Chapter 562: Suspicion
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 562: Suspicion
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
Inside the temporary safe house, Marquis Angus appeared, looking weary and covered in the dust of his duties. He watched as several maids cleared away medicinal bowls and blood-stained clothing.
"How is your body faring?"
"Thank you for your concern. It seems I’ve managed to cheat death."
Albert "squeezed out" a faint smile.
At the top of the room, expensive, top-tier magic stones emitted a gentle glow, keeping the entire space as warm as spring.
Albert was bare-chested, his torso still heavily wrapped in bandages. It was clear that the attack he had sustained was indeed severe, but under the care of the finest physicians in all of Belland, such injuries were no longer a major concern.
A hint of color had even returned to his face; it seemed the medicinal herbs proactively offered by the nobility were remarkably effective.
"It is good that you are well."
Angus removed his formal hat, revealing the frost-white hair at his temples. "May I sit?"
"Please, Marquis, make yourself comfortable."
"Thank you."
He sat opposite Albert and produced a pen and paper.
"Now then... please recount the events of tonight once more, Your Highness. The more detail, the better."
"Marquis, this is..."
"Do not misunderstand. I have no intention of doubting Your Highness. After all, many witnessed what happened with their own eyes. It is just..."
Angus sighed, his fatigued face looking several years older. "As the organizer of this charity gala—even though it failed to take place—the fact that it served as the catalyst for such a horrific event means that, regardless of the circumstances, I must take some responsibility."
"How could you say that? This has nothing to do with you, Marquis—"
"Say no more, Your Highness."
Angus raised a hand to cut Albert off, offering a bitter smile. "Please, humor an old man and recount tonight’s events in detail. It will help me figure out... how to report this to His Majesty."
Though His Majesty surely knows by now...
"Very well."
Albert had no reason to refuse the Marquis’s request. He knew that if his "Imperial Father" ordered a thorough investigation, he would inevitably be "interrogated" anyway.
Besides, he was the victim tonight.
A victim had no need for fear or panic in a situation like this.
"Regarding tonight, it began with..."
Albert began his narration once more, while Angus patiently took notes.
The quiet room was filled only with the steady drone of Albert’s voice, the scratching of the quill against paper, and the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall.
"And finally... it was as you all saw."
A look of sorrow crossed Albert’s face. "That little monster lost control for some reason and killed Andrew."
"...My condolences, Your Highness."
Angus stopped his quill and offered a word of comfort. "It was not your fault. No one will blame you."
"Thank you..."
"Is there anything else Your Highness wishes to add?"
"No, I’ve said all there is to say. However, if you wish to know more details, Marquis Angus..."
Albert’s tone shifted slightly, the corners of his mouth curving into an imperceptible arc. "You could go ask the Campbells. They helped me a great deal tonight. Given your relationship with their house, I’m sure they would tell you everything."
"...Is that so?"
Angus paused for a fraction of a second before nodding. "I shall ask them."
He closed his notebook, stood up, and gave a slight bow of respect.
"Then I shall take my leave. I will arrange for someone to escort Your Highness back to the palace shortly. Until then, please rest well."
"You have my gratitude. I—"
Albert moved to stand and see him out, but Marquis Angus pressed a hand down on his shoulder.
"Focus on your recovery, Your Highness."
After saying his goodbyes, Marquis Angus did not linger and stepped out of the room.
Outside, a crowd of nobles waited, desperate for an audience with Albert. Angus blocked them all, citing the First Prince’s need for rest, and pulled the door shut behind him.
The clamor was cut off instantly. Everything returned to total silence.
Albert, who had worn a peaceful smile just moments ago, suddenly saw his expression darken. The glow of the magic stones cast deep, sharp shadows across his profile.
"That old bastard."
He stared at the door, muttering to himself, "Is he suspicious already?"
*
After dealing with the throng of nobles, Angus made his way alone to a secluded courtyard.
The body of the deceased Prince Andrew was temporarily placed here. Without an explicit order from the Emperor, no one dared to perform an autopsy or even touch the remains; thus, the body was simply preserved with magic for the time being.
However, this Second Prince, who had wielded immense power in life, did not have a single noble coming to pay their respects after death. Though separated only by a single wall, this courtyard was a world apart from the bustling crowd surrounding Albert.
"How pragmatic they all are."
Angus sighed and looked toward the shadows. "What’s this? Everyone else avoids this place like the plague, yet you, his former enemy, are the one who can’t seem to leave?"
"No, I’m actually quite happy he’s dead."
A figure dressed in a black formal suit stepped out from the shadows. His gait was somewhat unsteady, his elegant top hat was nowhere to be found, and his fitted suit was covered in blood and tears. He looked quite wretched.
"It’s just... I want to know how he died. The Second Prince’s death was not part of my plan."
"Plans rarely keep pace with changes, do they?"
Angus looked at the weary, pale face—now stripped of all its usual disguises. After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out and patted the young man’s shoulder gently.
"You’ve gotten thin."
"Not thin, just leaner."
Muen smiled. "Does Grandpa want to see my muscles? They’ve been inspected by the current Saintess, and even she had nothing but praise..."
"Stop putting on a brave face, child."
Angus’s eyes softened with pity. He said suddenly, "Tonight was not your fault. You did very well. Your father would be proud of you."
"...But after busying myself all night, I still don't even know the truth of what happened."
Muen lowered his head, his forced smile turning into an irrepressible bitterness. Having reached this point, how could he not realize it? From beginning to end, had he been played for a fool by that supposedly harmless First Prince?
To have sacrificed so much, only to realize he had been dancing in the palm of someone else's hand the entire time—how could that feel anything but wretched?
"Grandpa, I want to see Andrew’s body."
"The man is dead. What use is seeing him?"
"Whether it’s useful or not, I have to look."
"...Fine."
Angus sighed helplessly and pulled his hat lower as he walked toward the exit of the courtyard. "Technically, no one is allowed near Prince Andrew’s body right now. But... I am getting old. My eyes are failing me; I suppose I might fail to notice if someone snuck inside."
"...Thank you."
Watching the old man depart, Muen whispered his gratitude.