? He wasn’t even that angry when he was nearly killed by an assassin who came to Eric.

“Hey Leon, are you really crazy about a woman? Wake up.”

“How long do you think I can endure, Eric?”

As Leon’s tone changed, Eric shook his head excitedly.

“Now, that’s not normal. Would you like to have a relationship with someone who doesn’t want you, then take her back and lock her up? That’s really crazy.”

“Shut up.”

“Yes, if you want to lock her up, you should treat her preciously.”

“I have treated her preciously. I have always treated her preciously! I couldn’t even touch her properly because I was afraid she would break if I touched her!”

“The guy who couldn’t even touch her properly… Isn’t it time to admit it now? I didn’t force Miss Claudel to hide. Miss Claudel ran away from you.”

At those words, Leon widened his eyes. He froze for a long time as if in shock.

Eric clicked his tongue and said as if shooting a confirmation.

“Jane didn’t say it, but she told me everything. I don’t think she even cried properly in that mansion. Did you know that?”

“…I—”

“What did that foe-like brother of yours do to Miss Claudel?”

“I thought it might be! No, I thought it would, though she denied it! If he had forced to hold her, why didn’t she ask me for her help?! I could have been willing to kill him! The conclusion is simple. She tried to protect him from me. Therefore….”

Eric smirked. He understood where Leon had misunderstood.

First of all, Leon was ignoring the shame and betrayal that Olivia must have felt at Leon’s question, ‘Can’t you live without a man?’ In anger, she believed that it was the truth that she answered ‘yes.’

Furthermore, Leon thought that Olivia liked Kevin, so she was covering up his flaws.

Even though Eric tried to clear up the misunderstanding, but he bit his mouth instead. It was natural for the wrongdoer to suffer.

“Love her and cherish her? Whatever your reasons, you should have considered the plight of Miss Claudel, who had been neglected for five years. What she was thinking, and what choices she had to make? Why did she have such a relationship with Kevin Deorc, that scumbag?”

“….”

“That’s all I can give you, Leon.”

Leon, who heard his words, was immersed in thought.

He uttered with a painful expression.

“Yes, so I understood her. It was Kevin, not me, who had been with her for five years, and since the two of them were close from the beginning, of course, she had no choice but to like him.”

‘Wow, look at this guy. He really didn’t notice anything. Besides, he was mistaken.’

At the first stupid sight of his friend, Eric had to resist the burst of laughter despite the serious situation.

“Though he is going to die now. Because I will do that.”

“….”

“I’m going to take Olivia’s most precious person.”

“….”

“She will resent me. She’ll hate me, too. So I’m trying to keep her hidden and locked up without knowing anything because I don’t want her to resent and hate me.”

“….”

“Five years, no, I drew it for a longer period of time than that. I will never give up. No, I will not give up.”

If Olivia truly loved Kevin, what could be a more terrifying man than this…?

The dark obsession and deep possessiveness revealed for the first time.

For Eric, who has a twisted personality, seeing Leon like this was very interesting. What kind of expression would he make if he knew that the end of that agony was destined for a happy ending?

“Leon, let’s talk about Miss Claudel after we’ve finished ‘the job’.”

“…Right now!”

“You say you value Miss Claudel. Then, wait until she finds some more stability. You can relax. Because she is in the Imperial Palace, and she has the best protection.”

“….”

“You know it’s the best way to get the job done. Wouldn’t Miss Claudel be terrified to see the soldiers brutally imprisoning Princess Grande in your mansion?”

“….”

“If you have been patient for five years, be patient a little longer.”

“But, if she runs away…”

“Leon, I always think Jane might run away. Jane is enjoying this palace now, but she will soon get tired of this disgustingly dirty and rotten place. I’m crazy for wanting to lock her up, though I don’t. I’m afraid I’m going to hurt Jane.”

“….”

“You have to accept the running away. It’s up to her to choose whether to stay or leave. Otherwise, a weak person like Miss Claudel will be ruined. Do you really want that?”

At that, Leon said nothing. Instead, he only made a painful expression on his face.

“Even so, I wanted to be by her side…”

“Ooff—”

Even though he was a really good friend, he was foolish and immature.

Miss Claudel, who had run away to end her broken relationship, seemed more mature, at least in love. On the other hand, this guy who was trying to forcefully hold on to the relationship because he couldn’t even let go of it was foolish and immature.

Leon asked in a calm voice.

“Is she having a hard time? How is her condition?”

“After crying all day, I think she just fell asleep. Her body is fine.”

“….”

“Jane will be with her all day. She said she’ll call the seamstress tomorrow. She must have been excited to decorate her properly.”

“….”

“If she sees good things in the Imperial Palace for a few days, she will feel better.”

What stood in Leon’s eyes was a dark feeling of guilt.

Seeing that miserable expression on his face, Eric opened his mouth again.

“I’m not talking as the Emperor, I’m speaking as a friend. It would be best for you to leave Miss Claudel now.”

Leon did not respond to Eric’s words.

—

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 10 – Part 2

There were so many amazing things in the Imperial Palace.

First of all, the buildings of the Imperial Palace are wide, tall, and white. So, when she glanced at the building during the day, the white light reflected in the sunlight was enough to dazzle her eyes.

Olivia fell in love with the garden, full of colorful flowers and green trees with glossy leaves. Besides, how many rare things are there? She saw birds and little beasts that mimic human speech. She spent several days wandering around the Imperial Palace to see this beautiful place.

“Pretty.”

“Right? The flowers are really pretty.”

At Olivia’s reply, Jane burst into laughter and shook her head.

“Are you tired of looking at those flowers every day? No, Olivia is pretty.”

“What are you talking about? It’s even more embarrassing for someone like Jane to say that.”

She smiled shyly, but it really was true.

Olivia, polished under Jane’s direction, was beautiful. On the dark face that mumbled that she had no future, now was a smiling face, the pale cheeks now had a lovely blush that asked for a kiss. Her red hair, which she thought was too flashy for her face, suited her bright face perfectly.

Even the servants in the court, even the knights she encountered, gazed at Olivia in enchantment.

Of course, she thought they were looking at Jane, not her.

Olivia, who was mostly bright, made a dark expression very occasionally. Just like right now. She was looking somewhere with a sunken face.

“Olivia, where are you looking?”

“It’s nothing.”

What Jane saw following her gaze was the horse.

“You want to ride a horse?”

“Oh, no. I’m just looking at it.”

“It’s strange. Would you like me to ask His Majesty to buy you a horse?”

“No! Really.”

As she burst into laughter, Jane laughed along. After a moment, Olivia hesitantly opened her mouth again.

“Jane. You know…”

“Yes.”

“Does the Duke really like me?”

“Why?”

“I don’t think that’s right because he hasn’t been looking for me.”

“Really?”

There was a hint of laughter in Jane’s words, though she didn’t notice.

He didn’t look for her? On the day she left the Duchy, Leon immediately went to Jane, went to Eric, and turned the Palace upside down. Obviously, neither Eric nor Jane said that to Olivia. Even though it was for her sake, it was also because of their mischievous nature.

“That’s possible.”

“As expected…”

Not noticing Jane’s mischievous lie, she closed her eyes in resignation. Her elegant long lashes cast a dark shadow over her face. The look of Olivia immersed in the depths of water was supremely elegant.

“Then, what if?”

“Well, I’m sorry, but I have to owe Jane. I will find a job and live alone.”

“Are you going to live alone?”

“Yes, I have to leave the Duchy and live alone. It’s still a bit scary to go out, but…”

Olivia added a small afterword. Then, she continued shyly and smiled.

“Being here really made me think that it was a small and narrow place. I also felt that this was not the place for me.”

“….”

“I wish I had the courage like this earlier.”

At those words, Jane, who noticed the vivid self-blame, said, “Still, there has never been a good person like me in front of you. There were only garbage men and men who had not yet grown in character.”

At that, Olivia smiled and nodded her head. Olivia was really grateful to Jane. She thanked the emperor for letting her stay here, of course.

As she talked to Jane like this, she suddenly felt like she could live a new life even if Leon didn’t love her.

If she makes a new home and lives, she will definitely be happier than she did for five years in the Duke’s family. The future that had always been thought to be bleak seemed to have a bit of a glimpse.

At that moment, Olivia could feel something stabbing her in the back, and she unknowingly turned her body and looked behind her.

“Why?”

“Oh, no.”

It felt like someone was standing behind her, but was she mistaken? She quietly left the place.

“Your Majesty, Duke Deorc has imprisoned my daughter!”

The performance has started.

Leon looked at Duke Grande coldly. It was an opportunity to finally get rid of the old raccoon-like old man.

In the conflict between the nobles in the audience room, all the nobles of the Capital stood in the center and looked at Duke Grande and Duke Deorc.

Duke Grande looked like a victim for anyone who could see it. It was said that he gave his daughter to the young duke, and the young duke held his daughter in custody before even getting married. As the father of the daughter, it was worth getting his blood upside down.

“Is it true?”

Leon answered Eric’s question.

“It is true.”

The nobles looked at each other and murmured. Although Duke Deorc had just returned to the capital, they thought of Duke Deorc as a blunt and upright soldier who kept his principles well—Loyal and sincere to the country.

So, why did he lock up his fiancée, who came to his mansion? Wouldn’t it be okay to do that after marriage? That was the question people had.

“What is the cause?”

“That’s it…”

Leon looked at Duke Grande.

“Because your daughter spied on my mansion.”

“What does that mean…! It was only natural to wander around the mansion while you were engaged!”

“Can she go through the papers in my office?”

At his words, Duke Grande couldn’t control his expression for a moment.

Leon added quietly.

“When I went out, she kept coming to my office. Why was Miss Grande so interested in the letters and documents I exchanged? Why did she read my letter carelessly?”

“That’s it… Wasn’t it to act as the mistress in advance? I admit she was impatient, though I think you can tolerate the mistake she made for being young at heart!”

Duke Grande said, pounding his chest as if frustrated. However, he still didn’t know what Leon was going to do. For Duke Grande, he only saw him as a clumsy rookie and a child with no sense of reality as he only rolled on the battlefield.

Leon stared at Eric and opened his mouth again.

“Please know that the family had good reason to do such a horrific thing, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, what is that?”

When Eric asked, stroking his chin, Leon answered without hesitation.

“Duke Grande poisoned my father and predecessor, Edgar Deorc.”

Everyone who had been talking distractedly at the words was startled and stopped talking. An eerie silence fell over the auditorium.

“Po, poison—!”

Duke Grande’s face began to contort. It was proof that he had lost his composure. Seeing that, Leon had a satisfied expression on his face.

“Literally, Edgar Deorc was killed by Duke Grande.”

“What is that!”

“In addition, everyone in the mansion unknowingly had a connection to Duke Grande. Thanks to this, I had to be watched even in my own mansion.”

“This is a nonsensical conspiracy, Your Majesty… This—!”

“If I listen to it, I’ll know if it’s a conspiracy or an accusation. Go on, Duke Deorc.”

“I always thought something was strange. Even after my father died, I couldn’t go back to the funeral. Because the wartime situation was urgent, there was an order from His Majesty the Emperor to keep the place.”

“….”

“Of course, as the situation was urgent, there were no complaints about His Majesty’s orders. I also thought that it was a great favor for Lord Grande to take care of the funeral of the duke without me.”

“….”

“Although, why did you send an assassin?”

At that, Duke Grande blushed and shouted.

“…What assassin!”

“The evidence is already ready, so you can check it later.”

Hearing his words, Duke Grande’s face turned pale this time. He shouted with a face that showed his impatience clearly.

“Why are you lying and talking nonsense!”

“Am I lying?”

“Of course you are lying! I don’t know whom you were talking about…”

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Chapter 10 – Part 3

Leon saw it and said.

“Duke, I said ‘evidence,’ not someone’s ‘testimony.’ It seems that there is a character that you’re pointing at.”

At that moment, Duke Grande realized his mistake.

He entrusted the quest to the famous assassins’ guild with a reliable servant. And, he disappeared a while ago. So, when Leon said “assassination,” the Duke guessed that Leon had captured the man. That was the only evidence he thought.

A daughter who has been taken hostage, a missing servant, and Leon who drove himself in front of the ministers… Duke Grande, cornered, lost his composure for the first time.

People, too, now looked at Duke Grande with strange confidence.

“Going back to my father’s death, the reason I doubted Duke Grande was that he had changed my father’s will.”

“What do you mean will?”

“At the time, there was an issue that my father discussed with me while he was alive. It was very important to me, and my father knew it, too. Though my father’s will, spoken by Duke Grande, was the exact opposite of that.”

“What is that?”

“Fiancée. It was about my fiancée. He said that my fiancée is Princess Grande.”

It was not a surprising fact that the Duchy of Grande and the Duchy of Deorc, who were close in relationship, to get married. No, everyone expected that. It was because the beautiful Princess of the Duchy of Grande was not getting married, as if waiting for Leon that had gone to war.

However, that wasn’t it…? People were puzzled.

“My fiancée wasn’t Henrietta Grande, to begin with.”

“Then, who is the Duke’s fiance?”

Eric asked with a curious expression. So were the people.

If Princess Grande wasn’t his fiancée, who was she that was supposed to be Leonard Deorc’s fiancée from the beginning? There was no way that the heir of that great Duchy would have been without a fiancée.

Maybe, it was a woman in their own family…

Gazes filled with strange anticipation turned to Leon.

“From the beginning, my fiancée was Olivia Claudel.”

People couldn’t stand the unexpected answer and made a sound of astonishment.

They had heard the news that a little girl with the name, Olivia Claudel had been brought in by the previous Duke. Nevertheless, the topic quickly faded from social circles, as she did not appear, nor did the previous Duke show any action.

Although not long ago, she appeared at an imperial banquet, no one thought she was the Duke’s fiancée.

As if realizing his own true mistake, Duke Grande widened his eyes and looked straight ahead. He came to his senses and spit in his mouth, and shouted.

“Lies! The Duke must have been mistaken. Henrietta is the Duke’s fiancée! This is something I talked about with your predecessor. If you’re going to get engaged, shouldn’t it be natural to announce it when she’s brought in!”

“The kingdom of Roheim and this country were in a state of tension, how could I have announced my engagement to a woman from that country? My father postponed the engagement to a later date because of possible rumors.”

“….”

“Even his Majesty the Emperor was displeased with this, so I joined the war against the Roheim Kingdom. The reason I went to the battlefield itself was to get recognition for my relationship with my fiancée, though it doesn’t make sense that my father verbally promised to be engaged to Princess Grande.”

People were shocked again.

From the moment the man went to war, they thought something was strange. However, the reason was to get permission to have a relationship with his fiancée!

“Nonsense!”

“I have found the will, so it is useless to say anymore.”

“Whe, where did you get that…!”

Hearing his words, Duke Grande’s face turned pale blue. People were already trusting Duke Deorc more than Duke Grande.

“After tracking the Assassin’s Guild for a long time, I found out that Duke Grande was behind it. Nevertheless, I also thought it was a tactic to separate our family from the Duchy of Grande, so I did not believe it easily.”

“….”

“But the will was gone, and the fiance suddenly changed. Even Princess Grande was not engaged until she was of marriageable age. It’s like you’re trying to fulfill that rigged engagement.”

“….”

“The assassins attacked and manipulated the will. So, I had my doubts. The suspicion that Duke Grande may have been deeply involved in my father’s death…”

“….”

“So, my father’s body was again dug out of the grave.”

People held their breath again. It was because they did not even dare to guess what a son would feel when he had to dig up his father’s grave again. Regardless, Leon was more rational than anyone here, and his voice was calm.

“My father’s body, to be exact, his bones were all black. Poisons that cause the bones to turn black are uncommon. When I found out about the poison, it was a precious poison that couldn’t be detected even on silverware, and it was possible to disguise itself as a disease and kill a person within a fortnight.”

“….”

“At that time, we have evidence that Duke Grande purchased the poison.”

At that, Duke Grande burst into laughter.

“Duke, you are really crazy. Yes, let’s say I bought the poison. How do you think I would have put it in the mouth of Duke Deorc?”

He stared at Leon with his eyes scorched as if in a last-ditch effort.

“And, the employees are all my people? Is that something I can do as I want? How could I, someone outside the mansion, be involved in the Duchy’s internal affairs?”

“Isn’t it too obvious? It was possible if someone in the Deorc family became an accomplice. A man who could lead the mansion, give orders, and whom my father could have softened his boundaries and trust.”

“….”

“My brother, Kevin Deorc, was an accomplice.”

Even before the shock of the people was gone, Leon blinked at the attendants standing behind him, and the door to the audience opened.

Then, Kevin Deorc, who was screaming, was dragged in. He looked around with a terrified look. The figure of the soldier, who had always been of equal strength, had long since disappeared.

“Crazy, accusing your brother…”

As Duke Grande muttered with a pale face, Leon only glimpsed coldly at his captured brother and opened his mouth.

“It is a fact that has already been confessed. I also have the letters that the Duke and my brother exchanged.”

Leon walked over to Kevin, who was tied up. He looked frightened as he saw Leon approaching. With the older brother terrified of the younger brother, people had no idea what was going on between the brothers.

As soon as Kevin found Duke Grande while looking around, he shouted.

“Your Majesty! No, I didn’t do anything wrong. He did it all!”

Kevin said almost desperately, pointing exactly at the Duke with his finger.

“What do you mean?”

“He threatened to kill me and Leon, if I didn’t obey. I have done nothing wrong.”

“You filthy bastard! What do you do mean when you say you want to become a duke after getting rid of your brother…!”

“No. That person is a liar. Duke Grande lied to, and he persuaded the previous Emperor to send my brother to the battlefield to kill my brother!”

Leon gave a twisted smile.

For him, who went to war because of Olivia Claudel, the lies of Duke Grande seemed ridiculous.

“I was powerless. So, as the Duke ordered, I changed all the people in the mansion to the Duke’s.”

“You bastard!”

“That man gave me poison to kill my father, the former Duke, though I refused. However, someone poisoned him and killed my father. I knew it was Duke Grande… Still, I was afraid, so I remain silent.”

The people of the Capital knew how much strength was on the shoulders of Kevin Deorc, who was a member of the Imperial Guard. But, today, he was saying, “he was silent because he was afraid,” with a more humble expression than anyone else…

“You brat! Didn’t you poison him!”

“What are you talking about…! I’ve never poisoned him. The Duke secretly ordered his servants to give the poison without me knowing.”