Chapter 167 - Paying a Visit (Part 2)

One of the Queen's maids came rushing in. She was as pale as a ghost. 

"What?!" Vaughn and Zenia uttered at the same time.

Zenia put on her face veil and asked, "Where did you get this report?"  

"Your Highness, Y-Your guard told me to inform you now that the carriage that Ms. Verone used was wrecked, and the Crown Prince must see it immediately." The maid explained as best as she could while panting.

Zenia looked at Vaughn, and they both nodded.

"Mother, I will trouble you to contain this news first and don't let it spread yet."

The Queen agreed, "I understand." 

They immediately excused themselves to check the situation. The Queen no longer detained them and allowed them to go. Having dinner together as a family could wait for now. When the couple reached the area where the carriages were parked, the shadow guard quickly gave Vaughn the full report.

"Your Highness, the carriage that Ms. Verone used to get here was ambushed, and the coachman was dead. Our initial investigation revealed that the one who ambushed the carriage was looking for Ms. Verone and when they did not see her, they smashed the carriage and killed the coachman."

"They must've thought that Verone was in that carriage. She boarded the one that the Queen has provided for her. Let us go to the scene of the ambush to find some clues." Zenia suggested to Vaughn, and he agreed.

"Hmm, it's better if we see it ourselves to make sure. I am certain that Verone has her own enemies to deal with based on her past record. She's not really a pleasant woman to deal with."

Earlier, Verone left using the carriage that the Queen had provided for her. She stopped by the carriage that took her to the Main Palace. She told the coachman to return immediately without her to the Palace of the Crown Prince. She reasoned that one carriage was enough for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess to take them back. 

The coachman insisted that he would wait for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess for proper instruction. Verone got angry at the coachman and used her position as the Second Wife of the Crown Prince to mock the coachman.

"Who are you to disobey me? Can't you see that another carriage to take them back is still here? You're slacking, aren't you? There are lots of things to do in the Palace of the Crown Prince, and an extra hand can help a lot. Return, now!"

The coachman had no other choice but follow Verone's order to avoid conflict. No one in the Palace of the Crown Prince had acknowledged Verone, and they were simply accommodating her because of the Crown Princess. Zenia told the servants of the main residence to treat the  guest  with courtesy to avoid bringing shame to the Crown Prince. The servants also told the others about it.

The coachman told Verone that he would surely follow after he relieved himself. Verone no longer bothered with him and instructed the Queen's coachman to go. She was feeling high and mighty after receiving a favorable response  from the delegates. Besides, the Queen's carriage was more comfortable than the one she used to get to the Main Palace. She wondered if she could ask the Queen to give her the carriage.

After Verone had left, the Crown Prince's coachman let out a sigh of relief. Actually, he did not want to drive Verone anywhere. She complained all the way to the Main Palace, and he was sure that she would do the same when they returned. He was thankful to the Queen for providing another carriage for the unruly madam.

Even though Verone was an unfavored wife  and her position meant nothing, the shadow guard must still ensure her safety and should continue monitoring her moves. When she left the Main Palace, the shadow guards knew that she was onboard the carriage that the Queen had provided. They followed that carriage. 

The coachman still regarded Verone as a guest whom he should serve with courtesy. He knew that Verone would wait for his return in the Palace of the Crown Prince and might even find fault if he was late. But, he was reluctant to leave knowing that he should be following his master's order instead of obeying the Second Wife. With a heavy heart, he finally left the Main Palace after half an hour.

The carriage and the coachman were found in a secluded area near the Palace of the Crown Prince. Two of Vaughn's shadow guards were on their way back to the Main Palace after delivering Verone safely to the Palace of the Crown Prince. They heard a commotion somewhere and followed the noise. But, all they saw was the dead coachman and the wrecked carriage.

They could not find the horse that came with the carriage. They looked for possible clues but did not find anything that could give them a bit of information about the men who ambushed the carriage.

* * * * *

Vaughn and Zenia arrived at the scene of the crime. The carriage was totaled and beyond repair. The body of the coachman was no longer there. More shadow guards accompanied Vaughn and Zenia to the scene.

Zenia looked at the markings on the ground and the carriage. Nothing was missing, except the horse. Zenia easily ruled out robbery. The carriage had valuable decorations, but all the decorations were still there. 

"What do you think?"

"There were at least three men who came, and they were very angry. Just look at the three different strokes of heavy slashes they made on the carriage. It is possible that their target was Verone and when they did not see her, they vent their anger on the carriage and the coachman."

"Do you suspect one of the delegates?"

"I doubt it. They are still busy convincing the King. I don't think they have the time to stage something like this. Besides, they won't harm Verone. The ones who did this have deep hatred. Perhaps, they detest Verone so much?"

"She already offended a lot of people and had been involved in the death of the Third Prince. The case was closed without further investigation because the Left Minister asked for it from the King. The Third Prince's mother was not favored, and the King also just wanted to close it and move on. The Third Prince's mother committed suicide sometime after that."

Zenia looked at the footprints and saw a certain pattern of movement. 

"Did the coachman know martial arts?"

"Yes, why?"

"It is possible that he fought with the criminals and forced them to use their signature moves."

"Signature moves?"

"You may know the same type of martial arts or swordsmanship but there will always be something that is uniquely yours or unique to your group."

Vaughn gave Zenia a puzzled look.

"It's complicated to explain. Let me handle this one to verify my hunch. For now, let's head back."

Zenia was too tired and decided to take a nap when they arrived at the main residence. She asked Harnen about Verone, and there was nothing much to report. As usual, Verone threw a temper tantrum when she arrived and immediately went to sleep. 

"Help me prepare something similar to what Harnen usually wears. I want it in all black, and make sure that it fits me well." Zenia instructed Rosalie before she took a nap. 

The day passed idly, and the King still did not agree to include Verone's name on the list. But, he instructed each delegate to submit their best offer in a sealed envelope. 

He also told them that if he liked the offers, they could expect Verone's name on the list. He would add it without delay so they should make sure that he would like the offers. 

He would hold a proper private auction wherein each delegate was required to submit their best offer in a sealed envelope. He would choose the best one from the lot. They set the amount, and the delegates should also state their conditions for the exchange. 

The King explicitly told them that it may take at least a couple of weeks to review the offers. He would review each offer by himself, and no one was allowed to enter his quarters when he started reviewing the offers.

Vaughn received a report that the Queen contained the news about the dead coachman and nothing was leaked. He also received inside information that the King was still considering the suggestion of the delegates to include Verone's name on the list. 

He called Redivo to his study, and they discussed various matters. A lot of things were happening at once. Vaughn had no idea who suggested inviting the delegates to come at such a time or the King himself had decided to do so. They were supposed to arrive in six months to renew the deal and provide additional tributes.  

"The King might not be able to give his decisions in a couple of weeks, we still have time. But, we must focus on containing Verone here in Tissuria so we can continue monitoring the Left Minister's moves. As Zenzen said, we need to keep our enemies closer."

"Do you think Ms. Verone has the ability to influence the monarch of the kingdom who might win her?"

"I don't know about her ability, but the Left Minister will surely do something about it. We know that he travels to different kingdoms, but we don't know what kind of deals he had been making all these years. He will surely find someone to support Verone from there and use her as a pawn in return."

"I see what you mean. Instead of getting rid of her for good when she's thrown to another kingdom, she might only find a good ally for the Left Minister. It would be more difficult for us to subdue them."

"What about Duke Gordon? Any news about him?" 

"When our men were about to stop him from entering the capital, he suddenly changed his direction and went to the harbor. He received a letter, and then he suddenly followed the path that leads to the harbor. We just received a report that he stayed at a local inn before he boarded a ship to Venetia. I already told our men before to keep following him. They should be in Venetia in two days. We have not received any report since their ship had departed."

"That's good news for us. We can focus on the Left Minister."

* * * * *

Before it turned dark, Zenia ordered the kitchen to prepare their food and serve it in the dining area. She was thinking of paying someone a visit. She couldn't afford to let their efforts go to waste just because someone meddled unnecessarily.

"Are you sure you want to visit the Second Prince tonight?"

"Yes, I should make things clear with him. He is making the situation more troublesome than it is."

"What time will you return?"

"I can't say."

"Let me go with you."

"I don't want to say this, but you will only slow me down. You may be stronger than me now but not faster."

"Let Harnen follow you."

Zenia shook her head, "He won't be able to keep up."

Vaughn did not insist anymore and continued eating. It was the first time that they had eaten their meals in complete silence. Each of them was thinking something. 

* * * * *

In the middle of the night, when everyone was fast asleep, a lone figure jumped out of the Palace of Crown Prince. Before the night guards noticed anything, Zenia was gone in a split second. Vaughn watched by the balcony and saw everything. He did not blink, but he still missed Zenia's fast departure.

'My little devil, just how fast can you get?'

Zenia reached the Palace of the Second Prince in no time. She asked Vaughn to draw a map of the palace so she could maneuver her way into the Second Prince's residence. It was almost similar to Vaughn's palace, and Zenia did not find it hard to locate the quarters of the Second Prince.

"Good evening sister-in-law, I am really expecting you to come. You sure act fast. How did you know that my group was the one responsible for the incident earlier?"