SLDS 44

The imperial palace was noisy from the early morning. The gates had been thrown wide open even before the sun rose, and a procession of people dragging a prisoner followed.

Alexis, as per Cecil’s suggestion, had collected and investigated all the weapons used at the hunting competition, and among them, he discovered trace amounts of a deadly poison on five arrowheads. The fletchings on all of them bore Baron Rowen’s mark.

Baron Rowen, who had been scheduled to make a grand entrance into the imperial palace in his carriage, was immediately arrested and dragged away. The baron’s mansion was also searched by the knight order, and before long, the deadly poisons he had been collecting were discovered in a secret space within the residence.

Since it was revealed that the poison he had collected and the poison on the arrowheads were of the same composition, all that remained was a thorough interrogation.

The Vercan Empire’s methods of investigation were notoriously harsh. Particularly for criminals who remained silent despite clear evidence, terrible punishments followed.

Thus, at present, Baron Rowen’s screams were incessant in the underground prison. Although the thick walls prevented the screams from leaking outside, everyone knew that torture was being carried out within.

At that moment, Cecil was preparing to go out. Standing in front of a full-length mirror, he was adjusting his clothes by himself, without the help of his attendants.

His face in the mirror looked no different from usual, but his hands were trembling noticeably. Now that Baron Rowen had confessed his crime, Cecil was also facing an investigation.

Of course, Cecil was not a suspect, and the purpose of the investigation was merely to obtain a witness statement.

All he had to do was explain the fact that he had given the wine to the baron and the circumstances before and after. At most, it would surely not take more than thirty minutes.

The problem was the location where the investigation would take place. The very same place where he had been brutally tortured and met a lonely death in his past life.

Cecil closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath to compose himself.

“Hoo, don’t tremble. It’s okay. It’s not like I’m going into the underground prison, it’s just the tribunal.”

Bad memories would only ruin things. Cecil touched the mark hidden under his clothes on his chest, strengthening his weakened heart again and again. He then immediately opened the bedroom door and came out. Just then, his loyal attendants were waiting in front.

“Leo, get ready. We are going to the tribunal.”

“Yes, Mr. Cecil.”

As he took a step forward, giving the short command, the attendants, including Leo, followed behind Cecil like a tail. As he left the Peridot Palace, the clear morning sunlight shone down. The weather was so bright it made his worries seem pointless.

“They will be formal questions, so there is no need to be too nervous.”

“Yes. I am ready.”

Alexis, perched on the edge of the desk, raised only his eyes. The interrogation room, with its solemn atmosphere, was bound to frighten anyone who entered for the first time, whether they had committed a crime or not.

But Cecil Adrian, sitting in the armchair, had a more composed face than anyone. He maintained a flawless posture with his back and shoulders held straight, and his arms, resting on the armrests, were loosely relaxed, showing no signs of tension. Only the unique dignity of the royal family remained.

“Cecil Adrian.”

Alexis picked up the questionnaire he had prepared in advance. He had already memorized all of its contents anyway. Witness statements were usually handled by lower-ranking investigators, but given who the person was, he had to step in personally this time.

“From this moment on, you must answer only the truth to the questions I ask.”

He took a slight pause before beginning.

“Did you hand wine to Baron Rowen at the hunting competition?”

“I did.”

“For what reason?”

“It was to wish for his victory.”

“Wishing for Baron Rowen’s victory, of all people? Was your relationship with the baron that close?”

There was a clear force in Alexis’s tone, and the ends of his words were sharp. His piercing blue eyes, devoid of any emotion, possessed a remarkable talent for reading a person’s psyche. All of this was aimed at Cecil, pressuring him to reveal his true intentions.

Cecil did not answer immediately and slowly turned his gaze.

The interrogation room, surrounded on all sides by antique wallpaper but still suffocatingly closed-in; the scribe, who was diligently writing down every word he said without missing a thing; and above all, the crown prince standing guard before him.

It was not so different from what Cecil remembered. The only difference was that the look of disgust in the crown prince’s eyes as he looked down on him had disappeared.

What a relief it was; this alone made Cecil feel as if all his efforts had been rewarded. A faint smile spread across his stiff lips.

“Baron Rowen is a close acquaintance of Her Majesty the Empress. We have been in each other’s company on occasion, though not frequently. If you ask why I cheered for him, well. I will answer that I was simply aligning my will with that of Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Are you saying that Empress Elizabeth usually supported Baron Rowen?”

“That is what I believe.”

In the silent interrogation room, only the sound of the scribe’s busy pen nib echoed. Alexis briefly lowered the document and hid it behind his back. His sharp eyes were fixed on just one person.

“Does Her Majesty the Empress also know that the baron collects deadly poisons?”

“I heard it in her presence, so it is likely so.”

Each of Cecil’s statements piled up to target the empress.

Knock, knock. At that moment, a knock sounded on the wooden door. Claude, who entered unceremoniously, looked at Alexis with a tense face.

“Your Highness, I have something to report to you urgently.”

Alexis immediately stood up and spoke with Claude in a corner. As their conversation continued, his expression grew darker and darker. Before long, Claude left in a hurry, and Alexis returned to his original spot with a sigh.

“Scribe, you may leave for a moment.”

Soon, only silence filled the interrogation room, where the two of them were now alone. It was when Cecil, not knowing the reason, was swallowing nervously.

“I’ve just been told that Baron Rowen has been murdered.”

“What… do you mean!”

“One of the guards assigned to watch him killed the baron. Before we could find out who instigated it, he also took his own life on the spot. Ha, for goodness’ sake… there isn’t a single place the empress’s reach doesn’t extend to.”

Alexis roughly tousled his hair. He was extremely irritated that the situation was not going as he wished.

He knew the empress wouldn’t just stand by and watch. He should have been more careful, but he hadn’t imagined she would go so far as to harm Baron Rowen, who was locked up in the underground prison.

Having lost the only clue that could reveal the person behind it all, Alexis couldn’t hide his anger.

Cecil was equally surprised, as he had not anticipated this outcome. He rose from his chair and cautiously approached Alexis.

“Her Majesty the Empress will continue to try and ruin Your Highness’s path forward.”

At those words, Alexis let out a cynical laugh. There was no need to have a story he already knew so well confirmed.

But Cecil continued, unconcerned.

“I cannot betray my mother. As long as I was born her son, I cannot sever that relationship. Even if I do not wish for it… my mother will try to thrust upon me what Your Highness possesses.”

“……”

“But if Your Highness wishes, I will gladly help you from behind the scenes.”

“You will help me?”

Alexis’s smile vanished completely as he raised only his eyes. His ruthless face remained the same, but Cecil was no longer afraid or intimidated by him.

“Please, use me. Step on me and rise higher.”

“Why are you going this far? By helping me… what is there for you to gain, Cecil?”

“I want to see the Vercan Empire ruled by you.”

“That is treasonous talk. His Majesty is still alive.”

“Of course, it will not be right away. It may be a few years from now, or perhaps even later than that… but in the end, that is how it will be, is it not?”

Cecil poured out all the words he had kept in his heart. It had taken him a very long time to convey these words to Alexis.

“Please become the strongest emperor in the history of the empire. When Your Highness has ascended to the highest place… you can repay me then.”

“What is it that you want?”

“I will tell you on the day you ascend the throne.”

Alexis silently looked at Cecil.

Could there be another subordinate as covetable as this? Cecil Adrian was noble and intelligent, and above all, he was the one who could grasp the empress’s movements most accurately. If he were to become his ally, there would be no greater strength.

If Cecil pledged his loyalty to him, he could give him anything he wanted, be it wealth or position. However, before that, he needed assurance.

“There must be no betrayal.”

“I will never betray you.”

“Words are not enough.”

Cecil obediently lowered himself. He knelt on one knee before Alexis, who was perched on the desk, and began a solemn oath.

“I swear in the name of God, I will devote my loyalty to Alexis Winter Graham, the rightful heir of the Vercan Empire. I will be your loyal vassal and will not speak a single falsehood.”

“From now on, you are mine.”

Cecil’s hand, resting on his knee, trembled. He then answered in a trembling voice.

“Yes, I will be yours until my life ends.”

“Rise.”

Cecil slowly rose to his feet. His weakened knees wobbled from how much mental energy he had expended in that short time.

Alexis reached out his long arm and pulled Cecil’s waist toward him. Holding the tense body in his embrace, he stroked the back of Cecil’s head.

“Since I have received a precious oath, I too shall give you my corresponding trust. Please, trust and follow me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Cecil barely managed to answer. Alexis’s touch, comforting him, was so unbelievably warm that even his tear ducts were about to grow hot. He truly felt that he had been accepted by him.

Trapped in the firm embrace, Cecil clutched at Alexis’s clothes with a trembling hand.

As elation and sorrow mingled, fearing that it might show, Cecil had to desperately hide his flushed face.