Reborn To Change My Fate-Chapter 161 - Hundred And Sixty One

The morning sun was harsh and bright, but inside the Grand Duke’s study, the air was heavy with the stale scent of burnt-down candles and sleepless anxiety.

Derek looked terrible. His eyes were red-rimmed, his hair a mess, his shirt rumpled. He hadn’t slept a wink. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Marissa being led away in shackles. He saw the doors of the judiciary carriage closing on her face.

He had spent the night pacing, writing letters, and issuing orders to his network of spies. He had sent men to the taverns to silence the rumors before they could reach the estate and upset his grandmother. He had sent riders to the borders. But the one thing he needed—news about his wife—had not come.

He drummed his fingers on the polished wood of his desk. Tap-tap-tap-tap. The sound was fast, erratic, betraying his inner turmoil.

"Where is he?" Derek muttered, looking at the clock. "It has been hours."

His patience snapped. He couldn’t wait here anymore. He had to do something. He had to go to the palace himself, consequences be damned.

He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. He grabbed his heavy coat from the rack.

Just as he was buttoning it, a shadow fell across the room.

The window, which was on the second floor, opened silently. A figure slipped inside.

He was dressed entirely in black, form-fitting clothes that made no sound. His face was covered by a black mask, leaving only his sharp, intelligent eyes visible. He moved like smoke.

It was one of the Elite Shadows. The spy Derek had sent to the palace dungeon.

The man landed softly on the carpet and immediately dropped to one knee. He placed his right hand over his heart, bowing his head in the traditional greeting of the Shadows.

"Your Grace," the man whispered.

Derek stopped buttoning his coat. He turned, his whole body tense.

"Report," Derek commanded. His voice was rough. "Is she safe?"

The Shadow looked up. "Her Grace is well."

Derek let out a breath he felt he had been holding all night. His shoulders sagged slightly with relief.

"She was not interrogated?" Derek asked.

"No, Your Grace," the Shadow replied. "She spent the night... roaming."

"Roaming?" Derek frowned. "In a dungeon?"

"Yes," the Shadow said, a hint of confusion in his voice. "She was not put in the common cells with the thieves and murderers. She was placed in a separate holding area. A high-security cell, but... it had a bed. It had a table. It even had a lamp."

Derek’s eyes narrowed. "Luxury? In the judiciary dungeon?"

"It seemed so," the Shadow confirmed. "No harm came to her. The guards treated her with respect. Almost... deference."

Derek’s mind raced. The judiciary was known for its brutality. They didn’t give prisoners lamps and beds unless someone powerful had intervened. Someone who had influence over the Captain of the Guard.

"Liam," Derek sneered.

The name tasted like bile. It had to be the Prince. Liam wanted Marissa. He had made that clear at the festival. Protecting her in prison was a move to win her favor, to show her that he could keep her safe when her husband couldn’t. It was a calculated, manipulative kindness.

"I saw him," the Shadow continued. "Prince Liam came to the dungeon late last night. He was speaking to Captain Odis outside her cell."

"What did he say?" Derek demanded.

"I could not get close enough to hear everything without being seen," the Shadow admitted. "But they were talking about her safety. I heard the Prince say, ’She is not to be touched. She is a guest of the Crown until the trial.’ He seemed... possessive."

Derek clenched his fist. Possessive. That was exactly what he feared.

"Thank you," Derek said tightly.

He forced his mind away from Liam. He had to focus on the counter-move. He had to prove her innocence before Liam could twist the situation to his advantage.

"What about Lord Basil?" Derek asked.

Lord Basil was the key. He was the man who had been locked in the room with the girl. He was the one Senna had used as a pawn. If Derek could break him, he could expose the whole plot.

The Shadow’s eyes gleamed.

"He is in our custody," the man said. "My brothers intercepted him as he was trying to flee the city this morning. We have him in the safe house in the lower district."

"Good," Derek said. A cold, predatory smile touched his lips. "Excellent."

He walked to his desk and picked up his gloves.

"I will be there soon," Derek promised. "I want to question him myself. I want to hear him scream the truth."

The Shadow nodded once. He stood up, moved to the window, and vanished as silently as he had arrived.

Derek was alone again. But now he had a target.

Knock. Knock.

A sharp rap on the door broke his concentration.

"Enter," Derek called out, pulling on his gloves.

The door opened. Ian walked in. He looked tired, but his uniform was crisp and clean.

"Your Grace," Ian said, bowing.

"What is it, Ian?"

"Captain Odis has received your letter," Ian reported. "He is waiting at the Judiciary Headquarters. He is ready to see your witnesses."

Derek nodded. He had sent a message at dawn, demanding a hearing, claiming he had proof of his wife’s innocence. He was bluffing, mostly, but now with Lord Basil in custody, the bluff was becoming reality and after Lord Basil, they would go into Denver market square to find an alibi.

Derek finished buttoning his coat. He checked his reflection in the mirror. He looked tired, but he also looked dangerous. He looked like a man who was done playing games.

"I’ll be down in a minute," Derek said.

"Shall I prepare the carriage?" Ian asked.

"No," Derek said. "Prepare my horse. I want to ride fast."

Ian bowed and left the room.

Derek stood for a moment in the center of his study. He looked at the empty chair where Marissa sometimes sat when they discussed household accounts. He missed her. He missed her calm presence. He missed her sharp wit.

"Hang on, Mari," he whispered to the empty room. "I am coming."

He turned and strode out of the room, his boots echoing in the hallway.