Tiberio took the seal from him, speechless.
“It was really funny to watch you confront Paige with such a smug look on your face while holding up a fake seal. You should have checked it first,” Westalia said, amused by his response.
“How did you...?”
“One of the assassins you sent to my residence, this boy, in fact, had it hidden on his person. His being an intruder has been confirmed not only by my personal guard but also by people in the Imperial Guard. I had an inkling why he might be trying to hide it in Paige’s room, so I had a fake made and hidden to see if my theory held water.” She’d hidden it between the clothes in Paige’s closet.
There’s no use putting up more of a fight, Tiberio, Westalia thought. The attack that night had been not only to kill Westalia but also to hide the seal in Paige’s room. Perhaps the latter had even been the main objective, and the assassination of Westalia was only a matter of chance. However, before they could accomplish their mission, the assassins had committed suicide after being cornered by Paige and Leonardo. The poison that the assassins had had on them had been given to them by Tiberio so they could take their lives rather than face interrogation, but one of them hadn’t had the courage to die.
“You’ve dug your own grave. You’ve failed in both the assassination and the fabrication of evidence. Now you’re also guilty of attempting to assassinate the empress candidate and of filing false charges,” Paige said, a smile of contempt on her face.
“Was your outburst just now just an act?” Tiberio asked.
“No, I was really angry at you for insulting my father. I was also just amused by your pathetic attempts to pin the blame on me,” Paige replied with a snort, crossing her arms.
Paige was right; it was too late for him to claim that the Elizabeth Pink case was a false accusation. There had been so much evidence gathered, from the Elizabeth Pink analysis to the cases of poisoning with signed statements from all over the country. There was no way Tiberio would be able to get away with claiming it was just one girl’s conspiracy against him.
“I found out a lot of other interesting things,” Westalia said, looking at Paige and holding out a stack of documents.
“You have more?”
“Your mansion is being raided as we speak. Interestingly enough, we’ve already found evidence of your crimes. Trafficking in dangerous weapons, trafficking in poisons, human trafficking, bribes...and cover-ups.”
Among them was a letter attesting to the collusion between the Reyn family and the Devorah Trading Company. The Devorah Trading Company was the company from which the former queen of Lhumzia, Delphine, had bought poisons. Tiberio evidently frequently exchanged letters with the chairman of the Devorah Trading Company, making investments and acquiring poisons and weapons.
Westalia scattered papers that had been found in Tiberio’s office across the marble floor: evidence of his many misdeeds.
“And then there was this,” Westalia said, fluttering a single remaining document in her hand. “The corruption case of Marquis Gasparo Lanchester from five years ago. You orchestrated the pinning of charges of bribery of a leader of the Imperial Army on Gasparo. We found some of your correspondence with the man who was supposedly bribed, and when interrogated, he confessed immediately. He said you enticed him to create a false accusation and pin his own guilt on Gasparo. Tiberio, you wanted to eliminate Gasparo before he could spread the truth he’d discovered—that Elizabeth Pink was poisonous. Right?”
The audience hall had grown even more crowded.
Westalia drew closer to Tiberio as she spoke. “There’s no getting away with it. The evidence is mounting against Elizabeth Pink and all the wrongdoings you have committed. Your crimes are too many. There is nothing you can do to win now. There’s nothing left for you to do but wait for the day of your exile.”
Tiberio’s shoulders began to shake with laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Westalia asked.
He had an unsettling smile on his face as he answered. “I really underestimated you! You really have truly, utterly bested me! How dare you, in only the time since you abandoned your homeland and escaped to this country, win the hearts and minds of my daughter, the crown prince, and even a distinguished apothecary and then hunt me down? You are brilliant, a talented leader, and lucky. I’ll admit I’ve lost, but it is my daughter who will be empress.”
All women in the country were eligible to participate in the empress selection process. No matter their age, origin, family background, or experience, it was ultimately based on merit and achievement. Even if one was the daughter of a criminal, as long as one was recognized as having the right qualities to become empress, she could take the position. And now, with less than a month to go before the flower collection was to be tallied, there was a clear difference in the number of flowers collected between Westalia and Elizabeth. Tiberio was right; if things continued as they were, the title of empress would surely go to Elizabeth. Westalia was sure that it wasn’t just Tiberio but everyone in the hall who was assuming that outcome.
“I will be empress.”
“It will be Elizabeth.”
“Me.”
“Elizabeth.”
“No, it will be me.”
Neither of them were backing down. At that moment, Tiberio’s smile, which was always plastered on his face, crumpled for the first time. He clenched his fists tightly, his body trembled, and his eyes narrowed.
“I told you it will be Elizabeth!” Tiberio shouted. His voice echoed throughout the audience chamber, and everyone recoiled at its force.
Only Westalia met his rage head-on, without even raising an eyebrow.
If I show my fear here, my standing as a candidate for empress will be ruined, Westalia thought. She didn’t want anyone to underestimate her. She wouldn’t present this man any opening, any weakness.
“I can’t let you take everything away from me,” Tiberio spat, breathing heavily.
How can you say that when you’ve taken so much from others? Westalia wondered.
“You’re a criminal, and there’s nothing more you can do. At best, you can sit in your cell with your fingers crossed and watch the results being announced,” Paige said, fixing Tiberio with a glare.
“I don’t need to do anything more. She has no chance,” Tiberio replied.
“She’ll win. She’s carved that future out for herself. That’s why you’re so afraid, isn’t it?”
“You seem to be very devoted to her. But if you trust so easily, you’ll just be betrayed again, just as I once deceived you,” Tiberio said with a sharp laugh.
“She couldn’t be more different from you.” Paige looked into Tiberio’s eyes. “You’re not an aristocrat anymore; you’re just a criminal. Oh...what a lovely sight. I’ve finally managed to wipe that creepy smile off of your face. It’s like a dream come true.”
Tiberio was silent. Paige looked at him contemptuously, then moved to stand diagonally behind Westalia. That was where she belonged now.
Leonardo clapped his hands to silence the crowd. “Tiberio Reyn’s other crimes will be discussed later by the Imperial Court. Lock him up in the dungeon for the time being.”
“Yes, sir!” At Leonardo’s command, the knights began to drag Tiberio out of the audience chamber. He was completely disheartened and walked without resistance, but he stopped when he caught sight of Elizabeth near the entrance.
“It’s not over yet, Elizabeth. The only way to strike back at that woman is for you to win the selection. For the sake of my honor and that of the Reyn family, you must seize the—”