The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 168
âI shouldn’t have moved so hastilyâŚâ
Duke and Duchess Bayern, Duke and Duchess Taylor, and even the Chief Justice.
Judging by the fact that those five had appeared together at the banquet, his agent must have at least carried out her orders.
If people acted differently than usual, it meant something had occurred.
Yet, the fact that Duchess Bayern appeared perfectly unharmed meant either she had never been pregnant or that his plan had failed.
The fact that she seemed unaffected after consuming the drug, hadn’t consulted a physician, and hadn’t hurriedly left the palace was proof enough she wasn’t pregnant.
âThen, I’ve acted rashly for nothingâŚâ
His agent didn’t even know who had given her orders.
After all, she was merely a maid he’d raised secretly within his own clandestine organization.
Even if she was captured, there was no useful information she could divulge, yet he couldn’t help but worry.
Especially because this wasnât even his own idea, it was something he’d done at his granddaughterâs insistence.
âI shouldn’t have made such an impulsive decision in the first place.â
He’d decided to act hastily, thinking he might not get another chance after the hunting festival.
If the child had truly been what repaired the Bayern coupleâs relationship, it wouldâve been best to remove it.
The main reason he had been able to steadily accumulate power while keeping the Chief Justice in check until now was because of one thing.
Duke Bayern, who should have been a strong ally to the Chief Justice through marriage, had instead acted as an unexpected enemy.
But if the coupleâs relationship grew stronger, the Chief Justice’s influence would naturally increase as well.
âPerhaps Iâve only stirred unnecessary trouble.â
Once someone became wary, it became difficult to pull off the same trick twice.
If a day came when he truly needed to eliminate those two from House Bayern, he’d now have to lay low for quite some time.
âI must tell Rebecca to stay quiet for now.â
In any case, worrying wouldn’t undo what had already happened.
After releasing some of his anger, Marquis Crewe finally calmed down and returned to his seat.
However.
âYour Excellency, His Majesty the Emperor has sent an official notice for an internal audit!â
âWhat?â
At the aideâs sudden report, Crewe shot up from his chair.
An internal audit notice.
It wasn’t the kind of notice that would normally be issued immediately after a major event like the hunting festival.
To proceed with something that was usually done at a more leisurely time as mere formality so abruptly?
âWhen is the audit scheduled?â
Crewe asked, his face distorted fiercely. The aide replied nervously, sweating profusely.
âT-This afternoon, Your Excellency.â
Then there were only a few hours left.
He ground his teeth and commanded the aide urgently.
âQuickly remove anything that shouldn’t be seen.â
âYes, sir!â
As the aide hurriedly left, Marquis Crewe himself began to frantically sort through confidential documents.
âMarquis KillianâŚ!â
Crewe instinctively realized this matter had something to do with Marquis Killian.
One reason he often found himself overpowered by the Chief Justice, despite controlling the empire’s finances, was because the Chief Justiceâs position allowed him to act practically as the Emperorâs secretary, managing administrative affairs closely.
For him, convincing His Majesty to adjust the audit schedule would be child’s play.
âIs this a warningâŚ?â
It felt as though Killian was indirectly signaling that he knew Crewe had targeted Duchess Bayern.
âDamn that Chief JusticeâŚâ
Indeed, it wouldâve been foolish not to suspect him.
After all, if anything happened within the palace to a relative of the Chief Justice, Crewe himselfâas Killianâs political rivalâwould naturally be the first suspect.
But no matter what, they wouldnât find direct evidence.
Because the most critical secrets were safely hidden elsewhere, not in the easily accessible Imperial Palace.
Even if misconduct was discovered during the audit, he could simply shift the blame to his subordinates, so he wouldn’t suffer direct damage.
âBut the real question is how much that bastard reported to His MajestyâŚâ
Marquis Crewe groaned, furrowing his brow.
The Emperor disliked accusations based solely on suspicion without clear evidence, so Killian wouldn’t have openly aired his suspicions.
But there was always the possibility of a âwhat ifâ.
âI should summon Marquis Dunklin to the palace.â
His Majesty trusted Marquis Dunklin.
Although Crewe himself was the true owner of the Delphinium Foundation, outwardly Marquis Dunklin was known as its head.
Given Marquis Dunklinâs reputation for philanthropy, it was only natural that His Majesty, who valued stability and welfare, would favor him.
âIt was wise to have registered Rebecca as a member.â
To hide his involvement, Crewe had carefully kept all his own relatives out of the foundation until now.
But since he had listed his granddaughter, Rebecca, as a member, no one would find it suspicious even if he were to meet with Marquis Dunklin.
The Marquisâs emerald eyes gleamed with sinister cunning.
