Chapter 3: Four years in passing III

Holding the document used to incarcerate his father, Charlton decided to begin his investigation by first, validating its authenticity and then, finding its source of origin.

It only took him less than a week to know that the document was real and that there was no perjury committed with regards to his father's signature. However, even though that was the case, he does not believe that what happened was that simple.

There were still a lot of questions left unanswered. Why that specific timing? Who released or submitted that document? What was their objective? It could not be that it was all caused by fate, playing her games on him.

The second part of his investigation was not as easy. Grindel, the place where radicals congregated in the past has long been deserted and the only ones living there now were mostly criminals. On the other hand, Marquess Yvonne Libertine of Grindel has been long dead. Despite these, Charlton knew that the document he held was inextricably linked to the rebels or the radicals, revolutionists, whatever they call themselves. So to get answers, he must first find their leader.

Charlton knew that his every movement was being monitored so he had to limit his own mobility. Fortunately, his mission before was basically the same as what he was trying to discover now, and that, before being sent home, he was already at a breakthrough of discovering just that.

Anyhow, to continue with the investigation, Charlton had to rely on his connections, which were luckily still intact despite him being in exile for more than 2 years.

Finally, after three months, he was certain. Marquess Maurelle Klaus was the radical faction's leader.

If not for his father's death, he would have reported that to his majesty as soon as he knew, but now, why should he?

That's not to say that he was a sympathizer or that he wanted to join the radical faction for revenge. In fact, he also suspected the radical faction's involvement in his father's imprisonment. However, at that point, what was more important to him was finding the truth. And so, he invited Marquess Klaus for a private meeting.

Marquess Maurelle Klaus was a very compelling man. He was charismatic if need be and given his age and experience, he had wisdom. With his words, he successfully convinced Charlton that he and the rest of the radical faction have not been involved on his father's imprisonment and subsequent demise. Not only that, but he was also even able to clue him in that it was one of Geoffrey's men who had been performing investigations in Grindel three years ago.

Charlton has never been a fool that can be easily swayed with words. He still was not. However, although he knew that he should not trust the words of a man with dubious motivations, he could no longer extricate his emotions from affecting his own reason. So, despite his better judgement, he dismissed his notion of investigating the radicals and instead focused on the possibility that the main culprit was Geoffrey.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he was. But why? Why would Geoffrey target his family? His first assumption was because of Serena. However, seeing that he married her happily, he could only dismiss that idea. Then, was it because he rejected his olive branch? Or maybe it was because his father ordered him to? Both were possible.

In any case, he was able to confirm that the information given by Marquess Klaus was real, and though he did not know to what extent, he was now certain that at the very least, Geoffrey have been involved in his father's imprisonment.

With no more factual clues or physical evidence on hand, he knew that unless he returns to the capital, it was already a dead end for his investigation. So, the next question was, how could he return to the capital without arousing suspicion about his purpose?

Charlton knew that he was only given freedom to return to Suffox. Nowhere did his uncle mention that he was welcome back to Windsor.

Thus, he began plotting.

For his uncle to welcome his return, he should have reasons to summon him back. So, from there, he thought about probable causes.

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TBC