Chapter 243
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
Christian also knew that his mother, Stella, was far from emotionally stable—often drunk, incapable of rational judgment. Her obsession was only with her family, and even that was not a noble love but a desperate clinging to the protection she could never lose.
‘Part of it must have been my father’s reckless habits….’
Stella, unsatisfied with her wandering husband, sought love from her sons. That desire quickly became an obsession.
Her only niece would inherit the family fortune, yet Stella abused her instead of showing kindness. Agatha had everything from birth effortlessly: a wealthy, powerful family, a secure lineage, and soon, a blooming beauty.
Stella’s jealousy was intense—truly terrifying.
When Christian first witnessed Stella’s abuse, he had tried to intervene, but the more he did, the worse she became. Even a temporary stop in her abuse only meant it would resume with greater force the next day.
“If you won’t speak, I’ll stop playing host. Lottie, see the captain of the guard off.”
“Understood, Your Grace.”
Charlotte said, shifting from “Miss” to “Your Grace” in front of Christian. It was a show of respect in front of Christian.
The woman who had cruelly abused Agatha, and her son Christian—Charlotte had little love for him either. She lifted her chin, looking at him haughtily, and he furrowed his brow.
“I apologize if I offended you, Your Grace. I was just gathering my thoughts. I have no other purpose here. I was originally on my way to see Cain, or rather, Marquis Vernat, which is how I ended up in Arta.”
“You were looking for Sir Cain?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“By order of the Emperor.”
“…You mean His Majesty wanted you to surveil Sir Cain?”
“Not exactly. I am accompanying him because he petitioned His Majesty, and I am assisting with that matter.”
“You mean Sir Cain petitioned His Majesty? Explain simply—don’t beat around the bush.”
Agatha was astonished. This was far from the Agatha she knew. Where before she had been a trembling, injured cat, now she was like a fierce leopard. Christian pressed his upper lip to suppress a smile that kept slipping out.
“I apologize if that’s how it sounded. But what Sir Vernat petitioned His Majesty about was highly confidential.”
“….”
Agatha’s steps quickened. Seeing her about to leave, Christian reached out urgently.
“I’m sorry. I’ll explain immediately. Sir Vernat requested from His Majesty the right to reinvestigate the death of the late Duke Kristin.”
“…What?”
It was completely unexpected. What was Cain planning? Agatha, Charlotte, Karon, Rubens—all stared at Christian with the same grave expression.
“To summarize briefly: rumors in the capital say Marquis Vernat has lost the Emperor’s favor because he secretly undertook postwar reconstruction against the Emperor’s orders. His Majesty had intended to question him harshly, but Marquis Vernat requested to halt the reconstruction in exchange for the right to investigate the late Grand Duke Kristin’s death. It was quite audacious.”
“Wait—so Sir Cain lost favor because of the reconstruction issue, but instead of punishment, His Majesty granted him the right to reinvestigate my father’s death?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Agatha’s mind spun. She hadn’t known Cain intended to do this. Why? Why was he investigating her father’s death, even after ten years?
“Of course, His Majesty didn’t give him free rein. There were conditions.”
“What conditions?”
“That I must accompany him at all times during the investigation.”
“…The captain of the guard, you mean?”
“Yes. In a sense, both as a watcher and controller…”
Agatha narrowed her eyes, gauging how much of Christian’s words were true.
“Perhaps, an ally.”
He added with a smile at the end of his words.
It was the first smile Agatha had seen from him in over a decade.
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