Chapter 13 – Part 3

Ever since Isaac learned of Callian’s closeness to Alaina, he had been receiving news from the manor through the butler.

Not only do they dine together every day, but they spend time in Isabelle’s room talking in secret.

Add to that the fact that they often went out alone, and it didn’t take long for a mild uneasiness to grow into distrust.

This was especially true now that he was locked in a cell, cut off from the outside world.

“My lord, the manor has sent a messenger.”

At the jailer’s words, Isaac slowly rose to his feet.

All that remained of the palace was an inconspicuous limb, but that didn’t mean it was completely useless.

At least, they could turn a blind eye to slightly luxurious food meant for prisoners, or sneak in a few clean undergarments.

It was a far cry from the dignity of nobility, but even so, the only joy in the cold and dark prison was the food sent from the mansion.

It was even worse when he couldn’t even bathe in hot water.

But when he saw the food on the tray, Isaac muttered to himself with some disappointment.

“Today’s food was quite plain.”

“…….”

The time between inspections meant that they couldn’t eat hot food like they did at the manor, but it was still a treat to have soft white bread and spiced roasted meats every so often.

The same was true for the soups, which were often hearty.

But today, the soup was much paler than usual.

You’d think that after being imprisoned, he’d be more inclined to eat greasy, spicy foods than he was in the mansion.

“…….”

Isaac frowned, wondering if Alaina or Callian at the manor had tampered with the food.

Isaac frowned and stirred the clear soup.

“Dull, dull,” the bottom of the bowl clattered against the tray.

Isaac raised one eyebrow and lifted the plate slightly. There was a small note hidden there.

Under the guard’s watchful eye, Isaac snatched it up surreptitiously.

The note, torn from a notebook, was scrawled in jagged handwriting.

“The employee discovered that a suspicious powder was being added to the soup.”

“Don’t worry, I exchanged it for another prisoner’s meal.”

“……Huh.”

After confirming the contents, Isaac let out a hollow laugh, and the guard turned to him as if to ask what was going on.

Isaac hastily hid the note and muttered to himself.

“The soup is fresh today.”

The jailer turned his head as if he hadn’t heard him.

Isaac took advantage of the opportunity to slip the note into his mouth.

The sensation of the paper sticking to the roof of his mouth was unpleasant, but he took the clear soup and gulped it down.

‘They are trying to poison me.’

Although he doubted that such shallow means would be employed, he couldn’t entirely dismiss the possibility that the cornered emperor might attempt to assassinate him outright.

Perhaps it wasn’t an immediate death, but a slow, gradual poisoning.

‘I didn’t expect it to be so terminal, but it’s not completely useless.’

Whatever it was, Isaac wasn’t going to take it.

The soup was tasteless without the bits, but he emptied the bowl clean, as he always did.

* * *

The more often Leonard visited Tenere, the more people came to the Rose Palace.

Tenere allowed visits primarily from those who had been close to her during her time at the imperial palace.

Such was the case with Alaina’s best friends, Jenice and Dahlia.

They had been seeing Alaina often lately, so Tenere was able to hear from them about what she was doing.

“I’m sure they’ll spread the word about Alaina and the Viscount.”

Tenere said as she pulled a blanket over the sleeping child.

The two socialites were apparently traveling to all sorts of tea parties on behalf of Alaina, spreading the word about Callian.

“She’s been seeing the viscount in the duchess’s chambers every day lately.”

“And the Viscount says it’s an old wives’ tale, that a man should see a woman seven years older than him, and the age difference between the late Marchioness and the Viscount is perfect, isn’t it?

The two laughed joyously at the intriguing gossip.

No one would think anything of it at the time, but it was the sort of thing that would come to mind if there was even the slightest suspicion of a relationship between the late Marchioness and Callian.

And when the rumors became widespread…

“Are you going to kill Viscount Stewart?”

Tenere asked. Leonard nodded slowly.

“He’s the one who took the place of the Marquis while he i prison. He is also the one who leaked my mother’s letters.”

“But, Your Majesty, killing him would surely arouse suspicion.”

“Of course, it will be disguised as suicide.”

Tenere paused at the bluntness in his voice. But only for a moment, and then he nodded slowly.

“…The place should be the deceased Marchioness’s chambers.”

It wasn’t the most appropriate thing to say next to a napping child.

However, as a parent, leaving someone who could pose a threat to their child was an unacceptable action.

“Very well.”

Leonard nodded slowly. Tenere stared at his peacefully closed eyelids for a long moment.

“…Did he take the medicine without any trouble?”

“Of course. I made him take it twice just in case, so don’t worry.”

Leonard responded quickly, as if to assure her that she wouldn’t have to worry anymore.

Tenere nodded in silence.

* * *

The trial drew quite a crowd. It was not surprising since reporters were allowed in.

With the trial being held in public, curious eyes were drawn to the question of whether the Emperor had definitive proof that the Marquis was not his father.

Leonard entered the courtroom with Tenere, side by side. His sword was strapped to his waist.

Eric, who had returned to the Marquisate, also took the stand as a witness.

Detained for treason, Isaac had been imprisoned for a long time and was a shabby wreck.

As he was led out by the knights, he frowned repeatedly at the glare of the bay.

“Before we begin, I would like to thank His Majesty the Emperor for granting this trial.”

The older judge bowed to Leonard in a polite manner.

He was grateful to the Emperor for holding the trial and for risking the dishonor of not being of the Emperor’s lineage.

Of course, the trial was merely to prevent suspicions from arising if Isaac were to be executed without a trial. Ultimately, it was a show of support from the imperial family for the authority of the law.

“I look forward to a fair verdict.”

With a simple bow, Leonard sat back in his chair.

The judge looked around at the crowd and called the trial to order.

There were two issues at stake. One was Marquis Salvatore’s alleged treason, and the other was whether Marquis Salvatore was really the Emperor’s biological father.

Leonard first presented the confessions of the three men captured in the north and the knights of Marquis Salvatore captured in the Hale territory.

Tenere also recalled her departure from the manor two years earlier.

“I discovered that my absence from the palace was the result of someone’s hand in it, …… and as the mother of a child before the abdication, I felt that neither the manor nor the palace might be safe for my child, and the fact that the men from the north, even though we offered to pay them, still came out and tried to kill the prince, …… suggests that they had been after us all along.”

“They told us that Viscount Hale had done it to make Lady Laura Hale the new Empress, but they didn’t even know who she was, and they wanted to harm her along with the Prince.”

Tenere’s story was followed by Eric’s testimony about his time in Hale territory.

The dismissed former court physician then confessed his sins, his chin quivering.

“I…I was promised monetary compensation in exchange for obstructing Her Majesty’s reign. As a doctor and a palace physician, I deeply regret indulging in greed…”

The Marquis’s knights holed up in Viscount Hale’s castle also confessed to having been paid by the Marquis, but of course Isaac denied them.

“…It’s a conspiracy. I confessed to being the Emperor’s biological father, so why would I hurt the Emperor’s son, my grandson?”

Isaac seemed intent on keeping the story of the emperor’s lineage at the center of the trial.

The noble faction that had raised the petition surrounded him as if in anticipation.

“According to tradition, previous emperors’ mothers, regardless of their status, were bestowed with palaces and resided in the imperial palace as part of the royal family. If there is even a slight possibility that Duke Salvatore is the emperor’s father, according to tradition, as a granted noble…”

The nobles’ arguments were no different from the contents of the petition.

They even brought out servants from Lake Zaber and the innkeeper where Isaac had stayed at the time, pointing out the coincidence of Beatrice’s reign overlapping with that time.

As they listened, the judge turned to Isaac.

“If what you say is true, Marquis, why did you push for the engagement of the Emperor and your daughter?”