Chapter 93: I beg you

The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the area as the tension continued to rise. Everyone immediately turned around when they felt the pressure emanating from the people approaching.

The dean arrived alongside Leonhardt, Lucien, and Vincent, who followed behind him.

"I heard there was a major disturbance at the academy. Even my personal attendants have been talking about it repeatedly." He stopped right in front of everyone and looked at them one by one. "Can someone explain what is going on here?"

The people who had initially tried to break into Liliana’s room finally lowered their heads, trying to avoid the dean’s gaze.

Mali’s mother stepped forward and knelt before him. Her knees struck the floor with such force that everyone who heard the impact felt a pang of pain.

"Dean, please seek justice for my daughter, Mali Forst. She’s my only daughter. I beg you," she pleaded in a trembling voice.

The dean lowered his head and stared at her for several moments without saying anything. After that, his gaze shifted to Ken Forst and the instructor who had taught Liliana’s class today.

"Do either of you have something to say to me?" he asked.

Ken Forst swallowed before kneeling in front of the dean as well.

"Dean, my younger sister is dead. Liliana Draven... she killed my sister over nothing more than an ordinary class assessment. As Mali’s brother, I simply cannot let this matter go unaddressed."

The dean looked at the instructor, who still showed no intention of saying anything.

"What about you? Do you have something to tell me?"

"Dean, this was indeed Liliana’s fault. She was bold enough to kill her own classmate just to obtain her identity necklace."

The dean smiled faintly. He looked at the instructor before him with a mocking expression.

"Are you trying to deceive me? Tell me, have you already forgotten something I once warned you about?"

The instructor froze for a moment before looking back at the dean.

"Dean?"

The dean waved his hand.

"Forget about that for now. Instead, explain to me, did I ever approve the class exchange you arranged? And furthermore, have you become so bold as to bring outsiders into the academy?"

The instructor clenched his fingers tightly. Sweat began trickling down his temples.

"Still refusing to speak?" the dean demanded.

The instructor finally knelt.

"Dean, this was my negligence. However, seeing one of my students die over something as trivial as an assessment has truly damaged my integrity. I have begun to doubt my own abilities as an instructor. That is why I made this decision without discussing it with you first."

Leonhardt, who was standing behind him, sneered.

"In that case, you should stop being an instructor. I’m sure the dean would be more than happy to revoke your teaching certification."

The instructor froze. He raised his head and stared at Leonhardt in disbelief. He had never expected the mighty and powerful Crown Prince to appear, let alone concern himself with such a matter.

"Y-Your Highness... I..."

The dean let out a heavy sigh.

"What about her condition—"

Before he could finish speaking, Liliana had already walked out of her room. She froze for a moment when she saw the crowd gathered outside her door. She raised a hand to gently massage her temple before finally coming to her senses.

Her gaze unconsciously shifted toward Cassian, as though he were the safest place she could turn to.

"Liliana!!!" Mali’s mother screamed.

She turned around and immediately rushed toward Liliana, intending to strangle the girl. However, Cassian quickly stopped her, preventing her from getting any closer.

"Liliana!!!" Mali’s mother screamed again, her voice growing even louder.

Her appearance as the Luna of Pack Forst no longer carried even the slightest trace of dignity. She continued screaming while desperately reaching out toward Liliana.

However, Cassian stood like a fortress, blocking her every attempt to get closer.

Ken stood up and pulled his mother back before turning his gaze toward Cassian and Liliana, who was hiding behind him.

"Liliana, is this how you repay our Forst family?" he shouted.

Everyone’s eyes turned toward Liliana, as though waiting for the response she would give the Forst family.

Liliana shook her head.

"I didn’t kill her. I really didn’t kill her," she replied, continuing to shake her head.

Ken gave her a mocking smile.

"Was killing our Alpha not enough for you? Now you’re trying to kill his daughter as well? Do you even have a conscience, Liliana?!"

Seeing that the situation was becoming increasingly chaotic, the dean waved his hand.

"To my office! Settle all these matters there, not here!" he ordered firmly.

Ken Forst immediately fell silent. The crowd soon dispersed, while everyone involved followed the dean to his office.

The dean took the central seat, facing everyone who had now settled into their respective chairs.

"Instructor, do you have any evidence that Liliana was the one who killed Mali Forst?" he asked.

The instructor nodded.

"On her body—"

"Besides that," the dean interrupted. "I want evidence that truly proves Liliana was the one responsible for Mali Forst’s death, and that it wasn’t caused by something else."

The instructor frowned for a moment but said nothing.

"Dean, those are all concrete pieces of evidence. How can you say they aren’t proof?" Ken Forst interjected.

"You call that evidence? Ken Forst, is your brain not functioning properly?" Vincent remarked.

He looked coldly at Ken before continuing, "Just because there are traces of Liliana on Mali’s body, you immediately accuse her of being the murderer? If I touch you right now and you die the moment you leave this room, does that automatically mean I killed you?"

"You!" Ken shouted.

"Dean, I beg you. Please give my daughter justice. She was a good child who never caused any trouble. How can you allow her to die in vain like this?"

The dean tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair before shifting his gaze toward Leonhardt.

"Your Highness, what do you think about this matter?"

Leonhardt returned his gaze with an expressionless face. A mocking smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Just wait and see. My subordinate should have found some evidence for us to examine very soon."

The instructor, Ken, and Mali’s mother immediately tensed. Their gazes met for several seconds before they eventually returned to their previous expressions.

Not long afterward, one of Leonhardt’s subordinates entered, carrying a potion bottle and a dagger.

"Your Highness," he said as he handed over both items. "These are the pieces of evidence left at the place where Miss Liliana and Miss Mali last fought."

Leonhardt nodded. He accepted both items and raised them to carefully examine their contents.

After confirming what he had seen, he handed them to the dean.

"Dean, you should understand these things far better than I do," he said without the slightest hesitation.