Chapter 55
Only Nelfia and the King are in the King's private chamber. This arrangement is reserved for special reports.
"So it was Kinsley who was connected to the Varmington family..."
The affair in which the Varmington family meddled with the Zodiac family and brought Lapiria a marriage proposal.
After hearing Nelfia's report on how it had unfolded, King Zeuracia glared sharply at the ceiling. After a moment, he turned his gaze back to Nelfia.
"However, if I remember correctly, Kinsley's name was not on the list Dasha had, was it?"
The King was right. Kinsley=Imbubey's name had not appeared on the blood-sealed document concerning Hummet that Sazaby and the others had obtained.
What could this mean?
"If we consider it simply, there seem to be two possibilities."
The King urged Nelfia to continue.
"The first is that he is close enough to Hummet=Trado that there was no need to include him on Dasha-sama's list—in other words, no need to threaten him."
"Indeed. Kinsley is a long-standing noble. It would not be surprising if he were deeply connected with my unc... no, with Hummet. However..."
The King and Nelfia shared the same doubt. Judging by their respective standing, Kinsley ranked higher than Dasha-sama. Considering Hummet's personality, Hummet should have wanted to entrust the reins of the Rudek side specifically to Kinsley.
As the man who controlled the Noble Council, Kinsley could easily organize the eastern nobles in secret, and there was no doubt that many things would be easier for him. Despite that, Hummet had made Dasha-sama the center of the effort to bring them over.
That raised another possibility.
"There is someone besides Hummet who can influence Rudek's nobles from Riflerea—even its central nobles..."
At present, based on the list and information provided by Dasha-sama, the Eighth Knight Order was monitoring the northern nobles deemed worthy of special vigilance.
But central nobles were a different matter.
Central nobles were, in principle, families the King had recognized and specially elevated, or members of the royal family. Compared with local nobles, their loyalty to the country had to be even stronger.
Otherwise, the nobles themselves would be in trouble in very practical terms.
After all, many central nobles did not possess territories. They lived in luxury on stipends distributed by the royal family. To rebel against the King was effectively the same as cutting their own throats.
It was precisely because these interests were so clear that the King favored the central nobles. They did not need to grovel before him, but their devotion to the nation of Rudek had to remain unwavering.
For that very reason, the watch kept on central nobles was somewhat lax. Kinsley, however, had recently been ordered to remain confined to his home, so he had been under relatively strict surveillance.
If even one of the central nobles had fallen under Riflerea's influence, the Eighth Knight Order would have to reexamine the central nobles—or perhaps all the nobles.
Even if Hummet were involved, matters would be somewhat easier. We already had plenty of means to deal with it. It would be troublesome, but we could somehow smoke out any disloyal central nobles.
However, if someone else was involved, it would be a different story. Nelfia and the others would have to start from scratch. And whoever it was could move someone as influential as Kinsley. They would not leave a trail so easily.
"...How shall we deal with Kinsley?"
The safest course would be to let Kinsley remain under observation while gathering information.
Looking ahead, that would be the best choice. It would make the situation easier to understand.
But...
"We cannot allow Kinsley to live."
The King's decision was to eliminate him.
That seemed only natural to Nelfia. Kinsley wielded considerable influence even within the Noble Council. If left at large, he might create another source of trouble before they could act.
"Understood. I will make the arrangements."
Nelfia bowed deeply.
"Yes. Find a method that causes as little disturbance as possible, while keeping those allied with Kinsley in check."
"Then it will be death by illness."
A death from illness that would be unmistakable to anyone who knew what to look for. The Eighth Knight Order was well practiced in this sort of thing.
After dealing with Kinsley, they would have no choice but to search the Imbubey household from top to bottom. Some useful information might turn up, though the chances were perhaps slim.
"What shall we do about the Varmington family?"
At Nelfia's question, the King glared at the ceiling once more.
"Hmm..."
The King stroked his beard, showing his hesitation.
Since they did not know who they were up against, they could even eliminate the Varmington family, accepting that Hummet would become wary, and use it as a major deterrent. It was a somewhat heavy-handed method, so they would rather not resort to it if possible.
"As for the Varmington family, investigate it first. Nelfia, go to Varmington territory and conduct a thorough investigation, including whether they are connected to Hummet."
"Understood."
Nelfia also felt this was the sensible course and immediately began thinking through the arrangements for the investigation in Varmington territory.