Chapter 128.
Mikhail exhaled softly, as if suppressing his emotions.
He knew what the underground prison was like, what kind of place it was.
Although it has not been used much in recent years, it has been a place to imprison treason, war criminals, and prisoners since the early days of the empire. And someone even called it the deepest tomb in the world.
No one emerged from there unscathed.
Half of them died, and among the survivors, half were executed, while the rest were imprisoned in debilitated states or exiled with other penalties.
But taking Killian there—it was unthinkable.
“Don’t you know that crimes like Black Moon are strictly governed by the law?”
“But Killian is not a criminal!”
“But he is under investigation due to suspicion.”
“Do you think Killian could be Black Moon, Your Majesty?”
Mikhail’s voice trembled.
Looking at her kind-hearted son, Beatrice spoke calmly.
“Mikhail, you must not trust people too much. Not everything is as it seems.”
It was the wisest wisdom she could impart to her son.
“Moreover, if we neglect the investigation out of undue compassion, it may actually put Killian in more trouble.”
If they showed favouritism in Killian’s investigation just because they believed in him, it would lead to controversy.
Everyone knew that the royal family’s proximity to Killian would complicate matters if they were seen to have conducted a lax investigation into Black Moon.
“If you truly believe in Killian, wouldn’t it be better to conduct a thorough investigation?”
Beatrice stood up and gently patted her son’s shoulder.
In response, Mikhail bit his lip and bowed his head.
“But… this still feels wrong.”
Mikhail said.
Even if there were suspicions against Killian, he couldn’t accept taking him to the underground prison.
Mikhail knew what ‘investigation’ in the underground prison entailed. The monstrous screams he had heard from there since childhood were etched in his mind.
It was nothing more than a torture chamber, using all kinds of violent and inhumane methods to extract confessions from criminals.
And even innocent people came out guilty from there.
“I won’t ask you to stop the investigation. But please, refrain from taking Killian to the underground prison.”
Mikhail said.
If an investigation was necessary, they could set up an interrogation room in the Orhelin Knights’ quarters. At the very least, Killian deserved that treatment.
But Beatrice was firm.
“Mikhail, even if it’s Killian, he cannot escape the law.”
“But, Your Majesty…!”
“Don’t worry. What you fear won’t happen. Killian will soon be cleared of suspicion and declared innocent.”
Beatrice instructed that the investigation into Killian, the Emperor, and herself be conducted as fairly and cleanly as possible.
Mikhail turned his head away from Beatrice’s gaze.
“…I will take my leave now.”
With his lips tightly pressed together, he bowed to Beatrice with a desolate expression and left the Empress’s chamber.
Watching him go, Beatrice sighed uncomfortably.
‘To be so soft-hearted…’
Even though he had grown up close to Killian since childhood, he should know when to take drastic measures when necessary.
She worried whether he could properly rule even after becoming Emperor, having retreated like this.
‘It’s my fault for not raising him strong enough.’
She had focused too much on what a crown prince should be and the education he needed but had failed to teach him toughness.
Despite excelling in swordsmanship and all sorts of academics, in the eyes of an ambitious mother, he always seemed lacking.
‘Still, he will learn from Killian’s betrayal.’
Beatrice hoped that this opportunity would help Mikhail develop into a calm and calculating person.
‘Now, I need to deal with that child.’
The Emperor’s illegitimate child. The child who had always been a thorn in her side.
Beatrice touched her forehead wearily, her red lips forming a thin line.
‘There’s much to do, so I must be diligent.’
* * *
There was no news from the Grand Duke’s residence all night.
As soon as daylight broke, Sophia hurried to the palace. Orhelin had taken Killian, so surely if she went to the Orhelin Knights, she could find out where Killian was.
However…
“Without permission from the royal family, you cannot enter.”
Sophia was blocked at the entrance to the palace.
She had neither an entry permit nor an invitation, nor was she employed in the palace. It was only natural that she was denied entry.
Sophia rolled her eyes.
She could apply for an audience, but who would grant her such permission? The Emperor wouldn’t entertain an audience request from an ordinary noble, let alone the Empress.
Even if an audience were granted, they would surely prevent her from meeting Killian. Or worse, they might manipulate the situation.
Then…
“I wish to see Crown Prince Mikhail! Tell His Highness that Lady Sophia of Fraus family has arrived!”
She trusted only one person.
The original male lead of this world. A person so trustworthy that even Killian acknowledged him.
The guards who were monitoring the palace momentarily hesitated and nodded.
“We will relay your message to His Highness. We will notify you of the audience schedule, so you can go back and wait…”
“No. I will wait here.”
“What? But His Highness is busy, and there’s a chance he won’t be available today…”
“I will wait.”
Despite the soldier’s objections, Sophia stubbornly kept her head held high.
Unable to overcome her stubbornness, the soldiers left Sophia to endure the hardship she had brought upon herself.
* * *
After being granted an audience with Beatrice, Mikhail spent the entire morning gnawing on his nails, a bad habit he hadn’t realized he had resurrected.
“Am I letting my judgment be clouded by petty emotions?”
If he truly believed in Killian, was waiting for his innocence to be proven the right thing to do?
Why did he keep feeling this uneasy?
It was clear that the underground prison was a grim place.
But what worried him more was the recent altercation with Killian.
That day, Killian had been different from usual.
His reaction to hiding something.
Moreover…
“Ian reported that Killian’s wounds match those of Black Moon.”
The scars Ian had described on Killian.
“What if Killian intentionally lost the match to hide his scars… if he is Black Moon?”
Ian had suggested that Killian deliberately got injured, and Mikhail had seen it with his own eyes.
Therefore… perhaps there was a growing suspicion that Killian might be Black Moon.
“If Killian truly is Black Moon…”
“Your Highness.”
Mikhail, anxiously chewing on his nails lost in thought, looked up at the voice that intruded upon his thoughts.
“Lady Sophia of Fraus wishes to see you.”
At the sound of the servant’s voice from outside the door, Mikhail’s mind snapped back into focus.
Sophia Fraus?
She was someone who had never come separately to see him before. But if she had come to see him now, there could only be one reason.
“All of this afternoon’s schedule is fully booked. When would be convenient for you?”
The chamberlain relayed Sophia’s belated audience request, remembering that she was a noble lady, she would probably go home and wait anyway.
An audience with the crown prince does not happen immediately just by knocking on the door like meeting a neighbour next door.
“How much time is left until lunch?”
“We have about, um, 30 minutes of leeway.”
The chamberlain checked the time and replied.
“…Could I possibly meet with her right away?”
“Considering the time it takes for Lady Sophia to arrive at the palace, it might be difficult.”
The chamberlain was about to convey the scheduling difficulty when a servant whispered something in his ear.
“Still?”
“Yes, she’s been waiting for six hours already and insists on getting an answer soon.”
The servant whispered urgently to the chamberlain.
Mikhail noticed that their conversation was peculiar.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, um… Lady Sophia is waiting right outside the palace gates.”
“She’s been waiting for me since morning?”
“She insisted on waiting until she received a response.”
“You should have informed me earlier!”
Looking at the clock, it was already past noon.
“She’s been waiting since around six in the morning!”
“Please guide her to the reception room quickly.”
Mikhail hurriedly stood up from his seat, preparing to receive his guest.
“She’s been waiting for a long time, so prepare some warm tea and snacks.”
Mikhail instructed his attendants and headed towards the reception room.
What could Sophia have been thinking while waiting outside?
Surely she was worried about Killian. Every minute must have felt like a year…
“Postpone the afternoon schedule a bit. We’ll need more time for our conversation.”
“But Your Highness…”
“Postpone it.”
When Mikhail glanced at the chamberlain, he immediately stopped objecting and remained silent. (T/L: Sophia really is a deserving fl)
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TRANSLATOR:
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