How To End This Marriage-Chapter 83: The Vanishing Duchess and the Prison’s Secrets

Chapter 83: The Vanishing Duchess and the Prison’s Secrets

Maximus emerged from the emperor’s chamber, his face etched with worry though he kept it well concealed, and inquired, "Explain what happened here? Why has the duke been locked inside the prison?"

The guard, who had witnessed the events, replied, "Greetings, Crown Prince. I apologize for making you come all the way to ask about the situation, but I will still say it wasn’t a big deal, though the duke was making it seem like it was. It was so weird, even for me to explain."

Maximus continued his inquiry, "Who were the ones present at the scene?"

The guard informed, "My lord, the Knight Association was present at the scene. If you want, I can call for them."

The Crown Prince, however, declined the offer, saying, "No, there is no need. I will go meet them myself." He proceeded to the knights’ working place, even though it was already quite dark, and most of the knights had retired to their resting places.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, Maximus questioned the knights who were still discussing the situation, "What is the commotion going on here? Isn’t it time for all of you to retire already?"

The head knight replied, "Greetings, Crown Prince," and the other knights followed suit, showing respect.

Maximus pressed further, "There is nothing important, my lord. You do not have to worry."

Unconvinced, Maximus probed, "How could I not worry when the sun is about to rise, and the knights are still having conversations in the courtyard? I don’t think it’s a small matter. Explain the situation."

The head knight explained, "It’s about the duke, my lord. He has been acting strangely. We have never seen him behave this way."

Maximus probed deeper, "Weird? What do you mean?"

The head knight continued, "He was acting irrationally. He kept pointing to a spot, saying a knight had died when there was no one. Not even a spot of blood. The surface was clean as hell, but he persisted about the matter, blaming the knight for a murder he never committed. If that isn’t weird, then what is? The duke is a warrior himself; he should know when to keep his mind clear. But he finally lost it completely."

Maximus sought clarity, "Did you check the place thoroughly?"

The head knight assured, "Yes, we did," and led him to the storage area where the commotion had taken place.

As Maximus approached the spot the duke had pointed to, he noticed the area was exceptionally clean, as if recently mopped. He pondered aloud, "Is there really nothing that happened? Then why doesn’t it feel like it?"

Realizing the surface was wet, Maximus came to a conclusion, "This place has been cleaned up. So, Alex was right when he said there was blood splattered everywhere. Then why didn’t my father believe it when he should have believed him even more than the knights? He could have conducted a thorough investigation, but he didn’t. He just discarded it. Why? What are you doing, Father? You’re making me suspect you."

A mysterious voice interrupted his thoughts, "Child, get away from this place. You are inviting your own death this way." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Ignoring the warning, Maximus pressed on, "If there’s a wet spot, then the killing certainly took place in this spot. But the question is, where is the body?"

Summoning a guard from the storage area, Maximus inquired, "Who came to this place before me?"

The guard informed, "Ah, isn’t this the commotion involving the duke?"

Maximus sought more information, "Commotion? Then while the commotion was going on, did anyone enter this place that no one noticed?"

The guard recalled, "Hmm, I don’t think so."

Maximus urged him to think more carefully, "Think more carefully and tell me if anyone entered this place during the commotion. I don’t need incorrect information. I need the truth, even if it takes time. But it must be accurate. You will be rewarded for it, so think carefully."

The guard clarified, "Ah, yes, my lord. There were groups of people who entered the storage area during the commotion. It slipped my mind as they were the emperor’s personal attendants. They were brought here to retrieve something for His Majesty, so it escaped my attention."

Curious about this emergency, Maximus inquired, "His Majesty? Is there a shortage of supplies for the emperor?"

The guard replied, "No, it was an emergency this time. It has never happened before."

Maximus issued a final order, "Okay, you can go now!" as he observed the knight named Lucius, who appeared anxious and sweaty.

"Didn’t think about my arrival?" Maximus asked, smirking at Lucius.

Lucius, flustered, replied, "Your Royal Highness, how could I know about your schedule? I am merely a servant. I was just passing by here."

Maximus challenged his explanation, "Just passing by here when you knew there was a commotion involving the duke, and you were being accused? I don’t think any normal person would behave that way."

Lucius stammered, "I forgot my sword, my lord, which is why."

Maximus pointed out the inconsistency, "Sword? Then what about the one hanging on your waist? I don’t think there is anyone in this empire who wields dual swords, so that can’t be the case. Why are you here? Are you trying to retrieve the body of the knight you killed?"

Lucius vehemently denied the accusation, his expression confused, "Your Royal Highness, you are mistaken."

"That is something I should be asking you. How could you accuse Duke Alexavier Agnes of something he never did or experienced? How could you assassinate his character, portraying him as a warrior who has gone mad after losing his wife? Tell me, how does it feel to hear about something you’ve done yourself?" Maximus said, taking a step forward.

Lucius, now stammering, took a step back, his confidence waning.

"I’m not mistaken," Maximus declared.

Maximus shouted, "Knights!!!! Capture this traitor!!! I want him inside the prison now, otherwise!!!!" The knights swiftly tied Lucius up.

The head knight attempted to interject, "But, Prince—"

Maximus’s tone grew even more commanding, "Are you ignoring my orders? Or do you think you have more authority than me?" His forceful words made everyone flinch.

"Okay, Crown Prince, as you say!!!" the head knight conceded, and they began escorting Lucius to a prison. Lucius, however, continued to shout and plead, more concerned about the secrets he believed could be revealed about the duchess hidden in the old prison than his own imprisonment.

Upon reaching the old prison, a shocking discovery awaited them. The cells were blanketed in spiderwebs, and there was no sign of Bernice, the duchess.

Confounded, the head knight questioned Lucius, "What? Why did you stop all of a sudden? Weren’t you screaming just a while ago?"

Lucius, still in shock, kept his focus on the last cell across the corridor, muttering to himself, "Where is she? I clearly remembered putting her here. Where has she gone? Has she run away? No, no, if that’s the case, the emperor is going to kill me."

The knights couldn’t make sense of Lucius’s behavior, and they began discussing it among themselves.

The Crown Prince, meanwhile, leaned against the wall of the prison, observing the situation closely. His gaze was fixed on the last cell, intrigued by the unfolding mystery.

Maximus’s thoughts raced as he contemplated, "What is the mystery with the last cell? Is this what I’m thinking, or is it beyond my thinking?"

The enigma of the old prison and the missing duchess left Maximus with more questions than answers.

The eerie silence of the old prison weighed heavily on Maximus as he contemplated the implications of the last cell’s emptiness. Bernice, the duchess, had seemingly vanished without a trace. He couldn’t help but feel that there was a deep undercurrent of secrets hidden within these stone walls.

Maximus approached the last cell with measured steps, his eyes scanning the room for any clues or hints that might shed light on this perplexing situation. Spiderwebs clung to every surface, casting a gloomy shroud over the cell as if time itself had forgotten this forsaken place.

The air felt heavy with an unspoken history, a history he was determined to unearth. His fingers brushed against the cool, damp stone, seeking any anomaly, any sign of what had transpired here. But the cell yielded nothing, revealing only the unsettling emptiness.

Lucius, now bound and apprehensive, watched the Crown Prince’s every move with trepidation. His earlier bravado had crumbled in the face of this inexplicable situation, and he was forced to confront the consequences of his actions.

The head knight, still perplexed by the situation.

Maximus’s mind churned with thoughts and suspicions. He couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to this than met the eye. "I need answers," he said resolutely.

"Lucius, you will tell us everything you know. Every detail about the duchess, the duke, and this prison," Maximus declared, walking toward Lucius, who had already been shackled in the metal locks, tying both his hands and legs.