Chapter 9
“That’s impossible!”
Liette shouted, leaving Evan, who looked utterly stunned.
Duke Haart’s gaze shifted toward the unfamiliar girl who had suddenly intervened.
“I’m the daughter of Duke Meren. That’s why I’ve known Duke Croyt since I was little. He would never do something like that.”
“So you’re Liette. I’ve heard a lot about you from my brother.”
Clenching her fists tightly, Liette continued speaking.
“The Duchess of Croyt died during childbirth! That’s what we were told!”
“That’s what was originally believed. That’s what I knew too.”
“Then why…?”
“Recently, skeletal remains presumed to belong to the Duchess were discovered. And all the circumstances from that day point to my brother as the culprit.”
The shocking truth made her hands tremble.
“He’s someone who kept his late wife’s room untouched for over a decade… How could someone like that have killed her?”
There had to be some misunderstanding.
The Duke of Croyt that Liette knew would never do something like that.
He treated everyone the same, regardless of status, and always spoke what was right no matter who he was dealing with.
He was also known for his steady charity work—people praised his character constantly…
Liette forced her mind to keep working, refusing to let it go blank.
“Has the Duke admitted to the charges?”
Haart shook his head. Liette’s expression brightened for a moment.
“I knew it—”
“But he hasn’t denied them either.”
“Why…?”
What could Uncle possibly be thinking?
Liette bit her lip hard.
“Today is my brother’s birthday. I figured many people would be waiting for him, so I came in his place.”
“…”
“The charges haven’t been officially confirmed yet, but Evan needed to know.”
As Haart spoke with a pained expression, Liette finally found her voice.
“I want to meet the Duke right now.”
“My brother is no longer here. He chose to be quietly taken into custody to avoid disturbing the guests.”
“…Then when can I see him?”
“You’ll be able to visit tomorrow at 1 p.m. Bring Evan with you.”
Haart glanced at Evan, who still looked completely lost.
“Liette, please… take care of Evan.”
Once Haart left, Liette turned and walked over to Evan.
Throughout the entire conversation, Evan hadn’t said a single word.
Even if it wasn’t true, the fact that his father had been taken in on such charges must have been a huge shock…
“Evan, did you hear that? We can see Uncle tomorrow at 1 p.m.”
“…”
Hearing no response, Liette moved closer to Evan. His face was pale.
“Evan?”
“…Liette.”
Evan finally opened his mouth, calling her name weakly.
“I’m not going to see Father tomorrow.”
“…What?”
“You heard it yourself. He didn’t even deny the charges.”
“That’s… there must be circumstances we don’t know about.”
Liette spoke while trying to hide her trembling expression.
“No, there aren’t. I told you before, didn’t I? When I asked about Mother, Father always avoided the question.”
“…”
“He lied to me, saying she died during childbirth. I guess… this was the real story behind it.”
Evan clenched his fists tightly, shaking with betrayal. His lowered eyelashes trembled.
Just then, Liette quietly approached him.
And then—
“You pathetic idiot!!”
She grabbed him by the collar.
“Are you seriously believing this nonsense?!”
“What else am I supposed to do?! The person involved didn’t even deny it!!”
As Evan shouted in frustration, emotion surged within Liette.
“I’m really disappointed in you, Evan.”
“…”
“If even you—his only son—don’t believe in him, then who will?”
Looking at Evan in silence, she slowly let go of his collar.
“Fine. I’ll go see him by myself tomorrow.”
Evan still didn’t say he would go with her.
The ballroom was in utter chaos.
The Duke of Croyt, the guest of honor, had been arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife.
The shocking news spread like wildfire.
Those who knew the Duke well denied it outright, but others whispered that you never truly know what’s inside someone.
Before meeting the Duke tomorrow, Liette decided to ask her father—Duke Meren, a close friend of the Duke—if he knew anything about it.
Fortunately, Duke Meren was furious.
“Haile would never do such a thing!”
Upon returning home, the Duke threw off his gloves and shouted. Haile was Duke Croyt’s name.
“I also think something’s wrong,” said the Duchess of Meren, lowering her head in sorrow.
“Someone’s clearly trying to frame him! I’ve known Haile since he was young! He would never do this.”
“Of course. And… he truly loved his wife. You could tell just by the way he looked at her…”
Liette agreed with the Duchess.
It was true.
Whenever he talked about his wife, his gaze was full of longing and affection.
She didn’t know why he avoided talking about it with Evan, but at least to her, he always showed that side of himself.
“But what’s this about skeletal remains?” the Duchess asked.
The Duke let out a sigh.
“Apparently, skeletal remains were discovered in the woods behind Croyt Manor, and the bones had a necklace the Duchess used to wear.”
“A necklace?”
“Yes—one of the treasures from her family, the Marquisate of Velcaris.”
“Oh, that diamond necklace?”
“That’s right. It was passed down to the eldest daughters. The Duchess had it last.”
“And the bones were wearing that necklace?”
The Duchess of Croyt had disappeared over 14 years ago. If she had died, her body would have decayed.
But the necklace must’ve been the key to identifying the remains as hers.
Listening quietly, Liette finally understood the situation.
“But why do they think the Duke killed her?”
It was the Duchess of Meren who asked the crucial question.
“Everyone believed she died giving birth to Evan. But the problem is, Duke Croyt sent everyone away that day and delivered the baby himself.”
“…What? The Duke delivered Evan himself?”
Liette frowned.
That’s strange.
The Duchess must’ve known she might die during childbirth. Even so, she decided to go through with it.
There should’ve been a doctor present…
It made no sense that the Duke handled it alone.
“The maids testified that’s what happened on the day of the birth.”
“Then the Duke was the only one who saw her last moments. Still, wouldn’t others have attended the funeral?”
Exactly.
Even if he was the only one who saw her die, her family should’ve at least seen the body.
“Well… that’s the thing.”
From her father’s sigh, Liette sensed something was very wrong.
“Apparently, Haile was the only one who saw the body.”
“What?!”
The Duchess was shocked.
“He said he wanted to conduct the funeral alone. He didn’t even invite me. He made the same request to the Velcaris family. He was so devastated they didn’t object.”
“That’s unthinkable.”
The Duchess was horrified.
So that’s what Haart meant when he said everything pointed to Uncle.
Liette finally understood his words.
It was just as he said.
All the evidence and circumstances pointed to Uncle as the culprit.
If the bones were buried in the woods, it was more likely a murder than an accident.
This world didn’t have the means to analyze DNA, but the necklace she wore in life was likely the decisive evidence.
And Uncle was the last person to see her—and he had lied all this time, saying she died in childbirth.
“But still, my friend Haile would never do something like that!”
Duke Meren shouted in frustration.
“Use your social network to collect petitions. He’s helped many people—they’ll want to support him.”
“Understood.”
“I’m going to see Haile tomorrow and ask him the truth.”
At that, Liette stepped forward.
“Me too. I want to go with you!”
“Liette, I know how fond you are of Haile, but this isn’t your place.”
“I’m going in Evan’s stead. He… said he wouldn’t go.”
Duke Meren’s eyes widened in surprise. He wiped his face with a hand.
“Haa… Fine. Then go in his place.”
“Yes.”
She had to steel herself.
If things went wrong, not only would Uncle be condemned, but Evan’s future—once so promising—would be ruined.
Before his trial, the Duke of Croyt was being held in a cell beneath the courthouse.
Gone was the dignified man with sharp eyes and impeccable grooming.
Through the bars, Liette could see his worn-down figure and lifeless eyes. Her heart ached.
“You…”
Even Duke Meren seemed at a loss for words.
“You’ve come.”
Fortunately, the Duke of Croyt calmly greeted his friend.
“Look at yourself… You haven’t even been convicted yet—how can they treat you like this?!”
“Don’t get so worked up.”
Even in this situation, the Duke of Croyt remained composed, which only made Duke Meren frown.
“Haile, aren’t you angry? This is so unfair—it came out of nowhere—”
“I’ve decided to accept everything.”
“…What?”
“That’s the path I’ve chosen.”
He’d chosen it? Liette found that incredibly vague.
“Don’t be ridiculous! I know better than anyone you’re not that kind of man!”
While Duke Meren was agitated, the Duke of Croyt simply smiled weakly.
“I’ve realized… no secret lasts forever.”
“Haile…”
“Go now. I have nothing more to say.”
At the Duke’s firm words, Duke Meren’s grip on the cell bars slowly weakened.
As if driving the final nail, the Duke of Croyt coldly repeated:
“So please… don’t come back.”
