Chapter 45
1312 Words
Chapter 45
The next day, the Imperial Palace was once again bustling with people.
After the confirmation of Kai’s innocence, the investigation was back on track. Now, they are focusing on finding the true culprit.
“At this rate, we won’t find out anything!” Aaron exclaimed and threw himself to the couch inside the Crown Prince’s office.
Aaron had just returned from interrogating the assassins once again, but he had gotten nothing from them. Even after being punished several times, they still refuse to admit anything.
“They still didn’t say anything?” Noah, who was sitting behind his desk, asked.
Aaron glanced at him and shook his head. He let out a sigh.
The battle from yesterday took the empire upside down. Everyone was praising Kael Arder that the festive mood of the capital came back. Although this is a positive thing, it only serves as a brief diversion for the public.
The issue has yet to be resolved. The true perpetrator is still out there, and it would be to their great advantage if they could discover him before the atmosphere died down.
“What are we going to do now?” Aaron sat properly and looked at Noah, worriedly.
Noah sighed and thought deeply. Aside from the assassins, they don’t have any lead.
Although he is suspicious of a large number of people, the list is too long for them to know where to begin. At this point, Noah really had no idea what to do.
Silence filled the room as they try to brainstorm for ideas. Moments later, a knock on the door broke the silence.
“Come in,” Noah said.
The door opened and revealed Tatiana.
“Greetings, your highness.” she curtsied.
“Tatiana?!” Aaron jumped up from his seat when he saw her enter the room. “What are you doing here?”
Tatiana looked at him. “Ah brother, I didn’t know you were here,” she said.
If I had known, I wouldn’t have come here.
“I just came to report...” he mumbled, still confused. “What about you? What are you doing here? You didn’t even tell me.”
Tatiana glanced at Noah before she answered carefully, “I have...something to talk about with His Highness.”
Noah stood up and led Tatiana to the sitting area. Aaron also followed and sat beside Tatiana, while Noah sat across from her. As the maid serves their refreshments, Tatiana kept glancing at Aaron.
“Are you going to stay brother?” She asked. Noah also stared at him.
Aaron looked at her like she’s asking a pointless question.
“Of course! Is there something I can’t know, Tati?” He asked in a challenging voice.
Tatiana let out a sigh. She knows Aaron won’t give up easily. He’s already curious, and knowing him, he’ll make sure to find out about it no matter what.
Then, does this mean I have to tell Aaron everything as well?
Tatiana doesn’t like the sound of that. As much as possible, she doesn’t want to include her family in her plans.
“I guess...it will be fine,” she said in defeat. She can’t do anything about it now that she had triggered Aaron’s curiosity.
“What is it that you want to tell me?” Noah asked.
He already has an idea about what Tatiana’s going to say. He expected that after yesterday, Tatiana will look for him to talk about her identity as Julio. Noah already confirmed his suspicion, and Tatiana wanted to make sure that he keeps his mouth shut.
However, what Tatiana said next made him confused,
“I came to offer you a proposition, your highness,” she said, while directly staring at his eyes.
Noah furrowed his brows. “Proposition?” he repeated.
“Yes. Since your highness already know of my capability, I believe you’ll trust me with this, right?”
Noah smirked at her confidence. He doesn’t know where she’s going with this, but it’s amusing how she is daring right now.
“Depends...” he said, quite arrogantly that Tatiana almost rolled her eyes again.
“Ah! Let me rephrase that. Actually, your highness, you have no choice but to trust me.” She challenged. Noah raised an eyebrow.
Does she know how cute she looks right now?
"Enlighten me," he said.
Tatiana took a deep breath before she dropped her purpose, “The investigation...I’ll help you.”
The room was then filled with silence with Noah and Tatiana just staring at each other’s eyes. It was as though the two of them were communicating through their eyes. Meanwhile, Aaron was looking back and forth at them as he tries to figure out what was going on.
“Hold on, Tati. What are you talking about?” Aaron, who couldn’t help himself anymore, asked.
That’s when Tatiana broke the eye contact to look at Aaron.
“I’m saying that I believe I have something that can help with the investigation,” she repeated.
“And what is it that you have?” Now, it was Noah who asked.
Tatiana first took a sip on her tea before answering, “Nothing is free in this world, your highness.” she smirked.
Aaron looked at her, perplexed by her sudden change in demeanor. Tatiana appeared to be so powerful at the time that he became intimidated.
“Tati, if you know something... why can’t you just give it? What are you trying to do?” he inquired.
Tatiana looked at her brother and raised the corner of her lips.
“Business, brother. I’m trying to do business,” she answered simply.
Aaron felt even more confused, his brows were almost touching. He then pinched the bridge of his nose as he thought that maybe Tatiana was being a brat again.
“Tatiana, this is not the right time for jokes,” he said, starting to get impatient.
“But brother, I’m not joking. I’m seriously trying to do business with His Highness.” Tatiana explained.
Aaron was about to rebut back when Noah raised his hand at his face. Noah then looked at Tatiana.
“What is your proposal?” he asked. Aaron looked at him in disbelief.
Is he really listening to my sister? Just what is going on?!
.
Later that day, Tatiana went home with Aaron who was still silent from their conversation earlier.
Did it shock him this much? Tatiana thought to herself.
Aaron was silent the whole trip home. Even when they got out of the carriage, Aaron just walked lifelessly towards his room.
The butler and the maids were looking at their young master worriedly. They started speculating that maybe the siblings got into a fight. But it might not be the case since Lady Tatiana was still her usual self and only Lord Aaron was being strange.
“Mia, schedule a meeting with Alfred Rogers this weekend,” Tatiana said as she entered her room.
“As you wish, my lady,” Mia replied.
Tatiana sat down in front of her desk.
So much has happened these past few days that her thoughts were all jumbled together. The bombing incident was still at the top of her list. Then, she still needs to manage her business with Alfred. After that, she has to meet with Cali Williams.
Her coming-of-age party is also getting near. Not only that, the hunting competition, one of the main scenes in the novel, is approaching as well.
Tatiana sighed. She has so many things to do, and everything just came to her all at once. She felt extremely tired, especially since she has to do most of these things alone.
However, she’s motivated to keep going in order to protect her family.
I seriously need a long vacation after everything is done!
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reyankleyr
- Writer
