That night that seemed to last years, Magnus and Cadec did not take long to drag each of the suspects to the mansion of the Count of Shad, which Magnus discovered was treating the man in the green suit himself. He had previously ordered his men to keep the Earl's mansion under surveillance to prevent him from leaving, as he later intended to question him about the tax increase.
Only that Magnus did not expect to see the Count himself involved in the show that night.
The Countess and her two small children were kept in a separate part of the mansion, being guarded by knights from the imperial army, while they kept the Count in the guest room tied up and kneeling on the floor before the First Prince and the Grand Duke.
When he raised his head, the man trembled with the coldness of those two pairs of eyes that stared at him so cold and inexpressively. Quickly the Count lowered his head when a shudder passed on his back, and even demonstrating his dread before the figure of the First Prince sitting in his chair with crossed legs, he knew that he wouldn't receive mercy even if self-flagellated.
"I am very disappointed to see you so friendly with worms as the people of Geledel" Began Cadec, his voice sounding low and threatening, as if he pointed his sword directly at the chest of his target "May I know the reason for such friendship?"
"It's not what you think, Your Highness, it's just business!"
"It's very bold of you to claim to know what I think, Earl of Shad. But I'll give you a chance to try and prove your point."
The count trembled and clenched his fingers, hesitating to tell. The pressure that those blue eyes and crimson eyes hung over his shoulders really made his loyalty falter. Magnus crossed his arms and leaned in the chair where Cadec was, attentive to every movement of that man. He was considering some ways to force him to speak, but upon noticing that he took a deep breath, chose to wait.
"I only follow orders, Your Highness. I-I have no idea what this situation is about. I don't even know what was in those boxes!"
Cadec leaned his face between his fingertips, and sighed low as he leaned on the arm of the chair.
"Are you telling me that you just followed someone's orders without question? This seems a little ridiculous to me."
"I'm telling the truth!" The man dragged his knees on the floor to approach the feet of the prince. "I'm just a vassal, how can I contradict the orders..."
"Oh, then who gave you orders was the Marquis Kahar?" Magnus inferred, making the Count tremble.
"That's not what I meant..."
"Ah, so your allegiance was sworn to another lord?"
"Of course not!"
The Count's despair was becoming interesting, yet Magnus still felt angry because of his fight with that captain from Geledel. The effects of pheromones were as insistent as the person he fought, which really got him off. His patience was also already low to see that worm trying to get out of his mandate despite contradicting himself.
The Count swallowed dry, with wide eyes to the Prince, who leaned on his knees and looked at him menacingly.
"If you speak, I can promise you the safety of your family", Cadec suddenly proposed. "I will send them to a place far away where they won't have to deal with the consequences."
"Remembering that the same will not be said about you. The dungeon will be your new home" Recalled Magnus.
The man shuddered and his face became pale. Magnus looked at the figure of the prince, it was not in his nature to use innocent people to threaten some suspect during an interrogation. Not that Magnus was going to complain, if it wasn't Cadec, he would do it himself since he didn't care about those people. A little bit of pride made a curve appear on his lips, but that was masked quickly when he heard the guy's voice again.
"Do you promise to leave my family alone?"
"As long as they are not involved in this matter."
The Count swallowed dry.
"I-I was ordered to receive the boxes and take them to the east warehouse. The marquis sent express orders that he would send someone to pick up the boxes. That's all I know."
Magnus looked at one of the knights guarding the door of the drawing room, and made a sign with his hand. The knight nodded and withdrew, understanding the indirect order to search the Count's office.
"You do not know, then, for what purpose the Marquis ordered these goods? Or why he is in contact with Geledel?"
"For months the Marquis has been in contact with some people, he always had great contacts... But he never told me the details."
"I hope you 'remember' more details when we talk next time" Cadec called the guards to hold the Count and raise him from the ground. "Take him along with the others and keep an eye out to prevent their death. I want everyone alive by the time we get back to the capital."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The soldiers dragged the Count head down and trembling out of the drawing room. Leaving alone, the two mens sighed heavily.
"The Count and the Marquis are responsible for guarding the port at Elyon's command, does he know what is happening?"
"Don't be stupid, Cadec, of course he knows. The shopkeepers in this city had their taxes raised, how would your idiot brother not know?"
Cadec cast a sharp glance at Magnus, though it was impossible to make that Grand Duke shudder.
"Watch your mouth, Magnus."
"I am not obliged to kiss their feet, especially when someone with a damn crown on his head is smuggling weapons from the kingdom we fought months ago."
Cadec sighed heavily and massaged his temple silently. Magnus walked through the living room and looked at the window behind the heavy curtain, noting that the guards were keeping the mansion safe.
No one would enter or leave without their orders.
However, Magnus had to leave before dawn.
"I will send a team to search this warehouse. I will also send a report to my father, we will probably keep these weapons hidden in the warehouse..."
Knocking on the door interrupted the conversation. A knight wearing the Grimwood armband entered, bowing to the prince before looking at his master.
"Sir, we got information from the inspector."
"Inspector?"
"An insect that tried to approach the Lucian's mine", explained Magnus to the prince, without taking his eyes from his knight. "Proceed."
"His identity has been confirmed. His name is Travis Johanes, and he works as an inspector in the imperial office. However, we were informed that for months the office did not receive requests from the Imperial Consort for inspections to be made in the mines."
"Ha! I already imagined it" Magnus let out a dry laugh and crossed his arms "Were you able to make him talk?"
"Yes, sir. He said he received orders directly from His Highness, the seventh prince."
Cadec's expression darkened immediately.
"From Elyon?"
"That's right, Your Highness."
Before the prince could discuss the matter further, Magnus soon gave the orders.
"Send this Inspector to the capital along with the other prisoners of this night. Tell the guards that only the First Prince or Grand Duke is allowed to interrogate them. Visits are prohibited."
"Yes, sir!"
Again alone, Cadec did not take long to launch a second sharp look at the omega.
"Magnus, what the hell is this story?"
"I just took Lucian to see his mine, and right at that moment a man who calls himself inspector was there", Magnus returned the sharp look "Don't blame me for your brothers' greed."
"Haa... Why would Elyon keep an eye on Lucian's mine? And why exactly were his vassals smuggling Geledel's weapons? I can not understand what is going on in their minds..."
"Probably they are eyeing the throne. Because you are an alpha and have gained the patronage of many nobles, it is expected that the seventh prince will also want the throne for himself despite being an alpha."
"Elyon and Dahlia never expressed a desire to inherit the throne. It's hard to think that those two would come this far just because of the crown."
"Investigate and throw them against the wall. If not you, the Emperor will do it. Someone needs to question your lovely brothers about it."
Magnus put his gloves between his fingers and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going? We still have a lot to discuss."
"Although we are here to fulfill orders from the Emperor, I am still on honeymoon" Looking over his shoulder, Magnus stared at the alpha. "I have someone waiting for me in a cozy hotel room."
"I still haven't forgiven you for what you did to Lucian."
"Not that I care" Magnus opened the door and smiled on his shoulder "Now he's mine."
And so he left that mansion, just following the way to the huge hotel where he should have pretended never to leave.