# 46
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The Marquis's brow wrinkled deeply.
“Redefine the focus of the meeting, Your Highness?”
Walter Richmond No, Ares leaned his torso, which was leaning at an angle on the chair, towards the subordinates. The rays of sunlight cut by the pillars of the great hall filtered down the sharp side of his noble features. Ares was slowly tightening the thread of tension enveloping the hall, as if he were slowly tightening a rubber band. When the thread reached its limit, he opened his mouth.
“I said it clearly. “I am the one who guarantees the identity of Grace and her bridesmaid.”
“But the will of the two bridesmaids...!”
“You did not commit suicide. Rather, they were killed. Therefore, the will is not valid as evidence. However, you ignored my opinion and locked Grace in the lower cell.”
Because the Marquis missed the timing of the response under the pressure of the Duke’s prestige, Count Isaac exploded in anger, brandishing a threat:
“In this palace of the Duke of Richmond, you dare to double-check who His Highness himf has guaranteed?! And you lock him in the lower cell without his permission? Is this possible?!
Then the Marquise cried out, staring at Count Isaac with fierce eyes:
“We had no choice!” She is in cahoots with The Unseen, and she had to be locked up! Your Highness, curb your anger and look at the situation clearly! We found the evidence!
Ares tilted his head and asked slowly and indifferently:
“Did you find evidence?”
"Yes!"
The moment the Marquise shouted proudly, the Duke smiled as if it were a lie. It was so fast that it was difficult to tell if it had actually happened. Then he muttered:
“Evidence... I am curious to know what evidence is beyond my assurance of certainty.”
Ares tugged his chin, stared at the Marquis and his wife with intense eyes, and then ordered:
“Bring Grace, bring the evidence. If your evidence is conclusive, I will cut off her head here and hang it up. But if not »
His gaze slid down the necks of the Marquis and Marquise as if a tiger's tongue were passing over them. A cold shiver ran down the necks.
“I will hold you accountable for this excessive loyalty.”
Truly, the blood is one.
Perhaps all of his ancestors were rulers; Although the Duke seemed young, his prestige made the palms of his hands wet. But the Marquise, on the contrary, opened her chest more and stared defiantly.
There is no point in claiming power. That woman wouldn't be in her right mind. In the end, she will be beheaded here.
At that moment, a whisper was heard behind them, as if a door had opened. The Marquis and his wife reflexively turned to study the Duke's expression. His gaze was fixed behind them, without any sense to be read.
The Marquise held her breath, which was beginning to become harsh with excessive excitement, then turned around slowly.
The light streaming from the open door was much stronger than the lighting of the dark hall, so the features of those entering were not clear. The lighting was adverse, the light so fragmented that the shadows seemed blurry.
Why all this silence? She was hoping for at least noisy madness.
The Marquise waited, forgetting even how to breathe, until her features became clear.
Please...please...you've gone completely crazy. In fact, it was kinder to Grace as well; To die without realizing her death.
The opposing light cleared like watercolors, and she appeared.
The Marquise tilted her head in confusion. The dampness and cold of the basement touched her cheeks like a mirage. The heavy smell of mold, the metallic breath of the cellars, reminded her that this was reality. She followed with her eyes the woman who passed by like a spell; Her wet blonde hair, in strands, was falling down her back.
The Persian families, including Crimson Isaac, heaved stifled sighs.
Ares stared blankly at Grace, who appeared pale and bluish. Her cream dress was dirty, and her hair, dark blond from the humidity, hung long. Her collarbones, protruding from hunger, looked so brittle that they could be broken with a single finger, and her bluish lips confirmed her poor condition.
But her eyes, the eyes that faced him, were as clear as the densest summer forest, and her will was as strong as they were clear.
“Catch the monster that entered the trap.”
Ares answered her will sincerely:
“Linko, since the woman in question has arrived, it's your turn. Provide evidence that Grace is one of “the invisible ones.”
The Marquis Lenco, who was staring at his wife from behind, growled, then exhaled forcefully and moved forward until he was standing right next to Grace. He said in an angry voice:
“Your Highness! The two bridesmaids wrote a will confessing that this woman was one of “the unseen” and then committed suicide! What evidence is clearer than this? But since you don't believe it, we have no choice but to bring a witness.”
Then he turned sharply to Grace.
“We found someone who knows this woman.”
The Marquise added, suddenly regaining consciousness:
“From A to Z, there was nothing truthful in her words. Even her name was a lie!
When Grace slowly turned to her, the Marquise sneered and leaned on the lady-in-waiting, shouting:
“Bring him!”
The bridesmaid pointed to the side door, and the soldier immediately opened the door.
His presence was felt audibly before it was seen.
Dom Tabak… Dom Tabak.
The sound of metal hitting the ground, alternating with heavy footsteps. At that distinct beat, Crimson Isaac and the Knights turned their attention to the side door.
Then he appeared.
Doom Tabak… Doom Tabak.
The man had a remarkably thick neck, so much so that his neck seemed to cling to his broad shoulders. But what was most striking was his walk, as much as the voice itf. He was limping badly. Under a worn gray cloak, his left foot and a metal bar were visible. He had no right leg.
“Ah... my legs are like this, so it's hard for me to turn around for long. Allow me a moment… Yes, yes, thank you.”
With a hoarse voice full of phlegm, he made his way among the nobles of the Marquis's party, and they stared at him sharply. But he did not care, and the place was filled with turmoil. While this was happening, the Marquis smiled secretly and asked Crimson Isaac:
“Viscount Isaac. This man says that knights near the Wall of Death owe him their lives, and that you must know him. Isn't it?
At that moment, the man swayed closer.
“Knights! Long absence! “What a pleasure it is to see you like this.”
The Marquis looked at Crimson seriously:
“Tell us, Viscount, who is this man?”
“Iron Foot.”
Before Crimson could answer, Ares said. All eyes turned to the Duke. The man who was called “Iron Foot” opened his eyes wide, then made a funny bow, as if imitating a nobleman.
“Your Highness! “To know my name…I can only be grateful.”
Ares sneered and said sharply:
«Gratitude? I saved you from death, and you became without loyalty or knowledge of your destiny. Not only did your greed make you lose a leg and an arm, but today you came to lose your head as well.”
«Oh! It seems that your vision is as sharp as your tongue!
“Keep manners with your highness!”
Crimson got up angrily, Ironfoot shrank his already short neck even more, and blew his nose.
"I apologize. I covet nothing, Your Highness. “I just came to say what I know.”
A smile between sarcasm and mockery was suspended by Ares, and he warned in a low voice:
“False testimony is punishable by death. Did you know?
Ironfoot wiped away his feigned expression and nodded. Then he turned to Grace.
“What is the need to lie at all?”
Grace met his shining eyes.
“My body may be like this, but my eyesight is still sharp.”
Ironfoot smiled and called her as if he was calling a niece after a long absence:
“A long time ago, Vicki. How are you? You insolent person, shouldn't you have said: Hello?
Flora almost burst out laughing, so she bit the inside of her cheek hard, then whispered in a low voice to the two bridesmaids behind her:
“Did you hear? Her name is Vicky.”
“And Grace was saying...she seemed to be imitating the nobles.”
Flora looked at the Duke.
“How broken his heart must be.”
Ironfoot moved forward, swaying until he was directly in front of Grace, and began to shake his thick finger in front of her face.
“Since you were young, you have been lying, and you did not give up the habit until you grew up and committed this act!” Where is the politeness for you to loose your tongue like that?!”
The Marquis came forward as if he had found an opportunity, and pointed to him:
“This man is a merchant who travels throughout the empire. He visits the Deccan capital, Richmond, and even the villages near the Wall of Death.”
Ironfoot shrugged proudly.
“This is a proven matter, and I believe that His Highness knows it.”
Ares motioned with his hand to continue, and the Marquis continued:
“As Richmond's vassal, I was required to verify the identity of everyone entering the palace, including His Highness's mistress. During the investigation, I met someone who knew her.”
With a gesture, Ironfoot opened his mouth:
“Whenever I heard the description, all I saw was Vicky. Haha...I know her parents.”