IJNSTH 23

Chapter 23 
Trap

Insufficient evidence.

The suspect, Ludvig Rex, was at the ‘S’ Hotel at the time of the incident, waiting for his fiancée.

The murder of the follower of the famous actor ‘C’ appeared to be the work of multiple people. Photos of someone heading toward his fiancée’s villa in a car show only Ludvig, and it was confirmed that these were not taken on the day of the incident. The search for the true culprit is still ongoing, and at this point, it is difficult to find any connection to Rex.

After being released from the police station, the first place Ludvig went to was the Merghoville estate. The chief of police had indeed told him to do so.

“Regrettably, I have in my hands material evidence that would prevent your release due to insufficient evidence.”

It was an obvious threat, but Ludvig didn’t believe it.

It wasn’t him who killed the follower of his fiancée at the villa. Therefore, there couldn’t possibly be any material evidence against him. Ludvig, unwilling to be fooled by such a ridiculous threat, recalled what the chief of police had said next:

“A young man with such a temper… there is one condition.”

“What is it?”

“A clean, trouble-free annulment with Miss Merghoville.”

He had been promised release by an “anonymous informant” on that condition—but it was obvious who that was. Someone in a higher position, who had long been keeping an eye on his fiancée, was likely the one behind it.

Ludvig had suspected who it was for quite some time.

If he thought back, there was always one person intersecting all the incidents involving Vivienne:

Edmund Hiard Colt.

People would undoubtedly ridicule him if they heard this, but he trusted his instincts. The one person capable of taking Vivienne immediately if he annulled the engagement—there couldn’t be anyone else. His suspicion of the Count was therefore reasonable.

It also made sense why the fake agent had prevented him from intervening when Vivienne had been taken.

He still vividly remembered what that man had said to him at the top-floor restaurant of the Salenner Hotel:

“Was it necessary to act so forward?”

“You mean me having a meal in my own hotel?”

What if the man who said that was not an agent, but Count Colt himself?

And Count Colt was connected to a domestic underworld adviser—or someone with the influence to force an annulment and call Salenner his own. Yes, a boss.

Hearing those words now, after all this time, carried a different weight.

He had overlooked this option because the Count had brazenly taken Vivienne while posing as both a government official’s son and a noble. All actions by the higher-ups concerning Vivienne had favored the Count.

And the domestic adviser and the boss—neither had ever revealed their identities. So there was no reason the Count couldn’t be included in that category.

Vivienne herself had underscored that suspicion. He remembered her voice over the phone:

“I saw the annulment documents. That’s why you’re at my estate, right?”

When he contacted the Senowick Duke’s estate, Vivienne had left for her residence, but she wasn’t at the Marquis’s estate. That meant the Count had brought her to his own estate—coincidentally on the same day the underworld forces obtained the annulment papers.

It was still only a hunch, but it was certain that the infamous Count was connected to the higher-ups. His blood seemed to boil.

What would happen if Vivienne Merghoville discovered the true identity of her savior?

Then she would come to him. There was no other safe haven for her.

That alone was enough. He didn’t need anything else.

Guided by a servant of the Marquis’s estate, Ludvig proceeded to the reception room.

At that moment, the Margrave of Merghoville was looking at the annulment document Ludvig had signed. When Ludvig arrogantly nodded in greeting, the Margrave spoke in a low voice:

“Have a seat.”

“I trust you have been well.”

Ludvig said as he sat down. Although a servant placed drinks on the desk, he ignored them and continued:

“I have come to discuss a matter that needs to be resolved.”

“You intend to end the ties of our family?”

“On the contrary. This annulment document delivered to the estate today was ordered by my superiors to be signed.”

When Ludvig spoke, the Margrave and his wife, as well as Vivienne’s brother, Linus, who was standing near the couch, all listened attentively.

“The person who certainly took the annulment papers from me was the Chief of Police. And as you know, above the Chief of Police, there are the underworld forces.”

“……”

“Inspector Merghoville, you are better aware of this than anyone.”

Ludvig lifted his head and looked at Vivienne’s brother, Linus. Without a word, Linus scanned him from head to toe, clearly wary. Nevertheless, Ludvig continued unfazed:

“However, my fiancée knew the contents of the annulment document, which should have only been known by the Chief and the underworld forces. Upon hearing that it ended up in the Count’s hands, I formed an interesting hypothesis.”

He continued:

“If you help me test this hypothesis, I can catch the person who ordered the annulment and continue my engagement, which I believe would be beneficial to all of us. For that, I request your cooperation. Please summon Vivienne Merghoville here. I will handle the rest.”