CH 76.2

His eyes suddenly filled with anger again.

But there was no reason for him to kill Sharon. It was probably better to put her on trial and get a confession.

Lia was able to guess why he shot Sharon without trouble.

Because of me.

If he let Sharon Riverdale live, sooner or later the name Canillia Vale would come out of her mouth.

Then everything would go as the Marchioness’s wish. Anastasia would be able to make Canillia be treasonous without trouble by making her into an anarchist.

Canillia carefully wrapped her hand around his fist. Tears fell on his large hand. Her heart that she calmed was collapsing instantly.

“I saw…mom.”

Claude’s eyes shook.

“And now it’s alright… To never meet her again. But I have something left to check.”

“What?” asked Claude.

“The truth.”

Claude slowly lifted her chin as she was trying to hold back tears. Something filled her green eyes. Something that he couldn’t reach.

He kissed her without a word. Their tongues mingled softly like silk.

“Even so. I’ll protect you, Canillia.”

***

Canillia came back to the mansion to the police cars surrounding it and knew something was wrong. Pepe and the maids all came out in cuffs.

Lia stopped the car and yelled at the officer.

“What are you doing!”

The maids who were crying started bawling when they saw Canillia. The officer, who was smoking, bowed and came to her.

“You’re here. Good. You should come with us as well.”

“Let my maids go this instance!”

“I didn’t want to do this either but a diamond was found in your house. That youngest maid over there had it. I came here on search warrant and you were here….”

The officer found the Grand Duke who got out of the car after and widened his eyes. He saluted him with a different stance this time.

“Diamond? You’re doing this because you found a diamond on my maid?”

“The search warrant was given as the Marchioness picked you as the culprit. And we found it while searching through your house.”

“So… Just, because of a diamond, you’re saying me and my people are the culprit.”

Canillia’s face was cold and showed silent rage as she stepped closer. The officer didn’t know what to do at an unexpected reaction and showed her the diamond.

“A diamond came out as an evidence. So of course…”

“Officer, I think you forgot who I am. I’m not just a noble, but a second son of the Marquis family. But you don’t think I’d have even a single common diamond in my house? Perhaps, have you been looking down at me because I am a bastard?”

“Not at all! Sir. That’s not it.”

The officer felt dizzy as she was spitting out words without a change in expression. He thought she would be easy to handle. Long time ago, when she visited as a witness, she was like this. The Canillian Vale in his mind was just a noble child who couldn’t say anything under Kieran Vale’s shadow.

“One diamond….”

Canillia mumbled, laughed coldly and showed him her hands.

“Put them on.”

“Pardon?”

“Put those cuffs on my hands as well. I’ll be investigated by you, who looked down on my father and the Marquis family.”

The officer looked around as if he was asking for help, but everyone else ignored. It was Claude who ended this.

“That day, Lian was with me. We couldn’t leave the palace at all because of the snow. I was worried he’d slip and fall. And that he might catch a cold. So he spent two nights with me… So I’m curious as to who saw Canillian in Louvre.”

The officer had to accept that this was no longer in his hands.

The officer looked back and forth at them and put his hands up. And then ordered to take the cuffs off the maids.

Canillia’s face calmed a little.

“I think you should fire the maid. To touch her master’s item…”

Canillia scoffed at the officer.

“I gave it to her.”

“Pardon? A diamond?”

“I like her. Why? Is there a problem for a noble to give a beautiful maid flowers and jewels?”

Canillia leisurely walked passed the officer to the maids.

Pepe hugged Lia and sniffled. Claude was watching all of this and stood by the officer.

“46 Bril Street. The diamonds are there. I just killed an anarchist under royal order so the place must be a mess. And could you relay it to your superior?”

The officer gulped while waiting for the Grand Duke to finish. Claude, after a moment of pause, continued.

“Unfortunately, Anastasia Vale is a folded hand.”