The Sinful Young Master

Chapter 350: Towards the Justice pavilion

Richardus had come through with the charges, and the soldiers had picked him up at the gates exactly as arranged.

But something felt wrong.

Hernais knew Jolthar’s reputation, not just from the papers, but from his own investigations into the man who had taken everything that should have been his.

Jolthar wasn’t the type to go quietly. He was decisive, sharp, and dangerous when cornered. The reports from Tekkora painted a picture of someone who acted decisively and sometimes brutally when necessary.

Yet he had surrendered without resistance. He had walked peacefully with the soldiers, allowed himself to be shackled, and was now being paraded through the capital like a lamb to slaughter.

Why?

Hernais felt a prickle of unease along his spine.

Either Jolthar was playing a deeper game, or he was confident enough in his position that he didn’t fear the charges.

Neither possibility was comforting.

"Damn it," Hernais muttered. He grabbed his coat from the chair and moved toward the door. "Ready my carriage," he called out to the servants.

"I’m going to see Minister Richardus.

Now."

He needed to make sure everything was proceeding as planned. And if Jolthar was playing some angle, Hernais needed to know what it was before it caught him by surprise.

*

In a different wing of the capital, Prince Milan sat in a sunlit chamber reviewing documents when his loyal knight, Arvant, entered without ceremony.

The knight’s face was tight with urgency.

"My prince," Arvant said, bowing quickly.

"I have news from the gates."

Milan looked up, setting down his papers.

"What is it?"

"Jolthar Kaezhlar has been arrested. Charges of murder. They took him from his carriage at the city entrance about an hour ago."

Milan’s eyes widened. "Jolthar? Arrested?"

He stood abruptly. "On what grounds?"

"The murder of Baron Rothgard, apparently. The old lord of Tekkora."

"Rothgard?" Milan’s brow furrowed.

"That was like really long ago. I remember the reports. The man was executed for enslaving his own people. It was witnessed and verified. Why bring charges now?"

Arvant’s expression darkened. "Politics, my prince. Someone wants Jolthar out of the way."

Milan paced across the chamber, his mind working quickly. People were moving faster against Jolthar, and he hadn’t expected this level of animosity.

If someone was moving against Jolthar, it was likely because they feared what Tekkora represented. And more than so, they feared Jolthar.

His military accomplishments were not well known in the capital, but if they knew, those people would have thought twice before going against him.

"Prepare to leave," Milan ordered.

"We’re going to the Ministry of Justice. Immediately."

"Yes, my prince." Arvant hesitated.

"Should I gather more men?"

Milan shook his head. "No. This is a legal matter, not a military one. But I want to know exactly what’s happening and who’s behind it."

His eyes hardened. "If this is Richardus playing his usual games, I want to catch him at it."

*

Cleora and Raayani moved through the capital with purpose. Their carriage had been redirected to the Department of Justice, a sprawling complex of buildings that housed the empire’s legal apparatus. The two women entered through the main gates, their presence immediately noted by the clerks and officials who staffed the entrance.

"Lady Cleora of Tekkora," announced the doorman, recognizing her from descriptions.

"And Matriarch Raayani of the Blue Rose."

The effect was immediate. People straightened, and conversations paused. These were not ordinary visitors.

Cleora barely noticed the attention. Her mind was focused entirely on Jolthar and the absurd charges against him. Her hands clenched inside her gloves.

"This way," Raayani said quietly, guiding her through the corridors.

The Matriarch moved with elegant confidence, her presence commanding respect without demanding it.

They found Bertelot Aravain in one of the administrative chambers, speaking with a group of legal officials.

Cleora’s father was a tall man with graying hair and a stern bearing. When he saw his daughter enter, his expression shifted through several emotions—concern, disapproval, and frustration.

"Cleora," he said, dismissing the officials with a gesture. They bowed and departed, leaving the family alone.

"I heard about the arrest."

"Father," Cleora said, moving forward.

"What are you doing here?"

"Like I said, I heard about the arrest."

"This is madness. The charges are false and manufactured. Jolthar did nothing wrong."

Bertelot’s jaw tightened.

"Whether the charges are false or not, he’s been formally arrested. That means there will be a prosecution, an investigation, and a trial if it goes that far."

"Then we need to stop it," Cleora insisted.

"You have influence here. You know the systems, the people. Help us."

Bertelot looked at his daughter with complicated emotions warring across his face. He had never approved of her relationship with Jolthar.

The boy was younger than Cleora’s own son, for god’s sake. It was unseemly and inappropriate, and it had caused no end of gossip among their social circles.

But he could also see the determination in his daughter’s eyes. Whatever he thought of her choices, she was his child. And she was clearly committed to this young man in a way that couldn’t be easily dismissed.

"I was already on my way to meet with Lord Dodd Halvren," Bertelot said finally.

"The head of the Department of Justice. I want to understand what evidence they actually have and who filed these charges."

"It was Hernais," Cleora said bitterly.

"I’m sure it was him. The last time I came here, he said he wouldn’t leave us alone and let us suffer for killing his brother."

She had her suspicion, but she didn’t raise her voice before. Raayani was hearing the name for the first time, and she wasn’t aware of what had happened with Cleora’s previous husband.

"He’s been scheming to take Tekkora from me since my husband died. This is just his latest attempt."

Bertelot nodded slowly. "If that’s true, it will come out. But we need to handle this carefully. The capital is not like your barony. There are layers of power and politics here that can trap the unwary."