IRAWOMLC Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Meanwhile, turmoil continued in the Kingdom of Brivante.

The Duke of Castain, suddenly summoned, knelt with his head bowed. Although he had come to the palace in haste upon receiving urgent news, he was seized by knights and brought to the audience chamber.

As soon as he entered, an interrogation began abruptly. He wasn’t even given a chance to ask what was going on. From the moment he stepped in, a suffocating tension gripped his whole body.

“Do you have nothing to say to me?”

Arden’s voice felt like a sharp blade. His low tone cut through the air, laden with menace. Despite the distance between them, the Duke felt a chill run through him, making it hard to breathe.

Overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere, the Duke of Castain responded without lifting his head.

“I don’t understand what you’re asking. I came here upon receiving your urgent summons.”

“Are you denying it? Or are you pretending not to know?”

Arden’s eyes quickly scanned the Duke.

“Lift your head.”

At the command, the Duke slowly raised his head. The moment their eyes met, he felt a surge like an impending tidal wave. The intense blue of Arden’s gaze instilled fear in the Duke.

Arden’s calm eyes appeared like an unfathomable sea. If he didn’t collect himself, he felt he’d be engulfed by the waves. The Duke licked his dry lips, then hesitantly spoke.

“Please tell me the reason. Regardless of your title, Your Majesty, you cannot treat a noble in this way.”

“Reason… reason, is it?”

Leaning slightly forward, Arden shifted from where he had been resting deeply against his chair.

“Has the Queen not said anything to you directly?”

“No, Your Majesty. Has something happened to Her Majesty the Queen?”

“Don’t feign ignorance, hiding her at your manor won’t work. Even if you try, it’s useless. The knights are already headed to your manor.”

“Your Majesty, the Queen isn’t at my manor. What is this about? Please, tell me; this involves my daughter as well.”

“…It seems you do consider her your daughter. I thought you’d abandoned her.”

Arden sneered, crossing his legs. His piercing blue eyes shone with a dangerous glint, as if he might draw his sword at any moment and strike him down.

“Your Majesty, I care for my daughter. Even as Your Majesty, you cannot trample on a father’s heart. How could I ever consider my only child as abandoned?”

“Is that so? The Queen seems to think differently.”

At his scoffing tone, the Duke closed his eyes in silent distress.

“The Queen has disappeared. And surprisingly, no one knows where she’s gone.”

The Duke of Castain’s eyes shook violently. Disappeared? Where could she have gone, with nowhere to turn?

‘That’s impossible… Leticia surely loves His Majesty.’

Could she truly leave someone she loves?

Was it even love to begin with?

The Duke felt confused about whether his memory was correct.

He had believed that they loved each other. Didn’t the King make a promise to him? He had trusted in that, yet suddenly Leticia left the palace. Leaving a loved one was tantamount to choosing death.

The Duke of Castain bowed his head in respect and then rose. His clenched fists bulged with veins, and Arden, who had not missed a single detail of the Duke’s expression, movements, or tone, continued to watch him until he disappeared from sight.

Shortly after, Raymond hurriedly entered the audience chamber, panting and bowing his head.

“Your Majesty, please forgive my intrusion. I have urgent news that I had to report immediately.”

Arden’s eyebrows lifted slightly at the sudden interruption, but Raymond’s stern expression and the pale face of the head maid, Serna, standing behind him, hinted at the seriousness of the situation.

‘If Raymond has rushed here to inform me, then he must have found something.’

If it was related to the queen, it would be precisely what Arden expected. Had they finally discovered her whereabouts? Arden hoped his assumption was correct. The only news he cared to hear was anything concerning Leticia.

The thought that she might slip away forever made him restless. Even if he were to execute every maid in the queen’s palace, it wouldn’t ease his anger. If anyone were to be held accountable for her disappearance, no one would be left alive.

His blue eyes darkened, sinking once again into a deep abyss.

Arden spoke to the head maid, who stood behind Raymond.

“Yes, I was planning to summon you as well. As the head maid responsible for overseeing the queen’s palace, do you have anything to say about this incident?”

His low, heavy voice filled the audience chamber. Serna trembled from head to toe under his menacing aura. With the queen missing, she was as good as dead.

“If you wish to hold me accountable, I will accept it willingly. But there is something you must know before that.”

As Serna glanced behind her, the queen’s personal physician, Velotin, nervously entered the audience chamber. His face was as white as a sheet, and he was visibly shaking with fear.

Arden’s gaze darkened further as he observed Velotin, who, from his demeanor, seemed to be hiding something.