Chapter 81: The Elusive Truth
Amid the tense atmosphere of the courtyard, Duke Alexavier Agnes continued to scrutinize the knight standing before him. She cowered, her body trembling in fear, but her lips remained sealed, refusing to utter a single word in response to the other knights’ relentless inquiries. The silence in her response only deepened the duke’s suspicion.
"Stand properly! Is this how you are trained in the field?" Alexavier’s voice resonated, prompting the trembling knight to straighten up. However, the telltale signs of her anxiety persisted. Her eyes darted nervously, and her pupils fluctuated, betraying the falsehood of her words.
"I will ask you once again. Did you see the Duchess or not?" Alexavier inquired, closely observing her eyes, which briefly widened before returning to their normal size.
"I- I didn’t," she stammered, continuing to cling to her falsehood. Alexavier, realizing that further pressure wouldn’t yield the truth, made the decision to release her.
The other knights voiced their concern about letting her go, convinced that she possessed vital information. However, Alexavier had a different plan in mind.
"I know she knows something. But do you think that by pressuring her this way, she will reveal the truth? No, she will continue to hide behind excuses. I need to find another approach to uncover the truth. I have a plan," Alexavier explained as he followed the retreating knight. He moved with caution, staying concealed in the shadows, effectively confounding the other knights who were left bewildered by his actions.
The moon cast a ghostly glow over the courtyard, and the pursuit continued until he finally tracked down the knight, who was now alone in a secluded spot. Her nervous demeanor was palpable as she stood there, wrapped in a blanket that concealed her like a beggar.
"What are you doing here? What if someone sees you in this state? It will jeopardize everything," another knight, Lucius, inquired, his voice heavy with concern.
"I don’t know. I want no part in this. I haven’t done anything wrong. Why am I being interrogated? You orchestrated everything, so why involve me when I was only trying to help her?" she replied, her voice quivering with fear.
"She?" Alexavier muttered slowly, his interest piqued.