Chapter 86
“What… are you saying?”
Emilia asked in a trembling voice. Tiren gave her a gentle smile, as if to reassure her.
“No matter how much you dislike someone, you don’t just push a person down the stairs. Isn’t that right?”
“I-I’m not quite sure what you mean… Are you talking about what happened to Miss Cordelia on the stairs?”
Seeing Emilia respond with surprising composure, Tiren inwardly clicked his tongue. Well, feigning ignorance was the first step.
“About two hours ago, Miss Cordelia Weitzen had an accident where she fell down the stairs.”
Suppressing a sigh, Tiren spoke in a stiff, controlled tone.
“By Miss Cordelia’s request, I am investigating this situation, and I have determined that Miss Emilia Brodin is the most likely suspect. I hope you will come quietly.”
The moment Emilia saw the royal emblem on the badge he held and heard the name Tiren May, her face turned pale.
How could anyone not know that name? The king’s loyal hound, a traitor’s descendant, a man with relentless persistence once he sets a goal, and a cold-blooded ruthlessness that allowed him to bite his opponents’ throats with a smiling face.
Emilia struggled to speak, recalling rumors she knew Tiren himself would resent, that he was just a dog at his master’s service.
“Evidence… evidence?”
“There is a witness.”
At his nonchalant statement, Emilia’s pupils flickered slightly. Tiren pressed further.
“You pushed someone in such an open area, and you really believed there would be no witnesses at all?”
Of course, there weren’t any. Otherwise, she would have been arrested immediately. But in matters like this, psychological warfare was key. If she gave in here, she’d have to take the easier path.
“I wanted to give you one last chance, but if you insist on this course, then there’s nothing I can do.”
Besides, it seemed Cordelia had noticed early on that this lady was suspicious and had been subtly signaling her all along—surely a prickly situation for her.
Tiren signaled to Marcel, who had been waiting nearby, and he stepped forward holding a rope. Only then did Emilia seem scared; she stumbled backward, shouting in a flash of panic.
“You… she’s not dead!”
“Ah, so it’s true that you pushed her down the stairs.”
Tiren’s voice, pointing out her mistake, was truly cold. The sight of a beautiful woman trembling pale with fear evoked pity in anyone who saw it.
Noah might have felt some compassion, but unfortunately, Tiren did not. No matter the appearance, a criminal is just a criminal.
Marcel, sensing the moment, quickly moved to restrain her. It was unfortunate, but Marcel feared seeing his commander angry even more.
“Why on earth did you do it?”
Clicking his tongue lightly seemed to trigger her anger; Emilia forced her emotions down with the tip of her tongue.
“That person…!”
Seeing him look at her like that…
‘Miss Emilia, are you going to stay there?’
Recalling that moment, her eyelashes trembled. The devastation she had felt when that woman had called her seemed to still flow through her veins.
Born into a noble family, she was raised to believe that a woman’s virtues were obedience and humility. She joined the reading club partly to network for a suitable marriage partner.
Even though she often felt alone there, she had no difficulty interacting with others. Occasionally, there were comments she couldn’t understand, but she assumed it was her own lack of understanding.
But that woman had the audacity to pity her. The look in her eyes, as if offering help, stirred feelings she could not describe. What frustrated her most was that the woman was in a position to pity her.
The youngest daughter of the Duke of Weitzen—capricious, stunningly beautiful, and admired by countless men, yet showing no attachment to any of them.
She had probably lived through life easily and would never even imagine the feelings Emilia was experiencing now.
‘Yes, go ahead.’
Even so, all she could muster was those few words.
Even after letting the woman go, she remained dazed. To calm her racing heart, she stood up for a moment. She then saw the woman standing alone, looking at something in the distance.
Her braided hair swayed in the wind, and her face, staring into the void, looked unbearably forlorn. The sight, fragile and beautiful, stirred an odd rage in Emilia’s mind.
Why was no one else around? If there had been…
“Well, if you don’t want to talk now, you can tell me later. But that won’t change the fact that you tried to harm someone.”
Her long chain of thoughts shattered instantly. Leaving the woman tied up behind her, Tiren scratched his head.
“Phew, I think we’ve handled things to some extent…”
He paused as he sensed someone approaching from behind. Turning, he smirked.
“Oh, madam. Where have you been?”
“May I tell Mrs. May exactly what you just said?”
Calypso Modren—no, Julia—spoke stiffly, her expression suddenly shy. Tiren pressed his hands together, seemingly asking for patience.
“Let’s skip that. Hanna’s scary when she gets angry.”
“By the way, Commander, Miss Cordelia from the banquet hall is nowhere to be found.”
“What? Where is she wandering off to again? Now that the culprit’s caught, she should be receiving treatment first.”
Something in Tiren’s pocket jiggled as he muttered about the wasted time. Quickly pulling out a mirror, he checked the reflection on it.
“What’s the matter?”
A small face appeared clearly in the mirror. The person got straight to the point.
- I think I’ve identified a likely suspect.
“What?”
- The victim’s younger sibling testified that they saw her meeting a man. I had the artist quickly sketch his face. Here it is.
The small paper flapped in the mirror as Rines pointed. Tiren’s expression stiffened as he studied it closely.
“Commander?”
“This is bad.”
Turning to Julia, Tiren whispered in a low, urgent voice.
“Inform the mansion’s owner and lock it down immediately. I’ll check where the carriage is parked; the suspect may flee. Marcel! You hand the lady over to the soldiers and join me.”
“Suspect? Are you saying they’re in the mansion? Who could it be?”
Tiren’s voice growled through clenched teeth.
“Jacques Horel!”
A man with dark brown hair, blue eyes, not overtly handsome, but his large, melancholic eyes drew attention.
Tiren sighed in disbelief, unaware that Emilia’s complexion had turned even paler nearby.
As the mansion was sealed according to Tiren’s orders, the guests were thrown into confusion. They were gathered in the banquet hall, and testimonies were collected carefully.
Tiren and his men, guarding the largest entrance, discussed quietly.
“The man seems to have already left the mansion. The guard says it’s been about ten minutes since the carriage departed.”
“Nothing we can do. What about the soldiers?”
“They’ve been sent home. I ordered a search of the estate, so we should at least find some trace.”
“I see… There must be accomplices, so check all connections thoroughly. We should probably join them soon.”
“Excuse me.”
Those deep in discussion turned simultaneously to see Jasmine, who looked tense. Tiren addressed her politely.
“What is it, miss?”
“Sorry to bother you when you’re busy. But I don’t see someone I know.”
“Someone you know?”
“Miss Cordelia isn’t here.”
“That’s impossible… the carriage is still outside—”
Tiren stopped mid-sentence, then sighed.
“Oh, no.”
Could it be…
“Ah… I really, ah, ah! What an utter idiot!”
“C-Commander?”
Suddenly shouting and swearing, Tiren startled Marcel and Julia. He snapped his head toward Marcel.
“Marcel. Cordelia Weitzen is beautiful. Right?”
“Eh?”
“Yes or no. Pick one.”
Though it seemed absurd, Marcel recalled the girl he had just helped. He pictured her voluminous, shimmering blonde hair and sculpted features, scratching his temple.
“Even if I had to choose… who would think she’s not beautiful in the kingdom? Wait, no—”
Marcel and Julia’s expressions turned serious. They dared not speak the conclusion aloud and glanced at each other.
“You cannot enter!”
“Just for a moment. I need to confirm something.”
Mountain after mountain.
The all-too-familiar voice at the mansion entrance made Tiren’s expression sour beyond measure.
“Let them in!”
Tiren’s shout made the soldiers flinch. As a large man entered, he moved swiftly toward them.
Unlike the bewildered aides, Tiren could not face the man. Wiping sweat from his brow, Noah looked utterly distraught.
“What is it?”
