Imprisoning the Girl Saori / Roswaal's Scheme ...

"We won't take your life! Explain what happened clearly, and we will use that information to determine how to report your actions to Roswaal. So tell us everything you know!"

"Ugh... I understand... I'll tell you." Saori lowered her head wearily and said.

The girl told Shirou and the others about her background and the desperate situation she had encountered.

Saori's domineering and shrewish mother is actually ill and destined to die soon. She has been pressured by her relatives to make a will, bequeathing her title to someone else.

The struggle for power and property has always been incredibly dangerous, both throughout history and across the world.

When an emperor abdicates the throne to the next dynasty, he can generally die a peaceful death, but he will bear a great sense of shame in his heart. This is similar to the case of Zhao Kuangyin Shizong of the Qing Dynasty, who rebelled and usurped the throne, Puyi of the Qing Dynasty. After all, their existence was originally a symbol of legitimacy.

However, in the struggle for the throne among the princes, once one of them ascends the throne, who among the others can expect a good end?

Saori is in this situation; if her mother's title falls into the hands of a relative, her fate will be incredibly tragic.

What she wanted was not the harmonious relationship between her half-siblings. Even if they did, what difference would it make? Could they help her keep her mother's title? She was already confirmed to be her mother's child with another man, and had no blood relation to her nominal father, the 'Viscount'. To put it bluntly, she was an outsider.

Saori originally didn't have the courage to kill, but inside the castle, under the influence of the black mist, her mind collapsed, and she made the choice to poison them. If she killed all her sisters, then her biological father's title would belong to her, and she wouldn't have to worry about revenge from her relatives. Even without her mother's protection, she would be safe for the rest of her life.

Chapter 721 Imprisoning Girl Saori

"What? So you're going to kill us all just for yourself?" Kirino roared, glaring at Saori who was slumped on the ground.

The other girls also turned pale. If it weren't for Shirou, they probably wouldn't have thought twice before taking the tea, drinking it, and then dying.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." the girl on the ground cried, burying her face in her hands.

"Those are our lives. Do you think a simple 'sorry' is enough?" the Kuro Neko said coldly, looking at the woman on the ground.

"Damn it, stop crying and explain yourself!" Kirino stepped forward to pull the woman up from the ground.

Shirou could even see the black aura surrounding the woman being scolded about to materialize and emerge. If he continued to push her into despair and madness, she might do something terrible.

"Alright, Kirino," Shirou calmed the angry girls down, then looked at the woman on the ground and said, "We'll keep our promise and won't hurt you. But you must take responsibility for your actions, do you understand?"

That dark aura compels people to commit brutal acts, but ultimately, it is the individuals themselves who do such things. Attempted murder also incurs appropriate punishment.

"Yes..." The girl, slumped on the ground, answered softly, tears streaming down her face. She knew she no longer had the right to make a choice; all that remained was regret.

"What a stupid woman! If she had just spoken up, we could have worked together to figure out a way to prevent her from being bullied by those people," Kirino said angrily.

"If she hadn't been blinded by greed, how could she have done such a thing?" the Kuro Neko said irritably.

Yes, putting aside the inherited Earl, the girls here, despite their complicated family backgrounds, are still influential figures in their own right. Kirino's family are knights in the guard, Ayase's family are members of parliament, Kuro Neko, being a tailor who caters to nobles, knows many important people.

When everyone is united, they form a force that is neither too large nor too small.

Although the 'Earl' title that Shirou and his group are about to inherit is not firmly established, the other party's relatives are not yet officially related. Even if they manage to win the title, it will only be 'Viscount', at most a local tycoon. In terms of strength, they are about the same, but in terms of status, they are actually inferior to Shirou and his group.

If Saori were to ask for help, everyone would pitch in. Even if they didn't help her seize a title or protect her mother's inheritance, simply protecting her wouldn't be a problem. They could even secure a share of her mother's inheritance, enough to at least guarantee her a comfortable life.

After discussing with the other girls, Shirou decided that Saori, as the culprit, must be punished. The condition was that he wouldn't report her and would provide her with shelter after her mother's death. From now on, she would lose her right as an heir, and she signed a guarantee.

Of course, she would no longer be allowed to touch any food or drink water. Until Roswaal returned, her movements would be restricted to her room, and she would have to come out. Her food would be delivered by the maid.

This was already the most lenient treatment she could receive, and although Saori was unwilling, she had no choice but to accept it.

At this moment, Kyoko stepped forward and said, "Brother, I've thought about it for a long time, and I think I should sign autographs with Miss Saori as well."

Kyoko made up her mind. She withdrew from the competition, content with simply being able to take on the role of library manager.

"Well, if you've thought it through, then alright. In any case, my promise to take care of you stands." Shirou paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

This time, Kyoko didn't stop Shirou from doing what she was doing. Since she had no intention of competing with others for the family fortune, he figured it was fine to let her withdraw. He could always compensate her after the matter was resolved. If he hadn't stopped Kyoko before and prevented Kyoko proposal from being approved, Saori probably wouldn't have included Kyoko in her list of targets to kill.

So, with everyone as witnesses, Saori and Kyoko signed their names on a guarantee to renounce their inheritance rights and then handed it over to Ram, Roswaal's representative.

Ram accepted the paper, nodded, and replied, "Yes, I did accept it. I will give it to Roswaal when he returns."

"I understand, thank you." Shirou nodded in agreement.

After that, Shirou and the others escorted Saori back to her room. After watching the two maids leave, Shirou closed the door again, as he still had something to say to the girls.

"Everyone... do you think there's anything strange about bringing us all together here?"

Although the poisoning issue has been resolved, the root cause remains unresolved. If this fundamental problem isn't addressed, even if it wasn't Saori, similar issues might occur in others. Furthermore, there's no guarantee that they'll be safe if everyone remains uncontaminated.

Ultimately, the castle itself is full of eeriness. Thinking carefully about the inheritance process, something seems off. Even if the father was a dissolute young man, he wouldn't entrust such a large castle to a relative with only two maids.

Even if relatives are not an option, surely there's no shortage of servants? The fact that they didn't hire other servants makes it seem like they have some secret they can't let outsiders know, thus deliberately creating a closed-off environment.

Furthermore, the choice of notary to handle the estate was also strange. Although he was of higher status, Roswaal was also known for his eccentric personality. It was highly suspicious that such an unreliable person was entrusted with the distribution of property rights among the descendants.

Ultimately, how could such a momentous event proceed so quietly? Families like Saori's would kill for a mere viscount title. Even if relatives didn't try to take advantage of the situation and get a share, they'd still show up and acknowledge the connection. They couldn't just so easily bestow such a prestigious family title upon an unknown illegitimate child, could they?

This is Earl earldom, because in most Western countries, Marquis is usually a special title. So, Earl is actually the second highest title in the traditional sense. Apart from founding heroes, only those who have made great contributions to the founding of the country or those who are generals who have expanded the borders are likely to be granted this title.

"Shirou- nii... are you doubting Roswaal?" Ayase asked.

"I wouldn't say I doubt it, but I can't rule out the possibility either," Shirou shook his head, but still said in a low voice.

Kirino, resting her chin on her hand, said, "Indeed... I've heard some rumors about Border Roswaal too. In short, he's considered a big weirdo in the royal capital. It's just that because of his strength, no one dares to offend him."

"Actually... Uncle Roswaal tacitly approved of what I did..." Saori, who had been keeping her head down and silent, raised her hand and spoke up.

"What!" everyone exclaimed in surprise.

Chapter 722 Roswaal's Plot

Saori's voice was soft, but to the people in the room it was like a thunderclap.

"Roswaal tacitly approved of what you did? What's going on?" Shirou looked at Saori in surprise. He had guessed as much, so he was somewhat prepared for all of this. But he hadn't expected the situation in this world to be so harsh on the inheritors.

It's very likely that within this castle, one must not only contend with the infighting among the brothers and sisters who were once heirs, and the black mist that breeds malice, but also with the existence of a dark force that wants to bring about these tragedies.

Ultimately, Shirou doesn't really know much about his deceased father and the inheritance he received; what he knows so far is all from what he's heard from Roswaal.

But why would he do this? For money? But he's already a border count, and supposedly has no children. An Earl is useless to him. As for the property, if he wanted it, he could simply keep it from Shirou and the others.

Seeking beauty, it seems, isn't quite right either.

Is he just a psychopath who wants to toy with people and watch them kill each other? Judging from the clown's costume, he certainly doesn't look like a normal person, but if that's the case, then he doesn't necessarily have to be one of their heirs, right?

But if it's not for these reasons, then what could it be for?

"What exactly happened?" Kirino suddenly stood up.

"This has nothing to do with me anymore; I've withdrawn from the competition," Saori replied somewhat resignedly, keeping everyone in suspense and not wanting to tell anyone more.

"What else are you hiding from us? Tell us. After you get out, you'll need us to help you deal with your relatives, won't you?" Kuro Neko stood up, arms crossed, and looked at the woman sitting on the bed.

"Yes, but you were just saying it casually, and what will actually happen to you afterwards, whether you can actually inherit the title, is still unknown," Saori said.

"Miss Saori, please tell us. We're not enemies," Kyoko said, trying to persuade the woman.

"Yes... but given my current miserable state, how about this, I also want a position here, just like Kyoko? The castle needs someone who knows how to deal with other nobles, right?"

"All you need to do is let me live here and give me some money to buy clothes every month. How about that, brother?" Saori said to Shirou with a charming smile that was completely different from her usual demeanor.

"Miss Saori, please don't go too far." Ayase's face darkened, and she gripped a cushion, sinking deeply into it.

"Saori, tell us everything you know first. No matter what the final outcome, we will keep our promise and protect your safety," Shirou said, reassuring Ayase.

Saori looked into Shirou's eyes, seeing no trace of pretense, and sighed, saying, "Brother... you really are a kind soul. Oh well. But it's a deal, if I have nowhere to go after we leave, I'll stay with you."

"Tell me what you know first. I'll try to handle your arrangements properly. If they don't satisfy you, then we'll do as you say." Shirou agreed.

"Alright then." Saori smiled triumphantly and said, "Actually, on the day I entered the castle, I arrived here in my family's carriage. Roswaal happened to see me at the outermost gate. At that time, my servants were stopped at the gate, and those two maids helped me carry my luggage..."

"The initial greeting and exchange of gifts went smoothly, and Ram and Rem didn't seem to check my belongings. It was only when we passed each other that he noticed the poison I was carrying."

"Wait? You clearly gave yourself away, yet he still let you in? And he didn't say anything to us?" Eriri asked loudly.

"Well, Roswaal didn't mean to stop me at all. He was smiling and saying..." Saori said with a mocking laugh.

"What did he say?" Kirino pressed.

Roswaal then said:

"Oh, Miss Saori, you brought some pretty good poison here."

"Lord Roswaal, are you joking?"

"Well, it's alright if it's not a joke. There won't be any outsiders interfering in this castle, so it doesn't matter what happens. Yes, for example, if the other heirs all die of poisoning, then bury them here." Roswaal said with a dangerous smile.

"Even fiercer competition is fine. What I care about is the result. Even if only one person survives, it's still something to be recognized... The fiercer the competition, the more trials and tribulations will be overcome, and only the person who emerges in the end will be the 'talent' the family needs."

Saori recounted her conversation with Roswaal in a low voice.

"So, no matter what happens to us, as long as we're still in this castle, no matter what happens, even if we die, we won't have to worry about it getting out," Kirino said angrily, clenching her fists.

Thinking about it this way, Roswaal's arrangement for his successor becomes even more bizarre.

First, they were summoned to a castle where there were no living creatures except for the two little maids, Ram and Rem.

Furthermore, when announcing the rules, they stated that only two people could remain in the capital city where they were used to living, and then asked the sisters to discuss and decide for themselves. This was clearly an attempt to sow discord and incite hostility among the girls.

It's practically like luring someone into a trap, or like practicing poison. Some ethnic groups have experts who use poisonous insects. They put various poisonous insects into the same sealed jar, without feeding them, forcing the insects inside to starve and then kill each other, absorbing each other's toxins.

If this continues, the last surviving venomous insect will become an even more terrifying 'King of Poison' than the most venomous snakes or scorpions.

"I've always felt that the arrangements here are unreasonable. If they're willing to give us titles and property, why are there so many restrictions?" the Kuro Neko said thoughtfully.

"Exactly! And the conditions are so harsh. How could any of us who grew up here be willing to leave and go to a place we've never even heard of? It's not like we're being exiled!" Kirino said, clearly annoyed.

"Yes, and besides being a bit big, this castle has nothing at all; it's practically a ghost town," Eriri said, frowning.

The more Shirou and the girls thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed, and a suffocating sense of crisis swept over them.

Chapter 723 Bloodstained Maid Twins

"Damn it... we've been completely tricked!" Kirino exclaimed.

"Yes, ultimately, the decision of the Earl's successor cannot be made by him alone," Ayase nodded and said.

Looking back now, it's clear that the process of gathering them was riddled with errors.

Only people like Shirou, who are either commoners or illegitimate children of merchants and don't understand the rules of the nobility, would be tricked into coming to the castle. As for Saori, the viscount's daughter, she was driven to the brink of desperation. In order to secure her future, she risked coming in even though she sensed something was wrong.

The arrangement for the succession to the title that Roswaal mentioned was far too hasty. Although it was a special case, even if the eldest daughter turned fifteen and reached the age of marriage, nobles from all sides would be invited to the coming-of-age ceremony to attend a banquet and formally introduce her.

But now he's the heir to the Earl! He shouldn't just be introduced to the nobles; he should actually be taken to the palace to meet the King. But instead, it's being done secretly in a mountain castle, as if it were something shameful. Nothing about it makes sense.

Shirou knew that the country in the story was an ancient Western country with a feudal system. If it were compared to the Zhou Dynasty during the feudal period of China, all the nobles, both high and low, had been granted land by the Zhou Dynasty King emperor.

The Grand Duke of the West was equivalent to Jiang Ziya, a man of outstanding military achievements who reached the pinnacle of officialdom among the Three Dukes. He was based in the East and established the State of Qi, which was also a first-rate power during the Spring and Autumn Period.

Then there are Duke of Zhou Dan of Zhou, who spit out his food three times, and Duke Shi of Shao, who left behind the love of the sweet pear tree. After King Wu's death, they were entrusted with assisting King Cheng and King Kang of Zhou as key ministers. Of course, if it were the ranking method of later Confucianism, Duke Dan of Duke of Zhou should be first, but here we take the historical data of a certain month as the standard.

Next, the second- Earl in the West was roughly equivalent to a founding general of the Zhou Dynasty, such as Erlang Shen Yang Jian or Nezha. If they hadn't cultivated immortality and had chosen to stay, they would have been great meritors, second only to Jiang Ziya, corresponding to the 'border count' in the West.

Even the lesser-ranking ordinary Earl were at least figures like Lei Zhenzi or Tu Xingsun, demonstrating the high status of Earl within a kingdom. They were important figures who would be recorded in the King's records and could not be ignored.

Within the family, it is an extremely important symbol of power. Therefore, even if all the relatives are celibate and busy with work, and are truly unable to get away, they would definitely send a mature and steady person to act as a notary, rather than letting Roswaal act recklessly on his own.

"We need to find the rest of the family. Even the Border Lord can't be allowed to manipulate us, control people, and make us kill each other!" Kirino hand on the table and said.

"But... what if he and his family hadn't planned to relinquish the title in the first place..." Shirou suddenly interjected.

"What...?" Everyone in the room was shocked.

"Roswaal... he's Grand Mage feared even by wizards. Could he be planning to gather us together for some dangerous Magecraft experiments?" the Kuro Neko said worriedly.

"Yes, we can't stay here any longer! We have to get out!" Ayase said.

"Aaaaaah!!!" At that moment, a girl's pitiful scream came from somewhere outside.

"That's... Gyoubu-chan's voice!"

Even though it was almost noon, no one had seen Hime no Toki. But then, they heard her scream!

"I'll go check it out! You guys take care of yourselves. If you sense anything's wrong, try to escape! If that's not possible, hide." Shirou finished speaking and rushed out!

"Etc!"

"Brother Shirou!"

"Let's go together!"

The girls, worried about Shirou, also ran up after him.

Shirou ran to the door of Hime no Toki's room, only to find the wooden door wide open. He looked over and was immediately greeted by a strong smell of blood.

The lazy, slightly cunning, yet undeniably cute girl in pink, Hime no Toki, had her head severed. Her body remained kneeling on the floor, hunched over the corner of the bed. Blood stained the entire room, leaving sticky streaks of blood on the bed and walls, which were now flowing down in streams.

The severed head was held in the hands of the pink-haired little girl.

"Ram... did you kill Hime no Toki?" Shirou asked, looking at the little maid standing beside the pool of blood.