* * *
It seemed that his father’s tenants were involved in last night’s attack. If so, was his father implicated in the attack?
But his biological father would never do anything to harm the Crown Prince.
Baron Bennet was proud of having been a member of the Imperial Knights all his life, and on national holidays, he would gather the tenants and give lengthy speeches about his unwavering loyalty.
Since a father like that would never allow his tenants to attack the Crown Prince, it clearly meant something must have happened to his father.
Perhaps that preacher John fellow had locked his father up somewhere, stolen his father’s seal, and was impersonating the Lord.
With the flood of worries, Joel slowly got up, clutching his throbbing head.
Just as he was about to set foot off the bed, someone opened the bedroom door and entered.
“Joel! You’re finally awake!”
“Robert?”
Robert, who was carrying a tray with cool water and ointment, quickly put the tray on the table and rushed over.
He scolded Joel, “You shouldn’t get up yet,” and gently laid him back down on the bed.
“Do you recognize who I am?”
“Of course, Bobby. I called your name just now.”
“Do you know where you are? What is your name?”
“It’s my bedroom, and I’m Joel. Robert, there’s something more important than that…”
Joel tried to ask Robert about his biological father’s safety, but Robert cut Joel off sharply, saying, “No, there’s nothing more important than confirming that you are safe.”
He insisted on checking if there was anything wrong with Joel’s head, and Joel only got the chance to ask his questions after several rounds of pointless questioning.
But just as Joel was about to ask, “Robert, my father is…” yet another unwelcome visitor burst open the door.
“I heard Lord Joel has regained consciousness.”
Abe, who stomped in, had an unprecedentedly frosty look on his face.
Abe had not been openly favorable toward Joel like other courtiers, but he had at least maintained minimal courtesy until now.
He had never before displayed such an overtly hostile attitude in front of Joel.
The bewildered Joel looked at Robert, but Robert was not looking at Joel.
He hurried to shield Joel behind his back, saying, “This person just regained consciousness after being unconscious for a whole day. Isn’t this too heartless? I understand your impatience, but after you’ve given him a moment to breathe…”
He was busy blocking Abe.
“I’m sure the doctor knows this isn’t the situation for that?”
“I know that a hundred times over, but even so, Lord Joel is currently gravely injured…”
“I won’t mince words. Doctor, please leave.”
“Sir, what if Lord Joel suffers a shock because of this?”
“Shock? Ha!”
Abe scoffed, mimicking Robert’s words as if utterly exasperated.
Judging by the way the situation was unfolding, it seemed that Joel himself had committed a grave mistake.
He had no idea what he had done wrong, but Joel still thought that Abe’s anger must be his fault. Joel, who had lived a life of constant scorn for the past three years, was accustomed to such a way of thinking.
Cowering, Joel gently tapped Robert’s back and asked in a faint voice, “Why, what’s going on…”
“Well, that is, well…”
“Lord Joel. His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince has disappeared last night.”
Cutting off Robert, who was struggling to choose his words, Abe retorted sharply.
Startled by the bolt from the blue, Joel’s eyes widened.
“What? Bobby, what is he talking about? The Crown Prince disappeared!”
“You must not get so agitated yet. Your wound might bleed again.”
Robert tried to calm Joel, who was grabbing his collar and demanding an answer.
But Robert was the only one worried about Joel’s injured state; Abe and the 4th Knights were still glaring fiercely at Joel.
Knight Commander Abe opened his mouth in an accusatory tone toward Joel.
“His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince was sitting in that very chair, staying by Lord Joel’s side all night. And the 4th Knights were guarding the front of this bedroom continuously. But when we knocked this morning and received no answer, we opened the door to find only Lord Joel in the room, and His Imperial Highness had vanished without a trace. Since then, we have mobilized Baron Bennet’s private soldiers and searched the forest, but we have yet to find any trace of His Imperial Highness.”
Abe’s detailed explanation somehow carried the tone of demanding an explanation from Joel.
But Joel couldn’t understand what answer Abe wanted to hear from him.
He had been unconscious and had just woken up; how could he have witnessed anything?
As he sat there blinking his large eyes, Abe questioned him in an exasperated tone.
“Therefore, isn’t it possible that Lord Joel is connected to this incident?”
“Me connected to this incident? What kind of outrageous talk is that!”
“I do not wish to be rude, but if Lord Joel reflects on his own conduct over the past three years, you will understand my position. How many times have you harmed His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince in the last three years?”
Joel naturally thought it was ridiculous nonsense.
He harmed the Crown Prince?
That couldn’t be true, could it?
But Abe’s following point was enough to make Joel wince.
“Didn’t you bribe His Highness’s attendant to monitor His Highness’s every move, try to find out His Highness’s rut cycle, and employ all sorts of illegal means and methods to win His Highness? The times you harassed His Highness using pheromones are too numerous to count.”
At Abe’s fierce accusation, Joel couldn’t offer any retort and only flushed bright red.
Come to think of it, it was true that he had committed such acts in the past.
He knew he couldn’t be forgiven simply because he had done it out of love, and he conceded that his behavior had led to a situation where he was the number one suspect…
But Joel still felt wronged. He felt so wronged that he was speechless.
“For the past three years, Count Lucas has covered up all the countless criminal acts you committed against His Imperial Highness, but this time, he will not be able to do so.”
“Abe, I really… This time, I am innocent.”
“Even someone as foolish as you must know what a grave crime kidnapping a member of the Royal Family is. So, if you conspired with Baron Bennet to kidnap His Imperial Highness, confessing honestly will be the only way to at least save your life.”
Abe seemed already convinced that Joel had kidnapped the Crown Prince.
But hadn’t the Crown Prince been the one who had volunteered to resolve his biological father’s case in the first place?
Joel hadn’t even asked him for help.
Robert, who knew about Joel’s pregnancy, angrily spoke up on his behalf, “Sir, watch your words!”
But he had no choice but to immediately fall silent when Knight Commander Abe drew his sword from its sheath and pointed it at his neck.
“Do you really not know how grave the crime of kidnapping a member of the Royal Family is? Even if His Imperial Highness returns later and directly shields Lord Joel, he will not be able to save you. His Majesty the Emperor will punish Lord Joel directly. Not only you and your biological father, but even the tenants will all have their heads cut off and displayed on spikes.”
“I, I really don’t know anything…! I just woke up.”
“Speak clearly! Where did you take His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince?”
Knight Commander Abe fiercely pressured the tearful Joel.
Joel felt his head reeling from fear, a sense of injustice, and worry for the Crown Prince.
The headache suddenly intensified, and he groaned, clutching his head, causing Robert to gasp and immediately support Joel.
“Joel!”
Robert quickly examined Joel’s wound.
Red blood was seeping out again from the head wound he had struggled to stop the bleeding from.
If Joel were to become any more agitated, the Imperial Grandchild in his belly could be in danger.
He could not carelessly reveal the fact of the Imperial Grandchild’s conception, but he also could not stand by and let Abe indiscriminately interrogate Joel.
Robert confronted Abe forcefully, saying, “The Sir also knows that Lord Joel just regained consciousness, so why are you treating him as a criminal right off the bat? Do you have any clear material evidence that Lord Joel is connected to this incident?”
As Joel’s condition rapidly worsened, Abe had no choice but to sheath his sword and back down for the time being.
Before leaving the bedroom, he did not forget to warn Joel, “Since Lord Joel is also a suspect, you cannot step one foot outside this bedroom from now on. Count Grey’s private army will arrive soon, so it would be better for you to confess before then.”
* * *
