The Founding Monarch Became the Mastermind

Chapter 34

Smack!

“Damn it!”

Contrary to Si-on’s expectations, Yonas answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“I personally believe it’s right to judge according to the royal law.”

“It could have been a mistake due to a misunderstanding. Of course, it was a grave mistake, so simply letting it go would be out of the question. Therefore, he should go to the capital, hire a reputable noble as his defense, and determine his guilt through a fair trial under His Majesty’s supervision.”

A firm stance.

‘Is this guy serious?’

Si-on was momentarily confused.

Yonas practically served Gede, who was involved in the poisoning of the late Duke Brian.

From Yonas’s perspective, it would be best if Anserman, who could be considered both an accomplice and a witness to the poisoning, died.

Dead men tell no tales.

So when Yonas suggested stripping Anserman of his title and banishing him, Si-on assumed it was to have Anserman secretly disposed of after exile.

But Yonas’s personal response seemed different from what the person who sent him here might have intended.

“Oh? Really? Is there any particular reason for that?”

Si-on decided to confirm once more.

“Does there need to be a specific reason? It’s simply the right thing to do.”

Yonas frowned slightly, seemingly offended.

In this moment, Si-on, who had lived for over a century counting his life in Korea, was certain.

‘It’s clear. This guy doesn’t know anything about Brian’s poisoning.’

Despite the generational gap, Yonas was still Si-on’s blood.

This made it easier for Si-on to discern sincerity from falsehood.

Si-on had already extracted a confession from Anserman, who was confined somewhere in the August baronial castle, about who had procured the poison that killed Brian.

The fact that Yonas and Sirvan came bearing the ducal family’s banner further corroborated that confession.

The only remaining uncertainty was the full extent of the accomplices.

That’s why Si-on had deliberately provoked Yonas and Sirvan from the start to observe their reactions.

Yet, until Si-on directly asked, Yonas seemed indifferent to Anserman, and his response was one that would be highly unfavorable if he were an accomplice.

The implication of all these events and circumstances was simple.

‘This guy is being used, too.’

Yonas had no idea about the truly important matters and came here with a different purpose.

And the person who sent Yonas was likely trying to observe how Si-on would react or clash with Yonas.

‘Or they might think I don’t know how Brian died. Fine, I’ve decided.’

Si-on spoke to Yonas, who was finishing his meal and sipping wine.

“Shall we have a drink, just the two of us?”

“Just you and me?”

“Yes. While the young ones get acquainted, we should also work on our relationship.”

Again, Yonas almost blurted, ‘Aren’t you young too?’ but he nodded.

Considering their first meeting had been less than ideal, resetting their relationship didn’t seem like a bad idea.

‘Besides, young people tend to loosen up and reveal their true selves after a drink or two. This is my chance to gauge his intentions.’

“That sounds good.”

“Shall we go?”

Thinking it might help him achieve his purpose here, Yonas glanced at the child quietly eating under the maid’s care, then stood up.

‘Hmm. So that’s it.’

Si-on, who didn’t miss Yonas’s actions, realized the purpose behind Yonas’s visit.

* * *

Si-on led Yonas to the lord’s office that Anserman had used until recently.

Two silver cups and a fine wine were placed on the table, leaving Si-on and Yonas alone in the office.

Silence settled in.

‘What is this?’

Yonas squinted one eye as he sat on the sofa.

He expected his host to pour the wine or at least initiate some light conversation, but Si-on remained silent.

“Well, uh…”

Feeling something was off and slightly irritated, Yonas opened his mouth to speak.

“Yonas Si-on.”

“…!?”

Hearing his name so abruptly, Yonas’s eyes widened. Even though Si-on was a royal collateral, addressing him so casually was not just disrespectful—it was outright rude.

“What… did you just say?”

“I said your name, Yonas Si-on.”

“You’ve lost your mind!”

Yonas growled.

Given his age and rank, Yonas was not someone a royal collateral could treat as an inferior.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but apologize immediately.”

“…”

Far from apologizing, Si-on leaned casually against the window, staring coldly.

This made Yonas finally snap.

“You’re insane! This is something I won’t forget. Everything we discussed is off the table. Let’s see how this plays out.”

Yonas had barely turned to leave when—

“The grandson of Theo, born of Byron’s concubine. Unlike your father, you’ve never seen me in person.”

When Si-on had decided to meet Yonas alone, he’d made up his mind.

He would reveal the truth to this ignorant and pitiful descendant who had come here with nothing but loyalty, unaware of his family’s deeds or how he was being used.

Though Si-on had tried to keep his identity hidden, the concept of a perfect secret was a fallacy.

A few individuals across the Kingdom of Obla, including those in the royal capital, were already aware of his existence.

Including those who were unsure, the number might be in the double digits.

Given this reality, insisting on absolute secrecy was foolish.

Moreover, Si-on had cleverly utilized this fact until now.

A mystery unknown to anyone holds no value.

For a mystery to have worth, someone must know it.

And the fewer who knew, the greater the value.

If outsiders who had never even seen his face could be allowed and used to maintain the secret, there was no reason not to reveal it to his own blood.

Especially if that descendant was someone worth giving a “chance.”

“What nonsense are you… Huh?!”

Instinctively, Yonas reached for his waist.

Si-on had drawn a dagger.

Watching the dagger gleam under the candlelight, Yonas gripped the hilt of his own weapon.

“You think you can take me on with that little dagger? I may not be called a master, but I can certainly handle—what?”

Once again, Yonas’s words were cut short as his eyes widened.

Si-on brought the dagger to his own face.

“What are you doing?”

Ignoring Yonas’s question, Si-on pressed the dagger against his cheek and began to move it.

Snip! Ssshh…

Following the dagger’s motion, his sideburns were carefully shaved off.

Before long, the beard that had covered from below his ears down around his jaw and mouth was completely removed.

Si-on set the shaven beard down and spoke to Yonas, whose tightly closed lips had slowly begun to part.

“Look at me, Yonas.”

“What are you…”

Si-on took a step forward, his face now clearly illuminated.

“…!?”

Yonas’s eyes, fixated on Si-on’s face, began to tremble.

The look of anger and confusion turned into one of shock and disbelief.

“When the Twin-headed Eagle Hall was built, do you know what the first thing I did was? I hung my wife Stella’s portrait in the best spot. And amusingly, she had the same idea. No, she went one step further. Our portraits hung side by side in the prime location at the deepest part of the hall, and my bust was placed right in front.”

The Twin-headed Eagle Hall was a long corridor located deep within the ducal castle, displaying precious treasures and portraits of prominent figures from the Si-on Ducal Family’s history.

Naturally, only the direct lineage of the ducal family could access the hall, and one of the direct descendants was responsible for maintaining the items within.

Even outsiders aware of the hall’s existence couldn’t know what was inside or its structure.

“T-the… ugh…”

Yonas, his breathing ragged, stuttered over his words.

Since childhood, Yonas had wanted to be a knight.

He would often pester his father to take him to the hall, and his favorite piece was the bust of the founding patriarch, Jang Si-on.

The founder, who was a great knight, had always been Yonas’s hero. And now, the hero’s face was standing before him.

“Your father Byron grew up seeing me until he was three. Even at that young age, he was remarkably bright, so he might have remembered me until he passed away.”

“Gasp… Huff…”

Yonas staggered backward, gasping for breath as his legs gave out, while Si-on continued speaking.

“The scar on your deceased brother Brian’s shoulder came from a mistake when your aunt bathed him and accidentally touched him with a bowl of hot water. Your aunt blamed a maid, but your grandmother found out and scolded her severely. Ah, you might not know this?”

Yonas, who had been staring blankly with his mouth agape as if his mind had gone blank, trembled violently.

It was a story he’d heard from his father Byron after he was grown.

A shameful family secret known only to a handful of direct descendants of the Si-on Ducal Family.

Recalling that incident brought another memory to Yonas’s mind.

When he was a child, some of the Si-on Ducal Family’s direct descendants around his age had gathered to play, and one of them had whispered a big secret.

– “Did you know? Grandfather Jang Si-on isn’t dead. He travels to various countries like a soaring eagle and shows up in his old form whenever something happens in the duchy.”

Who started it, Yonas couldn’t recall.

But upon hearing it, the children excitedly claimed they’d heard the same from their parents, eagerly sharing stories about their eternal hero, the founding patriarch.

Once they all grew up, no one spoke of it again.

They dismissed it as childish imagination, a baseless rumor.

But it wasn’t just baseless or a rumor.

At that moment, the Si-on children were telling the truth.

“A-are you really… Are you truly…”

“Yes. It’s me. I am your great-grandfather, the founding patriarch of all Si-ons, Duke Jang Si-on.”

“…!!!”

The only one among his generation to learn the “truth,” Yonas’s entire body shuddered as he slowly knelt.

“D-Duke, Your Grace…”

“Duke? Just call me Grandfather.”

Si-on smirked and patted Yonas on the shoulder.

His touch made the middle-aged great-grandson flinch.

The sensation of the legendary figure he’d admired for so long standing before him felt wondrous, yet paradoxically dreamlike.

But this was no dream or illusion.

“This isn’t in the hall, right?”

Si-on suddenly presented a sword to the kneeling Yonas.

An engraving of a double-headed eagle on the pommel revealed a sleek silver blade that flashed before Yonas’s eyes as they wildly darted.

– The eagle’s wings shall set you free.

Seeing the sword that was said to have been interred with the founding patriarch when he passed, Yonas couldn’t contain his elation and burst into tears.