I Like Another Man, Not the Male Lead - Chapter 36

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 36

The next day, the air in the Knights’ Conference Room was heavy as lead.

None of the knights sitting around the round table dared to speak first. Rochester, seated in the center, was emanating a murderous aura as if he might kill someone, and Caesar Prince’s expression on his right was cold as ice. Matthias Hailboard on the left also had a much sharper expression than usual.

“I will report.”

Kailerus, who had assisted Matthias and Rochester all night to organize this incident, spoke up.

“After last night’s pursuit, we captured all seven members of the criminal gang. However…”

Kailerus swallowed. Caesar Prince’s golden eyes glinted coldly. He already knew what would follow.

“When we checked the prison at dawn today… all of them were found dead.”

Bang!

Rochester slammed his fist on the table. The solid oak table, unable to withstand the Sword Master’s strength, cracked. Rochester gritted his teeth. The means to discover who was behind them had vanished.

“It’s presumed to be poisoning. They all died with pale blue faces. However, no one entered the prison, and no one left. According to the medical officer’s examination, it’s presumed to be snake poison.”

“How amusing. Isn’t it? That snakes capable of killing seven people live in the Imperial Underground Prison.”

Despite Rochester’s anger, the report continued.

“All the guard forces were also found unconscious. It appears sleep gas was used.”

“So what about the diamond? Did you discover who’s behind this?”

Matthias asked in a low voice.

Countess Alize and Count Alize were currently staying at the Knight Order, eating and sleeping there. They insisted they absolutely couldn’t return until the diamond was recovered. Rumors circulated that they were hiding from creditors. After all, not just anyone could cross the Knight Order’s threshold.

“…We couldn’t find it. We also searched what was presumed to be the criminals’ hideout, but there were no traces…”

Silence fell again.

“So you’re saying all the clues have disappeared.”

Caesar Prince slowly spoke. His voice was terribly hoarse. His eyes were dark from lack of proper sleep. A chill enveloped Caesar Prince.

“That’s correct, Sir Karist.”

At Kailerus’s answer, Caesar Prince gritted his teeth.

He knew someone who handled affairs this way. Never leaving traces, taking only what they wanted while smoothly cutting off their tail. This person also regarded killing people as a form of entertainment.

‘…Mother.’

However, he couldn’t suspect and investigate the Emperor’s favored concubine without any evidence. Caesar Prince clenched his fist.

Even though he had assigned someone to watch Viviana, she brazenly committed this act. Without Caesar Prince even noticing. Viviana was truly a snake. The snake that killed seven people and vanished without a trace.

Caesar Prince recalled last night.

The terror when the knife touched Reina’s neck. The fear when he saw blood flowing. And the dizziness.

It felt like the ground beneath his feet was collapsing. Caesar Prince instinctively moved to save her. Only after holding Reina in his arms did he feel relief. He regained stability listening to her intense heartbeat.

He would never experience such a thing again.

His insides felt like they were burning hot. Reina had coldly pushed Caesar Prince away. Reina would no longer give him any chances.

‘Ha.’

It was something Caesar Prince had brought upon himself. Reina had cut him off with a bright face. Several times, as if it wasn’t troublesome at all.

In Reina’s eyes looking at Caesar Prince, there was no trace of the passion from before. Unlike the foolish Caesar Prince who had only avoided and run away without properly understanding his own feelings, Reina had faced Caesar Prince directly and rejected him. Caesar Prince swallowed the bitter taste rising in his throat.

Kailerus’s report continued.

“Currently, there are no more clues to proceed with the investigation. The criminals’ identities are also impossible to confirm. They are people whose status isn’t even registered within the Empire.”

“They must be mercenaries who flowed in from outside.”

Matthias muttered coldly. Rochester sneered.

“That great Knight Order of the Carist Empire couldn’t do anything. Just a bunch of idiots who got caught with their pants down. Worse than snake-like vermin.”

No one could refute Rochester’s words. Rochester’s mood had hit rock bottom due to Reina’s injury. No one wanted to say anything unnecessary in front of him and incur his wrath.

Even Matthias, the only person who could speak frankly to Rochester, kept his mouth shut. Matthias also recalled Reina’s appearance last night. Even with her pale face bleeding, her composure as she calmly assessed the situation was remarkable.

Reina was more like a Regfield than anyone else. Even after going through such an ordeal, she calmed down the restless Rochester and sent him back to where he had work to do.

‘See you at home, Brother. You’ll finish things properly and come back, right?’

That image was impressive. Grace and Selena were frozen in terror, unable to say anything as they clung to Reina’s sides, but the actual victim herself remained composed.

Reina Regfield was someone who drew people’s attention. It was the same when she used to chase after Caesar. Just hearing news that she had come to the Knight Order would make the entire organization buzz. She had the power to captivate people with that bright smile.

And now, she was drawing even more attention than before.

“…Is the lady alright?”

Matthias asked Rochester in a stiff voice. Rochester’s eyes flashed.

“Alright? How could she be! That delicate child went through such a thing. You don’t know how fragile and lovely our Reina is.”

Rochester went back in time and began listing praises about Reina.

Matthias frowned. He hadn’t expected to get a proper answer anyway, but Rochester was treating his sister more like a child than he had imagined. Reina wasn’t as weak as Rochester thought. Matthias clicked his tongue.

“Enough. It’s truly fortunate that she’s safe.”

“She’s not safe!”

Matthias cleanly ignored that remark.

“Are we suspending the investigation here?”

Kailerus asked. At the same time, Rochester closed his mouth.

Unresolved anger was bubbling inside him, but there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t mobilize busy knights just to make them chase shadows. Rochester breathed heavily.

Reason and emotion were clashing. He wanted to use any means necessary to root out whatever was hiding in the shadows and put it on the guillotine. But he knew that wasn’t the right thing to do.

“…A time will come when we can investigate again. For now, suspend the investigation.”

Everyone fell silent at Rochester’s cold declaration.

At that moment, the conference room door burst open roughly.

“Reporting!”

A young knight came in panting.

“Countess Alize has… collapsed. She’s lost consciousness…”

Rochester let out a deep sigh.

Suspending the investigation didn’t mean the incident was over. There were those who had suffered the greatest damage. Since there was no way to restore their trampled hopes, it was inevitable that the Knight Order would be in turmoil for a while.

“…The Imperial Family will find a way to compensate.”

In that situation, Caesar opened a path forward.

“Since it was stolen at an Imperial event, please leave it to me.”

Caesar was certain of who the criminal in this case was. His mother, who was mysteriously beautiful.

Caesar was prepared to empty his own coffers to make this right.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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