Chapter 9: CH 9

“This is ridiculous!”

Riett shouted, leaving Evan dumbfounded.

Haart’s gaze shifted to the unfamiliar girl who suddenly intervened.

“I am Duke Marren’s daughter. So, I have seen Duke Kreutz since I was young. He would never do such a thing.”

“You’re Riett. I’ve heard a lot about you from my brother.”

Riett clenched her fist and spoke.

“Lady Kreutz passed away while giving birth!”

“That’s how it was originally known. I knew it too.”

“But then…?”

“Recently, skeletal remains believed to be Lady Kreutz’s were discovered. And all the evidence from that day points to my brother as the culprit.”

It felt like a shocking truth that made their hands tremble.

‘A person who kept his deceased wife’s room for more than ten years… killed his wife?’

It must be a misunderstanding.

The Duke Kreutz that Riett knew would never do such a thing.

Regardless of social status, he treated everyone equally and was someone who knew how to speak the truth.

Moreover, he consistently engaged in charitable activities and was highly praised for his character…

Riett forced her racing thoughts to calm down.

“Did the Duke admit to the charges?”

Haart shook his head, and Riett’s expression brightened for a moment.

“I thought he would…”

“But he also didn’t deny them.”

“Why…?”

What on earth is that man thinking?

Riett bit her lip hard.

“Today happens to be my brother’s birthday, and many people are waiting, so I came here.”

“…”

“Although the charges haven’t been confirmed yet, Evan had to know about this.”

Riett barely managed to find her voice amidst Haart’s desolate face.

“I want to meet the Duke right away.”

“My brother is no longer here. He chose to quietly be detained to avoid causing trouble to the guests.”

“…When can I meet him then?”

“You can visit tomorrow at one o’clock in the afternoon. Come with Evan at that time.”

Haart glanced at the absent-minded Evan.

“Riett, please take care of Evan… console him.”

As Haart left the room, Riett turned to approach Evan.

Throughout the conversation between Haart and Riett, Evan hadn’t said a word.

It must have been a shock to him that his father was being held on such a charge, even if it wasn’t true.

“Evan, did you hear? We can meet your father tomorrow at one in the afternoon.”

“… “

With no response, Riett approached Evan closely. His face was pale.

“Evan?”

“Riett.”

Evan barely opened his mouth and called out to Riett. There was no strength in his voice.

“I won’t meet my father tomorrow.”

“… What?”

“You heard it. He didn’t deny the charges.”

“That… There must be circumstances we don’t know about.”

Riett concealed her contorted expression and spoke.

“No, there’s nothing like that. I told you, Riett. If I ask about Mother, Father avoids the topic.”

“…”

“He lied to me, saying she passed away during childbirth, but it seems there were hidden stories like this…”

Evan clenched his fist with a sense of betrayal. His lowered eyebrows were trembling.

At that moment, Riett quietly approached Evan.

And then

“You pathetic fool!!”

She grabbed Evan by the collar.

“Do you really believe this absurd story?!”

“Then what should we do? Father, the person involved, doesn’t even deny it!!”

As Evan shouted in frustration, Riett felt a surge of emotions welling up inside her.

“I’m truly disappointed, Evan.”

“…”

“If even you, his only son, don’t believe him, then who will?”

She looked at the silent Evan and slowly released her grip on his collar.

“Fine. I’ll go meet him alone tomorrow.”

Evan didn’t utter a word about going together until the end.

* * *

The banquet hall was filled with chaos like dry branches catching fire. The protagonist of the party, Duke Kreutz, was arrested on charges of murdering his wife.

The shocking news quickly spread far and wide. While those who knew Duke Kreutz well denied the possibility, rumors circulated about the depths of human nature.

Before meeting Duke Kreutz the next day, Riett decided to ask her father, who was a close friend of the Duke, if he knew anything related to the incident. Coincidentally, Duke Marren was seething with anger.

“Hail would never do such a thing!!”

The Duke returned to his mansion and threw off his gloves while shouting. “Hail” was the name of Duke Kreutz.

“I also think something is wrong.”

The Duke’s wife lowered her head with a pained expression.

“It’s clearly someone’s scheme! I’ve known Hail since he was young! He would never do such a thing.”

“I understand. And… Duke Kreutz truly loved his wife. You could tell just by looking into his eyes…”

Riett agreed with the Duke’s wife. It was true. Every time he talked about his wife, he had a nostalgic and longing gaze. She couldn’t understand why he avoided the topic with Evan, but at least he showed that side to her.

“But what’s with the skeletal remains?”

The Duke sighed at his wife’s question.

“Skeletal remains were found in the mountains behind Duke Kreutz’s estate, and they had the necklace that the Duke’s wife used to wear while she was alive.”

“The necklace?”

“It’s the treasure of the Bellacris Marquisate, which is Duke Kreutz’s wife’s maternal family.”

“Oh, you mean the diamond necklace?”

“That’s right. It was passed down from generation to generation to the eldest daughter. Duke Kreutz’s wife had it last.”

“So the skeletal remains were wearing that necklace.”

The disappearance of Duke Kreutz’s wife happened 14 years ago, and if she had died, her body would have decomposed. Yet, they concluded that the skeletal remains were those of the Duke’s wife because of that necklace.

Listening quietly from the side, Riett understood the situation.

“But why do you think Duke Kreutz killed her?”

The Duke’s wife asked an important question.

“Originally, it was known that the Duke’s wife died while giving birth to Evan. However, the problem is that on that day, Duke Kreutz got rid of everyone and received the child by himself.”

“…What? Duke Kreutz personally received Evan?”

Riett, who had been listening quietly, furrowed her brow.

‘This is strange.’

Duke Kreutz’s wife was undoubtedly aware before giving birth that her own life was in danger. Yet, she decided to give birth to Evan. There should have been a doctor present…

It was incomprehensible why Duke Kreutz received the child alone.

“The maids testified to the events of the day of the childbirth.”

“Yes, even if Duke Kreutz was the only one who saw the Duchess for the last time, the relatives from her maternal family must have confirmed the body during the funeral.”

“That’s right. But…”

Riett sensed that something had gone seriously wrong from her father’s sigh.

“Even though Hail wanted to handle the funeral alone, he didn’t even call me. He asked the Bellacris Marquisate not to attend either. He was too distraught, and the Marquisate agreed without any objections.”

“That… That can’t be true.”

The Duchess was shocked.

‘So everything is pointing to the duke.’

Riett finally understood Haart’s words.

He was right.

All the evidence and circumstances were pointing to Duke Kreutz as the culprit. Considering that the skeletal remains were found buried in the mountains, it was more likely that the Duchess was murdered than it was an accident.

In this world, they couldn’t analyze the DNA of the skeletal remains to determine the identity, but the diamond necklace the Duchess used to wear during her lifetime would be a crucial piece of evidence. And if the duke was the last person to see the Duchess, and he had been lying all along about her dying during childbirth…

“But my friend Hail would never do such a thing!”

Duke Marren shouted in frustration.

“Use your connections in society to gather petitions. There must be many people willing to help someone they were fond of.”

“I understand.”

“But I’ll go see Hail tomorrow and ask him the truth.”

Riett interjected into the conversation.

“I want to go too! Instead of Evan… Evan said he wouldn’t go.”

Duke Marren’s eyes widened in surprise, and then he quickly composed his face.

“Haah… Alright, then you go in my place.”

“Yes.”

She had to steel her resolve.

If things went wrong, not only would the duke suffer, but Evan’s life, which had been on a steady path, would also plummet to the ground.

* * *

Duke Kreutz was locked beneath the iron bars of the courtroom before his trial. The Duke, who always had a neat and upright gaze, was nowhere to be found.

Riett’s heart ached at the sight of the disheveled appearance and the lost look in his eyes beyond the iron bars.

“You…”

Duke Marren seemed to be at a loss for words upon seeing his appearance.

“You’ve come.”

Fortunately, Duke Kreutz greeted his friend calmly.

“How could you let yourself be in such a state…? The culprit hasn’t even been definitively identified yet. How can you be so broken like this?”

“Don’t get too worked up.”

Duke Marren frowned at Duke Kreutz’s composed words.

“Hail, aren’t you unjustly accused? This is like being struck by lightning out of the blue…”

“I intend to admit to everything.”

“What…?”

“I’ve made up my mind.”

He had made up his mind? Riett thought his words were incredibly vague.

“Don’t be ridiculous! I know better than anyone that you’re not that kind of person!”

While Duke Marren was getting agitated, Duke Kreutz weakly chuckled.

“Indeed, I’ve learned that there are no eternal secrets.”

“Hail…”

“Leave. I have nothing more to say.”

With Duke Kreutz’s resolute words, Duke Marren’s hand, which had been gripping the iron bars, gradually lost its strength. Duke Kreutz spoke again, cold and unwavering as if driving a wedge.

“So, never come to see me again.”