Chapter 90. You Truly Are Worthy of the dillion Na
"Pati, when you answered my questions, you concealed the key piece of information regarding the 'Autumn Chill' — that is entirely inconsistent with the Pati in my impression of you."
"In my impression, Pati is the perfect maidservant — elegant, ticulous, thorough in all things. She would never conceal such a critical piece of information."
Luo Nan rose, walked up close to Pati, and studied the maidservant before him — whose features remained composed — as though searching her face for a trace of guilt.
Unfortunately, Pati remained as unruffled as ever.
Luo Nan paid no mind, returned to his seat, and continued: "That was my initial reason for suspecting you. As for what followed……"
"What followed — was the 'Nature' aura you discovered in your own bedchamber."
"Correct. The 'Nature' aura."
Luo Nan produced his own Abyssal Detection Sample and turned it over in his hand. "I don't believe I told you, Pati — I had in fact already learned that the one who attempted to assassinate
was a 'Nature'-worshipping Abyssal Cultist."
"Oh? The Young Master's drive to act is still as formidable as ever." Pati remarked with a asure of admiration.
"Wasn't it all because you lot forced my hand? If I'd been any less urgent about it, I'd likely have lost my life altogether."
Pati gave a noncommittal reply. "So then……based on what you said at the very start — your absolute trust in Aina — once her suspicion was ruled out, the 'Nature' aura could only have been left behind by ?"
"The sa principle still applies: only evidence can convict you. In the bedchamber, I still only harbored suspicion toward you — after all, Pati, you are sothing of……an elder sister to ." Luo Nan said with a touch of lancholy.
He found it hard to accept — the perfect maidservant who had watched him grow up since childhood would choose to betray him.
Pati gave a faint smile and did not take Luo Nan's words to heart. "Young Master, let's not speak of such things right now. I only want to know — what led you to conclude that I was the Mole, to the point of being willing to spend the money to bring in Arcane Association masters to catch ?"
Luo Nan glanced at Security Captain Grego, who had been hovering hesitantly at the doorway, unwilling to co forward, and waved him over.
"Naturally — that is sothing I had Captain Grego arrange."
"What is that?"
Luo Nan picked up the blood test report on maidservant Peini handed over by Mage Brik. "The thing is, Pati — if Grego hadn't co in, that would an Peini's 'Autumn Chill' was not man-made but coincidental, and my prior suspicions of you would have had to be abandoned entirely."
"But he did co in — and produced irrefutable evidence." Luo Nan set down the test report and tapped the desk rhythmically with his long fingers. "With so many coincidences and pieces of evidence pointing the sa way — who else could it be but you?"
"I see. You are very capable, Young Master." Pati gave a small nod, offering sincere praise.
"But I still have one question — why was there no reaction when Aina touched the Detection Formula, yet there was one when I touched it?"
"Furthermore, was the Detection Formula Ms. Fesher constructed targeted at 'Nature' or 'Chaos'?"
Luo Nan chuckled and nodded to Mage Fesher. Fesher understood, and spoke: "It was of course 'Nature'. As for saying 'Chaos' aloud — that was simply a request passed to
beforehand by Mr. dillion through the Security Captain."
"When Miss Aina touched it, I used a Projection Array I had constructed in my hand to deceive all those present — the Detection Formula had not actually been activated at that mont."
"aning……the so-called Detection Formula you constructed at that mont, targeting 'Nature', was in essence a Projection Array." Pati asked.
"That is correct."
"Also Young Master's idea?"
"Yes."
"I see," Pati let out a look of resignation. "It appears……I have been played entirely in the palm of the Young Master's hand."
"Well, you know the ga while I don't — an asymtry of information is only natural." Luo Nan waved a hand. "Had I co back under my true identity to investigate the Mole, I might well have been played in the palm of your hand instead."
"The Young Master need not be modest," Pati gave Luo Nan another curtsy and let a smile of resignation show on her face. "The you of now truly is worthy of the glorious and noble 'dillion' na."
"……"
It seed those years he had spent playing the scoundrel had left a considerable impression — even the maidservants of his own household looked down on him.
"Whether this Young Master is worthy of his own family na is hard for you to say." Luo Nan replied with a grave expression.
"But of course — I am rely a lowly maidservant, and have no business passing judgnt on the Young Master. It is only that……"
"Only what?"
"Nothing. Maidservant Pati Beckett freely confesses to all her cris." Pati did not finish what she had been about to say, and instead made a candid admission of everything she had done.
"It was I who sold the Young Master's information to the 'Nature' Cultists, and it was also I who stole the Young Master's necktie from Aina and handed it over to them."
"The Young Master's necktie……was stolen from
by you, Sister Pati?!" Aina, standing beside Luo Nan, suddenly spoke up, looking at Pati with an expression of utter disbelief.
"It was , Aina. I'm sorry……"
Aina lowered her little face, expression unreadable.
But there beneath the fringe that concealed the corner of her eye, a golden fracture line flickered into view for just an instant.
"I will not beg for leniency, nor will I claim to have had any difficult circumstances," Pati continued recounting events as calmly as ever, "Young Master Luo Nan — please deal with
according to family law."
With that, maidservant Pati slowly knelt before Luo Nan, bowed her head, and folded both hands before her.
Even in this posture of confession, maidservant Pati Beckett preserved the elegance befitting a dillion Manor Maid of Glory.
"Haah……"
Luo Nan let out a sigh, gave Mage Fesher a nod. "Ms. Fesher, you may stand down — it seems Pati won't be pulling any 'die together' moves."
"As you wish, Mr. dillion."
Having listened through Luo Nan and Pati's "reveal conversation," Mage Fesher — who had previously had so passing acquaintance with this so-called "wicked scoundrel" by reputation — could not help but feel a newfound regard for him.
Luo Nan made no move to stop maidservant Pati from kneeling. He deliberated for a mont, then spoke: "Pati, why……did you betray the dillions?"
"It has finally co to this question, Young Master."
Pati, kneeling on the ground, raised her head to et Luo Nan's gaze. A flash of complex emotion passed through her pair of otherwise tranquil eyes. "Since the Young Master believes I have betrayed the dillions — then let it be so. My betrayal has no reason."
"What?"
"My betrayal has no reason. I simply wished to do so."
"Why?" Luo Nan frowned. He could not understand why this perfect maidservant who had watched him grow up would betray without any reason.
Maidservant Pati gave no answer.
"Since you won't speak, then don't bla this Young Master for being rciless — n, take her to the interrogation room. I'll question her personally after I've dealt with everything else."
The words had barely fallen when two manor guards entered from outside the door. Pati rose to her feet of her own accord and cooperatively extended both hands, allowing her strength and body to be fully restrained by the restraint device.
"Oh, by the way, Young Master — in my room, there is a letter I left for you."
Having said her piece, Pati made one final bow to Luo Nan, then departed with the manor guards.
Yet Luo Nan felt none of the elation of having caught the Mole. He sat on the sofa with a furrowed brow, not uttering a word, seeming to be deep in thought.
After a mont he raised his head and spoke: "Ms. Fesher, Captain Grego — I have a few matters I need to discuss with Serela and Anya. Please, if you would……"
"But of course. May the True Light be your guardian, Mr. dillion."
"Alright, I'll head out first then, Young Master dillion."
Once the two had departed, Luo Nan turned his head to look at the golden-haired princess who had been propping her chin in her hand this whole while, smiling as she watched him:
"Serela, what do you make of it?"
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