Chapter 208
As dawn faded and morning began to break, the study was shrouded in a cold silence. Claude, fully awake after hearing the whole story, stared hard at the empty fireplace.
“This took an unexpected turn.”
The reason Silas wanted Sebelia, who was no longer bound to Inverness. The reason he didn’t punish her for abandoning her identity and faking her death but willingly gave her a new identity and brought her along.
It was all for the sake of replacing the throne.
“To create a substitute Emperor? That takes some nerve.”
Claude said incredulously and Dehart wrinkled his nose.
“It’s not a reckless plan.”
If there was an ally inside the imperial palace, the burden would be much lighter. Especially if that ally was the Emperor’s family member—the first queen.
“You’re right.”
Most likely, the first queen planned to establish a double for the Emperor and then proclaim his son the Crown Prince. A way to gain legitimacy without shedding a drop of blood—how could that not be tempting?
Typical of them.
Claude sneered coldly and turned to Sebelia.
“Now, let’s move on to the most urgent matter.”
Sebelia, lost in thought and deep silence, suddenly felt a gaze and looked up. When their eyes met, she spoke as if she had been waiting.
“Have all the explanations been given?”
“Yes.”
Dehart answered and stepped closer to Sebelia. Claude watched the two with a keen gaze.
“Let’s organize what we know.”
“Alright.”
“Miss Bella, you want the clone lying in the Marquis’s mansion to be believed as the real Sebelia, right? You want them to be convinced that the one they kidnapped with their own hands is not a fake but you yourself.”
“That’s right. There’s no need for them to know they’ve been tricked in this situation.”
Sebelia blinked her blue eyes and continued.
“So I want to cause a disturbance before they get something that can prove the clone is false. Preferably today.”
“A disturbance?”
Claude raised an eyebrow. Sebelia nodded as she watched him.
“Yes, a serious enough commotion to convince them the clone at the Marquis’s mansion must be the real Sebelia.”
Her confident expression made it clear she had been pondering this for some time.
“And what would that be?”
“Well, about that…”
Dehart asked, but Sebelia suddenly hesitated. She glanced at him and bit her lip, as if feeling guilty like a child caught doing something wrong.
“Bella?”
Claude was puzzled but soon understood why Sebelia had reacted that way once he heard her plan.
* * *
Marquis Wheddon’s mansion, located in the heart of District 3, was bustling from dawn. Servants who woke up before sunrise to serve the demanding nobles each began their tasks.
Charles was one of them. He was carrying water buckets and rags as he made his way to polish the front gate until it shone.
Bang!
Had the gate not been half-destroyed, he would surely have received praise for a job well done…
“What’s that noise?!”
“Butler!”
The elderly butler with a monocle rushed in and stood beside Charles. The butler rubbed his neck after taking in the destruction: the once-magnificent gate was split in two, with paving stones scattered and dust billowing.
“This… this is…”
Before finishing his sentence, the butler stumbled backward, barely caught by Charles, who anxiously stomped his feet.
Should I call the guards? But the mansion is so far… No, first I should alert the chief maid…
It was a problem with central nobility lacking even a single knight. Just as the pale-faced Charles was about to lay the butler down, a faint figure appeared beyond the dust.
“…!”
Charles held his breath.
A man with brilliant golden eyes stepped forward without hesitation, kicking aside the ruined gate and entering the mansion. Seeing the sword sheath in his hand, Charles felt as if he might faint.
“Huff.”
The piercing gaze locked on Charles. The man must have heard him gasp, yet he did not stop.
The man stopped in front of Charles and slowly reached out. Charles trembled, awaiting his fate—but instead, the man grabbed the butler by the collar.
“Cough, huh!”
“You’ve come to your senses.”
Dehart helped shake the butler awake, smirking as he spoke sharply.
“So, where is the niece of my benefactor that you kidnapped?”
“Cough… hic.”
The butler shook helplessly in midair. Dehart’s angry face loomed as he pressed for answers.
“You thought I’d let this slide after you kidnapped her?”
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