Raised From The Wild-Chapter 342: The Culprit

Princess Amaya looked around and saw her guards were coming to them. She signaled Vasquez with her eyes to stop. Vasquez looked troubled but relented.

Princess Amaya’s brow furrowed as she was led into the room. A knot of unease tightened in her stomach as if she had unknowingly committed a transgression. The expansive chamber was accentuated by a grand table along the side of the wall, meticulously carved from rich, luxurious hardwood that exuded an aura of opulence and grandeur.

The man in his late forties, flanked by two others, exuded an air of authority. His piercing gaze made Princess Amaya feel like she was under intense scrutiny. To his left, a stout man stood as immobile as a statue, while to his right, a tall, slender figure with a stoic expression remained motionless.

Princess Amaya’s eyes swept over the three men in the room before resting on the man lounging in the leather chair. Her gaze was bright and full of innocence, and she appeared remarkably composed despite the circumstances.

The sports official who brought her in gestured for her to sit down.

"Miss Rocas, we investigated the incident at the dressage arena. We reviewed the surveillance camera, and you were caught standing beside that black horse minutes before the young lady Monica Barton led her horse into the arena." The man seated on the chair uttered the words without bothering to introduce themselves.

’So her name was Monica Barton.’ Princess Amaya remembered that the Bartons were among the most influential families in the Northern province of Uropa.

"May I know who you are?" Princess Amaya asked with her right eyebrow raised.

"Oh, I am Detective Meyers. I am tasked to handle this case. These are my two assistants." He did not bother introducing the names of the two people beside him. Clearly, he was looking down on the princess.

"I was visiting my horses at that time. The black horse was next to mine. I was standing by my two horses. Moreover, I would never harm a horse." Princess Amaya explained calmly.

"Detective Meyers, perhaps we should show the video to Miss Rocas to jog her memory," suggested the stout man as he peered down at the seated man.

The detective’s gaze remained fixed on Princess Amaya, studying her every expression with unwavering attention. It was as if he was completely absorbed in his scrutiny, oblivious to his companion’s words as he pondered intently.

Detective Meyers looked at the princess sharply as he accused her of sabotaging Monica Barton’s horse. "We have evidence that you fed something to the horse, causing it to become aggressive," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Princess Amaya was utterly surprised. What kind of evidence did they get? She rose from her seat, her eyes flashing with determination. "I am innocent," she declared, her voice unwavering. "My conscience is clear." As she rose, her hands forcefully struck the table.

Detective Meyers chuckled sardonically. "Do you know of someone who has been accused of a crime and admitted to it? Of course, he’d tell you he did nothing wrong; that’s human nature."

Princess Amaya checked her watch and frowned. She would miss Donelle’s archery event if she continued to be held up for questioning.

The big monitor mounted on the wall to the left of the door lit up. Princess Amaya was looking at the CCTV footage of the event earlier. She saw herself enter the stables and talked to her horses. But because of the camera angle, it appeared that she was standing closer to the black horse instead of Apollo. Then she took out the cubed sugar and fed it to the horse. In the footage, it looked like she fed the black horse with the white cubed white substance.

A knock on the door was heard. The sports official who escorted Amaya hurriedly opened it. Two men were standing outside, their faces grim. They entered without waiting for the man who opened the door to say anything.

Princess Amaya relaxed when she saw Stephane Gray and the Dean of Sports of Lireya Alpha University appear.

"I heard that a sports official dared to take my athlete without informing any of the coaches or teachers, not even me?" The Dean of Sports spoke loudly. He was neither intimidated by the detective’s haughty look nor felt inferior. He had a strong aura that made the detective feel oppressed.

The detective stood from his seat.

"We only invited Miss Rocas for a simple question. And you are ... ?" Detective Meyers apprised the men who just spoke before his eyes darted on Stephane Gray. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes before they disappeared.

"I am the Dean of Sports of Lireya Alpha University." The imposing man in his early thirties, who looked younger than his age and who wore oversized eyeglasses that doubled as sunglasses when under the sun, spoke with authority. He was, after all, the valiant Duke of Ereseo.

The detective gave him a wry smile and then sat back. He wanted to replay the video, but two more people barged into the room.

The elegantly dressed woman, appearing to be in her late thirties, with hair reminiscent of corn silk, directed an accusing gaze at Amaya as she questioned, "Is this the woman who harmed my daughter’s horse?"

A man stood next to her, clad in a dark navy blue suit, his eyes widening in astonishment. He had been watching his daughter’s performance in the dressage arena when her horse, Black Beauty, began to act strangely. Just as he was about to rush to her aid, a young woman on a magnificent white horse rode into the arena and came to his daughter’s rescue.

’Why is she being accused of harming Black Beauty?’ he pondered. Before Mr. Barton could talk to his wife to explain that it was her who saved Monica, Mrs. Barton already lashed out at Amaya.

"You, how could you do such a despicable thing? How did my daughter wrong you? If not for a valiant heroine who stepped in to save her, my daughter could have been seriously injured out there."

Princess Amaya looked at the woman, feeling aggrieved. Wasn’t she the heroine that she was accusing now?

The Dean of Sports and Stephane coughed at the same time. Stephane spoke in Uropan and tried to explain, but the woman would not listen. She was shown a video in which Princess Amaya fed something to what she thought was Black Beauty.

"Mrs. Barton, it is just a misunderstanding. Princess Amaya here would never do such a thing," the Dean of Sports said calmly and with authority. "The footage presented was not clear, and it was taken from a vantage point where Princess Amaya’s hand was blocked by the black horse."

"What do you mean that it wasn’t clear? I saw the video myself. She did it, and I want her to be detained and disqualified from the Battle of the Titans. She is a disgrace to sports." Mrs. Barton spoke harshly as she pointed fingers at Princess Amaya.

"Stacy, please calm down. I think it’s a misunderstanding," Mr. Barton interjected, placing his hand on his wife’s shoulder.

"Are you taking their side?" Mrs. Barton looked at her husband with a hurt expression.

"It is not her!" A clear, deep voice came from the door that was left ajar.