Prince Achilles, the second prince, was in a far less comfortable situation. Since Marquis William was detained, he was mired in troubles, overwheld by countless connections from relatives as well as important ministers of the Kingdom. Moreover, the decisive evidence had mysteriously disappeared.
In the cell of the Night Patrol, where Marquis William stayed in a single, luxuriously furnished room, the food was no different from that at ho. Travis, who was in charge of the case, seed more like an attendant taking care of him.
The Funeral Attendant raided the Mother Goddess School and discovered the basent. However, it was already a chaotic ss from a fire, and they couldn’t find any trace of the Evil God’s blood fetus. Instead, they found a large number of children’s skeletons, which had caused the Funeral Attendant to start having nightmares while tidying up the scene over the past few days. It was truly tragic, as the culprit hadn’t fully destroyed the scene due to haste.
Yet, on the night of Marquis William’s arrest, the Executive Director of the Mother Goddess School self-immolated at ho, burning very thoroughly, and left a will, admitting to participating in gambling out of greed, owing high-interest loans to the black market, and secretly selling children to repay them, feeling deeply guilty and ashad.
Such a crude thod was, of course, unbelievable to Travis. However, the burning was so thorough that Viscount Eddie’s suicide didn’t leave any residue for the Funeral Attendant to search for lost souls.
However, Travis also knew that his opinion didn’t matter, and he could only report all the circumstances one by one to Prince Achilles. He also had to properly attend to Marquis William without any neglect, and the Funeral Attendant was under imnse pressure, with everyone concerned from top to bottom.
Despite several rounds of questioning, Travis couldn’t extract anything. If they had discovered the blood fetus, he could have employed secretive thods involving the cult, but the most crucial blood fetus was gone. It only tied into the sale and slaughter of children, and with a baron already confessing, Travis couldn’t act. Of course, if higher-ups ordered, he would dare to, but no such command ca, so he could only look for breakthroughs from other angles.
Marquis William was not an ordinary prisoner. In Hedan, he was undoubtedly a significant, influential figure. Although he didn’t hold military power, his influence extended through the Mother Goddess School and the King’s trust, even having leverage with the Grand King, and his presence was quite extraordinary, with outstanding composure and capabilities.
Perhaps under pressure, Prince Achilles, who had been absent all this while, finally appeared in the cellblock. Upon seeing Marquis William, he imdiately smiled, and Marquis William stood up promptly upon seeing Achilles, discarding his deanor.
"Your sinner salutes Your Highness," Marquis William greeted respectfully.
Achilles promptly offered a supportive hand, "No need for formalities with , Marquis William. Travis, wait outside for a bit. Let have a word alone with Marquis William."
Travis respectfully withdrew. To this Second Prince, what could he say? He dared not speak against the Prince’s command, so he exited the cell.
Achilles surveyed the cell, "Uncle William, they haven’t been bothering you, have they?"
"Your Highness, Captain Travis follows protocol and responsibilities sincerely. It’s entirely this sinner’s fault for misjudging Eddie. To think he was such a brutal demon, this sinner is willing to accept any punishnt from His Majesty!" Marquis William spoke with visible sorrow and heartache.
Achilles smiled slightly, "Uncle William, take a seat. We are amongst ourselves, let’s have a slow talk."
Marquis William sighed lightly and sat on the bed, offering the only chair to Achilles, "Your Highness is considerate, visiting such a place. Is there anything Your Highness wishes to ask? I will answer truthfully, though my daily engagents with His Majesty leave with minimal involvent in the school’s internal managent. Perhaps more effort from the Funeral Attendant’s side is necessary."
"Uncle William, you know , I’m only interested in romantic and free matters. This state affair, I’m entirely clueless, but I was compelled to co because this matter has blown up so imnsely, and the Cabinet imposed it upon . I need to show so results." Achilles spread his hands open.
"It’s Your Highness’s duty. Although Eddie is dead, his family and close acquaintances should know quite a lot. The Funeral Attendant can be ordered to strictly investigate," Marquis William suggested with a smile.
"This issue is already linked to the Inner Demon case, creating significant negative impacts on Father King. Now the whole of Hedan is aware. Uncle William, do you think an Eddie can close this case? Wouldn’t the Cabinet tear apart?" Achilles also smiled, but there was a hint of sarcasm in his grin.
Marquis William’s smile gradually faded, replaced by serious anger, "What does Your Highness an, trying to fra , put to death? I swear by the Earth Mother Goddess, I have never trafficked children and am not the Inner Demon!"
Achilles shrugged, "Well, that’s just not interesting. Do you really think killing a marquis is such a great achievent?"
Marquis William’s expression grew solemn, but he wasn’t easily intimidated, "My loyalty has never wavered. If it is His Majesty who wants dead, it’s rely a word, and I’ll return to the embrace of the Earth Mother Goddess. But I cannot betray my faith."
Achilles chuckled, "Uncle William, why assu I’m foolish? My uncle’s thods are indeed harsher than Father’s. Father, on the other hand, holds his inner circle strictly but is lenient with outsiders. However, having been King for so long, people change. Uncle William, do you really think there’s a chance with Father? Assuming it’s purely the doing of a subordinate, completely unrelated to you, and letting you out to continue as the marquis, enjoying riches and glory?"
Sotis, people are out of touch with reality. Looking at Marquis William, he seemingly held strong illusions of hope, inadvertently assuming the King as a fool, but alas, the current King isn’t.
Marquis William’s face shifted as he once indeed held hopeful delusions. On one hand, there was no solid evidence; on the other, his relationship with the King had been good over the years. Coupled with the Grand King’s force operating in secrecy, he held hopes of release.
"Your Highness, I don’t understand what you’re talking about." Marquis William quietly responded.
"Ahem, Uncle William, considering the beauties you secretly arranged for , let give you a hint. Not daring to betray Uncle is only due to fear he’d ruthlessly annihilate your entire family. Let inform you then, if you don’t have significant rit, I too can annihilate your family. Anyway, Father gets the good reputation, and I do the dirty work." Achilles smiled, "And if you don’t believe, I can eliminate a few to wake you up. I wonder if Uncle would be willing to tear faces with Father for you."
Marquis William’s expression fluctuated. He had always been the King’s confidant, though he took advantage of the King’s na to accumulate wealth without real wrongdoing. It wasn’t until controlled by the Dark Cuisine, coupled with evidence of corruption, that he turned to the Grand King. He knew the King’s disposition; betraying the King held hope for fortunes, but offending the Grand King ant a dead end.
"Because of you, there are rumors that Father is the mastermind behind the Inner Demon." Achilles calmly stated.
Marquis William shivered, a cold dread running through him. Whether or not he was the true culprit, he was dood. The King, who valued his reputation, would never show leniency in this matter. The truth he dared not reveal due to hopeful illusions, but also fearing the Grand King might deliver a deadly blow, knowing full well who the Grand King was.
"Why look at ? Do you think I can’t do it?" Achilles laughed, "After seeing the horrors in the Mother Goddess School, there’s no burden in killing your whole family, rather, it’d be quite pleasing. It accumulates rit, preventing from nightmares."
"Since I’m dood anyway, what’s there to speak of?" Marquis William stared at Achilles.
Achilles perceived his desire to survive, truly fearful of death, likely worrying more about himself than his family.
"Father seeks the Kingdom’s stability, everything else is secondary. You, more than anyone, understand Father’s concerns. Achieving rit could turn your misdeeds into achievents. After all, as you said, you were forced, rely another victim, potentially even becoming a martyr for a noble cause," Achilles asserted, "Since returning to the Royal City, Uncle William treated well. Wherever there’s leniency, why be the villain, when I can guarantee no harm upon you."
Marquis William watched Achilles, his face constantly changing. Would the Grand King clash with the King for him? He knew well the dealings within the Mother Goddess School. A newspaper reveal guarantees an unmarked grave; the Grand King would eagerly silence him. Realistically, he naturally had more faith in the King.
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