Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 44

Chapter 44

 

The imperial palace was noisy from early morning. Before the sun even rose, the gates were thrown wide open, and a procession dragging criminals inside continued without pause.

 

Following Cecil’s suggestion, Alexis had all the weapons used during the hunting tournament collected and examined. Traces of a potent poison were found on five arrowheads among them. Every single arrow had Baron Rowen’s insignia attached to its fletching.

 

Baron Rowen, who had been expected to enter the imperial palace proudly in a carriage, was arrested on the spot and dragged in instead. His estate was also searched by the knight order, and before long, the poisons he had been secretly collecting were discovered in a concealed space within the manor.

 

With it confirmed that the poison he had gathered and the poison on the arrowheads were of the same composition, all that remained was a thorough interrogation.

 

The investigative methods of the Verka Empire were infamous for their brutality. Especially for criminals who kept their mouths shut despite clear evidence, horrific punishments inevitably followed.

 

As a result, the underground prison was now filled with Baron Rowen’s unceasing screams. Thick walls prevented the cries from leaking outside, but everyone knew that torture was being carried out within.

 

At that same time, Cecil was preparing to go out. Standing before a full-length mirror, he adjusted his attire on his own, without the help of attendants.

 

The face reflected in the mirror looked no different from usual, but his hands were visibly trembling. Now that Baron Rowen had confessed his crimes, Cecil too was facing an investigation.

 

Of course, Cecil was not under suspicion, and the purpose of the investigation was merely to obtain a witness statement.

 

All he needed to do was explain the fact that he had handed wine to the baron, and the circumstances before and after. Even at most, it would surely not take longer than thirty minutes.

 

The problem was the location of the investigation. The very place where, in his previous life, he had suffered brutal torture and met a lonely death.

 

Cecil closed his eyes and took a long, steady breath.

 

“Hoo, don’t shake. It’s fine. You’re not going into the underground prison, it’s just the tribunal.”

 

Dwelling on bad memories would only ruin things. Cecil touched the mark hidden beneath his clothes over his chest, steadying his weakened heart again and again. Then he opened the bedroom door and stepped out. Loyal attendants were waiting right outside.

 

“Leo, get ready. We’re going to the tribunal.”

 

“Yes, Lord Cecil.”

 

As he set off with that brief command, Leo and the other attendants followed closely behind him like a tail. Once they left the Peridot Palace, clear morning sunlight poured down. It was such fine weather that it made his worries seem pointless.

 

“They’ll only ask formal questions, so there’s no need to be overly tense.”

 

“Yes. I’m ready.”

 

Alexis, perched against the desk, merely lifted his eyes. The interrogation room, heavy with a solemn atmosphere, was enough to frighten anyone visiting it for the first time, guilty or not.

 

Yet Cecil Adrian, seated in the armchair, wore an expression more composed than anyone’s. His back and shoulders were held straight, his posture flawless, and his arms rested loosely on the armrests, showing no trace of tension. Only the unique dignity of royalty remained.

 

“Cecil Adrian.”

 

Alexis picked up the list of prepared questions. He already knew all their contents by heart. Witness statements were usually left to lower-ranking investigators, but given who the counterpart was, he had chosen to handle this personally.

 

“You are to answer only the truth to the questions I ask.”

 

After a brief pause, he spoke again.

 

“Did you hand wine to Baron Rowen during the hunting tournament?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“For what reason?”

 

“To wish for his victory.”

 

“You wished for Baron Rowen’s victory in particular? Were you close enough with him to do so?”

 

There was unmistakable force in Alexis’s tone, its ending sharp. His clear blue eyes, devoid of emotion, possessed an exceptional ability to read the other person’s mind. All of it converged on Cecil, pressing down on him, trying to draw out his true intentions.

 

Cecil did not answer right away, instead slowly turning his gaze.

 

An interrogation room tightly enclosed by old-fashioned wallpaper, a clerk recording every word without missing a single one, and above all, the Crown Prince standing guard before him.

 

It was little different from what Cecil remembered. The only difference was that the look of disgust in the Crown Prince’s eyes as he looked down at him was gone.

 

How fortunate that was. That alone made Cecil feel as though all his efforts thus far had been rewarded. A faint smile spread across his stiff lips.

 

“Baron Rowen is on close terms with Her Majesty the Empress. Though not often, I have accompanied them on occasion. If you ask why I supported him, then… I would answer that I was simply sharing Her Majesty’s intent.”

 

“Are you saying that Empress Elizabeth usually supported Baron Rowen?”

 

“That is what I believe.”

 

Silence settled over the interrogation room, broken only by the busy scratching of the clerk’s pen. Alexis lowered the documents and held them behind his back for a moment. His sharply drawn eyes fixed on a single person.

 

“Does Her Majesty the Empress also know that the baron collected potent poisons?”

 

“She heard it mentioned while we were together, so I believe she does.”

 

Each of Cecil’s statements formed a blade aimed squarely at the empress.

 

Knock, knock—at that moment, the sound of knocking echoed from the wooden door. Claude entered despite the impropriety, looking stiff as he turned to Alexis.

 

“Your Highness, I have something urgent to report.”

 

Alexis rose at once and spoke with Claude in a corner. As their conversation continued, his expression grew darker. Before long, Claude hurriedly left, and Alexis returned to his seat with a sigh.

 

“The clerk is to step out for now.”

 

Soon, only the two of them remained in the interrogation room, silence filling the space. Not knowing the reason, Cecil swallowed nervously.

 

“Baron Rowen has been murdered.”

 

“What… do you mean?”

 

“One of the guards assigned to watch him killed the baron. Before we could determine who gave the order, the guard took his own life on the spot. Hah, honestly… there’s nowhere the empress’s reach doesn’t extend.”

 

Alexis roughly ran a hand through his hair, irritated that things were not going as he intended.

 

He had known the empress would not simply sit back and watch, but he had never expected her to even reach into the underground prison to silence Baron Rowen.

 

Having lost the only lead that could expose the truth, Alexis could not hide his fury.

 

Cecil was just as shocked, having not anticipated this outcome either. He rose from his chair and cautiously approached Alexis.

 

“Her Majesty the Empress will continue to try to ruin Your Highness’s path.”

 

At those words, Alexis let out a hollow laugh. There was no need to have something so obvious confirmed.

 

But Cecil continued regardless.

 

“I cannot betray my mother. Having been born as her son, it is not a relationship I can sever. Even if I do not wish it… she will try to place upon me what belongs to Your Highness.”

 

“…….”

 

“But if Your Highness desires it, I will gladly help you from the shadows.”

 

“You would help me?”

 

Alexis wiped the smile from his face and lifted his eyes. His expression remained cold, but Cecil no longer found him frightening or difficult to face.

 

“Please, use me. Step on me and rise.”

 

“And why would you go that far? By helping me… what do you stand to gain?”

 

“I wish to see the Verka Empire ruled by you.”

 

“Blasphemous words. His Majesty still lives.”

 

“Of course, not immediately. It may be years later, perhaps even longer… but in the end, will it not come to that?”

 

Cecil spoke all the words he had kept buried in his heart. It had taken him an exceedingly long time to finally say this to Alexis.

 

“Please become the strongest emperor in the empire’s history. If you reach the highest place… then, at that time, you may repay me.”

 

“What do you want?”

 

“I will tell you on the day you ascend the throne.”

 

Alexis silently regarded Cecil.

 

Could there be a more desirable subordinate than this. Cecil Adrian was noble, brilliant, and above all, the one who could most accurately grasp the empress’s movements. If he became an ally, there could be no greater strength.

 

If Cecil pledged loyalty, Alexis could give him anything he desired, wealth or position alike. But before that, he needed certainty.

 

“There must be no betrayal.”

 

“I will never betray you.”

 

“Words are not enough.”

 

Cecil readily lowered himself. Kneeling on one knee before Alexis, who sat perched on the desk, he began a solemn oath.

 

“I swear in the name of God that I will be loyal to Alexis Winter Graham, firstborn of the Verka Empire. I will become your faithful vassal and speak not a single lie.”

 

“From now on, you belong to me.”

 

Cecil’s hands resting on his knee trembled violently. With a shaking voice, he answered.

 

“Yes, until the day my life ends, I will be yours, Your Highness.”

 

“Rise.”

 

Cecil slowly pushed himself up. In that brief moment, the mental strain had been so great that his weakened legs nearly gave out.

 

Alexis stretched out his long arm and pulled Cecil in by the waist. Holding the tense body against him, he stroked the back of Cecil’s head.

 

“Having received such a precious oath, I will give you trust worthy of it in return. Believe in me and follow me.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Cecil answered with difficulty. The warmth of Alexis’s touch as he held him was so unbelievable that even his tear ducts threatened to burn. The realization that he had truly been accepted finally sank in.

 

Trapped in that solid embrace, Cecil clenched the hem of Alexis’s clothes with trembling hands.

 

Overwhelmed by a mix of emotion and sorrow, Cecil had to frantically hide his flushed face, fearing it might betray his feelings.