The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

“Ethan, if you wanted to kill Prince Luheit, you would have done it without anyone knowing.”

 

Ethan was speechless at Dorothea’s calm words. But, what she said was right.

 

If it were him, he would not have used the easily detectable poison in the first place. 

 

Furthermore, he wouldn’t have left Luheit to die in Dorothea’s presence.

 

Luheit had to die from an odorless, colorless poison of unknown origin in a place where neither rats nor birds would know.

 

Otherwise, Ethan would have simply made Luheit disappear so that his body would never be found.

 

So, it’s a clumsy plot that doesn’t fit his style. But somehow Ethan felt strange that Dorothea had even thought of it.

 

“Besides, Ethan, you love me.”

 

Dorothea added to Ethan, who was speechless.

 

She could suspect Ethan Bronte, but she could never doubt that Ethan loved Dorothea Millanaire.

 

Ethan knew how important a guest Luheit was to her, and that was why he would not dare harm Luheit.

 

If something happens to luheit, it will be Dorothea who will suffer. Ethan had already seen Dorothea in such pain, and he regretted it. Therefore, Ethan cannot harm Luheit.

 

“Your Majesty…”

 

“Do you love me, Ethan?”

 

Dorothea asked, looking up as if to confirm. Ethan nodded with his mouth tightly shut. Then Dorothea smiled. 

 

“Me too.”

 

Dorothea held Ethan’s hand tightly. 

 

For a moment, Ethan felt like he was going to burst into tears. Why did those words make his heartache? 

 

Dorothea gently caressed Ethan’s cheek.

 

“Mulkybel wants to investigate you. If the culprit isn’t caught quickly, I’ll have to investigate you, even if it’s just for show.”

 

“I don’t care, I’ll be investigated if it’s necessary…”

 

Ethan nodded.

 

As long as Dorothea believed in him, he was ready to accept anything.

 

Then Dorothea smiled slightly and continued.

 

“What I meant was, let’s catch the culprit before that happens.”

 

Dorothea unfolded the document he had brought.

 

“I guess we should start with this one since it’s about Luheit’s relationship with his people…”

 

Dorothea began to carefully look over the information Ethan had compiled.

 

* * * 

 

The next evening, Dorothea called together all of Mulkybell’s delegation.

 

Everyone was gathered, and Dorothea stood before them with Ethan.

 

“Your Majesty. I request an investigation into Duke Ethan Bronte—!”

 

“That’s why I called you here.”

 

Dorothea cut Lahas off harshly and went to sit down at the head of the table.

 

Lahas closed his mouth with a displeased expression.

 

“I believe Mulkybell also conducted an investigation into the incident separately from Ubera.”

 

Dorothea said, checking the materials she had prepared in advance.

 

After the incident, Dorothea shared some of the authority with Mulkybell to investigate the matter as well.

 

“In Mulkybell, it seems like the Duke of Bronte is the only suspect, is that correct?”

 

“Who else but the Duke of Bronte?”

 

“So I want everyone here to be able to interrogate Duke Bronte.”

 

In other words, a one-on-one investigation. 

 

“You won’t be able to interrogate him comfortably in my presence, so I’ll leave you alone.”

 

“What?”

 

The envoys stood up, their mouths agape as Dorothea stood up.

 

“Of course, the investigator will remain and keep all records, so you don’t have to worry. You can ask questions about Duke Bronte, check evidence, etc. without any problems. However, Duke Bronte is also Ubera’s father, so I ask that you show him at least a minimal amount of courtesy.”

 

What Dorothea meant was that anything was okay as long as it wasn’t inhumane, like torture.

 

Lahas and Mulkybell were taken aback by her proposal.

 

‘I heard the Emperor cherish Ethan Bronte so much?’

 

‘Is she going to give up in this situation?’

 

‘Maybe it means the emperor has already done everything she can.’

 

While the envoys of Mulkybell were silent, Dorothea got up from her seat and tried to leave the hall.

 

“Your Majesty, but…”

 

Ethan caught Dorothea who left him alone before Mulkybell’s envoy.

 

It would have been pitiful for him to be thrown alone in front of lions ready to tear him apart, but Dorothea looked at Ethan with cold eyes.

 

“Every position and action has its responsibilities, Duke Bronte. If it’s for Ubera, we have to do this.”

 

Dorothea left as if to tell them to deal with it as they pleased.

 

The people of Mulkybell were in a state of confusion as they tried to figure out the situation.

 

But soon their gaze turned to Ethan, who was sitting alone at the head table.

 

Lahas coughed loudly and sat down.

 

“There is nothing we can do about it, Duke Bronte, since the Emperor has chosen to do so. It’s all for the good of Prince Luheit, you should understand.”

 

Ethan lowered his eyes and nodded resignedly.

 

* * * 

“Your Majesty, Duke of Bronte will be fine, right?”

 

Clara asked Dorothea anxiously.

 

“He’s been stuck in the conference room for over ten hours already.”

 

Ten hours since she left Ethan.

 

The interrogation had started in the late evening and continued through the night until the sun rose.

 

Mulkybell’s envoys were able to rest and eat in the room Dorothea had prepared next to the conference hall, but Ethan was not.

 

“Your Majesty hasn’t slept all night, either.”

 

“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern, Clara.”

 

Dorothea consoled Clara. But Clara wasn’t at all relieved.

 

How can Clara believe that Dorothea is okay when she hasn’t slept a wink while waiting for Ethan?

 

“If you were so worried, why did you hand the Duke of Bronte over to them?”

 

Clara couldn’t understand her.

 

Dorothea, the Emperor, could have accompanied the investigation or even curbed Mulkibel’s excessive questioning, but she allowed Mulkybell to run wild.

 

“Do you think that will prove the Duke of Bronte’s innocence?” Clara asked.

 

She didn’t know much about politics, but she could tell that Ethan would be continuously attacked by Mulkybell.

 

Ethan left alone in the conference room, will be cornered by the beast-like attacks of the Mulkybell side.

 

“No.”

 

Dorothea also did not think that Mulkybell would believe Ethan’s innocence.

 

But she didn’t move.

 

“Then why are you leaving it like that? Things got worse…”

 

“Because I have to investigate.”

 

Dorothea stared quietly out the window.

 

“Yes? But isn’t it too much for Duke Bronte to be investigated like this? After all, he is the father of the empire, and there is no evidence!”

 

Dorothea spoke up when Clara looked at her questioningly.

 

“No. Mulkybell isn’t investigating Ethan.”

 

Dorothea, who was looking out the window, turned her gaze to Clara. Her lips were slightly parted with a faint smile.

 

“Ethan is investigating them,” Dorothea said.

 

* * * 

 

“Duke Bronte, how long are you going to be so stubborn?”

 

As ten hours passed, the envoys of Mulkybell were starting to get tired.

 

Lahas looked at Ethan, rubbing his forehead.

 

Ethan Bronte sat upright, undisturbed, dealing with the envoys of Mulkybell.

 

Time and time again, Ethan hadn’t given them a single break.

 

His words never deviated from logic, and he never allowed Mulkybell to take control of the conversation.

 

He never showed even the slightest flaw for Mulkybell to criticize, proving his complete innocence.

 

‘I don’t know how his mind is still so fresh and functioning so well even though he didn’t sleep at all.’

 

Rather, the heads of the envoys who were dozing off in the next room were throbbing.

 

‘What’s the point of going back? I’d rather go back to the palace where the envoys are staying and get some rest, but I’m not in the mood for that right now.’

 

It’s because Ethan bit them and hung on.

 

“I’m making time for you guys, but you want to go back and rest?”

 

“The Duke of Bronte is now under suspicion…”

 

“Don’t you know that it’s not me but Mulkybell who is impatient for proof right now?”

 

“What are you talking about, Duke? Didn’t you set up a place to prove your innocence?”

 

“You have to speak straight….this is not a place for me to prove my innocence, but for you to prove my guilt.”

 

Ethan manipulated the envoys with his smooth speech and logic.

 

But Lahas couldn’t back down there either.

 

“Hasn’t the maid who prepared the coffee had any contact with the Duke of Bronte?”

 

“Of course. I have to lead the Imperial palace, so the maids are also under my control.”

 

Even though Ethan was being questioned, he always had a relaxed expression.

 

Lahas gritted his teeth at the sight of Ethan never being intimidated.

 

* * *