The Second Prince Had Difficulty Speaking
The moment the Emperor saw him, his temper flared.
"What reason? You have the nerve to ask me *why*?" he roared, snatching the note from his desk and flinging it at his son. "A Prince of the realm, stooping so low as to try and force a marquis's daughter to be your concubine. You've brought nothing but disgrace to this family!"
The Second Prince stared at the note that had landed at his feet. As he read the words, his eyes widened, and his stomach dropped. Wasn't this the exact note he'd sent to the Stonehaven estate? How in the world did it get into his father's hands?
His gaze darted to Cassidy, who was leaning back in her chair and enjoying the show.
That's right. Just yesterday, his father had assigned the Marquis of Stonehaven's case to Princess Solana, to Cassidy, and Prince Ashworth. The only way this could have happened was if she'd found the note at the estate and given it straight to the Emperor.
A cold sweat slicked his back. He dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Father, I... I wasn't thinking. It was a moment of madness. I beg you for mercy."
Cassidy caught him glaring at her and decided she wasn't about to let that slide. Who did he think he was trying to intimidate?
"Your Majesty," she piped up, "my brother is glaring at me!"
The Second Prince was furious. Seriously? How old was she, still running to their father to tattle over every little thing?
The Emperor's gaze snapped back to him. "Tell me," he said, his voice dangerously low. "Were you involved in the matter concerning the Marquis of Stonehaven?"
The question terrified the prince. He pressed his forehead to the cool stone floor, his voice trembling.
"Father, I've been framed! I had absolutely nothing to do with the Marquis's treason case."
He scrambled for an explanation. "I just... I was infatuated with Lady Genevieve. When I couldn't have her, I acted foolishly and tried to force her hand. But I swear, I did not frame the Marquis for treason! Father, you have to believe me. I truly didn't do it!"
"Who do you think you're kidding?" Cassidy snapped. "Brother, your note says that tomorrow the Marquis of Stonehaven will 'commit suicide out of guilt' in prison. And you still claim you've been framed?" Did he really think she was an idiot? He was practically confessing.
The prince's blood ran cold. He'd forgotten that part of the note.
He was completely and utterly screwed. He'd only written that because his cousin, Blair, had told him about a dream she'd had, that the Marquis would be found dead in his cell tomorrow, his death framed as a suicide.
It was that premonition that gave him the insane idea to blackmail Genevieve into giving in to him.
"I just made that up to scare her family," he said weakly.
"And who's to say it's not true?" Cassidy pressed, stoking the fire. "What if he really does die? That's a man's life we're talking about." She had personally guaranteed the Stonehaven family that the Marquis would be safe. If he died in prison tomorrow, she'd look like a fool.
The Second Prince was practically steaming with rage.
What had gotten into Cassidy lately? Ever since she'd been kicked in the head by that donkey, she was like a different person.
Before, she used to follow him around like a puppy, calling him 'brother' in that sweet voice of hers and constantly sending gifts to his residence.
No one in the palace would have dared to say a bad word about him because she would have immediately jumped to his defense.
But now, she treated him like an enemy. Every word out of her mouth was sharp, as if she wanted him dead.
Where did he go wrong with her? First, she'd attacked Preston Vance, then she'd argued with the Empress, then she'd bad-mouthed Landon Vance, and now she was framing him.
A thought struck him, and he looked up at her, his expression pleading.
"Cassidy, I have to ask. What have I ever done to you to make you target me like this? Or has someone been whispering poison in your ear, trying to turn you against me? You're young. You can't let yourself be manipulated by schemers."
Cassidy just scratched her head. "Brother, we're talking about the Marquis of Stonehaven's case. Why are you trying to make this about us? Are you hoping I'll cover for you?"
At that, she stood up, clasped her hands behind her back, and puffed out her chest with an air of theatrical authority.
"Not a chance. Forget it. Since His Majesty entrusted this case to me, I can't betray his trust. I deal only in evidence, and I won't cover for anyone. Since you claim you've been framed, then show me the proof."
The Second Prince felt like he was about to explode. What kind of joke was this? She was calling him the mastermind based on a single note and then telling *him* to prove his own innocence? How was he supposed to prove something he *didn't* do?
"You're the one claiming I framed the Marquis," he shot back. "So, where's your evidence?"
"I have it!" Cassidy said, pointing triumphantly at the note in his hand. "I have a witness and physical evidence right here. Stop making excuses and confess!"
*What witness? What evidence?*
The prince was so furious he could barely speak. He turned back to the Emperor. "Father, how can this be considered a proper investigation? Cassidy is being completely absurd! How can she try to pin this on me with just one note? I've been framed!"
Cassidy did not like that one bit. "What do you mean, I'm being absurd? I'm working hard to solve this case, and you accuse me of trying to frame you. You're the one being unreasonable! If you had nothing to hide, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.
Stop trying to change the subject and explain that note to His Majesty. If the Marquis of Stonehaven really does die tomorrow, what are you going to say then?"
The Emperor's brow furrowed, his sharp gaze landing on the Second Prince once more. "Explain yourself. What is this about the Marquis committing suicide in prison tomorrow?"
His fingers tapped a restless rhythm on the desk.
He thought about the treason case. More and more officials had been submitting petitions, pushing for a quick resolution.
If, as Cassidy suggested, the Marquis was murdered in his cell tomorrow and it was staged as a suicide, the entire investigation would hit a dead end.
The real culprit would get away with it.
At that thought, the Emperor could no longer sit still. "Guards! Deliver my decree! Immediately notify the Ministry of Justice to tighten security at the prison. Increase the watch, and no one is to have unauthorized contact with the Marquis of Stonehaven."
The Second Prince was at a loss. Whether the Marquis died tomorrow or not, he was already tangled up in this mess. The only way out was to find the real person behind the plot and clear his own name.
"Father," he said quickly, "the words on that note were just a foolish prank! I meant no real harm! I... I am willing to fully assist my sister in getting to the bottom of this case and clearing my name."
The Emperor stared at him for a long, unreadable moment before finally waving a dismissive hand. "Fine. But if you can't find anything within a month, don't bother showing your face here again."
The prince felt like he'd just been pardoned from death row. He quickly bowed his head in thanks. When he stood up again, his back was soaked through with cold sweat.
Just when everyone thought the matter was settled, a voice boomed from outside the study.
"Brother! Brother! I've solved the case!"
Prince Ashworth burst in, looking thrilled. He was decked out in a flamboyant, dark purple robe embroidered with coiled griffons, casually fiddling with two shiny worry stones in his hands.
The Emperor closed his eyes and wondered if all the guards outside his study had simultaneously dropped dead. After the performance Cassidy had just put on, he had absolutely zero hope for whatever case Ashworth claimed to have solved.