IBACM Chapter 134

Chapter 134

“I have a letter that details a plot to assassinate Your Excellency, sealed with the Grand Duchess’s seal.”

Dedrick’s voice was flat, as if he were just talking about the weather.

“The Grand Duchess, Arnold Exterus, and Gemma are the main culprits. There’s plenty of other evidence too.”

Pavle stepped forward, placing a thick stack of documents in front of him.

“We also have witnesses ready. You can verify everything anytime, just say the word.”

Without opening the documents, the Grand Duke kept his lips sealed. His mind was a mess of things he wanted to say, but no words came out.

A heavy silence filled the office for a long while.

“Are you trying to stop this?”

“What?”

The Grand Duke raised his eyebrows.

“Then do you give your permission?”

Still choosing silence, Dedrick turned to leave, but then paused.

‘He’s just thinking a lot, that’s why he’s slow to answer. Wait and get a proper answer!’ Dedrick remembered Marilyn’s repeated advice and sighed as he looked at the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke smiled softly without realizing it as he saw Dedrick still standing there.

‘Marilyn must have said something to him.’

He quickly wiped the smile away, but Dedrick, Jenkinson, and Pavle had already seen it.

“Say something.”

But Dedrick didn’t care.

‘That’s my fate.’

Dedrick’s chest ached, but finally, Carlos spoke.

“Once we verify the evidence, we will arrest the guilty.”

Dedrick nodded calmly and turned around. Behind him, the Grand Duke spoke a little louder.

“If there’s anything else you need help with, just say it.”

For the last time, even if it costs me, I will use my strength.

“I will help.”

“….”

Even if it breaks me, this time I must accept it humbly.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

That one phrase made Dedrick feel strange — neither good nor bad.

He frowned at the odd feeling and quietly left the office. Pavle hurried after him.

Only Jenkinson and Carlos remained in the room. In the quiet, Jenkinson cautiously spoke.

“Soon you’ll be able to go home, Your Excellency.”

“….”

“Are you feeling reluctant? Dedrick probably wouldn’t have liked you around anyway.”

Jenkinson’s teasing tone made the Grand Duke wipe his face once.

“I know.”

Still, Carlos gave a small smile.

“…Marilyn was right about him.”

Thanks to that girl, I feel like I can leave in peace.

***

The damp smell of moldy air blew through the stones, making eerie sounds. The cries of prisoners suffering torture echoed all around, but Axel ignored them and walked toward his destination.

The stench filled the area, but Axel didn’t even frown.

When he finally reached the place, he looked through the bars. On a narrow bed lay a man soaked in blood, barely breathing. Axel parted his lips.

“…Arnold Exterus.”

Hearing his name barely spoken, Arnold twitched slightly. He managed to move his face toward Axel.

Arnold’s eyes grew wide in shock, as if he never expected Axel to come.

“Ah, ah…”

His throat was hoarse, and he couldn’t say his name properly, only sobbing silently.

Dragging his tortured body, he crawled toward Axel.

Looking down on him, Axel asked,

“I want to ask you one thing. You must have known Dedrick and I were planning something. Why didn’t you run away?”

“Ugh, I…”

His lips and throat were so dry he couldn’t speak, so Axel quietly handed him a water pouch.

Arnold stared at Axel for a moment with unclear eyes, then gulped down the water. Straightening up, he slowly spoke.

“I’ve run away all this time… but this time, I knew if I ran, it would harm you.”

At that answer, Axel sighed in disbelief.

“So you’re not suddenly trying to be a good father now?”

“That’s right. You abandoned me.”

Arnold bit his lips hard, unable to deny it.

“When I was young, you told Mother you wanted me to join the Black Hawk Knights. You want to be a knight again, yet you and Mother betrayed me like this? Are you sane?”

Once the resentment burst out, Arnold poured out a rapid-fire stream of words, unable to meet Axel’s eyes.

“…If I make excuses, I thought you were doing well. I thought being in the Black Hawk would help you more than any other order. If you earn their trust…”

“Shameless. The Grand Duke treated me fairly even though he knew I wasn’t his real son. And you try to stab him in the back?”

Arnold pressed his lips shut. No matter what he said, Axel wouldn’t forgive him. It was too late — he was blinded by ambition, tried to put his own son on the Grand Duke’s throne.

“I’m sorry.”

“Yes, keep being sorry. I won’t forgive you or Mother. But it feels good to at least say these resentments.”

No matter that he was his father, Axel didn’t feel pity or sorrow for Arnold.

He had always thought of himself first, believed it was the right thing to do. His claim that it was for Axel’s sake was just a way to have more freedom if he became Grand Duke.

Axel saw right through that dishonest intent.

“You and Mother… are both hopeless.”

No regrets left at all.

With all his resentment gone, Axel calmly told Arnold his punishment.

“Tomorrow morning, you’ll be sent to the desert labor camp. You’ll be trapped there for life, unable to ever leave — even in death.”

“…”

“You should have been executed. The sentence was already decided, but thanks to Dedrick entrusting me with your punishment, I spared you.”

“Axel…”

“Spend your life regretting what you’ve done.”

Without hesitation, Axel turned and left. Arnold only stared at his back, endlessly.

His son lost because of his own greed.

***

Axel stepped out of the prison, took a deep breath in, and let it out.

‘This is the last one…’

Once this is over, I’ll be free of this heavy burden.

‘First, Somerset.’

His steps toward him felt surprisingly light.

Axel wiped a smile off his lips and sneered.

‘Just like Delani and Arnold’s child.’

He specialized in tormenting people from the bottom, without any guilt, actually enjoying it.

Axel’s eyes darkened.

Soon he stood before Somerset’s door. He knocked with the obedient look he always showed there.

Knock knock.

Inside, someone hurriedly hid something. It was obvious Somerset was secretly drinking to avoid Dedrick catching him.

“Brother, are you in?”

The noise stopped, followed by a slurred voice filled with relief.

“Come in!”

Axel entered and smelled the strong stench of alcohol. Somerset, sprawled on the couch, glanced briefly at Axel.

“Dedrick isn’t here, right?”

“…Brother, what are you doing like this?”

“What’s wrong with this? I just need to stay quiet in a corner and live. What else have I done?”

“….”

“With this lame leg, I can’t even show myself to Joanna. Meanwhile, Mother is hosting a tea party? But I haven’t gone out! Why? Because I’m sure Dedrick will think badly of me if I do!”

In truth, Delani hadn’t even called Somerset. He was probably ashamed to show his crippled self.

Somerset sneered.

“I’m going to live here like a mouse. I’ll never go back there.”

When he mentioned Joanna, he quietly sobbed, then quickly got angry and started chuckling again. He seemed so drunk that he couldn’t control his emotions.

That was exactly what Axel and Dedrick wanted. They didn’t stop Somerset from drinking heavily. They gave him as much strong liquor as he wanted… just as expected.

His trembling hands couldn’t even pour the drink properly, so Somerset angrily grabbed the bottle and poured it straight down his throat.

Now was the perfect moment.