The nobles of Blackwell's side, who had been advocating a constitutional monarchy, trailed off. There was no need to ask. The vassals of Grand Duke Winston, who were politically opposed to them, would have made something up. It was even suspected that they had fabricated the bloodstain evidence, but since the Royal Guard of Vintergar was also present at the scene where the body was found, that possibility had to be ruled out.
It was somewhat expected that there was something dark about Grand Duke Winston. However, they had no idea about the blood-stained letters left by His Majesty.
Before he left for Vintergar, Rainier VIII had been in agreement with them. He was hesitant about detailed agreements, such as a full opening of trade and cultural exchanges, but he was inclined to introduce a cabinet system for his own safety.
“I’m sorry, but I must ask you all to leave. The suspect will be questioned shortly. As you know, serious crimes such as assassinating the Emperor are dealt with through private interrogation without a trial. If you can get a confession, the execution date will be set immediately.”
As the Duke of Butland nodded toward the guards, the door to the state office opened wide. At the repeated order to swear at guests, the vassals could no longer endure it and stood up. They all had complicated expressions on their faces.
Among them was Baron Samuel Dervan, Leticia's uncle and a Blackwell collateral. He looked as if he was thinking deeply about something with a look of despair on his face. Even among the Blackwells, everyone was wary of the Baron and distrustful of him, so it didn't seem strange to see him alone. Duke Murray Kent, who had to escort the suspect, spoke heavily to the group.
“This is a big deal. I wonder if Sir Kyle can hold out... If he doesn’t confess here, he’ll be tortured.”
But there was no way he would confess. The nobles who had been on the side of King Renier VIII and Blackwell in their peaceful overthrow of the nation knew better than anyone that Kyle was innocent. Kyle was now trapped. No one could predict how he would escape.
Duke Berland, who was in charge of the interrogation, was neutral, but it was not certain whether he would be able to maintain his position even under the influence of Grand Duke Winston. The vassals exchanged glances with dark faces. Everyone was trembling with anxiety at the completely unexpected situation.
The Emperor has passed away, and the man who helped him lead Trieste following the times has suddenly become a murder suspect. The man behind it all was undoubtedly Grand Duke Winston.
He was a staunch advocate of absolute monarchy, seeking to return the country to a strict feudal system of estates. Now that Rainier VIII was dead, it was obvious who that absolute monarch would be. The Duke of Kent again called attention to the matter with a heavy hand.
“This is a big deal. This is an unprecedented crisis.”
Not only the Duke of Blackwell, but all of them, and even the entire country, were in danger of collapse. If the real murderer could be found even now, the situation would be reversed. However, since the Duke was already confirmed as the culprit, how could the real culprit be found?
Angie was able to return home to the Citadel that night with Jerome's help. On her way to the capital, she stopped by Revan to first check on the safety of Grandma Catherine and Aunt Line.
Catherine Beckett was so sleepy that she didn't know anything from the beginning, and Aunt Line said that the kerosene lamp suddenly went out and she lost consciousness immediately after. When she woke up again, she was lying on the sofa in the living room at home and the lamp was on, she confessed with a bewildered look.
"I don't know what's going on. Did I suddenly collapse and then lie down on the sofa without realizing it? I've had a headache now and then, but I wonder if this symptom can happen. Wow, many things can happen."
Angie tried to act casual as she said goodbye to the two of them, not forgetting to bring Bryn, Martin, Noah, and Patty next month. She wondered what had happened to Michael, and where he was now, but there was no time.
Perhaps because of the private guards Jerome had assigned, no one approached her until they arrived at the Citadel. Angie, too, kept her hat pulled down low and avoided eye contact with anyone. She didn't know when Leticia would send an assassin again.
It felt like a lead weight had settled on her chest. In addition to the fear of life-threatening situations and the determination to protect Noah, the image of someone else was lingering in her mind. She couldn't shake the image of Kyle's back as he was being escorted by the police, with his usual cool and composed demeanor, without a single trace of disarray.
Angie could finally breathe properly after entering the Armitage mansion. Everyone, including Mr. Willem Armitage, happened to be home, and Bryn hugged her as soon as she saw her.
“Angie! I was worried! I had such a bad dream last night. I was just about to send a letter to see if everything was okay. Some of the Trieste delegation left for Hedestad early this morning! Did you know about it and come back earlier than planned?”
“Actually, there was an incident last night... Before that, I’ll go see Noah first.”
“Do that. Sleep with Patty in the nursery. Noah will be surprised when he sees his Mom. Sometimes, whenever he searches for his Mom, I fold my fingers and comfort him, telling him that he has a few more nights left.”
Two chubby babies were lying side by side on the bed, sleeping oblivious to the world. One-year-old baby Patty was splayed out with her legs spread wide, and Noah was curled up halfway next to her. Their fingers, almost touching, were so cute and lovely.
Tears welled up inside her as something hot surged up inside her. Angie suppressed the urge to hug him tightly and carefully kissed Noah on the top of his head.
She did the same to Patty and then followed Bryn out of the room, her mind already heavy with the thought of having to talk about the child's father.
The four of them were deep in conversation, the tea in their cups growing cold. They all knew that Renier VIII had been murdered and that Kyle was wanted as a suspect. However, they still did not know about the incident in Graz the night before.
After a moment of silence, Willem spoke again. He was in a position to give Angie the most realistic advice possible, with as little emotion as possible, on how to deal with the situation going forward.
“Duchess Leticia will not be able to send assassins again. The Blackwells are in crisis right now, so she will not be able to move freely, and the status of her family, House Dervan, will not be what it used to be. Still, I will strengthen security for now, so it would be best for Angie to stay at home for the time being.”
“Yeah, Angie. You’d better clear out your workroom too.”
“Don’t even take any work requests. I’ll tell the costume shop that Madame M has gone back to her hometown for family reasons and I don’t know when she’ll be back.”
Bryn and Martin also added their own words to Willem. The most important thing for them was Angie's safety. But Angie had other thoughts.
“I think it would be best for me to leave for a while. Of course, I can’t go to Revan or Lorsha, where Grandma Catherine is... I’ll have to go somewhere farther away. As Uncle Willem said, Leticia might not be able to do anything anymore. She might not know about this house. But I always have to think about what if.”
Kyle knows about Bryn and Martin. If Leticia had a spy on him, she might know Angie's family too. She desperately wanted Kyle to clear his name and get out of trouble as soon as possible, but the most important thing was to ensure the safety of her family and Noah.
“If it’s okay with you two... Can I ask you to take care of Noah this time too? I think it’s best for me to just quietly leave. If something happens to this house because of me... I absolutely can’t stand it.”
“Angie. Nothing will happen! Just stay with us. You’re safest here. If you go off alone and something happens, we won’t be able to handle it. Right, Dad? Think about Noah, Angie.”
Willem nodded at Bryn's words. But before he could speak, Martin suddenly stepped forward.
“I agree with Bryn. Starting today, we should strictly control the entry of outside workers and limit interactions with the resident employees... We must be fully prepared. This is Vintergar. Even the most powerful people in Trieste cannot easily approach.”
“But the Emperor of Trieste was also murdered.”
Angie continued, her voice thick with tension.
“Who would have imagined that the Emperor of a country would meet such a miserable death in a foreign country where he had come as an envoy? To the outside world, it seemed like the internal strife in Trieste had come to an end because Kyle was identified as the culprit, but it was obvious that it was the opposing forces of the Emperor.”
“It must be Grand Duke Winston. There’s just no evidence.”
As soon as Willem finished speaking, the butler Helen knocked on the study door.
“Sir, I apologize for interrupting, but we have a guest looking for Miss Angie. I believe you will recognize him as Michael Randall.”
It was somewhat expected that there was something dark about Grand Duke Winston. However, they had no idea about the blood-stained letters left by His Majesty.
Before he left for Vintergar, Rainier VIII had been in agreement with them. He was hesitant about detailed agreements, such as a full opening of trade and cultural exchanges, but he was inclined to introduce a cabinet system for his own safety.
“I’m sorry, but I must ask you all to leave. The suspect will be questioned shortly. As you know, serious crimes such as assassinating the Emperor are dealt with through private interrogation without a trial. If you can get a confession, the execution date will be set immediately.”
As the Duke of Butland nodded toward the guards, the door to the state office opened wide. At the repeated order to swear at guests, the vassals could no longer endure it and stood up. They all had complicated expressions on their faces.
Among them was Baron Samuel Dervan, Leticia's uncle and a Blackwell collateral. He looked as if he was thinking deeply about something with a look of despair on his face. Even among the Blackwells, everyone was wary of the Baron and distrustful of him, so it didn't seem strange to see him alone. Duke Murray Kent, who had to escort the suspect, spoke heavily to the group.
“This is a big deal. I wonder if Sir Kyle can hold out... If he doesn’t confess here, he’ll be tortured.”
But there was no way he would confess. The nobles who had been on the side of King Renier VIII and Blackwell in their peaceful overthrow of the nation knew better than anyone that Kyle was innocent. Kyle was now trapped. No one could predict how he would escape.
Duke Berland, who was in charge of the interrogation, was neutral, but it was not certain whether he would be able to maintain his position even under the influence of Grand Duke Winston. The vassals exchanged glances with dark faces. Everyone was trembling with anxiety at the completely unexpected situation.
The Emperor has passed away, and the man who helped him lead Trieste following the times has suddenly become a murder suspect. The man behind it all was undoubtedly Grand Duke Winston.
He was a staunch advocate of absolute monarchy, seeking to return the country to a strict feudal system of estates. Now that Rainier VIII was dead, it was obvious who that absolute monarch would be. The Duke of Kent again called attention to the matter with a heavy hand.
“This is a big deal. This is an unprecedented crisis.”
Not only the Duke of Blackwell, but all of them, and even the entire country, were in danger of collapse. If the real murderer could be found even now, the situation would be reversed. However, since the Duke was already confirmed as the culprit, how could the real culprit be found?
***
Angie was able to return home to the Citadel that night with Jerome's help. On her way to the capital, she stopped by Revan to first check on the safety of Grandma Catherine and Aunt Line.
Catherine Beckett was so sleepy that she didn't know anything from the beginning, and Aunt Line said that the kerosene lamp suddenly went out and she lost consciousness immediately after. When she woke up again, she was lying on the sofa in the living room at home and the lamp was on, she confessed with a bewildered look.
"I don't know what's going on. Did I suddenly collapse and then lie down on the sofa without realizing it? I've had a headache now and then, but I wonder if this symptom can happen. Wow, many things can happen."
Angie tried to act casual as she said goodbye to the two of them, not forgetting to bring Bryn, Martin, Noah, and Patty next month. She wondered what had happened to Michael, and where he was now, but there was no time.
Perhaps because of the private guards Jerome had assigned, no one approached her until they arrived at the Citadel. Angie, too, kept her hat pulled down low and avoided eye contact with anyone. She didn't know when Leticia would send an assassin again.
It felt like a lead weight had settled on her chest. In addition to the fear of life-threatening situations and the determination to protect Noah, the image of someone else was lingering in her mind. She couldn't shake the image of Kyle's back as he was being escorted by the police, with his usual cool and composed demeanor, without a single trace of disarray.
Angie could finally breathe properly after entering the Armitage mansion. Everyone, including Mr. Willem Armitage, happened to be home, and Bryn hugged her as soon as she saw her.
“Angie! I was worried! I had such a bad dream last night. I was just about to send a letter to see if everything was okay. Some of the Trieste delegation left for Hedestad early this morning! Did you know about it and come back earlier than planned?”
“Actually, there was an incident last night... Before that, I’ll go see Noah first.”
“Do that. Sleep with Patty in the nursery. Noah will be surprised when he sees his Mom. Sometimes, whenever he searches for his Mom, I fold my fingers and comfort him, telling him that he has a few more nights left.”
Two chubby babies were lying side by side on the bed, sleeping oblivious to the world. One-year-old baby Patty was splayed out with her legs spread wide, and Noah was curled up halfway next to her. Their fingers, almost touching, were so cute and lovely.
Tears welled up inside her as something hot surged up inside her. Angie suppressed the urge to hug him tightly and carefully kissed Noah on the top of his head.
She did the same to Patty and then followed Bryn out of the room, her mind already heavy with the thought of having to talk about the child's father.
The four of them were deep in conversation, the tea in their cups growing cold. They all knew that Renier VIII had been murdered and that Kyle was wanted as a suspect. However, they still did not know about the incident in Graz the night before.
After a moment of silence, Willem spoke again. He was in a position to give Angie the most realistic advice possible, with as little emotion as possible, on how to deal with the situation going forward.
“Duchess Leticia will not be able to send assassins again. The Blackwells are in crisis right now, so she will not be able to move freely, and the status of her family, House Dervan, will not be what it used to be. Still, I will strengthen security for now, so it would be best for Angie to stay at home for the time being.”
“Yeah, Angie. You’d better clear out your workroom too.”
“Don’t even take any work requests. I’ll tell the costume shop that Madame M has gone back to her hometown for family reasons and I don’t know when she’ll be back.”
Bryn and Martin also added their own words to Willem. The most important thing for them was Angie's safety. But Angie had other thoughts.
“I think it would be best for me to leave for a while. Of course, I can’t go to Revan or Lorsha, where Grandma Catherine is... I’ll have to go somewhere farther away. As Uncle Willem said, Leticia might not be able to do anything anymore. She might not know about this house. But I always have to think about what if.”
Kyle knows about Bryn and Martin. If Leticia had a spy on him, she might know Angie's family too. She desperately wanted Kyle to clear his name and get out of trouble as soon as possible, but the most important thing was to ensure the safety of her family and Noah.
“If it’s okay with you two... Can I ask you to take care of Noah this time too? I think it’s best for me to just quietly leave. If something happens to this house because of me... I absolutely can’t stand it.”
“Angie. Nothing will happen! Just stay with us. You’re safest here. If you go off alone and something happens, we won’t be able to handle it. Right, Dad? Think about Noah, Angie.”
Willem nodded at Bryn's words. But before he could speak, Martin suddenly stepped forward.
“I agree with Bryn. Starting today, we should strictly control the entry of outside workers and limit interactions with the resident employees... We must be fully prepared. This is Vintergar. Even the most powerful people in Trieste cannot easily approach.”
“But the Emperor of Trieste was also murdered.”
Angie continued, her voice thick with tension.
“Who would have imagined that the Emperor of a country would meet such a miserable death in a foreign country where he had come as an envoy? To the outside world, it seemed like the internal strife in Trieste had come to an end because Kyle was identified as the culprit, but it was obvious that it was the opposing forces of the Emperor.”
“It must be Grand Duke Winston. There’s just no evidence.”
As soon as Willem finished speaking, the butler Helen knocked on the study door.
“Sir, I apologize for interrupting, but we have a guest looking for Miss Angie. I believe you will recognize him as Michael Randall.”
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