Chapter 70

When I arrived at the duke’s house, there seemed to be a commotion going on near the entrance.

Could it be… Cosette?

I ushered my coachman to hurry to the gate.

I couldn’t wait for the carriage to stop, so I opened the door and jumped out, only to find it was George making a scene.

More than a little disappointed, I regained my composure and turned my feet to walk in that direction.

“What’s all the fuss about?”

“Oh, Your Highness! These guys are saying they haven’t seen Cosette. And they won’t let me go in even when I ask if I can check!”

“No matter how much George-sama pleads, I will not allow you to enter the mansion without the Duke’s permission! And Cosette-sama is not here!”

The butler boldly talks back to George, who is raging like a boar.

I was about to join George when it occurred to me that the man who had committed suicide had told me that Remias and Cosette had entered the mansion.

If he wanted us to believe that, his purpose was to have Remias condemned for kidnapping Cosette.

If this became public knowledge, the Duke would not be let off freely.

And the people who would benefit from the Duke’s downfall are, quite frankly, too numerous to consider.

Hmm…

I turned back to the butler.

“Is the Duke here?”

“No, he’s out for the day.” The butler replied, his eyes wandering.

“Ho. Then I would like to turn this matter over to Lady Remilia and Lord Remias. I heard that Remias is resting, so he must not be out of the house.”

“That’s not…”

Is there a reason why Remias can’t take over?

What is this butler hiding?

“We have proof of what Lady Remy has done. Further concealment would not be in the best interest of the Duke. I may be able to do something about it now, at my discretion, but if we delay it any longer…”

I looked meaningfully at the butler, and he looked down painfully.

Then a high-pitched voice called out.

“I’ll take you to Remias.”

I looked up at the person who called to me and saw a beautiful woman at the top of the stairs that leads to the entrance hall.

It was Remilia, the Duchess of Dorange, whom I had met several times.

“Good day, Your Highness. I apologize for the delay in greeting you.”

Remilia came down the stairs and thanked me.

“….Milady! But…!”

“It’s all right. I can’t look at my husband now. The only way to bring back the smiles on the faces of my beloved son and daughter is to bring it all to light now.”

Remilia, who seemed to have made up her mind about something, shed a single tear from her beautiful eyes.

At the same time, the old butler also bowed his head as if he had given up on the idea.

“I will guide you…”

”

”

George and I walked down the path to Remias’s room, which we were accustomed to going to.

The back of the old steward in front of us appeared smaller than it was when he was boldly confronting George.

“How could it have come to this? Not long ago, the mansion was full of happiness.”

The butler murmured this without addressing anyone.

The butler did not lead me to the room of Remias which I was familiar with, but to a dark room deep in the mansion.

The door was locked tightly.

“Is Remias here?”

George and I gulped.

When I opened the door, I found Remias in the windowless room, looking a little more gaunt than before.

“Remias…!”

“Your Highness, George. It’s been a long time.”

“It hasn’t been that long! What are you talking about? You’ve been locked up, haven’t you?”

George runs to Remias and rubs his arms and back as if to make sure he’s safe.

“More importantly, I have something to tell you. The Marquis Alfred is attempting to stage a coup. It seems that my father found evidence of the prior king’s poisoning and was cooperating with the Marquis. He plans to use his ill-earned gains to arm the army and use his armed forces to bring about the coup. Please capture the Marquis as soon as possible.”

Remias decisively exposed his own father’s misdeeds.

Despite the fact that his position … even his life could be in danger.

“A coup d’etat…! I need to speak with His Majesty. Remias, your loyalty has been proven, and I promise not to let anything happen to you. Will you come with me to the castle?”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Remias stood up, clearly not in his best condition, but with determination.

George silently lends his shoulder to him.

…He is a little tearful.

“…George.”

“Yes sir!”

“I will head to the royal castle with Remias. Cosette is probably at the Marquis Alfred’s. Will you go as my emissary?”

“Going to the Marquis is dangerous.”

“But as the crown prince, I cannot prioritize Cosette.”

The only person I could ask, knowing the risks involved, was George.

“It’s not an order. This is a request from me.”

“As you wish.”

As it turned out, George grinned fearlessly and started to run quickly.

It’s hard to believe that he kidnapped Cosette just to frame Remias for the crime.

If framing Remias was the goal, why did he bother to kidnap her? It’s more effective to just kill Cosette.

That means they must have something against Cosette herself. Or they’re using her as a hostage against me.

Biting my lip in frustration at not being able to go to Cosette, I leave the mansion, lending my shoulder to support Remias.