Chapter 174

Chapter 174
Renée's POV

The day after everything went down was completely different.
Alex got up with a different energy, mostly determination. He was hell bent in finding who committed the crime and I shared that determination with him.

Dylan spent most of his time with the police, trying to follow up on everything. From autopsies, to results, to investigations.
We had the best team on the job.

While the police did their work, we did our own little work.
We checked the cameras within the palace. At least, we knew the day of her death.
She came in that day and never stepped out.
Unfortunately, there were no cameras at the back of the building.

Generally, there weren't many cameras in the palace. Traditionally, guards were trained to rely on their senses but times have changed. It was a good reminder to improve the security situation of the palace.
I mean, how does someone get murdered and no one notices anything?

That fact makes us know that it was someone that either lives within the palace or can go in and out as they please.

So many people were in the palace that day, it was so hard to figure out who it might be.

But we traced her movements within the palace and got to know from the quarter guards that were on shift that day, that she was inside for a while, until she suddenly had to step outside. They said she was on a call.

When we asked if any of them remembered what she was saying to the person, one of them said he vaguely did.
She was basically telling the person that she was on her way outside and she was asking where exactly they were in the building.

That was the last time anyone saw her.
It was frustrating to say the least.
We just had to wait for the results from the police.

When we reached a point that we had no more leads, I managed to convince Alex to return inside.

“Fine, but I have one more person I need to visit,” he said.

“Who?” I asked.

“Bryan.” he said and I looked at him knowingly.

“I know, it's not likely to be him. But it wouldn't hurt to check, right?” He asked and I sighed, before reluctantly agreeing.

“Fine, but we're seeing him together” I said and he nodded.

The man I was looking at was not the man I saw yesterday.
He looked fine, but I knew he wasn't.
He broke down completely yesterday and today, he looked like yesterday didn't happen.
It was almost impossible. I was so worried about him.

“Okay, that's fine,” he said.

We waited for him in the room Sasha used last time.
I hadn't seen him since before we raided the dungeon.
I didn't really know how to feel.

My head snapped up at the sound of chains.
The door creaked open and there he was, looking as bad as ever, with chains dragging behind him.
He looked pathetic.
Perfect.

Once he was chained properly to the chair, he finally acknowledged us.
His face looked drawn, with an overgrown beard. More prominently, there was a terrible odour oozing off of him.
I had to bite my tongue to keep from gagging.

“Well, if it isn't my favourite nephew and his little nosy wench” he snarled and I rolled my eyes.

Alex leaned in calmly, and basically growled.
“I’ll rip your fucking tongue out” he said, his eyes glowing with… rage? He looked dangerously calm.
And he sounded like he would do it.
Clearly, Bryan thought so too. The unmistakable hint of fear in his eyes made it too obvious.

He cleared his throat.
“To what do I owe this honour?”

“What do you think?” Alex asked and Bryan shrugged.
I studied him.
I couldn't really tell whether or not he knew what we were saying.

“Stella” Alex stated and Bryan frowned.

“Who?” He asked, his face showing genuine confusion.
I narrowed my eyes at him.

Alex slammed his hand on the table, catching even me off guard.

“Stella Lyons” he said, his hands balled into fists.

I placed my hand on his leg, an attempt to calm him down.
It worked.
Thankfully.

“Ah, your little girlfriend. What about her?” He asked.
I let out an annoyed breath.
Okay. That's it.

“Look, the only thing holding him back from really ripping your tongue out is me. And I'm beginning to lose my cool. So, it's either you stop talking shit and listen or your tongue will wiggle and say hi to you from the other side of this room” I made sure he understood me.
And he definitely did. The look on his face was enough.

I could feel Alex staring at me and I turned to look at him.
He nodded in appreciation and I squeezed his leg.

“Well, that was unnecessary,” Bryan said pointedly, his eyes trained on me.

“Whatever you are looking for, I don't have it. That girl is the least of my problems and I don't even know a thing about her. She was just a little assistant for a little mission.” he said, with a nonchalant grin and I let out a soft breath.

He wasn't lying. I could tell.

I could feel Alex's disappointment coming off in waves.
A beat of silence passed between us, Alex and I stuck in our own thoughts, before the silence was broken by our very own mad king.

“So, when is the wedding? Am I invited?” He asked, his eyes trained on the ring on my finger.
Reflexively, I almost hid my hand but I stopped.
Why should I hide it?

“Oh, you know, just after his coronation” I said and Bryan froze, his sickening smile falling off.

Now, it was my turn to smile.
The sheer pleasure I felt from his pain.

I called the guards.
“Take him away,” I ordered.

“Alex, you'll never become king. Not on my watch” Bryan said, his voice emotionless as the guards unchained him from the chair.
Something about the way he said it made me feel uncomfortable.

He looked away from Alex and turned to me, his usually dark eyes glowing with mischief.
And then he started to laugh like an actual psychopath as they dragged him away.

When it was just us in the room again, I turned to Alex.
He buried his head in his hands.

“We’ll figure it out,” I said softly.

“I just wish I had been there for her a little more” he said and I sighed.

“You were, you were the one that made her believe she could be loved. This is not your fault. Knowing Stella, she would hate anything that makes you sad” I said and he sighed, nodding slowly.

“We should hear back from the police anytime from now. The best thing we can do right now is to wait. Everything will work out” I said and he sighed again.

“Okay” he said and I smiled softly.

I wanted to take all his pain away but I couldn't.
It sucked beyond words.