Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 586

Chapter 586 When the Crown Turns Cold

Morning light crept slowly across the palace as the great bells sounded, their deep, measured toll echoing through stone corridors and open courtyards alike, calling officials to assembly.

One by one, they entered the great hall, their movements orderly, their expressions restrained, each taking their place as the weight of the day settled in.

At the far end, seated above them all, Theodric watched in silence, his presence alone enough to hold the room in check.

The formalities passed without incident.

Then, from beyond the doors, a clear voice rang out.

“The Minister of Justice requests audience.”

All eyes turned.

The Minister entered quickly, both hands holding a thick case file, his steps controlled but lacking their usual ease. When he reached the foot of the dais, he lowered himself into a formal bow and raised the document.

“Your Majesty,” he began, his voice steady despite the tension beneath it, “in accordance with your orders, the Ministry conducted an overnight inquiry into the death at Greenwood Hall involving Dominic of the Ministry of Rites.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“During questioning, new testimony emerged. The matter extends beyond the original case, and I did not presume to draw conclusions. All statements have been recorded in full. I now submit the complete report for Your Majesty’s judgment.”

“Bring it forward,” Theodric said.

Quin stepped down, received the file, and returned with it, presenting it with both hands.

The hall fell into a deep, unnatural quiet.

The Minister remained where he was, back straight, though the faint darkening at his shoulders betrayed the strain he carried.

Thcodric opened the file.

His gaze moved steadily across the pages, line by line, unhurried, deliberate.

Chapter Be6 When the Crown Turns Cold

No one spoke.

No one dared.

The silence pressed in, thick and suffocating, broken only by the faint sound of parchment

turning

And as the moments passed, something in the air began to shift.

It was subtle.

But unmistakable.

Theodric’s expression darkened, not in sudden anger, but in a slow, gathering weight that made the entire hall feel colder.

Alaric felt it immediately.

Standing below, he found himself unable to stay still, his eyes moving between the Minister and the throne, unease tightening in his chest with every passing second.

This wasn’t how a simple case unfolded.

It shouldn’t feel like this.

What did they find?

The question pressed harder the longer the silence stretched.

At last, Theodric turned the final page and closed the file, his fingers tightening slightly around it before he lowered it to his side.

Then he lifted his gaze.

It passed over the court without pause before settling, unerringly, on Alaric.

“Crown Prince.”

The words landed quietly.

But they carried.

Alaric stepped forward at once, lowering himself into a formal bow at the base of the dais.

“I’m here Father”

Theodric regarded him for a moment, his expression unreadable.

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“You’ve had dealings with Dominic.”

Alaric kept his head lowered, his reply measured. “As Crown Prince, I work with many officials. That is expected of my position. I wouldn’t describe any one relationship as particularly close.”

He hesitated, then added carefully, “May I ask why Your Majesty raises this now?”

A faint, cold smile touched Theodric’s lips.

“You’ve become quite practiced in your answers.”

The air tightened.

“Then explain this,” he said.

His voice did not rise, yet it cut cleanly through the hall.

“In his confession, Dominic claims you instructed him to approach the Duke of Duskmoor, that

orchestrated the attack on the Nordian envoy, and that you arranged for the blame to fall upon your uncle.”

you

Each word landed with quiet finality.

Alaric’s head snapped up, shock breaking through before he could stop it.

“That’s false,” he said, the denial coming too quickly, too sharply.

A beat later, he forced himself to recover, lowering his head again.

“Your Majesty, I’ve been set up. I have no reason to act against that envoy, nor would I ever move against my own uncle. This is someone trying to drive a wedge within the royal house.”

Theodric’s expression did not soften.

“If that is the case,” he replied, “then it is a remarkably detailed fabrication. Dates, locations, names, even descriptions of exchanged tokens.”

He let the words settle.

“And

yet you expect me to believe it is all invented?”

Without waiting for an answer, he cast the file forward.

“Read it.”

The pages scattered across the floor

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Chapter 586 When the Crown Turns Cold

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