My Bratty Wife
Chapter 151 - Hundred And Fifty One

Chapter 151: Chapter Hundred And Fifty One

The air in the Royal Court was thick with tension. Nervous whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd of nobles, their eyes darting between Ryan and the imposing figure of King Albert on his throne.

"Duke Ryan," began Lord Valerian, his voice dripping with disdain, "you stood before this very court mere months ago, promising to apprehend this elusive murderer. Yet, we see no results. Only a growing list of victims."

Lord Theron, eager to curry favor with the king, chimed in, "Indeed, Lord Valerian speaks the truth. Count Edmund’s death is the last straw, a reminder that this menace needs to be stopped."

Fear, like a venomous snake, slithered through the room. "What if I am next?" whispered Lady Anne, her voice trembling. "Or worse," she shuddered, "what if they target His Majesty? What if they seek to seize the throne? As it stands now we don’t know their true motives."

The whispers erupted into a mixture of anxious voices. Nobles exchanged panicked glances, their minds racing with terrifying possibilities.

King Albert, his face flushed with weariness, slammed his fist on the armrest of his throne, the resounding boom silencing the court instantly. "Enough!" he roared, his voice echoing through the chamber.

The room fell into an oppressive silence, broken only by the labored breaths of the terrified nobles.

The king turned his gaze upon Ryan, his eyes piercing. "Duke Ryan," he demanded, his voice low and dangerous, "what progress have you made? What information do you have on this... this situation?"

Ryan, his shoulders slumped, took a deep breath. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice steady despite the tremor within, "I believe the murderer is a lord. A powerful lord, with access to significant resources. Exotic poisons, skilled henchmen, a network of spies... these things do not come cheap."

The king’s brow furrowed. "And this is all you have? A vague suspicion?"

Ryan bowed his head, shame burning his cheeks. "I... I am still investigating, Your Majesty. Gathering evidence is proving more difficult than anticipated."

The king’s voice hardened. "Count Edmund is dead, Duke Ryan. And how many more must perish before you finally apprehend this... this monster? How many? How many more subjects will I lose?"

Ryan felt a surge of anger, not at the king, but at his own frustrating lack of progress. "I am working tirelessly, Your Majesty! I will not rest until this murderer is brought to justice!" he vowed, his voice firm.

The king waved a dismissive hand. "That won’t be necessary. I have another who will handle this."

Ryan was stunned. "But Your Majesty..."

"Lord Evan," the king announced, "please step forward."

Evan entered the courtroom. Ryan was surprised to see him.

"What is he doing here?" Ryan thought to himself.

The court erupted in a fresh wave of whispers.The king raised his hand, silencing the murmurs.

"Lord Evan," King Albert declared, "has brought me one of the murderer’s henchmen. The one who tampered with Count Edmund’s horse. This scoundrel is now being questioned by the Minister of Justice."

A heavy silence fell over the court. The king continued, "Therefore, I hereby decree that Lord Evan will lead this investigation from this point forward."

Lord Evan bowed deeply. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

Ryan stood frozen, disbelief washing over him. He had been working tirelessly, chasing shadows, while Lord Evan had quietly made a breakthrough.

The king rose from his throne. "Court dismissed."

With that, the king turned and left, leaving Ryan standing alone in the stunned silence of the courtroom. He felt a bitter taste in his mouth, a mixture of anger and humiliation. His hard work, his dedication, all seemingly for naught.

Davis finds Ryan outside the Courtroom and approaches him.

"Ready the carriage, Davis," Ryan commanded, his voice firm despite the weariness etched on his face. "We’re going home. There’s nothing left for us to do here."

Davis hesitated, his gaze sweeping across the horizon. "Your Grace," he began cautiously, "it will be nightfall before we reach Carleton. Perhaps it would be wiser to depart in the morning?"

Ryan shook his head, a frown creasing his brow. "The Duchess is waiting for me, Davis. I’ve already spent a day away from her, and I long to see her again."

Davis’s concern deepened. "But Your Grace, the journey back is perilous, especially at night. Bandits are known to lurk along those roads. It would be far safer to leave at dawn tomorrow, or even in the afternoon. I’m certain Her Grace will understand."

Ryan sighed, the longing in his eyes battling with the practicality of Davis’s words. "You’re right, of course," he conceded, a hint of frustration in his voice. "Very well then. I suppose I can endure one more day apart from her. Two days is nothing compared to the joy of seeing her again. Go, get some rest. We leave at dawn."

"As you wish, Your Grace," Davis replied, bowing his head in respect. He turned to leave, his mind already racing with the preparations for their departure.

Ryan stood outside the courtroom, the weight of the last few hours settling heavily on him. "What is Evan up to?" he muttered to himself, suspicion gnawing at him. "The timing of all this... it’s too convenient. Did he somehow orchestrate this?"

He shook his head, trying to dispel the thought. "No, that’s ridiculous. Why would he?" But the nagging doubt remained. Evan had always been a bit of a difficult person to understand, his motives often shrouded in mystery.

"Could he be connected to the murderer somehow?" Ryan wondered aloud, his gaze sweeping over the quiet hallway. "Is he playing a dangerous game? Is he trying to frame someone? Trying to manipulate the case for his own benefit ? Or is he simply caught in the crossfire?"

The possibilities swirled in his head, each one more unsettling than the last. He sighed, the questions swirling in his mind like a tempest. "I need to find out what’s going on," he decided, walking down the hallway towards the room assigned to him. "I need to settle down and think this through and calmly. I need to understand."

He pushed open the door and stepped inside, his mind racing, his senses on high alert. He had a bad feeling about this.