Maximus entered the palace with a resolute expression. "Alert everyone that the emperor has been dethroned," he announced.
"What?!" The news sent shockwaves through the palace.
"Yes, there will be court sessions for the emperor soon," Maximus reiterated. The word quickly spread throughout the palace, and soon it reached every corner of the empire, leaving everyone in disbelief.
"Max!!! What are you doing? He’s your father," the empress rushed to her son when she heard the news.
"Mother, it doesn’t matter whether he’s my father or soone else. He committed a cri and must face the consequences," the crown prince remained unmoved.
"Don’t forget, Max, how you beca the crown prince. If he weren’t the emperor, you wouldn’t have risen to second in line for the throne. It would have been Duke Alexavier, not you!" The empress attempted to sway him.
"I’d rather not be a crown prince than have the sha of parents like mine," he replied.
"One last thing, Mother!! I haven’t forgotten your reaction when I suggested soone else as the true heir to the throne. Be careful, unless you want to end up in the sa position as your husband," he warned and walked away.
While leaving, he instructed, "Inform the duke that the criminal has been apprehended. He’s been eagerly waiting for this day."
***
"Duke, why did it take you so long to arrive? Where is the duchess? The state has been in turmoil for a month, not knowing what to do," the workers questioned as they saw the carriage pulling up in front of the mansion.
"The duchess’s parents ca to visit, but not knowing her whereabouts, they left in sorrow," one of the workers explained.
"Yes, and yesterday, a letter arrived by pigeon. It must have been dispatched after you left the palace, so it arrived earlier than the carriage. No one has opened the letter, so you should check it," the workers added, making him rush into the mansion. Sweat dripped down his face, but he didn’t care. He rushed into his study, hoping to find news about the duchess. However, as he opened the letter, his face contorted in anger. He crumpled the paper and slamd it on the table.
"What’s the matter, duke? Is there a crisis in the palace?" one of the workers inquired.
"They’ve finally found the murderer of the duke and duchess," he said, his face flushed with anger.
"They’ve discovered him at last! We’ve been waiting for this news for years. It’s about ti. The emperor released the killers," the maid comnted with relief.
"The emperor is the killer," he uttered, and a dumbfounded silence fell over everyone.
"The emperor? How is that even possible? He’s the brother of the duchess, isn’t he? How could he? Wasn’t he the one who pledged to find the killer? How can it be him?" The maid found it hard to believe.
After reading the letter, the Duke attempted to rush outside, but the workers stopped him.
"Duke, you’ve just arrived. We still don’t know what has happened and what we need to prepare for. If you rush like that, the state might fall into chaos. Plus, we have two people locked in shackles in the dungeon, and we’re unsure how to deal with this," they advised.
The Duke halted and then walked towards the dungeon. However, before entering, he paused in the middle of the hall.
"Vix!" he called out her na. Others, not understanding why he was summoning her, gazed at him with bewildernt.
"Duke, you’ve returned? Where is the Duchess?" she inquired as she arrived.
"You will find out soon. But before that, get ready as if you were preparing for the palace, just like how Madam used to prepare you. All of you, help her get ready like a princess. The ti has co," he said, leaving everyone more puzzled.
"And gather any items your aunt may have left for you as a sign. Your old clothes, how you appeared in your childhood portraits, and everything else. Collect it all and place it in the carriage," he instructed, hurrying through his commands.
"But, Duke, why? I’ve never been allowed to go outside. Why are you suddenly preparing for this? I don’t understand the purpose. I don’t see the Duchess anywhere, and it’s unsettling. Please explain what’s happening?" she pleaded, looking utterly confused.
"As I ntioned, you’ll understand soon once you arrive at the palace. So, for now, please follow my instructions," the Duke responded before rushing into the dungeon. He headed towards Grant, the forr butler’s cell, where he had been held.
"Duke, you’ve returned? Are you going to release ?" Grant asked with a hopeful expression, but his hope was crushed by a hard slap across his face.
"What did you say? That the Duchess was lying about everything, even though you were sent as a spy from the tribal empire by the emperor’s orders?" the Duke said and lashed him with a tal whip hanging on the wall.
"Now, try to deny that what I’ve said is false, especially when your own ruler has exposed your treachery," another whip fell on him.
"You claid that the Duchess would ruin everything. You dared to accuse your master, soone I had placed my complete trust in?" three more lashes followed, causing him to bleed profusely.
"Lord, what are you talking about? I don’t understand," he said, turning his head away.
"You don’t understand? Allow to enlighten you!" the Duke declared, dropping the whip on the ground and removing Grant’s shackles. He then pulled him by his torn shirt.
"When the emperor ordered my mother and father, you were the one who delivered the letter to them. As a spy planted by the emperor, you must have known the letter’s contents, yet you allowed them to leave. You even forced to go with them, but my teacher prevented from leaving. Therefore, you are also responsible for their deaths," he accused, throwing Grant forcefully against the wall.
"A killer has always been among us, and I didn’t know."
"You aided the assassins in entering the mansion to murder my wife, and I still trusted you. How naive I was, wasn’t I?" he pressed Grant’s face against the wall, causing him to cough up blood.
"You were the one who killed the first assassin she intended to interrogate, following the emperor’s orders, weren’t you?" he inquired, delivering multiple blows.
"Now, you will serve as one of the pieces of evidence to secure her release," the Duke declared.
"Guards! Prepare a cage and confine him within! He will accompany to the palace," he ordered, and the guards took Grant away, dragging him across the floor.
The Duke erged from the cells, his shirt stained with blood, evoking mories of war for those who witnessed it.
"Duke, you look unwell. Perhaps a bit of rest would be beneficial," one of the maids suggested.
"No, I’m leaving for the palace imdiately. Vix will join in the carriage once she’s ready," he stated and proceeded towards the carriage. After a while, Vix arrived, appearing every bit the part of a princess. The Duke accompanied her into the carriage.
"Let remind you of sothing now. You don’t need to act as if I’m your master and you’re my servant, as you never were. Your aunt must have inford you of this, right?" the Duke asked.
"Yes, Duke, I’ve been inford," Vix confird.
"Good. So, when I present you at the palace, refrain from speaking until I instruct you to. Once you open your mouth, nurous questions will co your way, and you may not have the answers. So, wait for my command," he advised.
"But, Duke, where is the Duchess? You still haven’t told . She went to the palace before you, but you arrived while she didn’t. Why? What happened to her?" Vix inquired.
"She has vanished!" His revelation left her in shock.
"Vanished? What do you an, the Duchess vanished? And what about the holy sword?" she asked with panic.
"I have no idea, but many things have occurred. Various rumors are circulating, and the holy sword can’t reach her either. I’ve also committed a grave mistake, which is why the sword I was entrusted with, Noxus, has deserted ," he stated, gazing out of the carriage window.
"Duke, how? How could this happen?" Vix questioned, her concern evident.
"I have no answers, but now everything depends on you. If nothing cos to light, you’ll need to initiate your own investigation. I’m taking you there, and you might not understand why, but I have another purpose for bringing you to the palace. You’ll need to et with certain individuals and uncover the truth," he explained as the carriage continued its journey.
Throughout the ride, a heavy silence pervaded the carriage, with no one uttering a word until they reached the palace. There, the Crown Prince was waiting to receive them.
"Duke, I’ve been awaiting your arrival," he spoke with formality.
"Greetings, Your Highness, the Crown Prince," the Duke responded in kind, and Vix followed suit with a formal greeting, maintaining eye contact with Maximus.
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