Chapter 304
Xander’s kick nearly took Leonard’s life.
The immense force sent him hurtling through the air like a ragdoll.
He crashed heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Leonard protested, “Prince Xander, how dare you resort to summary punishment? I am, after all, an imperial official. Even if I were guilty, only a formal trial by the judicial department could convict me. By flouting the law like this, aren’t you afraid the Emperor will hold you accountable?”
Leonard still had no idea who he had truly crossed.
Xander wielded the imperial disciplinary rod bestowed by the late Emperor; with it, he was empowered to discipline anyone in court, including the king and any minister beneath him.
Leonard was a mere chief of the Federal Bureau. Even the princes would not dare act presumptuously before Xander.
Xander sneered coldly. “Lord Leonard, you make a valid point. Guards, take him to the Federal Bureau for rigorous interrogation. Bring back all those involved in this case.”
Naturally, the person involved was Leonard’s wife, Sally Beckham.
Instantly, the Beckham family erupted in wails and howls.
By the time Sally was led out, she was already scared senseless and had passed out cold.
The Federal Bureau had been Leonard’s territory, yet now he was being dragged into that very place.
He never imagined that the very torture devices he had once used on prisoners would one day be used on him.
Until the moment he was dragged into the dungeon, Leonard still clung to the hope that the Queen would save him.
Bound to the torture rack, Leonard endured dozens of lashes. Only then did he truly understand agony worse than death. His body was beaten black and blue, flesh torn and bloodied beyond recognition.
“I’m innocent. I’m being framed!” Leonard groaned through gritted teeth, refusing to give in.
Seeing this, Xander slowly rose to his feet.
Sad above most men, his natural height alone created an intimidating presence. Towering half a head.
He walked up to Leonard, idly stirring the branding irons in the brazier. He picked one up, studied it for a moment, then let it clatter back into the coals.
Leonard’s eyes bulged like saucers in terror. When he saw Xander put the branding iron down, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, out of nowhere, a searing pain shot through his body, forcing an involuntary scream from his lips.
It turned out Xander wasn’t sparing him at all. He simply wanted to pick one that was hotter than the last.
The acrid stench of seared flesh permeated the dungeon. After a few agonized howls, Leonard finally passed out from the unbearable pain.
A bucket of ice-cold water was dumped over Leonard’s head, jolting him awake once more.
The soul-searing, excruciating pain pushed Leonard to the very brink of collapse.
Xander stared at him impassively and asked coldly, “Lord Leonard, still refusing to confess?”
At this moment, Leonard stared at Xander as if facing the devil himself. Trembling uncontrollably, blood dribbled from his mouth, his eyes glazed over with terror.
Yet he still gritted his teeth and insisted, “Your Grace, I am innocent!”
Just then, Ansel walked in and said respectfully. “Your Highness, Sally has confessed.”
Leonard forced his swollen eyes open, grinding his teeth in rage. “Impossible, Sally knows nothing about this. What could she possibly confess to?”
But before he could even finish his sentence, a chilling realization began to dawn on Leonard.
Sure enough, he caught a triumphant smirk playing on Ansel’s lips.
Leonard roared, “You dare use such vile tricks! I won’t accept this!”
No matter how Leonard raged, he couldn’t change the facts.
The evidence was irrefutable. Any denial was futile.
The all-night interrogation finally paid off.
Xander rose to leave, Leonard rattled his chains violently while shouting. “I demand to see the Emperor!”
Trapped in this hellhole, he could cry out as much as he wanted, but no one would answer.
Not to mention the Emperor, Leonard couldn’t even set foot outside this dungeon.
Ansel leaned in closer and said coldly, “Lord Leonard, in case you haven’t heard, the Emperor has handed this entire case over to His Highness Xander. This isn’t some secret investigation anymore. It’s all out in the open.”
Leonard’s eyes widened in terror, utter disbelief written all over his face. “This is absolutely impossible. How could it be an open investigation?”
If this were an open investigation, Leonard knew that neither Fermin nor the Queen would escape unscathed.
“Given the Queen’s temperament, how could she possibly agree to an open investigation?” Leonard thought in disbelief.
A chilling realization finally dawned on Leonard.
He had spent the entire night in the dungeon, yet, to his dismay, there wasn’t so much as a peep from the Queen’s side.
Ansel let out a cold chuckle. “Lord Leonard, if you’re smart, you should give up the mastermind behind this instead of letting your family take the fall. His Highness has given you four hours to think it over. You’d better consider it carefully.”
With that, Ansel turned on his heel and left.
Leonard’s eyes darted about frantically. “Has the Queen truly abandoned me?” he wondered.
After days of relentless back and forth on official business, Xander hadn’t had a proper moment’s rest.
Once inside the carriage, Xander closed his eyes and settled into a light doze.
“How is Athena doing?” Xander asked, eyes still closed.
Even as he rested, his mind remained preoccupied with concern for Athena.
Ansel glanced sideways at Xander and noticed the profound weariness on his face, with dark circles under his eyes.
Ansel’s heart ached for him as he replied in an especially hushed tone, “Your Highness, rest assured. The Viscountess has already returned to her manor for rest.”
Athena held no official position, so the Federal Bureau was a place she should never have to set foot in. Xander already had someone escort her home.
Besides, he simply couldn’t bear the thought of Athena entering such a place.
Xander thought, “My Athena deserves only a life of comfort. Let me bear these troubles for her.”
Xander gave a slight nod and fell silent.
When they almost arrived at the Xander Manor, Xander said to Ansel, “Keep Athena updated at all times. Don’t hide anything.
Athena was deeply concerned about the case. Xander felt that she should be informed of any developments.
“Understood, Your Highness.”
After an indeterminate amount of time, the carriage came to an abrupt halt.
Xander’s eyes snapped open.
His sharp gaze darted to the window, only to spot a petite figure sitting before the imposing gates of the Xander Manor.
Ansel’s eyes widened in shock as he recognized the figure. “What’s she doing here?”
Waiting at the gates of the Xander Manor was none other than Leonard’s daughter, Janice.
Leonard was accused of murder, but the consequences of such a crime generally wouldn’t extend to his wife and children.
As it was verified that Janice had been entirely unaware of the matter, she was naturally let go.
Yet she had chosen the worst possible time to appear at the Xander Manor.
Xander’s expression darkened as he shot Ansel a cold glance. Ansel immediately lowered his head in trepidation. “Your Highness, I’ll have her removed at once.”
Ansel hastily disembarked from the carriage and strode toward Janice.
Spotting the carriage, Janice’s eyes lit up as she sprang to her feet, her excitement barely contained. When Ansel moved to block her, she recklessly charged into him.
For a woman, her honor was everything, but in this desperate moment, she cast aside all propriety between men and women.
Just as Janice was about to crash right into Ansel, Ansel, who was left with no other choice, had to grab her arm.
In that split second, Ansel caught her arm, but Janice’s forceful momentum dragged them both forward, sending her tumbling right in front of the carriage.
Clutching desperately to the carriage shaft, her face streaked with tears, Janice pleaded, “Prince Xander, please show mercy. Let my parents go, if you can agree, I’ll do anything you ask!”
As a desperate woman, she had nothing left to offer but her own body.
Ansel’s eyes widened in shock at her words. He forcefully pulled her away and snapped, “Miss Beckham, have some self-respect!”
Janice collapsed to her knees while sobbing uncontrollably. “My father must be innocent. He’s always been so upright and incorruptible, how could he possibly be a murderer? There must be some conspiracy behind this!”
In her heart, Leonard was nothing short of a doting father. She simply couldn’t bring herself to believe he could commit a crime.
Chapter 305