Chapter 65
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 65
The moment I saw him, I understood at once why Aiden had come here.
Just days ago, he had come alone late at night to examine the carriage.
I could see his fierce determination to capture with his own hands the culprit who had injured his beloved sister.
Before I could even release my hand from his after stepping down from the carriage, another carriage arrived behind us.
I frowned upon seeing the family crest adorning the carriage.
'A dragon in azure hue.'
It was the emblem representing the Maxius Family.
And from that carriage descended a man who matched my expectations perfectly.
"...Heitz noblewoman."
Though he was addressing me, Cain Maxius's gaze did not rest upon my face but rather lower.
Following his line of sight and lowering my head slightly, I realized I was still holding Aiden's hand.
"Duke Maxius."
I greeted Cain Maxius with a reluctant expression, deliberately keeping my hand clasped in Aiden's.
Whether he understood my intention or not, Aiden also greeted Cain Maxius without releasing my hand.
"Duke Maxius, congratulations on your victory in the Equestrian Tournament."
The Equestrian Tournament ultimately concluded with Cain Maxius's triumph.
It was terribly disappointing.
It had been close—razor-thin—but Aiden had been slightly ahead.
If only Aiden hadn't collapsed right before the final match, the victory would have been his!
"Thank you, Prince Byon. However, it was a most regrettable match. Are you certain your health has recovered? Shouldn't you be taking more rest?"
Cain Maxius's words sounded as though he were suggesting I remove myself from this place.
"I'm fine. My health hasn't fully recovered, but I'm not incapacitated."
Now that I thought about it, Aiden's complexion still looked poor.
"Are you really all right? Wouldn't it be better to rest a bit more?"
I asked about his condition with a face full of concern.
"I'm fine, Belita. I apologize for causing you unnecessary worry."
"Unnecessary worry, you say."
I tried to wave my hand to tell him not to think that way, but Aiden's hand rose along with mine.
We were still holding hands.
And Cain Maxius observed us with his characteristically cold expression.
"It seems the two of you have grown quite close."
Cain Maxius's voice had dropped to a low tone.
"If you had witnessed yesterday's council meeting, I would wonder how the two of you could possibly be on such friendly terms."
I know it too.
My father and Byon Duke didn't get along—that much was painfully obvious.
I could only imagine how much they'd snarled at each other during yesterday's council meeting without even witnessing it.
But I'd sooner die than watch Cain Maxius wield that tension as a weapon to bind me.
So I let out a derisive laugh and spoke to him.
"It seems the Duke is quite old-fashioned after all."
"What do you mean?"
Cain Maxius's expression crumpled without mercy.
"I thought that despite being a Duke, since we're similar in age, you'd be someone with more progressive thinking. It appears I was mistaken."
"...."
Cain Maxius stared at me intently without offering any response.
I straightened my shoulders with even greater confidence under his gaze and continued speaking.
"Even if our parents don't get along, that animosity should end with their generation. If our generation continues to perpetuate that ill will, how could we possibly lead this Empire together and bring it to prosperity?"
As my words concluded, Aiden squeezed the hand he was holding with subtle pressure.
That gesture made me feel that his heart aligned with mine.
"Once I become the head of the Heitz Family, I intend to release all the stale emotions that have bound me until now. And I will open a new era alongside the heads of both families. Yet it seems the Duke of House Maxius holds different views, and I find that truly regrettable."
Neither man spoke a word until my statement ended.
"Let's go inside. We'll be late for the council meeting."
I left Cain Maxius standing motionless and pulled Aiden's hand as we entered the Manor.
Only when we reached the front of the Council Chamber did I finally release the hand I'd been gripping, and I spoke to him.
"Aiden understands everything, yet you always watch over me quietly. I never wanted to drag you into matters with the Duke like this every time. I'm sorry."
I offered him a sincere apology with a bittersweet smile.
"I'm fine. If I can be of any use to Belita in any way, I'm always happy to help."
"Then I sound like a terribly selfish person."
"Not selfish at all. I do it because I want to, so please don't worry."
"Because you want to?"
"Yes, that's right."
Those words—not even a confession of affection—lodged themselves firmly in my chest.
"Still—"
As I was about to say more to him, Cain Maxius was drawing near.
I cut myself short and gave Aiden a look urging him inside before stepping into the Council Chamber.
Inside, twelve knights from the Capital Security Force were seated.
As we entered, they quickly rose from their seats and bowed their heads to us.
"Everyone, raise your heads and be seated."
At my words, the knights took their seats again.
Aiden, I, and Cain Maxius took our places at the head of the Council Chamber in a row.
Cain Maxius, being the Duke, sat in the center, while Aiden and I occupied the flanking positions.
And so we began our council, discussing what investigations we would conduct and how we would identify the culprit.
* * *
The next day, we decided to investigate the damaged carriage as agreed upon in the meeting.
After that, we interrogated the Coachman who had been driving it.
We needed to question Adela, the victim, about the circumstances at the time, but she still hadn't regained consciousness.
According to Aiden Byon, she hadn't sustained any serious injuries, but since her body was naturally frail, her recovery seemed to be progressing slowly.
In any case, we decided to methodically pursue each step necessary to find the culprit behind the carriage incident.
So now, our investigation team—myself, Aiden Byon, and Cain Maxius—had arrived at the scene of the carriage accident.
"Given that only about half of the carriage's rear wheel was blown away, the incendiary bomb's destructive power doesn't seem to have been that great."
"I suppose you're right."
Aiden Byon nodded in agreement with my assessment.
"Yes, the bomb was likely no larger than a fist at most."
I shared the information I possessed with both men while examining the carriage in detail.
When I had come that night, I had been anxious about any evidence that might implicate me as the culprit, so I had only paid careful attention to that concern.
Above all, on that moonless night when I had relied solely on a small flame for light, I was now able to examine the carriage thoroughly for what felt like the first time.
"Indeed, it wasn't at a level that would have posed a serious threat to the young lady of House Byon's life."
I found myself in agreement with Cain Maxius's observation.
After that, we spent quite a long time meticulously searching the carriage and the surrounding area where the accident had occurred.
But we found little of value.
I suddenly realized that finding decisive evidence at a crime scene, unlike what I'd read in novels, wasn't such an easy task.
"Let's search a bit more before we head back."
"Very well."
"Yes, understood."
The two men answered quickly, like obedient children.
In the end, we returned to the council chamber of the small Manor being used by the investigation team, having found no evidence that would allow us to apprehend the culprit.
"Where is the Coachman?"
As soon as we returned, Cain Maxius immediately asked the knight who was supposed to have brought the Coachman.
"The Coachman from House Byon has been brought to the Interrogation Room."
"Understood."
"What should we do? Who among us should go to the Interrogation Room?"
"I think it would be best if we all went together. If only one of us goes, that person could manipulate the testimony, making it unreliable."
Cain Maxius's reasoning was half right and half wrong.
As far as I was concerned, Aiden Byon was someone I could trust, but Cain Maxius was not.
Therefore, if Aiden Byon were to go, I would have gladly told him to go alone, but if Cain Maxius were to go, I absolutely could not allow him to conduct the interrogation by himself.
"Fine. Let's all go together."
And so we descended to the Interrogation Room together, just as we had gone to examine the carriage.
When we entered the Interrogation Room, the Coachman was crouched in a corner, trembling violently all over.
"Bring the Coachman over here."
"Yes, understood."
The two knights guarding the Coachman forced him to kneel on the floor.
Glancing at the Coachman's face, I could see it was filled with fear and terror.
"Raise your head."
Cain Maxius commanded the Coachman.
The Coachman's body trembled like aspen leaves as he forced his quivering head upward, though he could barely hear the words.
Watching his pupils shake violently, I could plainly see just how anxious he truly was.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org