I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 142

Khalid Via went straight to the Rainerio ducal residence with the Emperor’s order. Usually, in such cases, one would expect resistance and bring knights along, but he was ‘Khalid Via’.

He was the one unmatched in swordsmanship in this Empire. It seemed like a form of confidence.

But Khalid’s mind was filled with other thoughts. There was no way Nox wouldn’t have anticipated this situation. That’s why he brought up the immunity privilege first.

It was something everyone would have known about anyway, even if he hadn’t mentioned it. For Nox to continue what he wanted, it was crucial that Khalid remain within this group for as long as possible without being suspected.

Nox would probably act as if he expected this. And he would meekly be escorted to the imperial palace, then use his immunity to leave.

This was a political show between the Emperor’s faction and Nox’s side. The Emperor’s faction would brand Duke Rainerio as the culprit, and Rainerio would smoothly exit the palace, avoiding that brand. Or.

‘To show that he is unaffected by the absolute command of the imperial family.’

After some time, Duke Via’s carriage stopped in front of the Rainerio mansion. It was an unexpected visit, so everyone was in a commotion.

Upon hearing that Khalid had arrived, the butler rushed down. He approached Khalid, bowed, and then cautiously asked, “What is the matter?”

“I’ll speak directly with Duke Rainerio.”

Sensing something unusual in his words, the butler hurried to Nox’s office to report.

As the butler urgently knocked, Nox, who seemed to have been observing the situation outside, spoke in a gentle tone, “Duke Via has arrived.”

“Yes, but the atmosphere…”

“He must have brought an imperial order.”

The butler didn’t know how to respond immediately, and Nox rose from his seat and slowly headed for the door.

Esterion, having noticed Khalid Via’s arrival, was seen leaving his assistant’s office and coming towards Nox’s office.

“Your Grace.”

“It’s fine,” Nox said in a calm tone. Esterion, flustered by Duke Via’s sudden, unannounced arrival, looked at Nox worriedly. Nox smiled faintly and lightly patted his cheek.

“I’ll be back, so take care of the pending work.”

“…You’re just passing the work on.”

“That’s why I hired an assistant.”

Esterion, seemingly reassured by Nox’s demeanor, followed him and asked, “Why has Duke Via come?”

“It was about time the imperial palace called.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s strange that they’re only calling now, after so many of the Emperor’s faction have died.”

Esterion looked confused, as if to say, What is he talking about now? Nox casually said to Esterion, who was following him, “It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

Ah, this is drawing a line.

Esterion thought. Just as there was a line allowed to him, this was a line allowed only to Duke Via. One he couldn’t carelessly cross without Nox’s permission.

“…Understood.”

Nox, Esterion, and the butler confronted Khalid Via waiting in the ground-floor hall.

From the moment Nox appeared, Khalid didn’t take his eyes off him. His gaze was so persistent that Esterion momentarily wondered if he should physically block his view. But as if to resolve that dilemma, Nox stepped forward and spoke first.

“What brings you here, Duke Via?”

“I have an order of detention from His Imperial Majesty.”

“An order of detention, you say?” Nox looked at Khalid with a peculiar smile. “But seeing as you came in person…”

Nox extended a hand and slowly, with his fingertips, lightly poked Khalid’s chest before stroking downwards. “It seems my mansion isn’t the designated location.”

Khalid presented the Emperor’s decree. He spoke concisely; there was no need for formalities, as they both knew what was happening. “Duke Nox Rainerio, you are designated as a suspect in the murder of a noble. As of this moment, you will be transferred to the imperial palace and…”

Nox listened to Khalid recite his obligatory lines with an air of complete disinterest, then, as if he couldn’t bear to listen anymore, he walked past him.

He was heading to board Duke Via’s carriage.

Khalid watched his retreating figure, then, deeming it pointless to linger, followed Nox. The butler and servants watched them anxiously.

Esterion felt a strange unease. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Nox. His calm demeanor showed that he had anticipated all this. But there was a peculiar feeling…

“Your Grace,” Esterion called out, and Nox turned back. “Be careful.”

There was no reply, but Esterion knew well that Nox had heard him. Nox Rainerio then boarded the carriage to the imperial palace with Khalid Via.

Khalid and Nox sat facing each other. No conversation passed between them; only silence filled the space. Nox seemed to generally understand what had transpired in the Emperor’s office, and Khalid had nothing particular to report.

Nox sat with his legs crossed, lost in thought for a moment. Khalid gazed at his contemplative face. He needed to take in as much as he could while he had the chance. Nox tapped his chin with a finger.

‘Being called around just for a show for others isn’t exactly pleasant.’

But it was a necessary show for Nox himself. Even if he didn’t want to, there was no choice.

The carriage proceeded to the imperial palace at a moderate pace.

And when they arrived at the imperial palace, the imperial knights, dispatched by the Emperor’s order, were waiting. However, there was a slight twist:

“His Majesty is still in a meeting.”

It seemed they hadn’t yet found a definitive way to stop Nox Rainerio’s next move.

Khalid instinctively frowned. Seeing this, Nox gently nudged his elbow, as if to tell him not to react to everything.

Nox’s charge was the murder of a noble. Imperial knights gathered before the carriage. The absence of a next command. In that case, Nox Rainerio, treated as a suspect, would naturally be taken to the underground dungeon.

Hmm, are they trying to wrestle with me now? After all this time? Or is it just a mistake? It didn’t matter either way. Whether he went into the underground dungeon or was confined to the basement room the Emperor was building, it wouldn’t change the fact that he would eventually walk out on his own two feet.

“…I’ll go to His Majesty,” Khalid said, his words directed more at Nox. Khalid handed Nox over to the knights, then quickly headed to the Emperor’s office. Nox watched Khalid’s quickly disappearing back, then moved forward.

They couldn’t roughly grab his arm as they once did. Though a suspect, he was still a great noble until officially branded a criminal. The knights guided him to the underground dungeon, trying to hide their discomfort.

Here, a mistake occurred.

Nox Rainerio had a precise grasp of both Khalid and Feltion. However, in that process, Nox Rainerio overlooked something very obvious and simple. That was…

“…”

…that he hadn’t fully grasped himself.

Standing before the entrance of the underground dungeon, which opened like a dark maw leading to hell, Nox felt his breath catch in his throat.

Huh, Nox exhaled sharply, taken aback by the absurdity.

***

Khalid flung open the door to the Emperor’s office. At the sudden, unannounced opening, everyone inside, including the Emperor, turned to look.

‘Don’t react to everything,’ Khalid counted silently to himself. One, two, three. After calming himself, he stepped inside and closed the door.

“Duke Nox Rainerio has arrived.”

“…He arrived faster than I expected.”

“Where has he gone?”

“Since there was no specific command, naturally…” Khalid looked at Feltion. “He went to the underground dungeon.”

“…”

Feltion frowned. Since it was an unavoidable show, Feltion had no intention of personally tormenting Nox.

“…Him.”

At that moment, one of the Emperor’s faction nobles politely spoke up. “Let’s leave him for a while until the meeting ends.”

“…Why?”

“It’s merely a petty squabble, but if we indulge him too easily, his arrogance will reach the heavens.”

Khalid clenched his fist. Feltion, though concealing his expression, felt a sense of awkwardness. At this moment, Nox Rainerio was, by all appearances, an enemy of the Emperor’s faction.

Giving him a small humiliation in this manner wouldn’t be a major issue. There was a clear justification.

In fact, it would be strange for him to step forward and object.

The two men exchanged glances, saying nothing. Khalid knew this meeting was a needless delay. He was, therefore, anxious. Khalid didn’t know why he was so anxious, but a strange unease seemed to creep up his ankles.

While the Emperor’s faction nobles prattled on about useless things and the Emperor merely let their meaningless words drift by, Khalid stood rooted to the spot, plagued by an unexplainable anxiety.

Then, the sound of someone running was heard.

Knock, knock, knock—

The knocks were spaced quite closely together. Khalid opened the door before Feltion could even answer. He felt as if anxiety had slammed into his face.

“What is it?” Khalid asked coldly, and one of the knights who had escorted Nox to the dungeon spoke quickly, his face flustered.

“His Grace Duke Rainerio’s condition is unusual. He’s gasping…”

Khalid belatedly remembered what Nox would feel in the dungeon.