Chapter 82 - Arrested Under Suspicion

Chapter 82: Chapter 82 - Arrested Under Suspicion

"You wage war on my house? Strike down my guards?! Kidnap my daughter?! You think you can interrogate me?! HA! High nobility protects high nobility! The founding imperial families will never allow an outsider or a bunch of academy students to bring down House Elsa! Never, you hear me?! NEVER!"

*Yaaawn...*

Vincent let out a long yawn while leaning his weight onto the Tullias’ back. "Man... does this guy ever shut up? My arms are starting to fall asleep."

"Tell me about it," Eugene stretched his back while on the table. "He’s been screaming for three minutes straight and hasn’t said a single useful thing."

"Once I free my daughter, my allies in the city and across the kingdoms will make you and your rat group pay tenfold for this insult! No court in this city will ever convict a founder over the word of rogue students! You have nothing!"

Maelle waited three full seconds after he finished shouting.

"Are you done?"

"What–"

"Good. Now, let us discuss the reality of the situation at hand. Prince Quinton has already confessed. He confirmed you have a large stash of Honey Lake Extract."

The duke’s ranting immediately stopped. His expression shifted into an oblivious stone wall and he looked away. "I have no idea what you are talking about. Honey Lake Extract? I am a Duke, not an apothecary."

"As I’m sure you know, Honey Lake Extract is used exclusively to treat half-breed children suffering from severe mana rot. Yet, across your entire estate, I have not seen a single half-breed servant, ward, or child. Given your nature from what I’ve seen, I know you are not hoarding it out of charity."

She leaned forward over the desk. "Which brings us to Rizer. Rizer has been hoarding the exact same extract. I suspect that you and he are pooling illegal resources together and are collaborating on something far more sinister than simple monopoly."

A drop of cold sweat rolled down Tullias’ temple.

"And then there are the slave bandits," Maelle pressed on. "The ones who kidnapped me when I was lured out of the Academy. Access to a slave network requires a powerful person orchestrating dark connections inside the capital. Tell me, Duke Elsa... Just what are you and Rizer truly planning with stolen medication and illegal slave networks."

"Hahaha! Look at him sweating!" Eugene taunted. "He might actually lose all his weight if this keeps up! Hahaha! Ahahaha–!"

BANG!

The front door burst open!

"DIE, YOU EBONSPIRIAN WITCH!"

It was Elsa’s personal butler – the very one Maelle had guided to the sewer shack a week prior.

His eyes were wild with desperation as he charged straight at Maelle with a dagger raised high, seeking to kill the Princess.

Before Vincent could even shift his weight to step in, a gust of wind shattered the outer balcony’s glass doors.

CRASH!

A figure swooped in like a hawk. In a single, terrifying motion, the intruder intercepted the butler mid-stride, grabbed his throat and slammed him face-first into the floor with enough force to crater the wood.

The silver dagger clattered harmlessly across the floor and the dust cleared to reveal Principal Brenda standing over the unconscious butler.

Duke Tullias’s eyes went wide, and his arrogance immediately returned in a rush of delusional relief at the sight of her.

"HA! HAHAHA! CHECKMATE, YOU UNGRATEFUL BRATS! The Principal of the Imperial Academy herself has arrived! The higher authorities are here to put you in your place!"

Principal Brenda turned her head slowly to look down at the duke with pure contempt.

"Duke Tullias Elsa. I... heard everything."

"What...?"

"I heard Maelle’s statement regarding the slave bandits, Prince Quinton, and the Honey Lake Extract. If even half of what the princess just outlined is true... then... it isn’t checkmate for her. It is checkmate for you."

Tullias stared at her in absolute horror as all the colour drained from his face. "P-Principal Brenda! You are making a grave mistake! She manipulated this entire situation! She barged into my home! She forced her way–"

"Silence. To tell you the truth, I have known where Maelle was from the very moment she left the academy grounds. She told me personally where she would be hiding. I was monitoring this situation personally, allowing her to lead the charge."

"Y-YOU! YOU PLAYED ME?!" Tullias’ face exploded with impotent rage. "You acted like you knew nothing?! Time and time again I sent my men to ask if you knew anything! Yet you still decided to play ignorant and ignore imperial law?! OVER A DISGRACEFUL PRINCESS?!"

Brenda’s calm composure cracked into dangerous, terrifying anger. She stepped closer to the duke and looked at him with a dangerous glint in her elven eyes.

"Slave bandits, Elsa. Bandits who traffic in children... my people’s children. If I find a single scrap of proof that House Elsa was involved in harming or trafficking the youth of the elves... political games will be the least of your concerns. I will tear this manor down with my bare hands, and you along with it."

Cornered, desperate, and stripped of his dignity, veins bulged on his neck as Tullias snapped.

"YOU ARE A MERE ACADEMIC PRINCIPAL! YOU THINK YOU COMMAND TRUE POWER?! HOUSE ELSA IS A FOUNDING FAMILY OF THIS CITY! YOU HAVE ZERO LEGAL AUTHORITY OVER ME! HELL, IMPERIAL LAW WAS BUILT TO PROTECT FOUNDERS LIKE ME, NOT OUTSIDERS OR ELVEN TRAITORS LIKE YOU–"

"That is not what the Hero and the Goddess built the Imperial City for," a firm voice interrupted from the doorway.

Prince Quinton walked into the office. He was dressed in his academy uniform, flanked by the four of his Solarian Knights and a small detachment of Imperial City Guards.

’Looks like Voorhis healed up fine.’

Quinton looked down at the kneeling duke with stern resolve. "You claim immunity under imperial law, Duke Elsa. But as Crown Prince of Solara and a key representative of the Imperial Alliance... I possess the full authority to act."

"Q-Quinton... what are you–"

"By my authority, I officially order the arrest of Duke Tullias Elsa for treason, illicit trade, and criminal collusion. I will personally inform the noble council of your potential crimes."

A satisfied smirk appeared on Brenda’s lips. "Conveniently... you’re already in cuffs."

She nodded to the Imperial Guards. "Take him."

"NO! UNHAND ME! YOU CANNOT DO THIS TO ME!"

Tullias screamed hysterically as two Imperial Guards hauled him off his knees. "THE ENTIRE FOUNDER’S COUNCIL WILL HEAR OF THIS BETRAYAL! I WILL HAVE ALL YOUR HEADS! DO YOU HEAR ME?! ALL OF YOUR HEADS–!"

His wild threats faded down the echoing corridor as the guards dragged him away kicking and screaming.

With him gone, Maelle stood up from behind the desk and snapped her gaze straight to Quinton.

"Do not think you are off the hook. Even if you claim ignorance regarding the duke’s underground ties... colluding with him and using stolen supplies still makes you complicit."

Brenda gently placed a hand on Maelle’s shoulder. "One thing at a time, Your Highness. I will take over from here."

Maelle paused to look at the principal.

"A full investigation will sweep this entire estate and its vaults today," Brenda explained. "A formal tribunal trial will be convened for both Duke Elsa and Lucianne. If everything is as you say... House Elsa will be completely stripped of its title and destroyed... and Lucianne will be yours to handle as you see fit."

"Good."

Without another word after that, Maelle turned and walked out of the office.

As Vincent left to follow her, Brenda caught his arm and stopped him. She took a long, hard look at his blue hair and bright blue eyes, and a warm, knowing smile spread across her face. "Mmhm. I can definitely see the resemblance now..."

"Oh? You... must have met my mama?"

"Mama? Oh my. That is something I never thought I’d hear someone call her. Yes, I knew her well... Thank you for protecting Maelle today, Vincent. I look forward to getting to know you much better."

Eugene jumped from the desk and landed on Vincent’s shoulder. "Hey! Forget about him! I’m fully available if you want to be my mama instead!"

As Brenda looked at the green hatchling, her eyebrows raised in amusement. "Oh my... Oh my goodness. Are you... a dragon?"

Before Eugene could proudly puff out his chest and declare his supreme dragon lineage, Vincent slapped his hand over his snout to shut his mouth tight.

"Ah– I’m sorry about him! He doesn’t know what he’s saying! Haha... I look forward to getting to know you too, Principal! Bye!"

Vincent quickly turned and rushed out of the room with Eugene squirming and muffling in his grip.

Back out in the scorched courtyard, Maelle was standing near the melted fountain, waiting for him. Her white hair was caught in the light breeze, and her hands were resting calmly in her pockets.

When Vincent walked up to her, finally releasing Eugene’s mouth, she looked at him blankly. "Are you done?"

"Uhm... Yep. All wrapped up."

Without warning, she stepped closer to him, reached up, and wrapped both of her arms around his neck.

She turned her head away to hide the soft blush spreading across her cheeks. "Take us back."

Vincent blinked in surprise, and a light blush spread on his own face.

Deciding not to say anything else or tease her, he slid his arms under her and effortlessly scooped her up into a princess carry. With a powerful beat of his wings, he launched them straight into the clear blue sky, carrying her back toward the mansion.