"Enough." Heliam waved his hand dismissively. "If you wish to bring up that decree, then speak plainly."

His interest waned in an instant, eyes turning cold and distant.

Tanya dipped into a low bow, her lips curved with a barely noticeable mocking smile. A gentle breeze swept through, sending her dark hair fluttering, giving her the ethereal elegance of a painting.

"In the past few days, this humble concubine and Guard Alexander have been diligently searching for clues about the executioner, but since the culprit is hiding deep within the harem, it has taken considerable effort."

Her voice was detached, as if she were recounting something entirely unrelated to herself.

This tone displeased Heliam, making him frown slightly. It was she who insisted on discussing the matter, yet she now appeared indifferent.

His Vivienne, when did she become so cold and distant, as if she no longer cared about him at all?

His brows knitted in resistance, and the candlelight cast shadows over his eyes, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

"You speak too slowly, my love. Why don’t I have someone else tell it for you?"

He waved his sleeve, and Eunuch Belmont brought someone forward.

The person, clad in prison garb, bore numerous whip marks crisscrossing their body. Their face was deathly pale, devoid of blood. The moment they reached the center of the hall, they immediately knelt to the ground.

"Amber, the guilty maid, pays her respects to His Majesty."

Amber’s hair hung loosely in front of her face, and her head was bowed so low that Tanya couldn’t see her expression. The only thing she could discern was Amber’s trembling body, quaking with fear as she lay prostrate on the ground.

“Amber,” Heliam leaned his hand against the table, rhythmically tapping it, “tell us, how did you impersonate the executioner and cause such turmoil within the harem?”

Amber shuddered violently, her voice shaking as she replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

There was no emotion in her eyes, as if she were a marionette on strings, placed in the hall for display. Her lips were chapped, layered with dead skin turned white, and her forehead was drenched in cold sweat.

“Amber, the guilty maid, has been Daisy’s companion since childhood. Driven by hatred after seeing Lady Daisy wrongfully accused and perished due to Lady Vivienne, I conceived a plan. I impersonated Daisy’s vengeful spirit, playing the role of the executioner within the harem.”

“The injuries on their backs were caused by a potion I’ve known since my youth, which fades in three days. I intended to use this chance to frame Lady Vivienne, hoping it would draw His Majesty’s attention and lead to Lady Vivienne’s execution, avenging Daisy’s death.”

Tanya’s lips parted slightly in astonishment.

She had long known that Amber was the one behind the executioner’s mask, but what puzzled her was why Amber would confess to it herself.

Heliam’s face remained impassive, as if he had already known. The corner of his lips curled with a trace of disdain.

“Evelyn was the one who killed Daisy. Why do you not blame Evelyn and instead seek revenge against Tanya?”

His voice turned cold and stern, making Amber tremble once more.

“Because it was Lady Vivienne who orchestrated it all. Had Lady Vivienne not disturbed Lady Evelyn’s state of mind, Lady Evelyn would never have resorted to such an extreme action. It’s all Lady Vivienne’s fault—she disrupted Lady Evelyn’s thoughts and caused Daisy’s death!”

Amber’s words made Tanya frown, but she said nothing. Behind her, Alexander’s broad hand brushed lightly against her delicate fingers. She turned around to see Alexander’s handsome face, a proud and faintly worried expression playing across his features.

He was comforting her.

“So what you’re saying is,” Heliam’s brows tightened, a cold smirk appearing on his lips, “Evelyn plotted against Vivienne, but Vivienne defended herself. Frustrated that her scheme failed, Evelyn lost her composure and, in a fit of rage, killed Daisy?”

As soon as Heliam spoke, all eyes turned to him.

Some were shocked, others filled with panic.

Amber hadn’t expected Heliam to shift the blame onto Evelyn. She immediately kowtowed forcefully, blood flowing freely from her forehead.

“Your Majesty is wise! This matter has nothing to do with Lady Evelyn! It was this servant! This servant strayed from the path and wanted to avenge Daisy. It’s my fault! I should not have accused Lady Vivienne wrongly. Your Majesty is wise!”

She slammed her head down again, causing a faint rumble to echo through the floor of Harmonious Hall.

Heliam’s eyes glinted. “What right do you have to judge Vivienne’s guilt? You’ve changed your story so quickly, now taking all the blame upon yourself. Truly, you are Evelyn’s loyal dog.”

Amber’s fear mounted, her head hitting the ground even faster, unable to utter anything else but, “Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty is wise!”

But Heliam wasn’t one to be easily deceived. The loathing in his eyes surged, causing the atmosphere around him to grow oppressively heavy.

“Summon Evelyn!”

Eunuch Belmont moved swiftly, returning in less than a moment with Evelyn. Draped in a purple brocade robe, her long hair cascaded down her back, and an ornate crimson hairpin adorned her hair, its tassels jingling softly as she stepped lightly.

She stood in the center of the hall, her hands folded above her head. “Evelyn greets His Majesty.”

Heliam’s gaze flickered, a frosty smile curving his lips. “Evelyn, take a good look at the person kneeling beside you. Do you recognize her?”

Evelyn lifted her delicate chin and glanced at Amber’s hunched figure. She responded calmly, “This is Evelyn’s maid, Amber. I do recognize her.”

Heliam raised his chin slightly. “In that case, your maid claims that you colluded with her to frame Vivienne. Do you acknowledge this?”

Evelyn was momentarily stunned. Her gaze turned icy as she looked at Amber, but the flash of malice quickly faded. She gave Heliam a light bow. “Evelyn does not understand what Your Majesty is implying.”

Heliam’s chin lifted slightly. “Then let Amber explain it to you again.”

Amber, who had been called out, curled tightly on the ground, blood trickling from her forehead across the smooth surface, exuding a strange, almost enchanting allure.

Evelyn crouched beside her, a smile playing on her lips as she knelt down. Her slender, jade-like hand hovered above Amber’s back, caressing her spine in a gesture that seemed almost caring.

"Amber, you and I both came from Southland together. Everyone knows our bond. But now, His Majesty’s words have left me a bit confused. Could you trouble yourself to repeat them once more for me?"

Evelyn’s voice was as soft as a warbler’s song, so melodious it seemed. But when Amber heard it, she shuddered.

Evelyn’s hand continued to linger on Amber’s back, adding to her terror. Her frail body trembled uncontrollably, as if she were a leaf caught in the wind.

Tanya frowned, not understanding why Amber was so afraid. This was clearly her only way to save herself.

"Your Majesty is wise. This humble servant would never dare blame Lady Vivienne. It’s my own stupidity. This matter has nothing to do with Lady Evelyn. Your Majesty must investigate thoroughly!"

Amber repeatedly distanced Evelyn from the situation, which in itself seemed suspicious.

Tanya furrowed her brow, sensing something amiss.

“Then do you plead guilty?” Heliam’s tone grew lazier, but it was Amber’s fervent nodding that responded to him.

“This sinful servant confesses. I only ask Your Majesty to clear Lady Evelyn’s name!”

The dark shadows in Evelyn’s eyes deepened as she locked her gaze onto Heliam, who sat high on the throne.

“Evelyn only just learned of this. I fail to understand why Your Majesty would doubt me.”

Evelyn arrogantly raised her chin, her voice a mix of dark and soft tones, but her movements clearly expressed her dissatisfaction.

Heliam’s gaze flickered, and his brows tightened. His voice revealed neither joy nor anger as he spoke, “If that’s the case, then it must be the slanderous rumors of that wretched servant alone.”

His gaze grew colder. “Then as per the law, she shall be executed by steaming.”

With a wave of his hand, he signaled his command. The Imperial Guards, standing silently by, stepped forward with expressionless faces, ready to pull Amber up from where she lay on the ground.

Sensing something amiss, one of them knelt and felt for her breath, then looked up. “Your Majesty, the guilty maid is already dead.”

Everyone was stunned.

Black blood trickled from the corners of Amber’s lips as she lay there on the floor. The fresh red blood on her forehead had yet to dry, tracing a sinister arc down her pale skin.

Heliam’s large hand slammed onto the table. “Ridiculous!”

Eunuch Belmont hurriedly called for the imperial physician. After an examination, the conclusion was clear—Amber had died from poisoning.

“How can those in charge of the dungeon be so careless! How could they not notice that the prisoner was carrying such lethal poison?!”

The imperial physician stepped forward and lowered his head. “Your Majesty, the poison on the deceased appears to have been administered externally, not self-inflicted.”

In other words, Amber’s death wasn’t a suicide—it was murder.

The physician directed everyone’s attention to the blood on Amber’s forehead.

“Your Majesty, please take a look. The blood on her forehead is still a vibrant red, while the blood at her lips is already blackened. The poison must have been administered after she started kowtowing.”

Since Amber entered the hall, she hadn’t stopped kowtowing. In such a short span of time, to poison and kill someone—it was suspicious from every angle.

Tanya arched her slender brow and fixed her gaze on Evelyn across the hall.

The latter met her stare head-on, the two pairs of eyes clashing fiercely in the center of Harmonious Hall.

There were only two people who had been closest to Amber. One was Evelyn, who had touched her earlier, and the other was Tanya, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines.

“Evelyn touched Amber before. From this, it seems Evelyn’s chances of poisoning her are greater.” Francois finally spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention to Evelyn, their eyes lingering on her long, delicate right hand.

Evelyn remained calm, a faint smile on her lips. “Sister Francois overestimates me. I know nothing about poisons. But Sister Vivienne, Amber’s words were of great harm to her. Who’s to say she didn’t panic and poison Amber in a moment of desperation?”

Evelyn deftly shifted the blame back onto Tanya.

For someone to remain so composed under such circumstances, calmly facing the aftermath of a murder—she was truly ruthless.

Tanya’s voice was indifferent, and she raised her delicate brows slightly. “You’re quite impressive, staying so calm after committing murder.”

“Sister must have proof before making such accusations. This matter hasn’t even been concluded yet, and you’ve already put a label on me. That makes me rather unhappy.”

Evelyn furrowed her brows, her large eyes shimmering under the candlelight, tears welling up and threatening to fall.

“How amusing.” Tanya’s red lips parted slowly, releasing those words in an unhurried manner.