To The Traitor in My Bed - Chapter 17 - The Military Police I Dread the Most

Chapter 9. The Military Police I Dread the Most

Ian Darnell, the eldest son of the lord of the Upper Island and Count Darnell, was on close terms with Frederick Fairchild. Their friendship began at the Royal Academy.

Fairchild’s reputation was already impressive at the time, so Frederick knew many people.

Like most boys his age, Frederick was cheerful and a bit cocky. As the only heir to the kingdom’s foremost noble family, he was, of course, brilliant. He had the charm of a boy who could gather people wherever he went.

That was Frederick Fairchild.

The change in him came twelve years ago when the students returned to the academy after a long summer break.

That summer was particularly long. The air was thick and muggy, so oppressive that just walking from one end of the street to the other left you drenched in sweat, and it carried an unsettling aura.

Everywhere in Swinton, military police armed with bayonets wandered the streets. Even the most talkative noblewomen kept their lips tightly sealed, waiting for the autumn winds to wash away the stench of blood.

Prince Ashley, the second son of the Second Queen, had died, following the death of the son of the First Queen, Prince Franz. Ashley’s death was a mysterious gun accident.

Had Ashley been the only one to die, the tragedy would have been mourned as the loss of an unfortunate prince. However, just a few years earlier, Crown Prince Christian’s twin brother, Prince Franz, had died suddenly.

The cause of death was declared to be acute food poisoning, and the last person to dine with him was none other than the Crown Prince. A servant who claimed that Franz’s symptoms were different from food poisoning disappeared shortly after making that statement.

Because of this, no one dared speak on Ashley’s death.

When Frederick returned to school, he appeared deep in thought. As he occasionally visited the palace, his classmates had initially planned to ask him about the atmosphere, but then thought better of it.

He had been closest to Princess Sabrina, but he also maintained a good relationship with Prince Ashley.

Those around him, noticing he seemed to be in a deep shock, decided to leave him alone. He had lost interest in the things he once enjoyed. The moment when he fell off a horse shocked his friends.

What startled them even more was Frederick’s declaration,

While Frederick still maintained good grades in his studies, he became progressively less skilled in other areas.

His excuse was plausible. His ailing mother, the Countess, had cried herself to sleep every night, fearing her only son might meet the same fate as Prince Ashley while riding or hunting.

The boys kept this secret among themselves, unsure if their mothers would end up the same way, and worried they might miss out on creating bright memories of their youth.

However, by the time they graduated, it was well-known to many that Frederick Fairchild was only skilled at dancing and had little else in terms of physical prowess.

By then, Ian Darnell had become somewhat distant from him.

When Ian turned twenty and received the title of ‘Viscount,’ the two were reunited.

Frederick was still quite the dashing figure. Back in their hometown of the Upper Island, Ian was caught up in the youthful indulgences and bravado of the time. He looked at his old classmate with a mixture of disdain.

<You’ve got a bright future ahead of you, Fairchild. You’ve caught the eye of Leonhart.>

The previous Count Fairchild had passed away from illness in his later years and had passed on the title and his wealth to his only son early on. Unlike the moderate previous Count Fairchild, the young heir openly supported Leonhart and aligned with the royalists.

People whispered that he was a fool, claiming that the previous Count had been troubled by the situation and had ultimately fallen ill due to it. From the way Frederick responded casually, it seemed that there was some truth to the gossip.

<Yes, thanks.>

<So, did you come to brag about the glorious royalist victory?>

Ian fell silent.

At that time, being asked such a question was a major insult to the noblemen who sided with the parliamentarian. They had to serve the tyrant, who, like the late king, used his power to suppress the assembly and make sure any dissenting nobles faced dire consequences.

Any noble with pride had to stand by the parliamentarians.

On the night before Frederick left, Darnell invited his friend down to the riverside. The young Viscount was drunk by the celebratory wine, while Frederick had had enough to drink but remained sober.

Suddenly, a burst of anger and disgust washed over Ian, brought on by the alcohol.

Ian pulled out the new sword his father had given him the day before. Frederick, lacking a proper sword, didn’t respond immediately. Ian called for a servant to bring a proper sword.

Ian’s swordsmanship was well-regarded at the academy. The captain of the royal guard had been impressed and even suggested that Ian consider joining the military.

Ian had considered it, though he turned it down coldly, thinking of his aging parents and not wanting to risk the dangers of such a career.

However, when the servant who had brought the sword withdrew, and the only witness to the two young men facing off was the pale moon above the empty riverside, Ian suddenly felt his legs wobble.

<You’re really challenging me, Darnell?>

Frederick quietly asked. The light reflected from the tip of his sword pierced Ian’s eyes sharply.

<…Didn’t you give up swordsmanship?>

<You’ll find out if you try.>

Ten minutes later, Ian was panting heavily, looking even paler than the moon.

Frederick’s skills were superior to those of the academy’s swordsmanship instructor, who had once been the captain of the royal guard, and even better than the current captain of the royal guard.

Frederick flashed a dazzling smile at his friend. It was the same smile that had made the whole academy idolize him.

Looking back now, Ian should have said no. Frederick hadn’t warned him in advance that once he heard it, there was no pretending he hadn’t.