Lord Duren’s face showed a touch of astonishnt at the words.
What shocked the Imperial Forest Guard Captain even more was what followed, as the Squire Knight who left returned soon after, accompanied by the Female Priest and her two followers.
One of them was Selena, who Miss Rabbit had released not long ago.
The latter also saw the Lady, and seed to think of sothing, her expression involuntarily darkened.
But the Lady’s attention wasn’t on her at the mont, because Irelia heard Li Yu say, "Lord Duren is in trouble now."
"Hmm?"
"Considering the situation, he must have reached so sort of alliance with Cornelia before, but unfortunately, it seems Cornelia has changed her mind, or maybe she intended to use Duren from the start and never really planned to cooperate with him."
"That’s too despicable," Miss Rabbit indignantly said.
She didn’t have much of a relationship with Gars or Duren, but she thought well of the Imperial Forest Guard Captain, as most lacked his courage.
To confront the New Emperor directly for a monarch who had already died was not very wise.
And it seed like Duren’s current situation was not looking very good either.
The appearance of Cornelia had obviously surprised the Imperial Forest Guard Captain, especially after a careful look, Duren didn’t see any traces left by torture on the Female Priest’s body.
Cornelia’s expression was no different from usual. After entering the palace, she first bowed to Gars and then said, "Your Majesty, you were looking for ?"
Gars was quite pleased with this title and returned the courtesy to the Female Priest, "High Priest of Cornelia, that man by your side told , four days ago you perford Divine Arts and delved into the heart of Earl Clyde. Is this true?"
The Female Priest glanced at Clyde, who was tense beside her, and nodded firmly, "It’s true."
Upon hearing these words, hope rekindled in Duren’s eyes.
Gars continued, "Then did Clyde send soone to Pork Fat Street to purchase a type of poison called Blood Banquet?"
"I’m sorry, I didn’t see such a thing in the depths of his heart," Cornelia shook her head and said.
"Then may I ask if you had warned my father that soone wanted to poison him?"
"I did receive a prophecy from the goddess, but prophecies are usually not so straightforward and easy to understand. I told the late Emperor that sothing very bad might happen, but unfortunately, he didn’t take my warning seriously."
"Priest of Cornelia, that is different from what you initially told ," the Imperial Forest Guard Captain said in shock.
Upon hearing this, the Female Priest turned to look at Duren; this was the first ti she had seriously looked at the Imperial Forest Guard Captain since she entered the great hall.
After a mont, a look of concern appeared in Cornelia’s eyes, "Lord Duren, you did co to ask so questions after the late Emperor’s death, but I told you then that His Majesty had nothing to do with it.
"If there is sothing wrong with your mind, you can tell . As long as you pray devoutly to the goddess, she will heal you."
The Imperial Forest Guard Captain’s heart sank, "But it was you who sent soone to find three days ago, telling to et you, warning not to investigate further, otherwise..."
"There was no such thing," Cornelia stated confidently, and seeing that Duren still wanted to argue, the Female Priest took the initiative, "Do you rember where we t, and if there was anyone around who saw us eting?"
Duren was speechless.
Even he, with his not particularly keen political instincts, could sll a conspiracy brewing.
The visit from Cornelia to see him was carefully arranged; she led him into a remote alleyway and both she and her followers were cloaked in capes, ensuring that even if soone saw them, they would not recognize her as the Female Priest of the Life Church.
But the Imperial Forest Guard Captain did not wish to give up so easily. He took a deep breath to calm his emotions before continuing.
"I have other witnesses— the black market poison rchant. He too can prove that it was soone from the Wendell family who bought the Blood Banquet.
"His nickna is Fat Cat, and he’s quite well known around Pork Fat Street.
"Not only that, but there was also a guard from the garrison present at the ti, known as Little Thumb, who can likewise corroborate what I’ve said..."
Lord Duren had not yet finished when Duke Tington interrupted him, "Your Majesty, we have already delayed quite a bit, and if we continue, we will miss the optimal ti for the coronation ceremony.
"Let’s not listen to this lunatic’s nonsense any longer; just have soone take him straight to the garrison."
However, at this mont, Gars was in no hurry. He waved his hand and said, "Finding my father’s murderer is the most important matter; it doesn’t matter if we delay a little— at worst, we’ll just eat lunch a bit later."
"The late Emperor would be pleased to have a son like you," Duke Tington praised before stepping aside.
Gars told Duren, "Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance. If you can uncover sothing of value, showing you haven’t been neglecting your duties these past three days, I might consider sparing you from the flogging."
"Your Majesty is rciful!" Finance Minister Sirren praised loudly.
And upon hearing this, the others also joined in a chorus of admiration.
Gars looked towards the garrison commander and spoke gently, "Sir Essos, can you bring these people here?
Sir Essos nodded, "Leave it to ."
But this ti it took him a bit longer because, according to the other rchants on Pork Fat Street, Fat Cat had packed up and left Lion Heart Castle overnight after Duren’s last visit in search of him.
Fortunately, Little Thumb was still around, but sadly, his testimony was still very much against the Imperial Forest Guard Captain. According to Little Thumb, their visit to Pork Fat Street had been fruitless.
Lord Duren appeared quite anxious at the ti due to the lack of progress in the investigation.
Little Thumb said, "Lord Duren was worried he couldn’t co up with an explanation, so I comforted him. But afterward, he implied that I should help him concoct so evidence.
"He suggested to that we could fra the purchase of the poison on the Wendell family, citing an incident at the Duel Arena where a man known as ’Little Ears’ claid he was acting under Earl Clyde’s orders to set up Sir Irelia.
"While framing others may not be believed by many, if it’s people who trust the Wendell family... there could be quite a few..."
"You lying scoundrel!"
The Imperial Forest Guard Captain could not bear to listen any longer at this point and, drawing his side sword, he shouted angrily.
Upon seeing this, Sir Essos snorted coldly, took two steps forward, and positioned himself between Duren and Gars.
It was then that everyone else seed to snap out of their trance and began shouting accusations of Duren’s treason.
The Imperial Guards might have had a hard ti believing Duren capable of such a thing, but at that mont, they couldn’t afford to consider their past camaraderie. Protecting the Emperor was their most important duty, so they too drew their swords and pointed them toward Duren.
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