Chapter 95

Philip's head spun.

But there was no choice.

He finally laid out all the items he had in his possession in front of Ventus.

"That, that is…."

Why is the deceased Empress's keepsake here? I clearly gave it to that woman! Matteo's face turned pale.

"That, this, well…."

Matteo stammered, searching for words.

But hadn't he already admitted to entrusting the items to someone? There was no way out.

At that moment,

"Seems like…."

Kartia spoke in a calm voice.

"It appears that the Second Prince found what the First Prince lost. Is that right?"

"Y-Yes…?"

"Apparently, the Second Prince found it by chance but then dropped it again."

Kartia fixed her gaze on Matteo, her eyes hard.

Matteo, his mouth agape, quickly nodded.

"Y-Yes, that's right. I kept it separately."

"Is that so?"

Ventus slowly nodded, as if savoring the words.

His gaze was fixed on the faded gem.

As Ventus's silence stretched on, Matteo, unable to contain his anxiety, spoke up.

"I kept it to return to the First Prince. I found it—"

"Where did you find it?"

"…What?"

"I asked where you found it."

Matteo clamped his mouth shut like a clam.

The deceased Empress was the only lifeline and sanctuary for Fabian.

To him, the Empress's keepsake was the last trace of his mother.

The Emperor was well aware of how precious it was to Fabian.

'If I mention a random place, it will be obvious I'm lying.'

If I'm not careful, I might even reveal that I stole it. Matteo's lips trembled.

"Near, near the First Prince's palace, while taking a walk…."

"Wait, Matteo."

At that moment, Ventus raised his hand.

"I didn't ask you."

Ventus's sharp gaze fell on the attendant, Philip.

"Will you answer for me?"

Philip's lips moved, but no words came out.

"Your Majesty, how can you ask such a question? The Second Prince clearly—"

"Answer me."

Kartia spoke with a hint of disappointment, but Ventus asked firmly.

"Where did you find this?"

Philip's face turned deathly pale.

'So he knows.'

His Majesty must have realized that Matteo and I were lying.

In this situation, there was no way to continue lying.

"…It's true that I received it."

In the end, Philip had no choice but to tell the truth.

"From whom?"

"…A young lady said she found it at the crematorium… and asked me to find the owner."

"Nonsense!"

Matteo's face contorted as he stood up.

"It's all a lie! That woman must have fabricated a story to frame me! I didn't even go near the crematorium!"

"Matteo."

"That woman was trying to mock the royal family—"

"Second Prince."

Ventus's icy call made Matteo hesitate.

"Did you give the Empress's keepsake to the young lady you mentioned?"

"…!"

Matteo's mouth snapped shut, but it was too late.

"Your Majesty, how could the Second Prince have the Empress's keepsake?"

Kartia tried to defend Matteo.

Ventus chuckled, as if amused.

"Did the Empress not hear the story? Didn't the Second Prince say he found it himself?"

"That's…!"

"Then I'll ask the Empress again. Do you think a young lady who hasn't even had her debutante ball could enter the First Prince's palace and steal the keepsake?"

Kartia couldn't answer.

Ventus, his eyes cold, turned his gaze from the Empress back to Matteo.

Matteo, looking like a frightened child, hiccuped and clutched the necklace.

Ventus's eyes narrowed.

"Second Prince. Did you really receive this from Adelane Riven?"

"Th-That…."

Hesitating, Matteo quickly nodded under Kartia's gaze.

He couldn't reveal that he had forcibly taken the necklace.

"Hmm…."

Ventus's eyes deepened.

Adelane Riven was a princess from a fallen kingdom. Even if he asked if she had been robbed, she would deny it.

Since there was no way to verify the truth, further questioning was pointless.

Ventus rolled the old gem in his hand.

He wasn't pressing Matteo out of grief for the deceased Empress. Ventus had forgotten her name to the point where he couldn't immediately recall it.

'But it's an excellent way to humiliate the Empress.'

Kartia would do anything to maintain her power.

She had even played the role of a sweet wife while hiding her ruthless nature.

'This should serve as a good check on her.'

Just as Ventus was about to stop questioning the necklace,

"A young lady…."

A voice that had been silent until now spoke up.

"She said she lost her necklace."

It was the First Prince, Fabian, who spoke with a blank expression.

"A red, round necklace, she said… clearly…."

Fabian's gaze fell on the stunned Philip.

"You told her, didn't you?"

"Me? Me, you mean?"

Philip, who had been pointed out, asked in surprise.

"That…."

He tried to stall as much as possible, but after one lie, another would only make things worse.

"…Yes."

In the end, he told the truth.

"A young lady told me she lost a red necklace."

"Was it Adelane Riven?"

"…No."

The Empress's palace was a place where many interests were secretly conveyed. Philip knew Adelane's face.

"So there's a possibility that the necklace isn't Adelane Riven's."

Matteo's fists clenched.

He glared at Philip as if ready to tear him apart.

But there was no choice. Matteo, with great effort, admitted:

"Schwartz… the necklace belongs to the daughter-in-law of the Schwartz Dukedom."

"Matteo!"

The unexpected name surprised even Ventus.

Kartia tried to intervene, but it was too late.

Ventus's face darkened.

The daughter-in-law of the Schwartz Dukedom.

The implications were clear.

The Schwartz Dukedom had married without the royal family's permission, which was tantamount to ignoring the royal authority.

The Empress had personally invited the Schwartz Dukedom's daughter-in-law to the palace debutante ball, which could only be interpreted as her being in league with them.

Ventus's eyes turned cold. Kartia shook her head vigorously in denial.

"It's a misunderstanding. Before informing Your Majesty, I wanted to confirm—"

"I don't want to hear any more."

Ventus cut her off firmly and stood up.

"I will discuss this matter with the temple. Since they also approved the marriage, the Empress should not be involved further."

"Your Majesty!"

Before leaving the room, Ventus, who had stood up, looked at Fabian, who was sitting quietly.

"First Prince."

Ventus handed the keepsake in his hand to Fabian.

"I've heard that the First Prince's sword skills have improved recently."

"…You flatter me."

"Perhaps I should see for myself."

With that, Ventus left the room.

The First Prince, Fabian, scanned the room, now heavy with silence.

Matteo glared at him with bloodshot eyes, and Kartia bit her lip, clutching her dress.

Fabian quietly stood up.

"Excuse me."

He bowed politely to the others and left the room.

After a moment, the sound of something shattering echoed behind him, but he didn't turn back.

He stopped suddenly and looked at the keepsake in his hand.

'Really got it back.'

Fabian recalled the girl he had seen earlier.

"I found this at the crematorium."

The girl with clear green eyes spoke confidently, even though her words sounded like a lie.

"You'll be able to find the owner."

She said it as if she knew who the owner was.

As if she had anticipated this situation.

"…Will I see her again?"

I want to thank her. If I see her again, then….

Fabian clenched the gem.

The girl's face lingered in his mind.