I Own A Brothel In Another World (Ch. 1-196)

Chapter 114 - Through the Eyes of Another: The Princess' Quest for the Truth

Somewhere near Evaneheim, shortly before Alastair departed in search of the Beastkin Community.

King Rossberg was kind enough to lend me one of his fastest horses after our brief conversation. I was honestly really mad at him for blatantly lying to our family about the death of my brother like that, but now that I left the capital and rode the horse for a bit, I'm beginning to see things more clearly.

It might not have been long, but I spent enough time with Natalie and the others to notice how they view Alastair as a person. It's pretty much only Kamil who often shows pure hostility towards him while the others usually stand up in his defence.

The more time passes as I travel back to Ronerulle, the more I'm starting to realise that there's a huge chance of me not knowing my brother as good as I thought I did. From the way the others spoke about Alastair, and from my brief interactions with him too, I can tell that he doesn't seem like a bad person.

He didn't have to tell me about anything. He could have chosen to keep the lie up and just observe our movements to assure that we would never discover the truth and his connection to the whole thing. He could have taken additional measures against that considering that he's so close with King Rossberg that the King covers him up willingly.

Yet, he confronted me face to face and did his best to present the events of what supposedly is the circumstances of my brother's death in full detail. He calmly explained the case and even thought about bringing in a witness.

Yes, he did tie me up but I can't blame him for taking some safety measures in such a risky situation. I'm pretty sure I would have done the same in his place. Almost anyone would react strongly to the revelation that the murderer of their relatives is sitting right in front of them as they chat while having some tea.

It's really hard to accept, but I might actually be the one in the wrong. I regret a little trying to attack him and acting coldly towards the King, but even now, my emotions are still not completely calmed down. Compared to back then, it is like heaven and earth, though.

And, the worst part is, the longer I think about everything I knew about my brother, the more small inconsistencies pop up in my memories related to him. Things I somehow missed, signs I ignored, situations that might not have been what I thought they were.

With each hour passing, my stomach tightens more and more. If Alastair really is right, how much evil have I overlooked over all these years? I want to still believe in my brother's innocence but it gets increasingly harder to remain in that belief.

Halfway home, I'm already hoping more for whoever might be locked behind that extremely secure set of doors in the castle's dungeons to still be alive after so much time rather than for my brother to be who I thought he was. I'm pretty much convinced that there are people down there. Women, most likely.

If Alastair really is right, I'll think about my apology later. Right now, I need to figure out what to do to bring the best magicians and experts to the castle as quickly as possible. I really hope Sir Vehrien isn't absent. He's our best bet. But, considering how often Father sends him out, the chances are actually quite low.

Nevertheless, if we gather all the mages under our rule—no, everyone present in the city willing to help us—we should be able to break through all the arrays and barriers. I should not forget about people who can protect others from offensive enchantments. It's really going to be hard.

In just a few days, I arrive in Ronerulle. The horse I borrowed is barely holding up. My conscience is hurting every second I look at it but I can't stop now. I have to prioritise the life of people over animals even if it pains me.