After the Duke became the prime minister, the momentum of the deputies following him naturally diminished. They used to habitually raise their hands in agreement with everything Hersis proposed, but now they expressed fervent opposition even to trivial requests.
Count Terdin, who was in charge of the outer gates of the capital, was no exception.
“That might be a bit difficult.”
Just a few hours ago, when Eshar, who was trying to leave the capital, heard the news that he had been blocked at the city gate, Hersis requested permission to pass through. Count Terdin replied, mentioning that Duke Baldemion was still a suspect in the assassination case of Lady Ferrier.
Hersis replied with a face that did not lose its smile.
“Dragging someone as a suspect without evidence or credible witnesses seems a bit forced. Moreover, haven’t witnesses come forward saying that Duke Baldemion wasn’t even at the scene, from the banquet hall to the Duke’s residence?”
That servant, who testified that he mistakenly took the wrong path after carrying Eshar near the banquet hall, was several kilometers away from the location of the incident when it occurred.
While he had received money from those who wanted to slander Eshar and deliberately took a longer route, Hersis decided to overlook that fact as he testified to Eshar’s innocence.
However, Count Terdin persisted stubbornly.
“But until a clear suspect appears…”
“That has also been found, haven’t you heard?”
“…”
Hersis slowly closed his eyes and continued.
“Could it be because he’s not alive?”
At those words, Count Terdin’s face turned pale.
He himself had just heard the news.
A corpse, seemingly having committed suicide in an abandoned barn, was found; it seemed to have been there for about two weeks, judging by the degree of decay.
In a letter found on the body, the person claimed to be the culprit in Lady Ferrier’s assassination and stated that they had no personal grudge, but had carried out the act under someone else’s orders.
He had thought it was something only he knew.
Because it happened under his jurisdiction, and he had ordered his subordinates not to speak to anyone about it.
But how did…
“I wonder how I found out.”
Hersis added with a smiling face.
“It’s better not to know. I’ll wager my position on it.”
‘Knowing that there’s not a single person around I can trust is an unfortunate thing.’
Turning his uncle’s people to his side might be impossible, but turning people managed by his uncle’s people to his side was an easy task.
Because most of them were motivated by money.
Anyway, that wasn’t the important thing.
“Whether a person is alive or dead, once the culprit is found, shouldn’t innocent people be set free? I think so.”
“That, that’s not an issue I can unilaterally decide on… when it becomes a bit more certain…”
“Is it because there’s not a handwritten confession?”
Hersis sighed briefly, clenching his fist.
“If you need to hear it directly rather than in writing, I can send you to him.”
His voice was calm, and the tone was flat. However, it was more chilling than shouting and throwing things in anger.
Count Terdin’s legs trembled under the table, causing slight ripples in the tea water in the cup.
“Ah… I understand. A-according to your orders, I’ll allow Duke Baldemion’s… passage through the city gates.”
Count Terdin bowed his head to the extent that his hair dipped into the tea water and hastily left the meeting room as if fleeing.
“That’s right.”
Listening to the footsteps rapidly retreating beyond the door, Hersis muttered quietly.
“If only he had listened when spoken to nicely.”
The patience he had built up seemed to crumble in an instant, leaving a bitter feeling.
Hersis immediately shifted his gaze to the letters piled on the desk.
There were stacks of letters to review. He grabbed one pile and examined it carefully, flipping through them one bundle at a time. It was to sift out what needed immediate attention.
“…!”
The busy hand suddenly stopped. His gaze was fixed on a meticulously sealed ivory-colored envelope.
There, the name of his court mage, Clowin, was written.
He had left the palace immediately after the incident at Mariard Square to carry out the secret mission Hersis had assigned.
“I wonder how it’s going.”
While staring at the sealed envelope, Hersis mumbled quietly and then took a paper knife in hand. He smoothly inserted the sharp blade into the space not sealed with wax, splitting it open.
At that moment.
Tap-tap, tap-tap.
“Yes?”
The paper knife halted midway.
It was Liz.
“Can I come in?”
“…”
It was the first meeting since he turned away somewhat coldly three days ago.
Hersis put down the paper knife and roughly inserted Clowin’s letter among the other letters. Then, he picked up a random document that was visible.
“Come in.”
Having finished his preparations, he calmly invited her in. However, his heart wasn’t as calm as the tone of his voice.
Liz hadn’t seen Hersis for three days.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
