After the morning's events, Ron gathered the knights for questioning.
"I heard Jonah often comes to the Training Ground to ask for sword lessons?"
At the Lord's calm inquiry, the knights collectively stiffened.
They all understood the hidden truth now—Mellitoria was likely the former Baron's true illegitimate child.
Jonah, the boy Benden brought, was the fake.
Ron's attitude made this clear. Otherwise, he would never have appointed Irene—his personal maid—to take special care of Mellitoria.
Meanwhile, Benden and Tabitha knew none of this. They simply believed Mellitoria was assigned a young maid because she was a young girl.
As soon as Ron finished speaking, all the knights' gazes fell on one man.
Startled, the knight stepped forward and hurriedly said:
"R-Reporting to my Lord, I have not taught him."
So, Jonah hadn't asked everyone—he had singled someone out.
Ron's eyes narrowed.
"He only approached you?"
The knight, Malcolm, nodded stiffly.
"Yes, my Lord."
His back was drenched with cold sweat.
Why him of all people?
If the Lord misunderstood and suspected he was connected to Jonah, he would be ruined.
Ron studied Malcolm carefully.
Right—Malcolm possessed the rare white-quality trait [Sword Skill Specialization].
His talent in swordsmanship far surpassed the other knights.
But Jonah was a five-year-old child.
How could a mere child recognize such a thing?
Ron asked, "How many days after arriving did he seek you out?"
"Three days, my Lord!"
Three days?
Ron's expression darkened slightly.
What kind of background could produce a five-year-old with such discernment?
"Continue your training," Ron said. "I have other matters."
Before leaving, he casually reminded Sig to visit the healer more often—hair loss could be an early sign of illness, after all.
Ron strolled through the manor but did not find Jonah, nor did he see Benden or Tabitha, who was still pretending to be a noblewoman. With nothing else urgent, he decided to return and refresh modifiers.
On the way, he passed the potato fields and stepped inside. Guards quickly bowed aside.
The potatoes were sprouting nicely—sturdy green shoots pushing through the soil.
Ron felt a quiet sense of accomplishment.
Ensuring enough food for the people was only the first step, but the first step mattered the most.
The road ahead was long, but someone had to walk it.
Satisfied, he left the fields.
Inside the Manor Corridor
Diana and Joyce walked side by side—Diana giving orders, Joyce quietly listening.
"Go inform the purchasing servant that we'll change vegetable suppliers," Diana said. "I've chosen a new vendor."
Joyce blinked, surprised.
"The vegetables from Lana Village have always supplied the Baron's Manor. Why change now?"
Diana frowned slightly—Joyce rarely questioned orders.
She hesitated before answering.
"Lately, their quality has fallen. The Head Chef complained. If we serve such vegetables to the Lord, it would be irresponsibility on my part."
Joyce was silent for a moment, then said softly:
"Lana Village recently suffered beast attacks. Very few vegetables survived, and they sent all the intact ones here. Once a new batch grows, the issue will resolve. Changing suppliers now… might hurt loyal people."
Diana froze.
"You haven't left the manor. How do you know this?"
Joyce replied calmly, "Irene mentioned it. Lana Village has served the manor faithfully for years. We should trust their loyalty."
Of course, Irene knew nothing of the sort—Joyce had learned it from reading official reports, but she couldn't admit that.
Diana fell silent.
Their backgrounds were different. Their perspectives were different.
Diana was born to wealthy merchants—her standards were strict. Poor quality meant replacement, simple as that.
Joyce, however, came from hardship. She understood the weight of loyalty and the cost of survival.
The villagers of Lana Village could have bought better vegetables from elsewhere to pretend everything was fine.
But they didn't.
They delivered their own damaged crops—taking the risk of being punished for "poor goods."
Wasn't that the clearest sign of loyalty?
Diana finally exhaled and said, "You've convinced me."
Joyce bowed her head in apology for overstepping.
"We work for the same Lord," Diana said more gently. "Thank you, Joyce. You prevented my mistake."
Joyce excused herself and left to complete her cleaning duties—and then a mountain of documents awaited her.
Sometimes she wished the Lord would handle at least half of them…
Diana watched her go, thoughtful.
Just then, a small figure darted at the end of the corridor.
Jonah.
"That direction is the back kitchen…" Diana frowned and approached quickly.
She spoke politely, "Have you lost your way? Please follow me back to the main hall."
Jonah stared at her coldly, but followed.
Sunset — Dinner Time
Hadley remained at his workshop.
Benden, Tabitha, and Jonah finally appeared.
Before eating, Benden mustered his nerves:
"My Lord… when will your trusted knights return?"
Ron looked at him, and Benden quickly added with a flattering smile:
"I don't mean to rush you, my Lord. You're busy managing such a vast territory, and yet you still worry about us… we have lived here for free for so long—I simply wish to be of use."
Ron watched him with mild amusement.
Is he making his move?
"Mr. Benden wishes to serve me?" Ron asked evenly.
"Y-yes! Serving the Lord is an honor I've long dreamed of!"
Ron pretended to ponder.
"Very well. Then let my knights test your strength. Pass, and I will accept you."
Benden's soul almost fled his body.
"M-My Lord, I am only a commoner! I dare not dream of such a thing!"
Ron's expression was full of feigned surprise.
"Ah? You didn't know? Even attendants in my manor must possess sufficient strength."
"Th-there's such a rule?"
"Of course," Ron said confidently.
Egbert behind him subtly twitched his lips.
Benden cursed inwardly. Nobles—always inventing ridiculous rules!
"I'll… think about it again," he said bitterly.
"Take your time," Ron said casually. "Now then—let us eat."
Ron picked up his utensils—
And froze.
A burning sensation flared against his chest.
The three-color pendant glowed green.
Poison.
His pupils shrank.
He whipped his head up—and saw Mellitoria opposite him, lifting a fork with a piece of fried meat toward her small mouth.
Ron moved.
BOOM!
The table shook violently as he slammed a hand onto it.
Everyone gasped.
Egbert barely saw a blur—Ron vanished from his seat and reappeared beside Mellitoria like lightning.
He pinched her small mouth shut with one hand and seized the fork with the other.
Only then did he exhale.
Silence fell.
Ron let go of Mellitoria and handed her to a stunned Irene.
"Take her to her room."
"Y-yes, my Lord!" Irene grabbed the child and ran.
Everyone stared at Ron, trembling.
Egbert and Diana looked at the fork in his hand—at the piece of meat still stuck to it.
Their faces turned white.
"My Lord… something happened?" Benden asked, shaking.
Ron didn't look at him.
He spoke one word:
"Abel."
With a crash, the dining room doors burst open.
Abel strode in.
"My Lord."
"Lock them up. Interrogate them. I want everything."
Clatter—
Tabitha's fork fell.
A bite of steak was missing from her plate.
The knights seized the three immediately.
Ron stood still, radiating cold fury.
No one dared breathe.
He stared at the poisoned meat.
The pendant no longer glowed.
Was the target… only me?
Diana approached, knelt sharply, and bowed her head.
"Please punish me, my Lord."
Food safety lay entirely under her responsibility.
"You certainly deserve punishment," Ron said sternly.
He placed a hand on her head.
[Affection: 67 (Respect)]
So it wasn't her.
Ron withdrew his hand.
"Before I punish you, investigate this fully."
"Yes, my Lord."
She hurried away.
Ron left the dining hall.
Egbert followed, signaling attendants to seal the room.
"My Lord, leave the interrogation to Mr. Abel," Egbert urged. "You should rest. We will report the results immediately."
Ron continued walking.
Egbert added softly, "Mellitoria may be frightened… perhaps you should check on her. Irene is inexperienced."
Ron stopped.
"…Forget it. I won't go."
He turned and walked toward his room.
Egbert bowed deeply.
Then he strode to the dungeon.
Dungeon
"Mr. Egbert, you're here?"
Thomas greeted him.
"Where's Abel?" Egbert asked.
"He's interrogating Benden. I already finished with Tabitha."
Egbert raised a brow.
Thomas continued with a grin:
"She's weak-willed. I only scared her a little—she confessed everything."
And he began to recount the interrogation results.
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