Sure enough, everyone from the Loisar Clan was dumbfounded.
No one spoke first.
How much time had passed like that?
Asher, who was stiff in shock, slammed the table with a bang and glared fiercely at Durias.
"I demand that you apologize immediately. This is a blatantly disrespectful remark to House Loisar. This is nothing but a threat!"
"I think you owe me an explanation for this."
Gray's voice was thick with displeasure.
"To think that the South can't control the lesser ones. Disappointing."
His golden eyes narrowed vertically and a terrifying sense of intimidation filled the hall.
Cade used his own pheromones to block it before it reached me, but I was starting to get worried. The atmosphere was getting more and more heated, so it would not be strange if punches and blows started to come and go at any moment.
"Calm down, this isn't going to do any good."
"Are you ignoring me now?"
"You'd better take a look around first."
"......Tsk."
Gray reluctantly collected his pheromones.
It was because the Loisar clan was struggling under his energy. When the pressure disappeared, everyone breathed in relief.
"...My Lord, Isabel has fallen."
The man sitting next to Isabel cautiously opened his mouth.
Isabel, who had to deal with Gray's pheromones right beside him, eventually fainted. Even her pale complexion, which had previously looked glamorous, had now disappeared, drained in color.
"......What should we do?"
The man looked into Gray's eyes and asked.
He had a frowning look, so everyone was looking at Gray's eyes without batting a lash at Isabel's condition.
Gray rubbed his eyes in irritation and spoke briefly.
"Take her away."
"What......? Yes, I understand, sir."
That was it.
The man quickly left the room with Isabel in his arms.
If Gray had been a good housekeeper, they wouldn't have paid attention to his mood in such a situation.
Somehow, I felt sorry for the people of the Loisar family.
"How are you, Durias?"
"Whoa, that was a close call. I could have really gone to the next life this time."
"Crybaby."
Cade glanced at him and turned his attention away.
I called out to Durias anxiously.
"Durias."
"Yes, Miss Irene."
"Are you okay?"
"Of course I'm fine."
So why did you say such a thing? No matter how you look at it, that was a threat.
Durias covered the wound on his neck with his collar. It was made at the moment Gray released his pheromones. Durias's complexion was not looking good, probably because he strained himself while keeping Gray's attack at bay.
"Not bad."
Gray's golden eyes, sitting across from us, traveled to the wound on Durias' neck.
"Then, shall we hear your explanation?"
His eyes flashed.
"If you don't convince me, let me tell you in advance that there will be no next time."
I realized that what Gray said was a lie.
He didn't seem to have any intention of being convinced of whatever Durias said next. This was just to create a justification for driving Durias away.
I'm sure everyone here knows that.
"Since he says that there will be no next time, I suggest we end this once and for all, Durias."
"As a matter of course."
At Baon's words, Durias rose confidently from his seat.
A piece of paper was in his hand.
"What is that?"
"This is the data we have been researching. Recently, something unsavory has happened to the Astrophel family."
"Something unsavory?"
"There was a spy."
Gray's brow twitched at the word spy.
"Why are you telling me what happened to the Astrophel family?"
"Because Lord Gray must also know about this."
Durias smiled brightly.
"It's because someone left the egg of the bird clan in the room where the Astrophel heir eggs were kept."
It was a significant start. At Durias's words, the expressions of some of the Loisar clan stiffened.
In a way, it was like saying that the Loisar family could have been involved in this spy affair.
"I don't know what misunderstandings you have, but we are not involved."
An old elder of Loisar was quick to retort. However, Durias shrugged his shoulders as if he was not interested in the old man's words.
He seemed to be looking only at Gray's reaction, whose expression sank terribly when he realized there was a reason to begin such a story with that attitude.
"Ha, that's funny. Are you saying you're doubting my family?"
"Unfortunately that's right. It's a reasonable suspicion on this side."
At those words, the hall became silent as the Loisar clan held their breath.
Gray's eyebrows rose.
Durias cleared his throat and held up the next piece of documents. This time, it was several sheets of paper, each with quite a bit of writing on it.
"That's why I did some research. Who the hell could do this? As a result, I've narrowed it down to three families."
Durias spread three fingers.
"The first was the Miat family since wolves can camouflage themselves with other people's pheromones."
The first candidate was the Miat family? It was a fact I didn't know until now. It was also the first time I learned that wolves have the ability to camouflage.
"But no matter how I look at it, there's no way they can infiltrate while tricking the Astrophel family."
"You just said yourself that they could cheat."
"That's because those who are weak enough to be tricked by the Miat Clan are not allowed to work for our Clan."
Durias answered as if it was a simple fact.
At the same time, the faces of the Loisars crumpled in disbelief.
The families that practically ruled the Eastern area were the Miat Clan, a wolf family, and the Artban Clan, a jaguar family. It was obvious that the Astrophels could care less for the Loisars' opinion when they treated the Miat family as nothing.
"That's a cheeky answer."
"Haha, don't get me wrong. I know that the Miat family can't even afford to disperse their power right now so they can't afford to touch the South."
Baon intervened and added a reason. It was a plausible excuse but it seemed like the Loisars were already very upset.
Durias folded his second finger.
"The second candidate was the Artban family. In fact, this place is not much different from the Miat family, but it was the most suspicious."
"Why?"
"Because the spy we caught was a half-breed of the Artban Clan."
As he explained, Durias's mouth came down in a straight line. The smile that had made him seem so friendly just moments ago was nowhere to be found.
"Because of that, our family also had to lose our hostess, Lady Estella."
"That's unfortunate. But when will the main point come out?"
Gray asked in a bored tone as if saying 'How long do I have to listen to this?'
"I understand that's not the topic of this meeting. How long do we have to listen to that nonsensical argument?"
"Oops. I've told you this far, but you still don't know?"
"You seem to want to die."
The corners of Gray's mouth twitched at Durias' sarcastic attitude. But Durias didn't care as if he had something to believe.
"I'm asking if the Artban Clan and the Loisar Clan are accomplices."
"What?"
Gray's body stiffened and the sound of gasping could be heard from everywhere.
Eventually, the old elder of the Loisars jumped to his feet and cried out with bloody veins around his neck.
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about! House Astrophel, you should be polite! Do you even know how to speak?!"
"I apologize if I offended you, but wouldn't it be better to be clear?"
"T-thi-this-this!"
The old man grabbed the back of his neck in anger. Judging by his reaction, he seemed to know nothing.
I was getting a little worried because Durias deliberately chose provocative words.
It was obvious to anyone.
Why the hell is Durias scratching the nerves of the Loisar Clan so much? Wouldn't that only make the position of the Astrophel family more embarrassing? It felt like walking on a tightrope. What the hell are you thinking?
I glanced up at Durias.
He was keenly observing the old man's reaction and at that moment, I had a crazy idea.
No way.......
I quickly looked at Baon next to me who had a similar attitude to Durias. He was also carefully watching the Loisar clan.
Only then did I realize.
Why did Durias provoke the Loisar clan to such an extent?
Now he was looking for the culprit and the one involved in this matter.
That's why Cade didn't impose any sanctions.
I can't believe this was all planned out.
It gave me the chills.
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