I Grabbed the Tyrant’s Heart - Chapter 201
As I stepped in, Carin Heights seemed like she was about to cry. Her eyes brimming with tears as if she had found a savior. It seemed she had lived a more sheltered life than I had, in a way.
There would likely be gossip about Carin Heights now. Her forthright demeanor wasn’t the type to garner favor in social circles.
“Any fault here would be mine, as Lady Heights stood up for me. The rumors about me being a woman of ill-repute are true after all.”
Despite me saying the words myself, there was no change in Regan Liesl’s expression. Instead, it was Duke Liesl whose lips trembled.
“What are you talking about? I’ve heard the stories you’ve spread at Glory Eagle.”
Carin Heights’s brother stepped in to defend her.
“Wasn’t it two months ago? I clearly heard you discussing Lady Hardland. You spoke of sending someone to County Daidi’s domain to see the diamonds, along with mentioning the Lady and the Senior Wizard.”
Her only brother, known for his protective nature and fiery temper, was calmer than his sister but his tone was sharp.
“And didn’t you tell me to be cautious? You said that the Senior Wizard and Lady Hardland were closely involved, so I should be careful before sending a proposal.”
“So, you asked me about it then?”
My friend, Ethyl, joined the situation.
“You asked me to check if Lady Hardland and the Senior Wizard were discussing marriage.”
“I was there too, I heard it.”
One by one, witnesses began to appear. When Ethyl intervened at the right time to my request, the other knights began to step forward. It seemed natural since it started with Carin Heights’s brother. People wouldn’t suspect that Ethyl Bonart, close to Euseniel Hardland, was merely taking sides.
“If it’s that story, then this side heard it too.”
This time, Aurin spoke up.
“You mentioned it too, Frick.”
“Of course. The younger Lord Liesl had set up a bet. ‘Who will the Lady marry?’”
Her partner, a child of Marquis Mirien, had credible words.
Once the floodgates were opened, stories about what the son of Viscount Viana had said, and what Regan Liesl had directly mentioned, burst forth.
This became a dagger threatening not just Regan Liesl, but Duke Liesl himself.
Everyone began to criticize their crimes.
As if it were a public trial.
“Lord Liesl, that’s outrageous.”
“How could you say such things!”
I had quickly stepped back, and Regan Liesl found himself surrounded by a crowd, subjected to relentless criticism. He glared at me with bloodshot eyes.
But he was no threat at all.
Liesl was, after all, an insignificant figure.
I should have known from the moment people pushed Duke Liesl aside to approach me.
Once the excitement had somewhat subsided, I finally spoke.
“Oh, so it was you, Lord Liesl, not Viscount Viana’s son, who was trying to eliminate the competition and propose to me.”
It seemed he had tried to tarnish my reputation and lower my value. Then to scoop me up in the marriage market once others deemed me undesirable.
From the reactions, it appeared to be a collaboration between the Liesl father and son.
“Indeed.”
The final nail in the coffin was driven by Weathering.
“Between Lady Hardland and me, there’s nothing but a teacher-student relationship. It’s shocking to find that such vile and dirty rumors were circulating without my knowledge.”
“This is an insult to our family, and a disgrace to His Majesty.”
My father proclaimed this as if he had been waiting just for this moment. Anger was boiling in his blue eyes.
“This cannot be overlooked.”
Considering my father’s nature, he would have intervened to stop the indiscriminate vilification of the Liesls.
This was not a proper interrogation process by any means, but my father supported it.
Families that had once conspired with Lily Xuen to torment Gael had one by one fallen into ruin. Some had collapsed following Lily’s exile, and others disappeared from the nobility, entangled in various incidents like that of Louise Hitty.
In some cases, the consequences were disproportionately heavy for their crimes.
The only time the otherwise impartial Duke Hardland became emotional was in matters concerning his children.
“That’s right, Your Majesty.”
Clearly briefed by Tess, the Chancellor pretended to be serious as he fanned the flames.
“For the stability of the empire, this matter must be handled strictly, Your Majesty.”
“Indeed.”
Even Count Daidi, who must have realized that this was all a staged drama, chimed in.
“Didn’t you say, Duke Liesl, that you were investing again without even paying off the debts owed to our family? I wonder where you suddenly got such a large sum of money.”
Isn’t there a saying about cornered rat bites?
But that only works when the cat isn’t terrifying.
No matter how much a rat bites, if the opponent they’re trying to bite has thick enough skin and a large enough bulk to not even feel the pain, it’s meaningless.
“Liesl, Liesl, Liesl…”
My lover and the Emperor, who had been quietly listening, muttered as if he was bored of it all.
“Lately, there hasn’t been a day without Liesl’s name being mentioned. How can we allow such disruption of discipline?”
“With clear crimes and confirmed witnesses, immediate punishment is also possible.”
As Tess prepared to dance, the Chancellor quickly started to play the instrument.
“That’s so.”
Everyone awaited the emperor’s decree.
“Duke Liesl, along with Liesl’s direct line.”
As the faces of Duke Liesl and Regan Liesl paled, Tess smiled beautifully.
“Death sentence.”
Wait, a death sentence?
Weren’t we supposed to make them slaves, Tess!
But with so many eyes on us, I couldn’t object and had to remain silent.
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