After I returned from the villa, I locked myf in my room and did not go out.
No one, including Leon, asked me why.
The days were strangely quiet.
I was anxiously awaiting any news of the Marquis's family.
On the third day of my return, I heard that two investigators sent by the Imperial Palace had arrived at Aster Castle.
Leon walked around them in the drawing room, teasing them inteny.
Maybe he thought they had come to watch him.
But they wanted to meet me, not Leon.
“Hello, Your Highness the Duchess.
I am Count Caiton, assigned to investigate by order of His Majesty the Emperor.
These are Inquisitors Cairo and Jude.”
I nodded to them for their politeness.
They seemed tired of Leon's teasing.
“Pill Pill, my uncle the Emperor has sent people again!
They came to make sure Leon is okay.
My uncle says he misses me every day!”
Despite his playful tone, Leon's eyes were shining sharply.
“…Your Highness the Duke, we have come to meet Her Highness the Duchess.”
"Belle Belle?
Why?
Play with me and talk to me.
Belle Belle knows nothing but shopping."
“Leon, they say they have something to talk to me about.
Please, leave us alone for a moment.”
"No!
I'll stick with Bill Bill!"
Leon sat next to me and held onto my arm tightly.
I shook his arm.
"Leon?
Leave us alone for a moment…"
“I don't want to!”
'Why is he acting like this?
Especially today?'
How would he react if he knew?
I didn't want to tell him.
But Leon didn't move.
If I had known it would be like this, I would have told him beforehand.
I sighed deeply and closed my eyes.
“Just talk.”
Count Caiton cleared his throat.
“Let's get started.”
Cayton pointed to Cairo and Judd.
The two investigators started flipping through the papers they brought.
The sound of papers being turned was the only sound in the silent reception room.
I clearly heard Leon swallowing his saliva next to me.
“Marquis Swedon has died.”
I nodded quietly at their cautious words.
I cared more about Walter's condition than the news of the Marquis's death.
I waited for them to talk about Walter's fate without further delay.
“The Marquis has been killed.”
Leon was the most shocked.
He slowly let go of my arm and looked at me and then at Count Caiton in astonishment.
"What?"
I grabbed his arm and pulled him towards me, fearing that he would forget his act of stupidity from the shock.
“We learned that you visited the Marquis’ villa a few days ago, so we came.”
“...Yes, I went.
Who is the killer?”
Count Caiton spoke.
“You don't seem surprised, Your Highness.”
He said this while assessing me with a sharp look.
“I was shocked, very shocked.
But my mother told me that he would die soon.”
Our relationship as father and daughter was not good either.
I swallowed my last words and looked into the Count's eyes.
The Count nodded to the investigators after his skeptical look.
That was the signal to continue.
One of the investigators spoke: “Tell us all the details of your movements in the villa.”
I nodded, looked into the void, and opened my mouth.
“I received news that my father was in critical condition, so I went to the villa immediately.
Right, Leon?”
"Huh?
Yes, right.
Belle Belle left me and went.
So I ate a huge steak myf, very delicious!"
I nodded and continued.
“When I arrived, my father was lying on the bed.
My mother said that he was unconscious and to see him when he regained consciousness.
I rested in my room, and then had dinner with my mother and Walter.
But I had an argument with Walter, so I got angry and returned to Aster without seeing my father.
You can check the logs of using the portal.”
The detective nodded to the Count.
I breathed a sigh of relief because my story matched their investigation.
I felt Leon's arm trembling as I held it.
How will I explain this to him?
I started to worry.
“We came to check if your story matches our investigation.”
“What about my mother and Walter?”
“They have been transferred to the Central Prison.
The Marchioness claimed that you were involved, but Young Master vehemently denies it, and the Marchioness is showing signs of mental disorder, so we are checking the facts.”
I laughed when I heard she tried to frame me.
I was expecting it, but hearing it made my heart filled with bitterness.
“I’m sorry, but if it’s not rude, can you accompany us to the capital to confront them?”
asked the Count cautiously.
He was polite, but basically he meant leading me.
Cold silence filled the reception room.
Suddenly, Leon got up.
"No!
What are you saying?
I can't sleep without Belle Belle.
She's singing to me and holding my hand!"
“Your Highness, the Duke, but...”
"I don't know, I don't know!
Get out!"
Despite his extreme stubbornness, I was really grateful to him.
He shouted, stomping his feet.
The detective cleared his throat and averted his gaze.
I smiled weakly and pulled Leon's hand so he could sit next to me.
"You see, that's the way it is.
Isn't the investigation over me finished?"
I felt Leon's sharp eyes, but I ignored them and continued quietly.
“I have nothing more to say.
If you need to investigate me further, send an official request.”
I expressed my opinion clearly.
The Count and the investigators looked puzzled.
Even if Leon is a “stupid duke,” he is a duke.
They had no evidence to take me by force.
The Count sighed deeply and motioned to the investigators, who began packing their papers.
“We understand what you said.
We will leave now.
Thank you for your cooperation.”
They got up, bowed, and left the drawing room.
When the door closed, there was silence.
We sat side by side, holding hands tightly.
I felt the tremors of his fingers move to my hand.
"Thanks."
I muttered weakly, and Leon looked at me in amazement.
He must want to ask a lot.
I've been completely different since I got back from the villa.
Maybe he thinks I know something.
But he didn't ask.
We kept staring into space, holding hands.
I felt tears building up, but I didn't want to cry again.
I bit my lip to hold back my tears.
“Bill Bill, your nose is running.
Disgusting.”
But his words to change the atmosphere made my tears burst.
“The Marquis Swedon has been murdered.”
"What?
Really?"
Kalsen was shocked by Leon's words.
John, who had always been silent, opened his mouth.
“According to Stefan’s report, there have been suspicious movements on the part of the Marquis.”
Leon stared at John.
“Why didn't you teach me?”
“Because the Marquis’s daughter...”
“Who is the Marquis’s daughter?”
Leon growled.
John raised his eyebrows and looked at Calsen, who shook his head violently.
“I'm sorry, I misspoke.
I thought it was something to do with the Marquis's illness when the lady went to the villa.”
“Why decide on the information yourf?
Is there something else you haven't told me?”
“I'm sorry, there isn't.”
“Don't miss a thing Bella and tell me everything.”
Leon hit the desk violently.
He didn't know why Bella's tears hurt his heart so much.
This made him even angrier.
He opened the window violently.
The cold air came in, but his frustration didn't subside, it just got worse.