Chapter 194 - 2-76 Louis's POV
After seeing Rachel to her room, I returned to my own. I sank into the sofa and let out a deep sigh. Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud bang, making me jump.
"Hey, Louis!"
I tried to calm my racing heart as I turned around. As expected, Theodore was standing there.
"Good grief, Theodore. I've told you a thousand times to knock."
"Sorry, but this is no time for that."
"I don't care how much of a hurry you're in, you should still knock."
Ignoring my scolding, Theodore marched into the room and slammed a thick stack of papers onto the table.
"Look at this. I've gathered Madam Banks's testimony and the remaining evidence."
Overwhelmed by his sheer intensity, I reached for the papers. My eyes darted across the pages, the only sound in the room being the rustle of paper as I flipped through them. Once I finished, I tapped the stack against the table to straighten it. Theodore watched me intently, waiting for my reaction.
"We need to see Prince Ricardo immediately."
Theodore's mouth curled into a smirk. "I figured you'd say that, so I've already told him to come here."
"Impressive as always."
I matched his smile, appreciating his foresight.
♢
It was after eight in the evening and quite dark when Prince Ricardo arrived. Just as I had done, he pored over the documents with total focus. When he reached the final page, his expression darkened.
"Where did you get this?"
"My capable subordinates gathered it. Were you aware of these facts, Prince Ricardo?"
"No... I had no idea."
He looked up, his eyes sharp and his brow furrowed.
"Do you find it hard to believe?"
"To be honest, I'm shocked. I knew my mother was capable of much, but I never imagined she had gone this far... that she had laid hands on so many women."
The evidence Theodore had gathered detailed the many hidden crimes of Minerva Orta. It was a compilation put together in a short time; if it were complete, there would likely be many more incidents that had been handled in secret.
"The Queen of Orta, Minerva Orta, and her natal Ducal House have been secretly assassinating or drugging political rivals and women associated with the King. Naturally, those involved were also 'dealt with' to ensure their silence."
"How did you gather this evidence?"
"Slums, run-down taverns, brothels, convents, orphanages. More than a few people witnessed their misdeeds. Among those who lost lovers, relatives, or friends, many have held onto evidence, waiting for the day they could finally have their revenge."
Prince Ricardo laughed weakly at Theodore's words.
"I see. This was the perfect chance to strike. With the situation involving Faust, the drug connections have come to light. Rumors of the Queen and the Duke's involvement spread instantly. No matter how powerful the Duke is, he couldn't erase all the rumors."
"Yes. In the past, this evidence would have been quietly disappeared. Many people died without ever being able to raise their voices."
But a situation can flip in an instant if one lets their guard down. Minerva's impulsive act of attacking me was likely because her parents had always granted her every wish. She probably believed she could easily eliminate anyone who stood in her way, just as she had done before. In that sense, Faust was very much like her. She had likely raised him exactly as she herself had been raised.
"Jealous and greedy. People who will do anything to achieve their goals are not rare in aristocratic society. I am handing this evidence over to you. You are free to use it as you see fit."
Prince Ricardo looked at the documents in his hand, his eyes wide with shock.
"Do you not think I might cover this up?"
"If you do, I will simply take that as the will of the Kingdom of Orta."
I said it, but I didn't believe for a second that he would hide it. If he were that kind of person, he wouldn't have shared his country's secrets with me to begin with. I could entrust him with this evidence precisely because he was Prince Ricardo. I believed he would make better use of it than I could.
"You trust me, then."
"An ally must be someone trustworthy. For that to happen, you must be the one to become King. Are you prepared?"
I watched him closely, looking for any flicker of doubt. He met my gaze head-on and nodded firmly.
"Of course. I have caused you a great deal of trouble for that very purpose. I will spend the coming decades repaying this debt."
"I'm counting on it."
I held out my hand, and Prince Ricardo took it without hesitation, our grip firm. The relationship between our two nations was about to change significantly. Theodore, who had been watching us, took a bottle of red wine from the room's wine cellar and held it up.
"How about it? Care for a glass?"
Prince Ricardo smiled, but shook his head with a sigh.
"That sounds wonderful. I would love to, but I must move quickly."
"I see."
"Once everything is settled and I visit the Kingdom of Dutoit as my country's representative, let's open a special bottle together."
"That means the next time you come to our country, you'll be the King."
"Yes, exactly."
Prince Ricardo stood up and shrugged. I walked him to the door. As he reached for the handle, he turned back with a look of resolve.
"Crown Prince, because of this, my mother will likely be confined to the Detached Palace or divorced. If you desire anything more than that, I will do my best to accommodate you."
"She will lose her family's backing, and the sycophants who whispered sweet words to her will vanish. She will fall from her life of luxury into ruin. I don't need to lift a finger; she's already falling. Besides, I've entrusted everything to you. Please, settle this as you see fit."
"Thank you."
He bowed deeply before leaving. As long as he is there, the Kingdom of Orta will surely be properly reborn. Because Prince Ricardo undoubtedly has the resolve to create that future.