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Chapter 38 The Parricide

Killing one's parents is a curse of the same caliber as breaking oaths and blaspheming the gods.

In this Western fantasy world, blood ties trump all other connections between people. Anyone who dares to reject their so-called "family of origin" will face social death, even if they aren't killed for honor by their clan.

In the simple values ​​of the people, if you don't even love your blood relatives, there's definitely something wrong with your soul, and you need to go to hell to be roasted.

Therefore, accusing Ryan of being a "kin killer" right off the bat is a fatal accusation that is extremely serious.

Raine did not respond, but simply looked at the person who had spoken.

Sure enough, the old marquis interrupted the crowd's angry outbursts the next second.

"Quiet! Quiet!" Marquis Fahl waved his arms and shouted, "Raine has not yet been convicted, and no one is allowed to accuse him of patricide!"

"Now, let's hear what Ryan Fahre has to say!"

Marquis Fahel returned to his seat as patriarch, his expression becoming serious and solemn.

Raine simply smiled dismissively and calmly recounted the same explanation he had given to the old marquis, under the scrutinizing and suspicious gazes of the Faher people.

The banquet hall was completely silent.

In fact, everyone had already considered what reasons Renn might use to exonerate himself.

The simplest explanation is simply "I don't know." Kalicch disappeared at his fleet base on Salt Island, along with his mid- to high-ranking crew members. Considering there's unlikely to be any pirate raids or storms on Salt Island, the most probable explanation is a military conflict with Iron Harbor, leading to their imprisonment or even their deaths.

However, if Raine insists on claiming ignorance, it's impossible for anyone to force the label of patricide onto him without evidence. At most, they can only ask him to temporarily open Salt Island so that his family can go there to investigate.

As long as Salt Island is open to Searock City, the escort fleet's ships and personnel will definitely need to be taken back, and the Blood Fortress will also need to be occupied by the family. When to return it to Renn is up to the old Marquis.

Who would have thought that Ryan would come up with such a clumsy excuse?

After an unpleasant collective silence, deafening slamming of tables, laughter, and curses erupted.

"Quiet! Quiet!" Marquis Fahel restored order to the meeting hall and then allowed the clansmen to stand up and speak one by one.

"This is the first time I've heard of sailors choosing to openly rebel and be executed while anchored on the Fahre family's territory instead of mutinying at sea and hijacking a ship to escape," the first family member said in a sarcastic tone.

"Because I haven't ruled Bloodfortress for long," Renn said arrogantly, spreading his hands. "I haven't even had time to recruit city guards; I only have about thirty knights and squires temporarily gathered from Searock City with me. Perhaps these sailors are so arrogant that they think they can conquer Bloodfortress and take the opportunity to rebel and establish their own rule."

"What a ridiculous and laughable defense!" The second clansman stood up and angrily rebuked, "Salt Island relies entirely on Sea Rock City for supplies. Are you planning to starve to death by seizing Salt Island? Who would be so foolish as to think they can rely on Salt Island to rebel and establish their own power? You clearly murdered your own family, yet you pretend it was a sailors' rebellion!"

“As you said, occupying Salt Island does not make one independent.” Renn chuckled sarcastically. “Only a madman would think that a mere Salt Island lord would murder his own uncle and intend to oppose his family. You should get your head checked.”

"No matter how sweet your words, you can't change the obvious fact that Kalic died on your territory!" the third tribesman roared indignantly. "You can't escape the suspicion of patricide!"

“That’s ridiculous.” Renn gave a cold laugh, clearly speechless. “The fleet base isn’t even my territory.”

"How can the fleet base located in Iron Harbor not be your territory, Lord Renn?"

"Idiot, it's common knowledge that while my father granted me Salt Island, he kept the shipyard and fleet base separately." Renn's gaze suddenly sharpened. "According to your logic, considering that the fleet base is still directly under the family's control, does that mean you are the most likely suspect in accusing my father?"

"Nonsense!" Marquis Fahl never expected that someone would turn against him. "I was in Gullburg at the time. How could I possibly have gone to the port across the sea to order a murder?"

“I was also at Bloodfortress at the time,” Raine said calmly, “but not at the scene of my uncle’s murder either.”

"What evidence do you have to prove you were in Bloodfortress at the time?!" The scene erupted in chaos, with countless Faher people shouting in unison, their voices threatening to lift the roof off. "Lies! Lies! Lies!"

“Father,” Raine said, turning his head. “It seems that unless we can produce irrefutable evidence of what happened at our own castle, these people will not believe our innocence.”

Marquis Fahre was utterly speechless. What does this have to do with me? They're just suspicious of you!

However, such a debate was truly meaningless, because nobles didn't need to be present at the scene of a crime; they could simply send their men. Therefore, he gestured for silence for the third time and then said:

"The existing evidence is indeed insufficient to prove Rein's guilt, but it also cannot exonerate him." "As his father, I will not allow my son to be falsely convicted; but as the head of the Faher family, I cannot pretend this never happened when my son cannot fully prove his innocence."

"I hereby announce the temporary stripping of Rein Fahre's control over the Salt Island territory, to be temporarily administered by the family, and the investigation into Kalic's death will continue. Further action will be taken once the truth is ascertained!"

The old marquis's imposing gaze swept across the scene, his hawk-like eyes carrying the cold, oppressive force of a superior:

"Now, does anyone still have any objections?"

“I,” Raine raised his hand to speak, “Father, you have granted me Salt Island, and many nobles outside already know this. If you strip me of my title of lord, wouldn’t that be like airing our dirty laundry in public?”

“You mean the Marorne family?” Marquis Fahl said coldly. “It’s alright, I will write to the Duke to explain.”

“That’s wonderful.” Ryan pulled out the letter from Martha from his pocket. “Her Majesty the Queen is summoning me to the capital next week. You can write her an explanation, and I can take it with me to explain why I was stripped of my lands.”

Marquis Fahel's expression froze on his face.

Who?
"Your Majesty the Empress?" He had to make sure he hadn't misheard.

“Your Majesty Margarita Dane,” Raine said calmly, “Yes, the wife of the current Emperor.”

Marquis Fahel's face showed an unspeakable, silent embarrassment, so much so that almost no one dared to speak again; everyone seemed to have their mouths sealed by a spell of silencing.

After a long while, the old Marquis finally came to his senses, picked up the letter again, and confirmed that it had Martha Malone's signature and personal seal at the end—the Malone family seal could not be lied about.

Ryan was pleased to see that the fingers holding the letter were trembling slightly.

"Or," the old marquis finally spoke with difficulty, asking in a low voice, "would you rather not tell anyone about this after you've met that venerable Empress?"

“If Her Majesty the Queen addresses me as the Lord of Salt Island, how should I respond?” Raine countered.

"Uh, so you just agree?"

"Does Father want me to deceive Her Majesty the Queen?" Renn's expression suddenly turned serious. "I'm sorry, but I cannot do anything that would insult the royal family. If this gets out, it will bring catastrophic disaster to the Fahre family."

Marquis Fahel remained silent once again.

He understood that his son was using Her Majesty the Empress to threaten him.

But... that's the Empress! Her Majesty the Empress, who is known for her "benevolence," "kindness," and "ease of communication"!

It should be noted that as a border province, the River Bend region has the advantage of being sparsely populated, allowing nobles to easily possess military power and real benefits. However, its disadvantage lies in being far from the royal family, out of touch with the emperor's will, and having their promotions entirely determined by the word of their own lord.

Grand Duke Malorne clearly wouldn't want too many dukes within his territory, as this would indirectly weaken his influence and voice.

But if Raine could get in touch with the Queen, or even win her favor and approval...

Marquis Fahel's ambition was reignited, just as when he first heard that there was a high elf nobleman by Rein's side, he immediately thought of the bright future after conquering the high elf kingdom—he was now already fantasizing about Rein becoming Her Majesty the Queen's most trusted confidant, and the Fahel family's status rising accordingly.

Hmm, perhaps my marquisate could be promoted a little?
“Since Her Majesty the Empress has summoned you,” he quickly put on a kind and gentle smile, “you can go without worry! Don’t worry about the territory; Haiyan City will provide Salt Island with any necessary supplies, so you don’t need to have any concerns!”

"Go!"

No one spoke in the banquet hall. All those who had attacked Renn earlier now stared wide-eyed in utter shock at the old marquis.

“But the cause of Kalic’s death has not yet been determined…” Rein said in a voice that everyone could hear.

“I am also very saddened by what happened to Kalic.” The old marquis forced out a few tears, then changed the subject, “However, serving the royal family is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our Fahre family. I believe Kalic in heaven would not want the family to lose this precious opportunity because of his death.”

"Child, don't worry. He will forgive us."

(End of this chapter)