The dining hall was dimly lit, and a cold wind that came out of nowhere blew at the candlelight.
The flickering candlelight shone on the faces of the two knights at the long table, making them look gloomy and depressing.
After a long while, Colin finally snapped out of his daze from Valla's unexpected words.
He stared at his brother-in-law, as if trying to discern if he was being honest with him or if he had other motives.
As if seeing Colin's disbelief, Valla explained again.
"Actually, I was just as shocked as you when I first found out about this. Furthermore, I didn't dare tell Caitlin about it until now … "
"How did you find out about this?"
"I started to have suspicions after returning from the battlefield.
Just as I told you, I only remember being stabbed by a troll warrior, but when I woke up, I was already in Fallen Eagle City.
I've been trying to figure out what happened in between.
I once asked my mother, but she told me that the people from the Tulip Merchant Guild saw me abandoned on the battlefield, so they saved me.
But this explanation obviously didn't convince me.
So, I went to check the trade records of the Tulip Merchant Guild, and there, I found that a merchant group did indeed return to Fallen Eagle City from the frontlines during the time I was injured.
It should be this merchant group that brought me back, but the timing was too coincidental, so coincidental that it was hard to believe that it wasn't deliberately arranged … "
"So, you suspect that Madam Penny has a secret relationship with the trolls?"
"Yes. Of course, I might be overthinking it. My mother might not have betrayed the interests of the Northern Frontier. After all, the Tulip Merchant Guild has always been doing business between the Troll Empire and the Northern Frontier, so it's inevitable that they would have some connections with the higher-ups of the trolls. Perhaps they really happened to pass by the battlefield and redeemed me. "
Vhalla defended his mother, but judging from his expression, even he didn't believe his own explanation.
Colin sneered inwardly. Your 'mother's' connection with the trolls is deeper than you think!
But on the surface, he nodded in agreement, then continued to ask, "Then what about Knight Carter's assassination attempt on me? Why do you think that it was your mother's doing? "
Valla paused, seemingly hesitant, but after struggling for a moment, she still said,
"The merchant group that brought me back from the frontlines actually passed by Graycastle Town. Moreover, it was the day before you were assassinated. "
"Oh?" Colin's eyes flashed, "But that doesn't mean anything, does it?"
"I've checked the account book of that caravan. It was recorded that a set of expensive enchanted armor was stolen, and the place where it was stolen was Graycastle Town!"
Then, Colin came to a realization.
How was this a theft? It was clearly a payment to Knight Carter as a commission for the assassination.
No wonder Vhalla suspected that her mother was the mastermind.
"Then why do you think your mother sent someone to assassinate me?"
"It should be for the Angele family." Valla didn't dare to meet Colin's gaze, the shame on her face so thick that it almost covered her entire face.
"Baron Carter died at the frontlines, and if you die as well, then Caitlin will become the first heir to the Angele family's title, and I will also obtain a family property, and won't have to be looked down upon all day in Fallen Eagle City.
Perhaps, this is my mother's plan …
I'm sorry, Colin, I've let you down … "
Valla's honesty left Colin at a loss for how to respond.
Originally, he already had a perfect plan for this banquet.
He was prepared to use the conclusion he had deduced from the red-eye inheritance to make Valla believe that he was the true son of Count Oman, thus provoking her to hate the Viscounts of Lawrence and planting an unstable bomb within the Oman family.
But who would have thought that things would turn out like this?
As his mind raced, Colin suddenly felt that he had to change his way of thinking.
"Valla, my father didn't care about your illegitimate identity and treated you as his own, even marrying my sister to you. But you failed to protect my father and let him die tragically on the battlefield, while you lived on alone. Can such actions be considered the virtue of a knight?"
Before Valla could speak, Colin continued to press her.
"Your mother actually ordered an assassin to kill me in order to obtain a family property for you. Do you think you can get my forgiveness with a simple 'sorry'?"
Valla's face flushed red in shame at Colin's questioning.
She suddenly got up and left her seat, arriving in front of Colin and kneeling on one knee, at the same time holding the sword at her waist above her head with both hands.
"Viscount Angley, it is only right that I accept your judgment!"
Colin raised an eyebrow and sneered, "What? Valla, do you think I won't kill you just because you married my sister? "
"No! My crimes have nothing to do with Caitlin, and I don't expect you to forgive me for her sake. " Valla's face was resolute, and his hands holding the sword did not tremble at all, "Actually, when I found out about my mother's actions, I already knew that only death can redeem my sins to Baron Angele and to you!"
She then raised her head and looked at Colin with a calm expression, and said word by word, "Colin, please grant me release!"
Colin stared at Valla's eyes expressionlessly, as if trying to discern the sincerity in her words.
Valla's blue eyes were as calm and deep as the surface of a windless sea.
After a long while, Colin finally got up slowly.
Clang —
He unsheathed his longsword and pressed it against Valla's heart.
Colin used a bit of force, and the sharp tip of the sword easily pierced through her thin outer clothes.
Fresh blood dyed Valla's chest red, but his eyes did not tremble at all, and his body did not dodge at all.
Colin narrowed his eyes and asked expressionlessly, "Valla, do you have any last words?"
Valla's eyes finally rippled, and there was a hint of longing in his voice, "Please take good care of Caitlin, and help her find a good man to remarry."
"She's my sister, and I'll take good care of her even if you don't ask."
Valla nodded, as if she was finally relieved. She slowly closed her eyes and waited for death to descend upon her.
Colin hesitated for a moment, but still slowly stabbed the longsword into Valla's chest.
He was not fast, and it seemed like he was purposely controlling his strength so that the longsword pierced into Valla's chest bit by bit.
Throughout the entire process, Valla did not have any intention of dodging other than clenching his teeth in pain and trembling out of reflex.
It was only when the longsword completely pierced through her chest and came out of her back that Valla slowly opened her eyes and looked at the world with nostalgia, and said softly to Colin, "I'm sorry."
She then slowly slumped to the ground.
Colin sighed, as if finally confirming Valla's sincerity.
He had seen too many old schemers who would do anything for their own benefits, and a knight like Valla who was willing to atone for her sins with her death for the sake of justice in her heart was an anomaly.
Colin sighed again as he looked at Valla, who was on the verge of death with a longsword pierced through his chest.
In the end, she still bit him …
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