Chapter 32
Lionel’s gaze lingered persistently on Agnes’s profile.
The scratched wound on her white nape, the shadowed eyes from fatigue. The round shoulders stiffened in the cold air.
Every detail of Agnes seeped slowly into Lionel’s retina.
As Kalt had said.
Jerome had taken investigative and arrest priority rights over Rebelt.
Having faced Sercadia from the front lines. Lionel’s unit, which had pursued Rebelt for months, became in an instant the dog that chased the chicken only to end up on the roof.
With a single document.
‘It’s the emperor’s doing.’
Though Jerome stepped forward, he knew the emperor stood behind him.
Even after the war ended, Lionel’s name endlessly rose on people’s lips.
Whenever Rebelt stood out.
The emperor would hardly view it favorably. Already, subtle pressure had come down several times to drop matters concerning Rebelt.
Don’t accumulate more merit, don’t stand out.
That was what the emperor wanted from Lionel.
Those two had skillfully exploited the emperor’s mindset.
Lionel’s gaze shifted sideways.
Toward Jerome and Adrian clinging right beside him.
‘You used your head well, in your own way, Adrian Bardo.’
Seeing him drag Jerome in like this, Adrian’s involvement in this terrorism was certain.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to fidget like a dog with fire on its tail.
A cold sneer passed Lionel’s eyes.
‘Even so, it’s truly absurd.’
Arms crossed, he alternated looking at Adrian and Agnes.
A father who throws his daughter as bait for his own safety.
Huh.
An empty laugh escaped.
Even considering Agnes was illegitimate, it wasn’t a normal father-daughter relationship.
Chloe had long been released and returned to the trading company. Seeing how Adrian doted on the unscathed Chloe.
It was completely different from how he treated Agnes now.
‘What to do.’
In any case, Agnes would soon be released.
This was clearly a show investigation.
What the emperor and Jerome wanted was stripping Lionel’s authority over Rebelt. In other words, weakening Valheim’s position.
Jerome seizing the merit Lionel would build was a bonus.
Pulling in Agnes was merely a pretext.
From the start, a single document couldn’t detain Agnes.
They would pretend to investigate appropriately and release her for insufficient evidence.
Agnes would suffer a little in the meantime, but that was all.
There was no reason to intervene.
“Hmm.”
He pondered whether to play along in this obvious farce or not.
Of course, he had no intention whatsoever of handing Rebelt over meekly to Jerome.
After a brief silence, Lionel straightened his head.
“It’s rather boring just watching.”
“Colonel?”
Passing Kalt as is, Lionel headed to the room where Agnes was being investigated.
Jerome’s subordinates tried to block Lionel but soon stepped aside.
Because Jerome waved his hand with an amused face. As if to let him through.
Thanks to Jerome’s unwelcome favor, Lionel easily reached the door, opened it, and entered, immediately hearing the voice pressing Agnes.
“Duchess, it would be best to answer honestly. Is this document yours?”
***
Agnes, warily scanning surroundings, lowered her head.
Due to the dim light, grasping the paper’s content at once was difficult.
Yet from the number arrangement and notation habits alone, she could tell this wasn’t written by her.
Lingering a bit, a sneering voice fell from above.
“Everyone knows your relationship with your husband isn’t close, but seeing it with my own eyes.”
“…What does that mean?”
“It’s rare for a noble lady to sit in a place like this. Usually, no matter how certain the charges, it ends with a home search as custom.”
The investigator raised his mouth corner sharply.
“If Colonel Valheim had said one word, you wouldn’t have needed to come here.”
It was akin to saying Agnes received such treatment because of Lionel’s silence.
Agnes’s golden eyelashes trembled.
The investigator wore mockery in his eyes, as if hoping she would retort.
Yet Agnes inhaled deeply and calmly pushed the paper back.
“This document isn’t mine.”
At the bland reaction, the investigator smacked his lips.
Losing interest, he leaned back in his chair.
“Is that so? Your father said this document is definitely yours?”
Father?
Agnes’s finely textured brows furrowed.
The investigator, who introduced himself as a major in the capital defense forces, explained this document came from Rebelt associates.
But investigating Rebelt was Lionel’s jurisdiction.
Not this man before her eyes.
The unfolding situation was strange.
No further explanation was given, so she couldn’t read the full picture, but she could guess this wasn’t advantageous for Lionel.
Instinct honed over ten years as a merchant told her.
Even if she informed this man of Adrian and Rebelt’s connection now, it would be useless.
“The content matches what I wrote, but the handwriting isn’t mine. Drafts remain at the trading company, so anyone could copy it.”
Thus, Agnes decided to withhold words until grasping the situation more clearly.
“So. Is this document the only reason you brought me? If so, rather than me, investigating the trading company people would be proper.”
At the seemingly frail Agnes responding calmly, the investigator’s face twisted openly.
“Then why did you go to the grand theater today!”
Bang!
The investigator slammed the desk hard as if threatening.
Agnes blinked as if genuinely not understanding.
“How strange. Does an imperial citizen need a reason to go to a place anyone can visit?”
“No reason is needed.”
The investigator scanned Agnes up and down with unpleasant eyes.
“But visiting the grand theater—not once before—on the very day terrorism occurs is suspicious to anyone, isn’t it? Weren’t you trying to contact the Rebelt bastards? If not, present evidence.”
It was then.
A low voice cut in.
“Does a wife need a reason to come see her husband?”
The iron door creaked open.
Lionel entered the investigation room with leisurely motion.
“…Your Grace?”
It wasn’t only Agnes who was flustered.
The investigator also looked up at Lionel in great confusion.
Lionel approached slowly with heavy military boot sounds.
“Colonel, entering like this during investigation—”
“You said to present evidence.”
Cutting off the investigator, Lionel stopped behind Agnes.
As Lionel leaned forward, the strong smell of disinfectant spread.
“As I said earlier, this scrap of paper is a copy anyone can make, so it lacks credibility.”
“But circumstances suggest the duchess contacted Rebelt at the theater during the terrorism—”
“At that time, Agnes was with me.”
“What? You were together?”
“Yes.”
“But why—”
“Do I have an obligation to report intimate marital matters to you?”
Lionel twisted his red lips.
“Or do I also seem in league with Rebelt?”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant, Colonel.”
“Other evidence that my wife is involved in this terrorism.”
“…”
“Pathetic. Presenting such trash as evidence.”
Lionel tilted his head toward Agnes seated in the chair.
“Let’s go.”
“…Yes?”
Agnes blankly raised her head.
Only then did she see the hand extended toward her.
As Agnes reached to take it, the investigator shot up.
“You can’t, Colonel. There are procedures, no matter who you are, you can’t just take a suspect like this.”
“Procedures? Good.”
Lionel snorted.
“If there’s more to investigate, come to the ducal mansion. Following the procedures you love so much, as custom.”
As Lionel started to leave, he turned as if forgetting something and grasped the investigator’s shoulder.
“Ah, then you’ll need more proper evidence.”
Applying and releasing strength with his large hand, Lionel pushed up his mouth corners as if drawing them.
“This will be the last time I tolerate rudeness from a mere major.”
Pressed by Lionel’s chilling momentum, the investigator’s face paled.
He signaled desperately to Jerome visible through the open door slit.
Yet Jerome merely watched as if finding the situation amusing.
He showed no intent to stop Lionel or help his subordinate.
As Lionel transferred Agnes to the wheelchair beside and came out, Jerome slyly raised his mouth corners.
“Remember the duchess’s charges aren’t fully cleared, Lionel. As you said, evidence is weak, so we’re only releasing her temporarily.”
Lionel briefly raised his gaze and replied calmly.
“As if you wouldn’t.”
Lionel grasped the wheelchair handles again.
The low friction sound of wheels moving swept long down the corridor.
From behind, Jerome’s low laugh overlapped that sound and gradually faded.
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