CPSMBD Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Grita’s Mansion 

Responding to the Crown Prince's sudden summons, I headed to his office.

As soon as I entered, the Crown Prince instructed me, "Chief Aide Violetta, inform the Imperial investigators. Tell them to prepare for an immediate raid on Baron Gritta's mansion with me."

"Pardon? Baron Gritta's mansion?"

There was no way the Crown Prince would raid Baron Gritta's mansion without reason. He must have found some suspicious circumstances related to this case.

Could it be... that His Highness also discovered that Baroness Gritta was being held captive in the mansion?

"Yes. I've been suspecting Baron Gritta might be behind this incident. While investigating his past activities, I found something strange."

"What is it?"

"After Baron Gritta inherited the merchant guild, most of its profits flowed into Quaker, a mining city in the north."

"Quaker...? What connection does Quaker have with Baron Gritta..."

It was an area with no apparent connection to Baron Gritta.

"The investigators couldn't figure that out. The money went through several instances of laundering in Quaker, making it difficult to trace where it ended up."

"Do you think this is related to the current incident, Your Highness?"

"Whether it's related or not is what we're about to find out. We've found a lead, and we'll have to follow it to see where it leads. Even if it's unrelated, there's no denying that somethings wrong."

I nodded at the Crown Prince's words and listened attentively as he continued.

"Baron Gritta is the only person the Investigation Bureau suspects as being behind this incident. There are no other suspects at present. So, I plan to use this as a pretext to search Gritta's mansion. If Baron Gritta is involved in this incident in any way, we should be able to find evidence of the crime in that mansion."

I agreed with the Crown Prince's thinking. Moreover, there was already living evidence of a crime in Gritta's mansion - Baroness Gritta herself.

The forcible confinement of Baroness Gritta was already a serious crime.

"I'd like to go with you, Your Highness."

I volunteered to accompany them because I wanted to confirm with my own eyes whether the Baroness was indeed imprisoned in the mansion.

However, contrary to my expectation of ready acceptance, the Crown Prince spoke with a somewhat displeased expression.

"It would be better if you stayed here. It could be dangerous."

"If Your Highness, who is still recovering, is going, surely I can go too."

I said this while looking pointedly at the Crown Prince, who had not yet recovered from his injuries.

The Crown Prince still had bandages around his head and a splint on his arm.

He was the very picture of being battered and bruised.

"That's...!"

The Crown Prince opened his mouth to object but then closed it again.

I seized the opportunity to press my opinion.

"I insist on going with you. I received information from Aila that her mother is imprisoned in Gritta's mansion. There's a possibility that Aila was coerced into this incident using her mother's safety as leverage. While we can't fully trust Aila's words, I think it's worth checking."

"Where did you get this information? Why are you only reporting this now?"

"I didn't report it separately because I thought Aila's words lacked credibility. But if Baron Gritta is under suspicion as you say, Your Highness, it seems the possibility isn't entirely out of the question."

"...Very well. Then you may come along. But be careful."

"Yes, I understand."

I headed to Baron Gritta's mansion with the Crown Prince and the Imperial investigators.

When we knocked on the mansion door, a butler working at Gritta's mansion came out to greet us.

The butler's face turned pale upon recognizing the Crown Prince and the Imperial investigators.

"W-What brings you here without prior notice?"

"Where is Baron Gritta?"

"P-Pardon? He's in his office on the third floor, but... W-What shall I tell him is the reason for your visit?"

"No need to tell him anything. I'll meet him directly."

The Crown Prince and the investigators quickly ascended the stairs, bypassing the butler.

While the Crown Prince was looking for Baron Gritta, I planned to search for Aila's mother.

'Velasquez, where is Aila's mother?'

[There's a staircase leading to the basement from the kitchen here. There should be a cellar if you go down those stairs.]

Following Velasquez's guidance, I quickly headed to the kitchen.

As Velasquez had said, there was a small door in the corner of the kitchen.

The servants working in the kitchen looked at me with surprised eyes as I freely roamed around the house, but no one tried to stop me.

When I opened the door, I saw stairs leading down to the basement.

At the bottom of the stairs, I found a very thick iron door and pushed against it with all my might. The door didn't budge.

"The door is locked. Velasquez, can you open this door?"

[Of course. I can just break it down, right?]

"No, not such a violent method... Is there a way to open it quietly?"

Why would I advertise to everyone in this mansion that I broke down the door? Besides, Aila's mother, who was currently imprisoned, would surely be terrified.

[Of course there is.]

Velasquez lightly waved his hand, and a clanking sound echoed through the basement.

When I pushed the door with my hand, unlike before, the heavy door slowly moved back with a creaking sound.

At last, the scene beyond the iron door came into full view.

In the darkness, I could see the slender silhouette of a woman.

"Baroness Gritta?"

The woman who raised her upper body turned towards me.

As if dazzled by the thin stream of light coming in, the Baroness frowned.

"W-Who are you?"

"I'm from the Imperial Palace. I'm Violetta Estrisen, working as an aide to Crown Prince Friedrich. Are you Baroness Gritta?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I heard about you from Aila and came to rescue you, Baroness Gritta."

At the mention of her daughter's name, the Baroness's face immediately turned pale.

The Baroness urgently grabbed my arm as I approached and asked in a desperate voice.

"My daughter! Is my daughter Aila alright?"

"Yes. She's currently receiving treatment at the Imperial Palace."

"T-T-Treatment? What happened to her? Don't tell me... Did that bastard Baron Gritta do something to my daughter..."

I was about to tell her about Aila but closed my mouth.

Everything Aila had done until now wasn't something that could be explained in a short time. Moreover, the content was quite shocking.

I wasn't sure if it would be alright for the Baroness, weakened by long confinement, to hear this story.

'The Baroness doesn't look well right now, so it might be better to explain in detail after she's recovered a bit.'

I smiled as if it was nothing and spoke.

"That's not the case. Let's get out of here first."

I helped the Baroness to her feet.

She must have been confined for quite a long time, as the Baroness's arm I grasped for support felt like a thin twig.

For the Baroness who hadn't seen light for a long time, I carefully covered her eyes with my handkerchief and supported her out.

On our way to the first floor, the Baroness asked in an irritable voice.

"What happened to Baron Gritta? I never want to see that person again. He's completely mad. He's not in his right mind."

The Baroness's body trembled like an aspen leaf as she mentioned Baron Gritta.

"Don't worry too much. Crown Prince Friedrich has begun investigating Baron Gritta. If Baron Gritta is guilty, he will receive appropriate punishment."

"I can tell everything that person has done until now. I will be a witness."

It seemed that the Baroness had suffered a lot at the hands of Baron Gritta, as her voice was filled with anger and intense hatred.

I was worried the Baroness might collapse.