How To End This Marriage-Chapter 68: Whispers of Conspiracy

I waited with bated breath until the guard brought all the workers into the study. The room, once an oasis of tranquility, had now transformed into a stage of uncertainty.

"Lord, you have called us?" they all said in unison, their voices a chorus of anticipation.

"Yes, I have summoned all of you to discuss something of utmost importance. I hope you will answer honestly," Alex declared, his tone carrying a weight of seriousness.

The workers stood before us, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

"So, tell me, how much are you all paid?" he finally asked, breaking the silence that hung in the air like a shroud.

"I don’t understand why everyone is so concerned about our wages today, but we receive ten silver coins each month," they all replied at once, their voices harmonizing with a touch of confusion.

"Ten silver coins? Are you sure?" Alex asked, seeking confirmation, his brows furrowing.

"Yes, my lord," they affirmed, their unified response unwavering.

Grant, once a loyal servant and now the center of suspicion, couldn’t hide his unease as Alex turned to him, expectation etched on his face.

"Grant, please explain what they are saying. Did I not allocate sufficient funds for the workers? Then where is the discrepancy? Why are they not receiving their rightful pay when the allotted amount has been provided?" Alex pressed for answers, his gaze fixed on Grant.

"Lord, they are lying. They have been influenced by the Duchess. I could never commit such acts. I have been loyal for many years. How could you believe I would harm the people I work with?" Grant vehemently protested, his words laden with a veneer of desperation.

"That is precisely what I’ve been thinking. Why would you harm your fellow workers when you all work together? Or do you seek to elevate yourself by exploiting them in this manner?" I interjected, my voice cutting through the tension in the room.

"Madam, please allow him to speak," Alex intervened once more, his patience waning.

"No, he has spoken enough, and I have heard enough. Have you not heard what the workers have stated? They claim they have not received any gold coins from you. Why would they lie for someone new like me? They could have lied to protect Grant, but they didn’t, as they have been living in difficult conditions. Can’t you see what is happening in this mansion, or have you chosen to turn a blind eye?" I questioned, my voice unwavering.

"Lord, save me!" Grant pleaded, but he found no salvation in Alex’s eyes this time.

"Guards, take him to the dungeon. I will handle his case there," I instructed the guard, my resolve firm.

"Madam, what are you doing again? Let me explain," Alex protested, but my determination remained unshaken.

"If you interfere this time, I am willing to resign from the responsibilities I have taken on and return to my family’s home immediately. The choice is yours—should I leave or stay?" I challenged him, my gaze unwavering.

Alex remained silent, and so I proceeded to escort Grant to the dungeon while he continued to shout for his release.

I returned to address the workers who had assembled, their faces reflecting a mixture of relief and uncertainty. "You may all resume your duties," I told them before turning back to Alex.

"Now, Duke, I would like to discuss another matter with you," I said, my tone carrying a hint of urgency.

"What is it?" his voice was subdued, his demeanor markedly changed.

"As you may have noticed, I brought a woman with me. What are your thoughts on her?" I inquired, my eyes searching his for a hint of understanding.

"What do you mean, ’what is she’? She is a human but a beggar," he replied dismissively, his focus shifting to a seemingly unrelated topic.

"No, Duke! This woman is not just a beggar, but your entire state is living in similarly dire conditions," I asserted, my words punctuated with sincerity. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He tried to speak, but I held up my hand, my intent clear. "I understand you might think I’m making an unusual claim, but this is the truth. Since I ventured outside, I have seen a reality far removed from what I imagined for Ablia. Instead of progress, I see dilapidated houses and people struggling to obtain even the barest sustenance."

"Dilapidated houses? Food shortages? How can this be possible?" he questioned, his disbelief evident, his world shaken.

"Yes, it is happening, and that’s why I wish to visit the palace and meet with His Majesty the Emperor once more. I would like to go there as the representative of Ablia and discuss the state’s issues with the Emperor," I explained, my determination unwavering.

"Is this your wish?" he inquired, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Yes, it is precisely what I desire. Please arrange an appointment for me. I wish to go alone," I stated firmly and left the study without awaiting his response. My feet led me to the dungeon, where I found myself slowly approaching Grant’s cell.

To my surprise, he exhibited the same behavior as the assassin when he was first brought here.

"Release me! I demand to be set free. Summon the Duke; I wish to speak to him," he shouted repeatedly, his voice echoing through the cold, stone chamber.

"No one will set you free. Do you think I would release you after what you’ve done all these years?" I replied, my tone firm and resolute.

"You! You are the cause of all this chaos. You should have perished that day. I don’t understand how you survived, ruining all my plans," he growled in anger, his eyes filled with a sinister glint.

"So, you were behind the assassins? You sent them to the mansion to kill me? You killed the assassin that night? You are the mastermind behind all of this, aren’t you?" I asked, my voice unwavering, my determination to uncover the truth unyielding.

"Yes, I orchestrated the assassins. However, you will never know who ultimately ends your life. Do you believe that locking me up here will resolve everything, and you’ll live a peaceful life? No, it will never happen. Your fate is sealed, and you will meet your demise. Even if it’s not me who kills you, someone else will," he declared, a sinister smile on his face, his shackles serving as a feeble barrier to his malevolent intentions.

"What do you mean? Who is trying to kill me? Speak! Tell me their name!" I shouted at him, my patience wearing thin, my desperation to uncover the truth intensifying.

"Heh, you will never find out, Duchess. Perhaps the hand of death is even now poised to strike you from behind. No one can guarantee that," he laughed, despite being shackled behind bars, his knowledge a dark secret that eluded my grasp.