By Zephyria 
The palace was noisy from the morning. Even before the sun rose, the gates of the castle swung wide open, and a procession of prisoners was brought in.
Following Cecile’s suggestion, Alexis collected all the weapons used during the hunting competition for investigation, discovering traces of potent poison in five arrowheads. Each of the arrow fletchings bore Rowen’s mark.
Rowen, who was supposed to enter the palace proudly in a carriage, was immediately arrested and dragged away. The baron’s mansion was also searched by the knights, and soon, the potent poison he had been collecting was found in a hidden space within the mansion.
With the poison from the collected darts being the same as that found in the arrowheads, all that remained was a thorough interrogation.
The investigative methods of the Berka Empire were notoriously harsh. Especially for criminals who remained silent despite clear evidence, terrible punishments followed.
Thus, Rowen’s screams echoed continuously in the underground prison. The thick walls prevented any cries from escaping, but everyone knew that torture was taking place inside.
At that moment, Cecile was preparing to go out. Standing in front of a full-length mirror, he was adjusting his attire alone, without the help of his attendants.
His face reflected in the mirror was no different from usual, but his hands were noticeably trembling. Now that Rowen had confessed to his crimes, Cecile was also facing an investigation.
Of course, Cecile had no charges against him, and the purpose of the investigation was merely to gather witness statements.
He only needed to explain the fact that he had handed wine to the baron and the circumstances surrounding it. It was clear that it would take no more than thirty minutes at most.
The problem was the location of the investigation. It was the very place where he had suffered severe torture and met a lonely death in his past life.
Cecile closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Whew, don’t tremble. It’s okay. It’s just a courtroom, not the underground prison.”
Bad memories would only ruin everything. Cecile steadied his weakened heart by touching the marks hidden beneath his clothing. He then opened the bedroom door and stepped out. Loyal attendants were waiting right in front of him.
“Leo, prepare. We’re going to the courtroom.”
“Yes, Cecile-nim.”
As he issued the brief command and took a step forward, the attendants, including Leo, followed behind him like a tail. As they exited Peridot Palace, the clear morning sunlight shone down. The weather was so bright that it made worries seem trivial.
“It’s just formal questions, so there’s no need to be too nervous.”
“Yes. I’m ready.”
Alexis, sitting at the desk, merely raised his eyes. The interrogation room, filled with a solemn atmosphere, would intimidate anyone who was there for the first time, whether guilty or innocent.
However, Cecile Adrian, seated in the armchair, wore a face more composed than anyone else. He maintained a straight posture with his back and shoulders upright, and his arms resting loosely on the armrests showed no signs of tension. Only the unique grace of royalty remained.
“Cecile Adrian.”
Alexis held up a prepared list of questions. He had memorized its contents anyway. While witness statements were typically the job of lower-ranking investigators, given the circumstances, he had to take the lead this time.
“From now on, you must answer only with the truth to the questions I ask.”
After taking a moment, he began to speak.
“Did you hand wine to Rowen during the hunting competition?”
“Yes.”
“What was the reason?”
“To wish for his victory.”
“You wished for Rowen’s victory? Were you that close with the baron?”
There was a clear strength in Alexis’s tone, and the end of his words was sharp. His emotionless, icy blue eyes had an exceptional talent for reading the other person’s psychology. All of this converged on Cecile, pressuring him to reveal his true feelings.
Cecile did not answer immediately but slowly turned his gaze.
The interrogation room was surrounded by vintage wallpaper, but it felt suffocatingly confined. A scribe was diligently taking down every word he said, and above all, the Crown Prince stood guard before him.
It was not much different from what Cecile remembered. The only difference was that the disdain in the Crown Prince’s gaze had vanished.
How fortunate it was; this alone made Cecile feel rewarded for his efforts thus far. A faint smile crept onto his stiff lips.
“Rowen is on friendly terms with Her Majesty the Empress. Although not often, I have occasionally met with him. If you ask why I supported him, well, I would say I simply shared the Empress’s sentiments.”
“Are you suggesting that Empress Elizabeth has supported Rowen in the past?”
“I believe so.”
In the now silent interrogation room, only the busy scratching of the scribe’s pen could be heard. Alexis briefly lowered the documents and hid them behind him. His sharply focused gaze was fixed solely on one person.
“Does Her Majesty the Empress know that the baron collects potent poison?”
“I heard it in her presence, so she probably does.”
Each of Cecile’s statements targeted the Empress.
Knock-knock—at that moment, a sound echoed as someone knocked on the wooden door. Claude, who had entered despite the rudeness, looked at Alexis with a tense expression.
“Your Highness, I have urgent news.”
Alexis immediately rose and spoke with Claude in a corner. As the conversation continued, Alexis’s expression grew darker. Before long, Claude hurriedly left, and Alexis sighed as he returned to his original position.
“Let the scribe step out for a moment.”
Now, only the two of them remained in the interrogation room, and silence enveloped them. As Cecile, unaware of the reason, swallowed nervously, he heard the words.
“I just heard that Rowen has been murdered.”
“What… what do you mean!”
“One of the guards assigned to watch him killed the baron. Without even knowing who ordered it, he also took his own life at the scene. Ha, there’s no place where the Empress’s influence doesn’t reach.”
Alexis raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. He was extremely irritated by the situation not going as he wished.
He knew that the Empress would not simply sit back and watch. He should have been more cautious; he never expected that Rowen, trapped in the underground prison, would be harmed.
In a situation where he had lost the only clue that could reveal the mastermind, Alexis could not hide his anger.
Cecile was equally shocked, having not anticipated such an outcome. He carefully approached Alexis after rising from his chair.
“Her Majesty the Empress will continue to try to ruin your path.”
At those words, Alexis let out a scoff. There was no need to confirm something so obvious.
But Cecile continued, undeterred.
“I cannot betray my mother. As her son, I cannot sever our relationship. Even if I do not wish it… she will try to pass on what you possess to me.”
“……”
“However, if you wish, I will gladly assist you from behind.”
“You would help me?”
Alexis raised his eyes, his smile vanishing. His cold expression remained, but Cecile no longer found him frightening or difficult.
“Please use me. Step on me and rise above.”
“Why would you go that far to help me… what do you gain from this, Cecile?”
“I want to see the Berka Empire under your rule.”
“That’s blasphemous. The Empress is still alive.”
“Of course, not at this moment. It may be a few years, or perhaps even longer… but eventually, it will come to pass.”
Cecile poured out the words he had kept inside for so long. It had taken him a long time to convey this to Alexis.
“Please become the strongest emperor in the history of the empire. If you rise to the highest position… then you can repay me then.”
“What do you want?”
“I will tell you on the day you ascend the throne.”
Alexis silently took in Cecile.
Could there be another such coveted ally? Cecile Adrian was noble, intelligent, and above all, the one who could most accurately gauge the Empress’s movements. If he were to become his ally, there would be no greater power.
If Cecile pledged his loyalty to him, he could offer him anything he desired, be it wealth or position. However, he needed assurance first.
“There must be no betrayal.”
“I will never betray you.”
“Words alone are not enough.”
Cecile willingly lowered his posture. Kneeling before Alexis, who sat at the desk, he began a solemn vow.
“I swear by the name of God that I will be loyal to Alexis Winter Graham, the heir of the Berka Empire. I will be your faithful vassal and will not speak a single lie.”
“You are mine from now on.”
Cecile’s hand resting on his knee trembled. He answered in a quivering voice.
“Yes, I will be yours until the end of my life, Your Highness.”
“Rise.”
Cecile slowly lifted his legs. In that brief moment, he felt how much energy had been drained, and his weakened knees wobbled.
Alexis extended his long arms and pulled Cecile’s waist closer. Embracing his tense body, he gently patted the back of Cecile’s head.
“Having received your precious vow, I will also grant you corresponding trust. Please believe in me and follow me.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Cecile barely managed to respond. The warmth of Alexis’s hand embracing him was so incredible that it made his eyes well up with tears. He truly felt that he had been accepted.
Trapped in the solid embrace, Cecile clutched the hem of Alexis’s clothing with trembling hands.
Overwhelmed with emotion and sadness, fearing that it might show, Cecile had to hide his flushed face with all his might.