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"As for my father, why did the king's guard catch him?"
Edward's eyes widened at Mariabelle's question.
"That is a misunderstanding. I am only protecting the Marquis of Berkeley."
"Who are you protecting him from?"
"It's..."
Edward stuttered and looked at his father, the king.
But the king did not say a word.
"Duke Danzel claims that Marquis Berkeley is clearly rebelling against him."
Edward said. "If he catches him, he could be sent to the dungeons. That's why we took him into custody first, to interrogate him."
"The north tower serves as a prison for guilty nobles."
The upper level is a guest room for the nobility, and a comfortable life is guaranteed except for the inability to go outside, but the underground prison is only for felons, and the environment is so bad that even if you are not a noble, you are likely to fall ill after a long period of detention in the damp and dank prison.
"I have also seen the letter from His Majesty... but did Your Highness receive it directly from His Majesty?"
"No. It was brought to me later by the Duke of Danzel because I collapsed during the morning session when we were discussing Mariabelle's case. The letter was ready, and all that was left was to affix the imperial seal."
"The seal is kept in a drawer that can only be opened with a key that the king carries with him at all times."
That's why he stamped it with a fake seal and gave it to Edward.
"Duke Danzel pressed the seal?"
"No way. The duke who received the key from His Majesty gave it to me immediately. I had no choice but to take out the seal and seal it, but I was not satisfied with its contents, so I decided to protect the Marquis of Berkeley before he was captured. If Mariabelle does not marry into the Empire, then there will be no more talk of handing over the territory to the Empire, right?"
Mariabelle couldn't help but look at him.
It is inconceivable that Edward would make a mistake over the drawer where the Imperial Seal is located.
If that was the case, then the key was genuine.
Does that mean that the imperial seal itself has been replaced...?
"Is the key still in your possession?"
"Of course. Here it is."
Edward hit his chest as he said so.
The way he was talking didn't look like he was lying.
Mariabelle was confused.
The Imperial Seal stamped on that letter looked real, but it was obviously a fake.
But who, when, and how in the world had replaced it with a fake?
"That's a funny story," said a voice from the throne. "I've got the key on me. Here."
The king took the key from his chest.
In his hand was a dull gold key.
"Then that means that this key of mine is a fake!"
To the astonished Edward, the king replied quietly.
"I suppose it is."
"But this key was indeed used on the drawer where the imperial seal is kept."
"Didn't I tell you that there is more than one place to store the imperial seal...?"
"Then doesn't that mean that the Duke of Danzel forged the imperial seal?"
"...I have already issued an arrest order."
"What a terrible thing to forge the Imperial Seal and falsely accuse the Marquis of Berkeley. I too am sorry that I was unaware of Duke Danzel's plot."
The king looked at Edward with a sad expression as Edward bowed his head.
"I've been so occupied with my own duties lately. Perhaps it can't be helped."
"I wish I could be of more assistance to you, father, but I am sorry."
Edward has been busy with the office since he broke off his engagement with Mariabelle.
Until then, he had plenty of time to do whatever he wanted.
Annette was doing her best, but she still has a long way to go. It would take several years before she would be able to help Edward with his work as Mariabelle had done.
Edward thought that he should go ahead with the marriage with Mariabelle for the sake of the kingdom.
"I'm sorry, Mariabelle," Edward said. "I was wrong. I still need you. Please don't be stubborn and come back to me."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"I'm sorry I didn't realise you were thinking of me. From now on, I swear I'll take care of you too."
Edward's sky-blue eyes were full of melancholy as he clasped his right hand to his chest and appealed, just like the nobleman in the story.
But this was not a play, and Mariabelle was not an actor on a stage.
"Isn't it His Highness who broke off the engagement by saying that he had found true love! What are you saying now!"
Mariabelle exclaimed.