The wavering tremor in her voice sent a wave of sympathy across the male attendees of the hall. The atmosphere itself seemed to shift in her favor.
Yet, even in the face of her pitiful display, the Second Prince remained cold and unshaken as he pressed further.
“Is that so? Then, Lady Tiara, just to confirm—you are referring to the incident three days ago, correct?”
Lady Tiara hesitated, looking uncertain, before nodding.
“Yes, that’s right. The teacher asked me to fetch water from the well, and as I approached, Lady Rosie suddenly shoved me from behind. I fell in. Thankfully, the First Prince and you happened to pass by and rescued me…”
The Second Prince listened carefully, then nodded.
“Indeed, Brother and I were there and saved you. But I also took the opportunity to examine the scene. It had rained the day before, so the ground around the well was still muddy. The footprints were clearly visible… Two sets of them. One belonged to you, Lady Tiara—your high heels. The other was a man’s.”
A hush fell over the hall.
“There were no footprints belonging to Lady Rosie.”
Gasps rippled through the audience.
“Moreover, we have already identified the owner of the second set of footprints. He is here tonight.”
The murmurs in the hall grew louder as the Second Prince pointed toward a man standing among the guests.
“The true culprit who pushed Lady Tiara into the well… is you, Janitor.”
All eyes turned toward a broad-shouldered young man with short, reddish-brown hair, dressed in worn-out clothes. Under the scrutiny of the crowd, his face twisted with guilt as he lowered his head.
The Second Prince addressed him sternly.
“The investigation is complete. You were Lady Tiara’s lover. Concerned for her well-being, you followed her and took a position as a janitor at the academy after she transferred in. But as her relationship with the First Prince deepened, jealousy consumed you. Out of spite, you tore up her textbook as a warning. Then, at the well, you confronted her. The argument escalated, and in a fit of rage, you pushed her in. …Is that not correct?”
Silence hung in the air.
Then, after a long pause, the janitor exhaled sharply and spoke.
“…Yes. It’s all true. I did it…”
The moment he confessed, Lady Tiara shrieked.
“Lies! It’s all lies! This was orchestrated to frame me! I have never even met that janitor before! The real culprit is Lady Rosie! Please, you must believe me!”
She clung desperately to the First Prince, her voice growing more frantic.
The First Prince, his face pale, finally opened his mouth to speak.
“You… just now, you called the janitor ‘Stefan’… Didn’t you say you had never met him? How do you know his name?”
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