Chapter 111: A Planted Scheme
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"..."
Silence filled the room as the other four people looked at Lorraine as soon as she said those words and most of them raised an eyebrow because of the sudden conclusion she stated.
"What are you talking about? Could you elaborate it?"
The one who breaks the ice of silence is none other than Felicity and she looked at the young woman for further explanation that she brought up into.
Lorraine, on the other hand, almost curse at herself because of what she stated but at the same time, she couldn't help but to state her own conclusion about this matter, especially this matter involves the Crown Prince, as the prime suspect of Ezekiel's death three years ago.
After some time had passed, Lorraine took a deep breath as she speaks on what's on her mind.
"I-I just…. Find it hard to believe about this whole matter about the Crown Prince's sudden death or something! Also, don't you find it strange about this whole matter?!"
Lorraine said in frustration because even her she couldn't think of any reasonable idea on what's going on right now.
"Also, how come the Count so sure about this matter? Don't you think you're being hasty when you just got here and share this ridiculous news to the four of us?!"
Now that she thinks about it. How come that Count Harrison Chevalier was so sure about this matter?
The other four waited for Harrison's further explanation and the young Count knew what Lorraine stated could have some doubt about it but even if that was the case then, he had a reasonable answer to this question.
He took a deep breath as he speak; "Not long ago, approximately around four days ago, I saw someone's silhouette entered the Crown Prince's Palace late at night when I happened to finish my duties from that time."
After he said that, Francis frowned because of what the young Count had stated and then asked; "Four days ago? Are you sure? I find it hard to believe since from what I know from the Headmaster, the Crown Prince was punished for solitary confinement for an indefinite period of time and right now, it's already been three years since then. How come that there was a sudden visit out of nowhere?"
Francis questioned the young Count because he found it absurd that a sudden visitor just appeared out of nowhere while the Crown Prince was still in his solitary confinement.
Also, it's been three years already and Francis had someone from the Palace to give him reports about the happenings inside and from what he had gathered from one of his people, for the past three years, the movement within the Crown Prince's Palace is still the same.
Not only that, but when the decree was brought upon him and punish him for solitary confinement, his biological mother, Empress Raziah never had once tried to visit the Crown Prince, even during his trial three years ago, the Empress wasn't around that time.
'This doesn't make sense at all! From what I remember from the previous timeline, Empress Raziah doted on his eldest son the most and would do anything for him, even if she needs to take advantage of her family's status within the Empire.'
This is another factor that Francis noticed from the previous timeline to the current timeline that had a drastic change within.
Raziah Mica Marfa de Stellarus is His Majesty, the Emperor's legal wife, the Empress. She came from the Duke Marfa household, a distant relative of Stellarus main royal family.
From what Francis remembered about her is that…. She is a cunning individual and a sly woman who would do anything in her power to trample those beneath her.
Also, from the previous timeline, in order for her family's influence to gather more power than everyone else, she is the one who proposed an arrange marriage for the Crown Prince to her niece, her elder brother's daughter.
And that person was supposed to be the Crown Prince's fiancée at a young age but in the current timeline, the Crown Prince doesn't have a fiancée at all!
But what Francis couldn't understand is that…. When he tried to search for that person, the supposed Crown Prince's fiancée and the world's love rival villainess from the original script, he couldn't find her at all!
'As if her whole existence doesn't exist at all!'
On top of that, how come Lady Eula from the Count Crowell household, who was supposed to become the most powerful sorceress from the Magic Tower became the second wife of the Emperor and was even bestowed a title of a Queen!
'Also, from the previous timeline, for some unknown reason, when I got banished from the Stellarus Empire because of the accusations that I was an accomplice of Ezekiel, I learned that Lady Eula was killed during the mission that she got from the Magic Tower.'
Francis couldn't help but remember some of the events that doesn't align from the previous to the current timeline.
All of the events from the previous timeline doesn't match the current timeline, as if someone just deliberately jumbled all of this that he couldn't understand.
If he were to use some logically explanation about this matter, Francis would think that he might ended up in some parallel world similar to the previous one….
Wait a minute….
Now that he thought about it….
'What if…. That was the case?'
As someone who is the only one who is a self-aware character, Francis had a foreboding feeling that he didn't want to think about it….
He suddenly remember that static voice from three years ago and when his whole world went blank at that moment…
"What? I thought a decree was ordered three years ago that no one should have visited the Crown Prince during his solitary confinement! Are you sure about what you just witnessed, Harrison?"
Francis snapped from his thoughts when he heard the Grand Duke questioned his brother about what he witnessed.
'Well, since I am now part of this team then, maybe I should share some of my insights to them.'
He thought to himself and set aside the things that he had for now and focused on the matters at hand.
"There was no movement from the Crown Prince's Palace for the past three years of his solitary confinement. The mere fact that Count Chevalier said this is quite alarming. Don't you guys noticed what seems to be odd in this case?"
Francis stated his opinion and the others looked at him with a perplexed expressions on their faces.
"And what makes you say that?"
Francis sighed because of the Count's tone of voice that's filled with suspicion and he couldn't blame him for that.
"Well, let's just say that I'm just following some of the Headmaster's orders. I couldn't tell you guys about the details too much, but I solemnly swear that what I just said is nothing but the truth. Now, if you want some confirmation, might as well that you coordinate with the Headmaster first."
'It's half-true and half-false though. It's true that the Headmaster ordered me to investigate something within the Royal Palace because he felt something that doesn't quite right about it.'
Even though Francis is acquainted with the Headmaster, both in the previous and the current timeline, he doesn't know him that well.
For all he knew was that the Headmaster's household was part of the neutral faction of the Empire, together with the Marquis (Grand Duke) Chevalier household and they were the ones who held the balance between the Aristocratic and Imperial faction.
Although the investigation stated that there wasn't even an anomaly or something, Francis still continues to send some spies within the Royal Palace to observe the happenings inside those walls.
Harrison, on one hand, although still had some doubts about Francis' statement but since he had some information and only moved according to the Headmaster's orders, the Count would compromise on that and would believe what this young fellow said.
Also, his elder brother asked him for confirmation since the three of them were present during the trial and they had witnessed the Emperor's decree for the Crown Prince because he is proven guilty for the case and sentence for solitary confinement for an indefinite period of time.
However, now that he thinks about it. Why was His Majesty, the Emperor sentenced the Crown Prince to solitary confinement for an indefinite period of time?
"Everyone. Now that I thought about it. Don't you find it strange for His Majesty, the Emperor to sentence the Crown Prince for solitary confinement for an indefinite period of time?"
After he said those words, Felicity looked back at her second elder brother with a frown;
"Well, that's definitely something that wasn't right at that time. The Crown Prince is the prime suspect for Ezekiel's death three years ago and had proven guilty for his crimes because of the evidence that shown up and was brought up by some anonymous source, but it serves on how heavy the crime that the Crown Prince committed."
After finishing her statement, the Marquis frowns as he thought about those evidence that suddenly shown up during the trial three years ago…
"Are you saying that…."
Altron's sentences were cut off when Lorraine was the one who answered instead.
"It seems like it's a planted scheme against the Crown Prince and maybe, His Majesty, the Emperor noticed this as well that's why he only put the Crown Prince into solitary confinement for an indefinite period of time."
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