Chapter 133
Killian still wasn’t completely cleared of suspicion, so for the time being he would continue to undergo further investigation.
However, Mikhail requested a royal decree to prohibit torture and ensure that Killian’s confession couldn’t be coerced.
In the days ahead, Killian would reside not in the underground prison but in an investigation room arranged within the palace.
“I will personally oversee Killian night and day. If the Young Lady wishes to visit, please request it through my office,” Mikhail added.
The royal physician would focus on Killian’s treatment, and whenever time allowed, Mikhail would monitor Killian’s condition, during his stay here.
“When do you think His Excellency can return as the Grand Duke?”
“I heard Orhelain will search the Grand Duke’s residence tomorrow. If no evidence surfaces there, Killian should safely return to the Grand Duke’s residence.”
No one could prove Killian was the Black Moon unless direct evidence emerged.
“You mean they will search the Grand Duke’s residence?”
“It’s a necessary procedure given the suspicions.”
That was something even Mikhail couldn’t stop. And if Killian was innocent, there was no need to worry about the search for the Grand Duke’s residence.
But Sophia’s heart raced once again.
‘What if there are traces of the black moon in the Grand Duke’s residence?’
Killian hadn’t killed Fideut and Percel, but he was indeed the Black Moon.
If a mask used by the Black Moon or evidence of pursuing the illegitimate child were found.
“Don’t worry. I will assist Killian in recovering during his stay here,” Mikhail reassured Sophia, seeing the shadow on her face.
* * *
The people of the Grand Duchy nervously awaited Killian’s return.
They tried to dispel the uneasy atmosphere, believing there must have been misunderstandings or someone had framed him.
Someone among the maids even expressed anger, saying Ian Fraus had defeated Killian and subjected him to this ordeal.
It was a fact that Ian Fraus had a bad temper, so manipulating the incident wouldn’t have been difficult.
The night of the Grand Duke’s residence came like that.
The Grand Duke Rivelon’s residence was cool and calm, like the calm before a storm.
With Killian absent, darkness fell earlier over the Grand Duke’s residence than usual.
And a lonely shadow, carrying a lantern, calmly left the Grand Duke’s residence.
Perhaps because of the thick clouds, the moonlight and starlight were blocked, so the streets were unusually dark.
The shadow penetrated the darkness and descended into the underground waterway that ran between the imperial palace and the Grand Duke’s residence.
The somewhat impatient sound of shoes echoed through the long, dark tunnel.
He crossed the dark, long waterway and reached the exit on the other side.
Opening the rusty window of the corroded canal like tearing off a withered grill, he emerged.
A small reservoir appeared.
Tall grass grew around the reservoir, and the reservoir at night was pitch black as if a huge hole had been opened.
In the center, only one lantern shed light.
“You’ve come.”
A noble and gentle woman’s voice greeted him.
He quickly bowed, showing respect.
“Your Majesty.”
His voice trembled.
It had been a long time since he was summoned like this.
“Garfield, you must have been surprised by today’s events.”
Her gentle voice brushed past his ear, but it sent a chill down his spine instead. (T/L: Mannnn the hell.)
Whenever he was summoned like this, something bad usually happened.
“Is it true that His Excellency the Grand Duke is the Black Moon?”
“Yes, every circumstantial evidence so far has matched.”
“But on the days when the incidents occurred, His Excellency was always at the Grand Duke’s residence. During Marquis Fideut’s and Viscount Percel’s incidents…”
“Until the incident was reported to the Grand Duke’s residence through the military police, there was enough time for the Black Moon to escape. If Killian had committed murder and fled to the Grand Duchy, no one would have known.”
“But…”
“Garfield?”
“I apologize, Your Majesty. It’s just hard to believe…”
At Beatrice’s words, Garfield’s waist bent like a sheaf of wheat.
He closed his lips tightly and complied.
Observing his momentarily deferential attitude, Beatrice spoke again.
“It seems even you find it hard to believe that Killian has hidden himself so thoroughly.”
Beatrice’s voice descended over the quiet reservoir.
“So, I’ll need your help to catch the Black Moon.”
At Beatrice’s words, Garfield raised his head.
Upon this, a hand clad in white lace gloves retrieved a small pouch from within her robe.
Wrapped tightly in yellowed craft paper and handed over by the noble hand, the small pouch appeared starkly rustic.
“Place this in Killian’s study, in a discreet location.”
Beatrice instructed, and Garfield had no choice but to accept the questionable item she offered.
“May I ask what this is about…?”
“Just a little effort to catch the Black Moon.”
Beatrice with a worried tone added that she hoped this matter would be resolved quickly.
Garfield swallowed dryly and gripped the pouch.
“I have seen you for over ten years. You’re the only one I trust, Garfield.”
* * *
The footsteps of the butler through the dark canal were slower than usual.
Garfield repeatedly touched the pouch in his hand.
Having served nobility for a long time, he quickly understood how things were going.
So he understood the significance of the item placed in his hand by the Empress.
He had long known about the undisclosed conflict between the Empress and Killian.
That was why he came to the Grand Duke’s residence.
Although he attended Killian, he had to follow the Empress’s orders.
However, he wandered the deserted streets on this night without returning to the Grand Duke’s residence immediately.
He had expected such a day would come.
Garfield clenched the hand holding the pouch.
Lost in thought, he wandered the streets until dawn was about to break.
Realizing it was too risky to delay further, he turned back towards the Grand Duke’s residence.
But then…
“…Miss?”
Where only starlight dimly lit the area before dawn, in front of the Grand Duchy Sophia Fraus stood.
Sophia had been lingering at the Grand Duchy’s door, was surprised like a thief caught in the act, and turned around abruptly upon seeing Garfield.
“M-Mr. Garfield?”
Sophia quickly stepped back from the Grand Duchy’s door.
“What brings you to the Grand Duchy at this hour, Miss…?”
“I-I was just curious if there was any news about His Excellency.”
Sophia, nervously fiddling with her clasped hands, rolled her eyes.
“His Excellency has not returned yet.”
“I see…”
“Did you come here alone at this hour?”
“Oh, yes…”
Sophia stammered. She had secretly slipped out of her house in the middle of the night without Jenny knowing.
“Mr. Garfield, where do you go at this early dawn?”
“Oh… I couldn’t sleep, so I took a short walk.”
“At this dark hour?”
“I suppose I felt the same as you, Miss.”
Sophia chuckled nervously at Garfield’s remark, saying, “Yes, I guess so…”
Garfield silently observed Sophia as she spoke.
“It seems you are very worried about His Excellency.”
“Yes, very much.”
“… That’s fortunate.”
Garfield nodded quietly.
Then, he took out a key and opened the door to the Grand Duchy.
Having opened the black door, Garfield turned to Sophia standing at the entrance.
“Would you like to come in?”
The Grand Duchy with no light visible, where everyone was asleep.
Garfield invited Sophia into the place devoid of Killian.
With a single lantern casting light on a corner of the spacious Grand Duchy, they proceeded.
The predawn darkness was darker than night itself.
Garfield’s footsteps and Sophia’s footsteps echo in a similar rhythm on the floor.
Though Garfield’s back was a familiar sight, somehow the atmosphere felt different from usual.
“I’m glad you came. I was hoping you would.”
Garfield spoke as they ascended the stairs leading to the second floor.
Due to the quiet darkness, his voice sounded clear.
“Did you wait for me?”
“Yes… It’s funny, but you’re the first person who comes to mind in situations like this, Miss Sophia.”
Situations like this?
Even though Killian has been taken away, there shouldn’t be any reason for Garfield to come looking for me…
“Come this way.”
Garfield, with Sophia, who still hadn’t fully understood his words, walked down the second-floor west corridor.
A deeply quiet predawn, where no one was awake.
Because of the excessive silence, the faint rustling of something brushing against the wind, footsteps, and the clear sound of a bird flapping its wings in late at night could be heard distinctly.
Following Garfield’s shadow, Sophia suddenly felt uneasy.
“I remember Killian asking me not to go through the west corridor…”
As far as Sophia knew, even the servants of the Grand Duchy did not enter there casually.
Sophia was suspicious of Garfield leading her to such a place.
Could it be that Garfield is allied with the Empress and has malicious intentions towards me?
Nicholas betrayed Killian, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable for Garfield to do the same.
‘If Garfield does something strange here…’
As she pondered over various thoughts, Garfield stopped in front of a door.
“Here…?”
(T/L: *choke* what?? Again cliffhanger.)
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TRANSLATOR:
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