Chapter 339: Chapter 74: Enclosure Movement
The cool morning sunlight streamed through the high windows of a corridor in Monte Castle, dispelling the lingering chill of the night.
The first to notice something was amiss were two young maids assigned to the morning cleaning.
They carried buckets and brooms, chatting in low voices about the previous night’s amusing stories. As they rounded a corner in the corridor, their conversation came to an abrupt halt.
"Ah—!"
One of the maids let out a short scream. The bucket in her hand fell to the floor with a CLANG, splashing water everywhere and soaking their plain skirts and boots.
But they paid no mind to any of that now, staring in terror at the huddled figure in the corner ahead.
The other maid was slightly braver, but her face still turned pale with fright. She covered her mouth and stumbled back several steps until her back hit the cold stone wall.
She tremblingly raised a finger and pointed. "Is... Is that... Sir Carl? Wh-What’s happened to him?"
There, slumped in the corner in an exceedingly unnatural position, was Carl Heinrich—the son of the Imperial Count who had been so arrogant and critical just yesterday.
His expensive velvet coat was covered in dust and suspicious dark stains. His dark brown hair, once meticulously combed, was now matted against his pale forehead and cheeks.
His eyes were shut tight, and dried, blackened bloodstains lingered at the corners of his mouth and on his chin. The rise and fall of his chest was imperceptible. He looked like a discarded, broken doll—a world away from the high-spirited young nobleman from last night’s banquet.
News of the discovery spread like a dark undercurrent.
When Adela was roused from her guest room by a maid’s urgent report and rushed to the scene, several people had already gathered in the corridor.
The two maids huddled to one side, supporting each other. The guards who had been summoned to the scene wore tense expressions, and the captain of the guard, having just finished his patrol, was crouching down to examine the body.
Kaiden and Alina had clearly received the news as well. They were striding quickly from the direction of the main keep, their faces etched with gravity and concern.
Adela’s gaze immediately fell upon the familiar yet strange figure in the corner, and her heart sank.
She hurried through the crowd and knelt beside Carl, paying no mind to the dust and dampness on the floor as she reached for the side of his neck.
Beneath the cold skin, there was no pulse.
"Sir Carl? Carl!" she called out twice, gently patting his cheek.
Carl didn’t respond.
"What is the meaning of this?" Adela looked up, her sharp blue eyes sweeping over the surrounding guards and maids. Her voice held a suppressed mix of shock and anger, along with a faint, imperceptible tremor. "Wasn’t Sir Carl supposed to return to his guest room to rest after the banquet last night? Why is he here? And... and in this state! Who did this? Has an assassin infiltrated the castle?"
Her gaze finally landed on the newly arrived Kaiden and Alina. Though her tone maintained a basic level of courtesy, the accusatory undertone was unmistakable.
"Lord Kaiden, Madam Monte, is this the state of security in Monte Castle? A member of the Imperial Envoy has been attacked like this within your walls?"
"Is there an assassin lurking within Monte Castle? Is this how you guarantee the safety of the Imperial Envoy’s members?"
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
The maids held their breath and bowed their heads, while the guards’ hands instinctively went to the hilts of their swords.
Kaiden’s expression was calm. He first gave Adela a slight nod, gesturing for her to calm down, then took a few steps forward to examine Carl’s condition himself.
His brow furrowed. Alina stood by his side, her gentle face filled with worry, her eyes carefully scanning Carl’s body.
"Miss Adela," Kaiden said, turning to face her, his voice clear and calm. "We are deeply shocked and sorry that this has happened. Ensuring the safety of our guests is indeed the castle’s foremost responsibility. We have already strengthened our patrols and security, both inside and out."
He paused, his tone growing serious. "As for why Sir Carl is here, and in this condition, we are investigating with all our resources. After the banquet last night, an attendant did indeed escort Sir Carl back to his guest room in the west wing. There were no reports of anything unusual after that. This matter is certainly suspicious."
"Suspicious?" Adela’s tone did not soften. "How can that single word explain the state he’s in? This was no ordinary accident! I need a definitive explanation—one that will be sufficient for His Highness the Third Prince and the Imperial government!"
Just as the two sides reached a standoff and Adela’s gaze grew ever sharper, the sound of somewhat hurried footsteps echoed from the other end of the corridor.
The newcomer was the young butler, Lucian.
He was dressed in an immaculate dark brown butler’s uniform, his hair neatly combed. His face, however, was a little paler than usual, and a sheen of sweat seemed to dot his temples.
He hurried to Kaiden’s side and bowed to Kaiden, Alina, and Adela in turn. His posture was respectful, but he couldn’t hide his urgency.
"My Lord, My Lady," Lucian began, his voice low but clear enough for those nearby to hear. He spoke slightly faster than usual. "Pardon the interruption. Regarding Sir Carl... the head butler, Bernard, is feeling unwell this morning and instructed me to report something on his behalf."
Kaiden’s gaze sharpened. "Speak."
Lucian took a deep breath and stood up straight. His eyes first flickered cautiously to Carl’s body in the corner before he began to speak. "Last night, the head butler was personally inspecting the castle. In the early hours of the morning, as he passed this spot, he briefly felt an extreme chill and a sense of unease, as if something unclean had brushed past him. He saw nothing out of the ordinary at the time, so he didn’t alarm anyone. But after hearing about Sir Carl’s condition..."
He paused briefly, his voice taking on an indescribable gravity. "The head butler believes this was likely not a common attack, but rather an assault by some kind of Evil Power. This is beyond the scope of what ordinary guards or the domain’s security can handle."
