Chapter 131 Apology
Thinking of this, Anne nodded at Manlis. She had indeed asked Master Anson and others to help investigate the Clapton family's situation, wanting to confirm whether the tragedy of the Virlet family a year ago was related to the Clapton family. Now that Lady Manlis had come to see her on her own initiative, it should also be about this matter.
Anne couldn't help but tremble inside. She had always wanted to know—Zotfort was clearly a country known for its etiquette and learning, and its people had even sent condolences when her father Duke Skoda passed away. So how could they suddenly go mad and massacre the entire Virlet family? Whose doing was this—Frol's, the Clapton family's, or the royal family's?
Manlis stood before Anne, a trace of complexity flashing in her eyes. "Though it's a bit late to say this, Miss Anne, when your family was attacked by Zotfort's assassins a year ago, it wasn't an order from me or Frol."
Anne pressed her lips together without speaking, her expression cold and distant.
Manlis didn't mind Anne's rudeness. After all, this involved family members' lives—she understood. If someone tried to harm her child, she'd repay them a hundredfold.
She glanced at Friedel, who stood silently to the side, and continued speaking to Anne. "At that time, I took the Clapton clan members and the family's followers to the border to bring Slave home. He was supposed to be the new heir of the Clapton family, but when Frol received the carriage, all that was left was his..."
Manlis's voice was clearly choked with emotion, and she took a deep breath. "...his body, trampled beyond recognition. Frol told us that a female knight from the Soth Empire named Candy used Slave to threaten Frol to withdraw his troops, or she would kill my child."
Frol beside her looked somewhat sorrowful. At this moment, he didn't seem like a general who had fought on battlefields, but an ordinary man grief-stricken after losing a loved one.
He reached out to support Lady Manlis, who looked unsteady, and spoke in a hoarse voice. "I remember the treaty about not harming prisoners on the battlefield was originally proposed by Duke Skoda. So facing someone from the Soth Empire, even though her behavior was extremely rude, I still accepted her demand."
"We in Zotfort have always followed all conventions, not massacring innocent civilians and prisoners. But you people of the Soth Empire went back on your word. I had already agreed to withdraw troops and not counterattack for a short time, and Candy promised to take good care of Slave and not let him be harmed on the battlefield. She didn't keep her word. Moreover, the servant who was captured along with Slave said that Candy directly abandoned Slave on the battlefield, telling everyone not to bother with him."
"That was Duke Clapton's only child... At that time, several followers of the Clapton family directly gave orders that they must avenge the Duke and Slave no matter what. I originally thought they would try to capture that woman Candy, but the news came back that their people had reached an agreement with the Viller Empire to sneak in through the Drogo Mountains and massacre the entire Virlet family. I also bear responsibility for failing to supervise this, and I apologize to you."
Manlis could no longer control her tears. She raised her hand to wipe them away and steadied her voice. "I only found out later that because my husband died in a duel with your father, they had long held a grudge. So this incident with Slave made them instinctively focus all their hatred on the Virlet family who guarded the Soth Empire, and they committed this great crime."
"Zotfort and the Soth Empire have been at war for many years, but we all deeply admired Duke Skoda. He was the one who pushed all countries to sign the wartime treaty protecting civilians and prisoners. When my husband Duke Clapton challenged him, he was already prepared to die. I don't hate Duke Skoda—he let my husband die honorably for his country and complete his mission. But in the end, it implicated the Virlet family, and I feel deeply guilty."
Holden had long been stunned by this series of revelations. He stammered a bit, "What... what are you all talking about? Why does this involve the Virlet family, and what does this have to do with Candy?"
No one paid attention to him.
Anne opened her mouth, her eyes red-rimmed, and only spoke after a long while. "What about those people?"
Those murderers who caused all her family members to die—now knowing it wasn't the Clapton family or Frol, but so what?
"Lady Manlis, I haven't avenged myself yet. If you feel guilty, then what about mine? What about the lives owed to me, owed to the Virlet family—I want them to repay with their lives."
Lady Manlis looked at Anne with sorrowful and complex eyes. "Those people have already had their hereditary noble status revoked by His Majesty our King, and then I ordered them all executed."
"This is what the Clapton family owes the Virlet family, and what Zotfort owes them."
Anne blinked, and a tear she couldn't hold back slid down her cheek.
She had already guessed that today's meeting was probably the reason Friedel hadn't been in the camp these past few days.
The people of Zotfort were willing to come forward and explain this matter, and the documents that could prove everything had probably already been sent to the royal city, waiting for His Majesty the King to review and give a response.
His Majesty the King's answer would probably relate to the subsequent signing of contracts with Zotfort and the handling of Candy. This wasn't the Virlet family's answer, so Manlis and Frol came to see Anne in person, wanting to hear her thoughts.
How could Anne not understand?
Proud as Manlis was, she came to the battlefield in person to witness with her own eyes the capture of the enemy who killed her son, while that same enemy had also indirectly affected the relationship between the Soth Empire and Zotfort.
She could use her personal capacity to contact the Viller Empire and send Zotfort's soldiers to the battlefield to capture Candy, but she couldn't continue to let these matters damage the future development of the two countries.
There are no permanent enemies. Zotfort and the Soth Empire were neighboring powers who couldn't stay isolated or hostile forever. Eventually, they would need trade and cultural exchanges to maintain their strength.
Therefore, this knot in their hearts had to be untied.
Friedel understood this principle, which was why he personally contacted and requested to meet with Frol, and after final negotiations, arranged today's meeting with Anne.
Anne could choose not to forgive, but there couldn't be constant war between the two countries.
Moreover, Friedel believed that Anne would surely understand—this was the best choice.