When the Female Lead Went Off-Script, the Main Male Lead Became the Tyrant's Empress - Chapter 31.2
Who was wealthy enough to finance treason?
And who possessed enough power to control him?
Arthur Lurie was the sort of man who went mad for money and was ready to do anything for it.
But he was also far too proud to act as someone’s hands and feet unless that person wielded considerable power.
Once Arden narrowed the suspects down to people who possessed both power and ample wealth, the list fell to thirty names.
The great nobles.
Among them were Marquis Anberg, Countess Troanne, and Grand Duke Haster Valtor.
The only great noble excluded was Clary, who had been confined since childhood.
“But do we really need to keep His Highness the Grand Duke under surveillance too? He has no interest in religion whatsoever, does he? His Majesty the Emperor trusts him as well. He’s practically a king in the North, so would he even have any reason to plot something like this? On top of that, he’s your niece Duke Lurie’s godfather.”
Left unsaid was, ‘If His Highness the Grand Duke is a suspect, doesn’t that make him some lunatic who took the abused niece of the bastard he supported as his goddaughter?’
Mishien was right.
Haster had no interest in religion, and he was the ruler of the North.
Moreover, he wasn’t even acquainted with Arthur Lurie.
If Arthur had known Haster, he would have clung to him during the trial.
Even in Arden’s eyes, there was nothing suspicious about Haster.
But.
“There’s always a chance. I don’t get the feeling they’ll give up just because their plan fell apart. If anything, they’ll try to incite someone else or bring them over to their side. The court preacher didn’t pester Haster for no reason.”
Arden ordered Mishien to continue the surveillance.
Purgat had persistently attached himself to Haster because he wanted to expand his influence.
It had been a foolish thing to do, though.
Arden couldn’t help but think that the culprit who had been using the court preacher was probably already carrying out another plan.
After giving Mishien various instructions, Arden returned to the grand ballroom.
The ballroom was still overflowing with people.
The guests he wished would leave were still there, and the guests he hoped would stay longer were chatting among themselves.
He looked around the ballroom.
Clary was speaking with noblewomen of various ages.
That brat?
I told her to stay beside my imperial father or Haster.
And Haster was…….
Arden strode toward Clary.
“Where’s your godfather?”
“Dunno.”
Clary, annoyed at having her conversation interrupted, answered in an indifferent voice.
“I believe I saw him heading toward the summer palace with Countess Troanne.”
One noblewoman answered in her place, coquettishly fluttering her long eyelashes.
“Really? Thanks.”
Arden left without even looking at her.
Disappointed by the Crown Prince’s indifference, the noblewoman fanned herself with an embarrassed expression.
Arden headed straight into the garden of the summer palace.
A question surfaced from within him.
What are you going to do if you find them?
But the affectionate voices of a man and woman carried on the wind from the direction of the gazebo, wiping away all doubt and hesitation.
Arden soon found Troanne and Haster.
They stood side by side in the gazebo covered in climbing roses where Arden and Haster had stayed before.
Arden stood completely still and watched them.
The large, brilliant moon poured its light over them.
Ivory-colored statues of lovers looked down upon them, and the fragrant scent of roses surrounded them.
The night dew glittered like jewels, as though stardust had been scattered across the earth.
The music drifting from far away sounded like a dream.
Soft words passed between them.
Troanne smiled radiantly.
Following her smile, the corners of Haster’s lips curved upward, however faintly.
Clary had been right.
They were lovers.
The kind that belonged in an illustration from a romance novel, in an oil painting hanging in a corridor.
The kind the statues in the garden depicted so blatantly.
Suddenly, Troanne and Arden’s eyes met.
Troanne’s eyes widened slightly. Then she gave him an unreadable look before casually continuing her conversation with Haster as though nothing had happened.
At that moment, Arden felt incredibly foolish.
His cheeks burned with humiliation and a sense of defeat, making his skin sting.
Troanne watched Arden slip away without Haster noticing.
The corners of her lips rose as she recalled the expression on his face.
There was nothing more beautiful than a man’s face twisted ugly with jealousy.
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