Chapter 310
While the morning mist still lingered, the grand, vermilion-lacquered gates of the duke’s estate burst open with a deafening roar.
A contingent of Aegis Guards swept into the duke’s estate like storm clouds descending. Xander, who was fully dressed in official style, stood atop the steps, his face cold as stone.
“Minister of the Justice Ministry, Nicolas Monson, is deeply involved in the Rogers family massacre,” Xander commanded, an icy glare sweeping across the estate. “I am here to arrest him.”
When the news reached the rear courtyard, both Henry Monson and Eloise hurried out in alarm. At the sight before them, they both felt their vision darken with shock.
Henry stumbled forward, nearly trampling the hem of his robe into the mud. He cried out in protest to Xander, “Your Highness, my family has served loyally for generations. What is the meaning of this?”
With tears streaming down her face, Eloise pleaded incessantly, “Yes, Prince Xander. How could Nicolas knowingly break the very laws he’s sworn to uphold? He is a court official. There must be some misunderstanding!”
Xander’s gaze was as cold as frost, his fingertips tapping the hilt of his sword with a faint click. “Minister Nicolas hired assassins to commit murder. The evidence is irrefutable.”
Ansel stepped forward and handed the signed confession to Henry. He declared, “The criminal has confessed that he acted on Lord Nicolas’s orders to poison Leonard. His Highness is investigating this case by imperial decree. Anyone who dares to interfere will be treated as an accomplice.”
Henry and Eloise were utterly dumbfounded. In disbelief, they staggered forward. Clutching the official document, they read it over and over. It meticulously detailed how Nicolas had hired assassins to commit murder and silence Leonard.
“How could this be?” Eloise’s hands trembled violently as tears flooded down her cheeks. She looked helplessly at Henry; his eyes were bloodshot as well, and his face was etched with disbelief.
This charge was enough to put Nicolas in prison. As the heir apparent to Henry, Nicolas was the future of the Monson family. If he were imprisoned, the entire Monson family would be ruined.
“Your Highness, show mercy!” Henry dropped heavily to his knees, with Eloise immediately following suit.
A suffocating tension gripped the entire duke’s estate. Everyone was walking on eggshells, fearing they might be next. By then, Ansel was already marching Nicolas out of the courtyard.
Xander shot him an icy glare, his voice steel-cold as he ordered, “Take him away.”
“Father, Mother…” Nicolas tried to lunge forward, but the guards held him fast, rendering him immobile.
Eloise could only watch helplessly as the Aegis Guards dragged Nicolas away, her sobs so intense she nearly fainted from grief. The sound of hoofbeats faded into the distance as the Aegis Guards withdrew from the duke’s estate.
Henry struggled to turn his eyes toward Eloise and cried out urgently, “Find Athena! She’s our son’s only hope.”
“Yes!” Eloise gasped, like a drowning woman clutching at straws. “Prince Xander adores Athena so much. If she’s willing to plead with him, perhaps he’ll release Nicolas for her sake.”
Just as Henry and Eloise were about to head out to look for Athena, a crisp voice cut through the air. “Don’t waste your breath.”
Startled, Henry and Eloise spun around, only to see Fiona Manson approaching with Cedric in her arms.
Fiona gave them a disapproving look. “You both know perfectly well how Athena left the duke’s estate back then. Do you really think she’d agree to help if you go begging her now?”
Fiona’s words made Eloise’s temper flare. Eloise sprang to her feet, jabbing a finger in Fiona’s face as she snapped, “Nicolas is your husband! Now that he’s been framed by villains, not only do you refuse to stand up for him, but you even try to stop us. What are you up to?”
Henry snapped in fury. “Even if you two have your own issues, you’re still a couple. As his wife, you should be fighting for him, not kicking him when he’s down!”
Fiona, seeing her words fall on deaf ears, let out a wry, self-mocking laugh. “I was just trying to get you to face reality. Instead of bothering Athena, wouldn’t it be better to think of another way to save Nicolas? Why waste your time?”
Fiona was indifferent toward Nicolas now, but still, he was Cedric’s father. If Nicolas was convicted, Cedric would have to live with that shame. He would never be able to hold his head up in society.
Fiona came with well-meaning advice, only to have Eloise and Henry scream insults right in her face. Fiona felt a wave of cold despair wash over her. She thought bitterly, ‘No wonder Athena was so determined to cut ties with this family back then. It turns out that she has already seen through them.’
Eloise, consumed by rage, suddenly lashed out and struck Fiona hard across the face with a resounding slap. Had Fiona not jerked aside at the last moment, Eloise’s vicious slap would have struck Cedric, too.
“Get back to your quarters right now, and don’t you dare come out without my orders!” Eloise was trembling with fury.
Fiona’s cheek swelled red from the slap. Suppressing her pain, she quietly replied, “Yes.” Then, the servants escorted her back to her quarters.
Even after Fiona had vanished from view, Eloise’s fury still burned. She spat, “If I’d known she was of such low breeding, we would never have had Nicolas marry her. After just a few years of luxury, the wretch doesn’t even know her place anymore. Does she really think she’s some grand lady now?”
Henry’s face darkened with rage as well, but dealing with Fiona would have to wait. Saving Nicolas took priority now.
He said, “Enough. Let’s go find Athena immediately.”
To ensure Athena couldn’t turn them away, Henry stomped straight to her residence with a contingent of armed retainers. This time, Henry ignored the gatekeeper’s protests and barged straight in.
Lance cried out in alarm, “Your Grace, what do you think you’re doing? How dare you barge into the Viscountess’s private residence with your men like this?”
Henry’s face turned livid, brimming with menace as he snarled, “Get lost!”
Henry viciously kicked Lance in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. Eloise followed on Henry’s heels, striding purposefully inside.
Suddenly, they stopped dead in their tracks. Jessa Kent blocked Henry and Eloise’s path with her subordinates.
Jessa snapped, “This is the Viscountess’s private residence. Even though you are the Duke of Suffield, you may not enter at will. Does Your Grace intend to flout imperial laws?”
Henry couldn’t care less. His eyes burned with malice as he glared at Jessa and barked, “Who do you think you are? How dare you block my path? Do you have a death wish?”
Jessa lifted her chin slightly, her expression proud and defiant. “Though my status may be humble, I’m here under Prince Xander’s orders to protect the Viscountess. If anyone dares disturb her, I won’t hold back.”
Jessa unsheathed her sword and slammed it point-first into the ground. The crowd recoiled in shock, their faces paling in fear. They were stunned, both by Jessa’s intimidating power and by the revelation that Xander had sent her.
Henry grashed his teeth, his face contorted with fury. He snarled, “Go ahead and kill me if you dare!” Henry strode forward, utterly fearless.
With each step Henry took, Jessa’s resolute gaze wavered a fraction. If she harmed him, both Xander and Athena would land in serious trouble. However, if she didn’t stop him, Athena would just end up being bothered again.
Just as the standoff reached its peak, Athena’s crisp, commanding voice cut through the tension. “Jessa, stand down.”
Athena, spotting the commotion from a distance, swiftly made her way over. Upon seeing Athena, Eloise’s face lit up with a mix of desperate relief and feigned joy. From afar, she stretched out a trembling hand toward Athena. She cried out as tears streamed down her cheeks, “Athena, my precious daughter. I’ve finally reached you!”
Her pathetic performance was truly cringeworthy. A flash of irritation crossed Athena’s eyes. She’d seen this act countless times before. If Nicolas hadn’t gotten into trouble, Eloise and Henry would never have barged into her residence just to put on this sham performance.
Eloise sobbed uncontrollably, her voice choked with gut-wrenching tears as she pleaded, “Athena, my darling, I was wrong, will you forgive me?”