The Villainous Lady Doesn't Speak Chapter 131

 Chapter 131: Exchange of Opinions 9

When Riley and the others returned to the capital after their inspection, Liliana felt an unusual unease. The palace was oddly restless. Knights were rushing about, and there were senior court ladies with tear-streaked faces. Noting Liliana’s puzzled expression, Riley glanced at her and murmured, “Is something going on?”

Liliana followed Riley to his private quarters. After a while, there was a knock at the door. They were informed that someone wished to meet, and Riley, accompanied by Liliana, proceeded to the adjacent reception room. The person who appeared, having been granted permission to enter, was surprisingly Marquis Finch. Both Liliana and Riley widened their eyes in surprise. Marquis Finch gave Liliana a brief, pained look before stating sternly, “Your Highness, I have a report.”

“What is it?”

“I must ask that Lady Clark be excused.”

Riley and Liliana exchanged glances. Of course, Liliana had no objections. She nodded and was about to step back, but Riley grabbed her hand and stopped her.

“It’s fine. There’s nothing that Lady Liliana can’t hear.”

However, Marquis Finch still furrowed his brow, clearly unconvinced by Riley’s words. Riley, meanwhile, continued to observe him quietly. Eventually, realizing that Riley would not yield, the marquis let out a small sigh and nodded in agreement. He then requested to set up a soundproof barrier, to which Riley consented. Only then did the marquis directly state his business.

“This morning, Duke Ealdred passed away.”

“What—?”

People often find themselves at a loss for words when faced with unexpected news. Both Riley and Liliana were stunned, staring at Marquis Finch for a while. Although the marquis’s complexion was slightly troubled, he scrutinized their reactions without hesitation. Riley, familiar with the marquis’s character, knew that he was not one to tell a bad lie.

“Passed away—why?”

Riley asked in a hoarse voice. Duke Ealdred had been in good health, and no one had mentioned a chronic illness. Marquis Finch briefly pursed his lips but quickly composed himself and answered quietly.

“Officially, it is reported as death due to a sudden worsening of a chronic illness. However, the truth is that it was an assassination.”

“Assassination—?”

Without grasping the reality, Riley repeated the marquis’s words. The marquis nodded, his eyes sharp as he fixed them on Liliana.

“Lady Clark. Do you know anything about this?”

Caught off guard by the question, Liliana blinked, unable to react properly. Her usually controlled expression failed her entirely, and she realized, with a shock, that she was visibly shaken.

However, Marquis Finch continued to glare at her menacingly. Riley, visibly alarmed, interjected.

“Wait, Marquis. Why do you think S-Lady Liliana might know something?”

In his haste, Riley almost referred to Liliana as “Sasha” but corrected himself quickly. The marquis, showing no sign of noticing the slip, did not divert his gaze from Liliana.

“Because the timing seems too deliberate, Your Highness.”

“Deliberate?”

“A scheme.”

As Riley furrowed his brow in confusion, the marquis nodded. In a low, controlled voice, he continued, glaring at Liliana.

“While you were away on your inspection, a council meeting was held. During that meeting, it was proposed that you should be married to a princess from a neighboring country. Naturally, Duke Ealdred opposed this.”

Riley drew in a sharp breath. Although he had anticipated something like this, he hadn’t expected it to come up in this manner.

The marquis continued, his voice barely a murmur.

“On the other hand, there were also those who advocated for the engagement with the princess. Duke Ealdred was opposed, as usual. We have always witnessed their debates in the council meetings. It is not an exaggeration to say that they were at odds. In fact, it was accurate to say that Duke Ealdred was unilaterally antagonized.”

It was only now that Riley and Liliana realized the marquis’s true feelings. With his eyes reddened, the marquis was desperately suppressing his anger and sorrow, struggling to maintain composure.

“His Excellency died after vomiting blood! It was not due to illness! That man has always seen His Excellency as an enemy. Now that His Excellency has returned to the public stage, it is clear that an assassin was sent to eliminate him!”

The rarely emotional Marquis Finch’s restrained yet seething voice made both Riley and Liliana catch their breath. Liliana, subjected to the raw anguish of Finch’s words, stiffened her expression but did not avert her gaze. Seeing this, the marquis exhaled roughly. Struggling to regain his composure, he looked at Liliana quietly. Even without explicit names, both Liliana and Riley could infer who Finch suspected of being behind Duke Ealdred’s assassination.

Before Liliana could respond, Riley spoke up.

“Marquis. I understand your feelings, but it is not appropriate to press Lady Liliana in such a manner. Even if these suspicions are based on evidence, the accused should be subjected to a formal judgment, not interrogated by you.”

Marquis Finch blinked in surprise at the calm tone of the Crown Prince. He shifted his gaze awkwardly and, seeing Liliana’s slightly pale face, furrowed his brows apologetically.

“Ah—You are right. I apologize for my actions.”

Liliana shook her head slightly. Seeing this, the marquis sighed, appearing somewhat diminished. It seemed he had only just realized that he had been directing his anger at a nine-year-old child. This indicated that even the marquis had lost his emotional stability. Apologizing once more with a deep bow, he added quietly,

“However, there may be others who think similarly. Until things calm down, it would be best for you to stay out of sight at your residence.”

“Thank you for informing us.”

Riley responded to Marquis Finch. The marquis bowed again and took his leave. After he exited the reception room, Riley, despite being visibly shaken and pale, cast a concerned glance at Liliana.

“Are you alright, Sasha?”

Liliana nodded. Although she was startled by the marquis’s attitude, the real weight of her distress came from the news of Duke Ealdred’s death. Unable to hide her agitation, Liliana murmured, “Duke Ealdred—”

“Yes,”

Riley replied, his hands trembling and face strained, but with a gentle and supportive tone. The warmth of his grasp made Liliana squeeze his hand in return, and he tightened his grip as well.

“Why did he—”

Why did Duke Ealdred have to die, Liliana’s unspoken question lingered.

—For the first time, Liliana’s efforts—based not on past life knowledge but on the knowledge she had gained since becoming a candidate for the Crown Prince’s fiancée—had been recognized. She had been entrusted with a task and thanked for accepting it. The true intention behind it all was now unclear, but Duke Ealdred had been the first to treat and respect her as Liliana, to show faith in her.

What kind of world would she see if she continued conversing with him? If she supported Riley by his side, would he proudly praise her?

He was the first person who made Liliana feel close, someone she could truly admire.

“I wish I could have met him more,”

Riley said, looking down and nodding. “Yes,”

His brief words carried a wealth of emotions. Riley’s voice trembled with emotion.

Among his grandfather, who cared only for his own heroics, his father, who loved his deceased wife and neglected his son, and his uncle, who was only interested in his own matters, Duke Ealdred had been the one to treat Riley as a Crown Prince and as a young child. He listened quietly but attentively to Riley’s seemingly insignificant stories. Even if it was common knowledge for Duke Ealdred, if Riley learned something new, he would be genuinely surprised and say, “That’s amazing.” For young Riley, it was almost the only moment he could return to being a child.

—He wanted to see more, to talk more.

He wanted to show how he and Austin, now a royal guard, would govern the country together.

“He surely—”

Riley swallowed the words he was about to say.

—Certainly, the Duke would have wanted to see Austin become a royal guard.

Memories of past conversations resurfaced in his mind. When Riley had mentioned that Austin would become his royal guard, the Duke had smiled and said, “It is an honor.” He had added, “I look forward to the day when I can see His Highness on the throne and your son standing beside him.”

“—Why—”

Beside Riley, who had tightly closed his eyes, Liliana bit her lip.

Why did he have to die? Why was he killed? Despite remembering Marquis Finch's words about the lack of evidence, Liliana was certain in her heart that her father had killed Duke Ealdred.

“Why, why—”

Why did that person have to be gone? The repeated questions had no answers. In the next moment, Liliana clutched her stomach in discomfort, feeling as if she were about to be sick.

“Sasha?”

Noticing the change in Liliana, Riley called her name. Unable to hear his voice, Liliana was overwhelmed by a severe headache and felt her consciousness slipping away.

“Sasha!!”

A single tear, unable to be contained, rolled down her cheek, cold against her skin.