Chapter 164

Reaching the limit of his patience, Duke Hubble grabbed his cane and swung it hard. The solid metal cane hit the floor hard enough to make a squeaking sound. Although he was not as strong as he was as a young man, the cane was still swung very hard for an old man like him.

But he didn’t hit Kling as intended.

Kling turned his head towards Curtis. Curtis, who had blocked Duke Hubble’s attack with one hand, slowly pulled the cane down. Only then did Duke Hubble withdraw his arm with a displeased look.

“Duke Hubble, if you are truly unrelated to this treason, just wait . Pretend you are taking a vacation leave for a few days. If the witnesses are escorted and questioned by the Justice Department investigators, I think your innocence can be proven. If you become impatient and hurry to counterattack, you will look more suspicious in the eyes of others.”

After he was done, Kling deliberately looked around.

Officials of the Ministry of Interior, who were holding their breaths like corpses, could not take their eyes off the dispute between the two dukes. As soon as this meaningless battle ended, they would flee in all directions like birds and rats to spread what they heard.

Of course, the majority of them were more indebted to Duke Hubble than Duke Kling, but power knew no shame by nature. As long as the miner who dug up this marvelous secret proved to be Marquis Chester, they would surely compare the weight of their force. Even Duke Hubble himself would do so.

“Duke Kling, this is a very mean slander. In other words, this is a slander without any evidence. How can a prudent man like you act recklessly? As the Chief Chamberlain, you need to stop the emperor from making wrong decisions by advising him well. Are you going to throw away your pride and become the emperor’s puppet to make your daughter his wife?”

“Unfortunately, there is no evidence that your claim is correct. Also, if it means being the emperor’s puppet to follow the emperor’s legitimate order, I would rather be the emperor’s puppet than the instigator of treason. As long as you are doing the right thing, I don’t think it is important to define its nature.”

Both of them continued to exchange blatant accusations. Duke Hubble bit his lip. He stared at Kling with bloodshot eyes.

“Don’t regret your actions. If the witnesses and the report turn out to be false, even the emperor will never forget what happened to me today.”

Doubt breeds a crack in trust, and the crack changes the chessboard.

Thinking that perhaps the weapon that Eckart tried to put in his hand was this kind of anxiety, Duke Kling stepped back and showed manners to Duke Hubble.

“Please come back to your original position soon. Take care.”

* * *

Duke Hubble’s special villa in the capital was always crowded with people because those who wanted his favor and authority competed to make appointments with him, regardless of the weather, the season, the day of the week, or the time of day.

As a result, the butler and chief attendant were busier than the bureaucrats of the idle departments in the cabinet. It was rumored that former chief attendant Countess Bailin, who retired four years ago, purchased a large house in the capital with the bribes she received from those who wanted to make the appointment.

Tonight, the duke’s mansion was quiet like a tomb. The mansion was much brighter than usual thanks to the guards surrounding it, but even the mayflies rushing toward the lights were disappearing somewhere. The sound of knights patrolling in their clanking armor was the only sound in the dark shade of the mansion.

“Even a dumb animal does not bite its owner who raised it. Damn the Frey family!”

Duke Hubble put down the mug on the table with a thump.

Only a few hours ago his mansion was messed up when the Justice Ministry officials searched it, so Duke Hubble didn’t want to look at it. Fortunately, some of his friends at the Justice Ministry left behind luxury items such as cigars, popular teapots, teacups and books, but this was not enough to appease the duke.

“I can’t understand their actions. How can he insult you openly in the presence of the officials?

Think about the time and energy you have devoted to the empire, Dad? This young man is so arrogant! Could the Aslan empire have developed economically without your help? How ungrateful he is!” Elias, Duke Hubble’s only son, raged while sitting next to him.

He continued, “Don’t worry. I’m confident you have a weapon to beat that bastard. Is there any nobleman in the empire who doesn’t know your name? I think they will gather in groups and exercise their collective veto power.”

Duke Hubble looked at his son with a puzzled expression.

Elias was his only son, and he resembled his dead wife. Although he was born into an environment where he had nothing to envy in the world, he didn’t grow up well. He was impatient by nature, simple, and narrow-minded. Although Duke Hubble invited famous scholars, philosophers, knights, and artists to teach him, Elias showed no particular talent. Even though Duke Hubble was the most powerful man in the Aslan empire after the emperor, he couldn’t ensure his son’s education.

“How stupid can you be when our family is in a crisis like this!”

“Pardon?”

“In your eyes, the emperor is the only weed you have to remove?”

“Don’t you think so? Since Duke Kling has come to the capital, Eckart thinks he gained an alley and became arrogant enough to insult you…”

He kept babbling on until he noticed his father’s eyes and facial expression.

Duke Hubble clicked his tongue, looking at his son hopelessly.

“You’re already over 40. How narrow-minded you are! I got you many experts, so you could learn how to interpret the situation correctly, but you can’t judge the situation we’re in now.

Why are you so stupid? Aren’t you ashamed? What could a child learn from a parent like you?”

Elias shut up at his father’s relentless scolding. As his son clearly showed he was so upset, Duke Hubble pressed his fingers to his forehead as if he had a headache.

“Although the emperor’s order is annoying and arrogant, I don’t think it’s a big deal.

Ultimately, the biggest harm to me is Ober, that damned bastard. That horrible jerk has stabbed us in the back. Don’t you know who stabbed you in the back when you have been stabbed?”

“… Sorry.”

“Since Chester has decided to remove me by all means, it doesn’t mean anything for me to bring other aristocrats into my fold. This bastard has gotten me charged with treason! So, if I try to mobilize noblemen, it would be like my giving him a weapon with which he can attack. In order to overturn the situation, it would be much better for me to expose several soft spots of Chester and his mother and report them to the emperor. I can take care of the fake witnesses before they arrive in the capital.”

“What do you mean by the weakness of Chester and his mother?”

“Well, Marquise Chester was originally from a baron’s daughter but was almost sold off to a marquis’ family and gave birth to an illegitimate son, Ober, as the late emperor’s mistress. When she became powerful enough to dominate the social circles in the capital, she couldn’t do it with a clean hand. The late marquis had a discerning eye for people, but it was just a pity that he never knew his wife was a terrible enough woman to kill him.”

Duke Hubble said something significant. After hesitating for a moment, Elias turned to him and opened his mouth.

“Do you have secret documents or evidence to use as a weapon against them?”

“Elias, a promise without any substance is nothing but a false promise. Do you believe that you can move people with illusions?”

Duke Hubble frowned. Although he was under house arrest, his gray hair and cold eyes showed his characteristics. Elias hunched his shoulders all the more, faced with his relentless arrogance.

“Then, let me meet the emperor with the evidence. As it is you, not me, who is under house arrest now, if you let me know about the location of the hard evidence…”

“You don’t have to. Let me write a letter to the emperor by myself. ”

He cut off his son’s offer immediately. Elias knitted his brows at once. He crumpled the fabric on his knees with his thick hands.

“Dad, can’t you trust me? ” Elias demanded.

But Duke Hubble was not swayed at all. Despite his sons resentful look, Duke Hubble decided to deal with the matter on his own.

“I don’t have to do it twice when I can finish it at one go.”

If he were offered the choice between not betraying the expectations of his family and implementing a political tactics with less losses, Duke Hubble would definitely choose the latter. He already ruled out his son’s proposal, now mulling over how to deceive the knights surrounding his mansion.