Chapter 78
Sian dismissed Antonio’s claim with sharp words. Antonio ground his teeth.
“I have no idea why such a grotesque thing came from His Grace’s body, whom I accidentally stabbed! Moreover, do you have proof it’s from Elena?”
“…We confirmed that bones had been carved from Elena’s corpse.”
Hendrick, who had been quietly observing Sian’s statements, interjected in a low voice. Antonio looked at Hendrick, his Adam’s apple bobbing prominently.
“I had Imperial physicians examine Elena’s corpse again. That’s why I suspected that Elena’s nest, protected by barriers against dragons and a maze against humans, had been breached by someone and that Elena had died from human attack.”
…When had this happened?
Carl hadn’t known that Hendrick had separately examined Elena’s corpse. Carl watched Sian while swallowing some strange emotion—whether relief or something else—at Hendrick’s words that caught Antonio off guard as he claimed innocence.
Antonio turned pale and raised his eyes toward Hendrick.
“Your Highness, are you suspecting me?”
“Not suspicion but certainty. Aren’t there too many clear pieces of evidence pointing to you as the culprit?”
“But I don’t know the way to Elena’s nest!”
“Whether you know or not, that’s not something I can judge. Besides, how can we know if there are accomplices?”
Hendrick’s gaze briefly turned toward the Marquis, who had fallen silent before Antonio, then returned.
“No one knows the path through the maze to Elena’s nest except Imperial family members. Conversely, this means there could be a traitor among the Imperial family who harbored intentions to kill Elena and revealed the path.”
At Hendrick’s continued words, the Marquis barely stopped himself from crying out in premature guilt. It was fortunate indeed. Any reaction here would immediately make him suspect as an accomplice.
“Elena’s missing bones, a hidden weapon made from living dragon bones, the Lord of Ivarid who was stabbed with it, and the Dragon Knight who stabbed him. All circumstances and the decisive evidence brought by the black dragon’s master leave us no choice but to suspect Sir Antonio Carter.”
As Hendrick spoke, he raised his hand. The doorkeeper at the entrance connecting the noble assembly hall to the corridor opened both doors following the Crown Prince’s gesture.
The clinking of weapons flowed rhythmically like music. Antonio’s face turned pale as he watched the soldiers entering in formation.
“This is slander! How can you know the black dragon’s master didn’t kill Elena alone and obtain the weapon?”
Antonio shouted as if thrashing.
“If we go down that road, there’s no end to it. Your stab wound wasn’t even that deep. I personally experienced how evil that horrific thing was as the wound festered and wouldn’t heal, leaving me at death’s door, Antonio.”
“Your Grace! It was a mistake! I know nothing of that monstrosity!”
Though Antonio cried out as if about to grab Carl’s feet, Carl merely snorted.
“Sir Antonio Carter is detained on suspicion of Dragon King Elena’s assassination. Sentencing will be suspended until the existence of accomplices is clearly determined.”
Hendrick waved his hand.
“Take him away.”
“Let go! It wasn’t me! I don’t even have the ability to kill the Dragon King!”
Antonio screamed at the top of his lungs, his neck veins bulging, as the soldiers dragged him away. Hendrick, Carl, and Sian on the platform watched Antonio’s final struggles with cold eyes.
As the sounds of clashing weapons and Antonio’s enraged voice faded down the corridor beyond the door, the assembly hall was instantly enveloped in bleak silence.
“Surely not…”
“Sir Knight Carter…”
Soon, confused and shocked murmurs rippled here and there.
“…Your Highness, isn’t detaining Sir Antonio Carter a hasty judgment? Even if bones were missing from Elena’s corpse, the fact that Idelin’s scales were found there cannot be denied.”
After the small commotion, someone carefully voiced an opinion toward the Crown Prince.
“That’s right. If Sir Antonio Carter is the culprit, how did he obtain Idelin’s scales?”
“Rather, isn’t that Aira Chandler, the black dragon’s master there, who entered the palace deceiving everyone as His Grace’s fiancée? It could be her doing…”
Sian twisted her lips and let out an incredulous laugh.
“I met His Grace after he was accused of the Dragon King’s assassination. Are you suggesting I somehow jumped through time to kill Elena?”
The nobles fell silent at her cold point.
“I revealed myself as the black dragon’s master to reasonably prove my innocence. Not for you to distort the facts to suspect me.”
‘Even so…’ Words of doubt rippled like waves here and there despite Sian’s claims.
Even though she so boldly revealed herself as the black dragon’s master and explained the facts, they seemed unwilling to believe that such a horrific act as the Dragon King’s assassination had been committed by a fellow noble registered in the noble registry.
They probably didn’t want to believe it.
Beyond her bitter feelings, Sian thought. People tend to find more comfort in absolute evil that everyone can point fingers at, rather than in crimes committed by those whose status they clearly know.
“We will investigate and discover why Idelin’s scales were there, and how the Dragon King’s assassin obtained them to frame Carl.”
“Also, Your Grace must explain how you brought the black dragon’s master into the palace as your fiancée.”
Someone said. People’s gazes suddenly shifted to Carl as if coordinated.
“Even if the black dragon is innocent of any crime, black dragons were the absolute evil that opposed silver dragons, and silver dragons are the Empire’s symbol. Considering the foundations of our nation’s establishment, a union between black and silver dragons is absolutely impossible.”
The nobles’ opinions were adamant. Though it had been entirely expected, Hendrick looked at Carl, as if curious about his reaction.
“His Grace didn’t know I was the black dragon’s master. Because I never told him.”
Sian spoke before Carl could answer.
“…The engagement will be broken off.”
Sian looked at Carl.
“As I said, I have no intention of causing any harm to the world. If the black dragon’s mere existence makes me such an ominous being that terrifies you all…”
She could clearly see Carl’s slight frown.
“I will accept any punishment—imprisonment or execution.”
And Sian delivered her prepared words while not missing Carl’s expression. Carl’s face contorted violently.
“What—!”
Carl tried to spring up from his seat, pushing against the table. What stopped him was Hendrick’s extended hand from the seat right beside him.
“She must be imprisoned.”
