“Ledger?”
Langdon’s pupils contracted as he stared at the familiar red ledgers at his feet. His expression finally faltered.
He had never expected the enforcement team to uncover the ledgers he had hidden in a secret compartment. Every transaction written on those pages was damning-evidence of years of collusion with officials and wealthy merchants, of bribes and embezzlement.
He had kept them as leverage to ensure those officials wouldn’t abandon him when things went south. But what was meant to shield him had now sealed his fate.
His assets could be confiscated, and he could refuse to acknowledge his own children. But how could he possibly talk his way out of a ledger filled with his handwritten records?
Langdon’s frown deepened as sweat poured down his face. Before he realized it, his back was already drenched.
“Mr. Langdon, why are you sweating so much? Is it too hot in here? Should I have someone fan you?” Axel taunted with sneer.
The evidence they had gathered was more than enough to imprison Langdon, and no amount of denial would save him now.
“Mr. Langdon, are you still trying to claim these ledgers are forged and have nothing to do with you?” Austin smirked, his tone laced with mockery.
“T-That’s right! They’re forged. This has nothing to do with me. I don’t keep ledgers like these. Someone must be framing me.” Langdon stubbornly insisted.
At that point, he could only keep going down this path, no matter the consequences.
But no one believed him anymore. Even the royal advisors looked at him with disdain.
Was there any point in continuing to deny it?
No matter how stubbornly he denied it, the evidence laid out before him was more than enough to convict him.
Sometimes, refusing to admit the truth wouldn’t solve a problem. It would only make the downfall more humiliating.
“Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.” Austin clapped with a laugh.
He continued, “I’ve never met anyone as shameless as you. If you had confessed and shown remorse, I might have spared your life out of respect for our relationship. But since you refuse to repent and insist on twisting the truth, you have no one to blame but yourself.”
Austin turned to Axel. “Bring out all the evidence against Langdon. I want every crime laid bare today.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” Axel responded before taking a thick stack of documents from one of his subordinates and reading them aloud.
“Driven by lust, Langdon assaulted a woman eight years ago. The victim later took her own life. To cover his tracks, he bribed officials and threatened the victim’s family.
“Five years ago, he conspired with a wealthy merchant named Lemur Pratt to murder Patch Sharmon and his family, seizing their assets.
“Three years ago, Langdon’s son, Zeron Rhys, assaulted and killed a government official’s daughter. When the official filed a report, Langdon suppressed the case using ruthless means, then framed the official for multiple crimes. The official was imprisoned and died under suspicious circumstances.
“Based on our investigation, Langdon has been directly or indirectly involved in over a dozen deaths. His crimes are heinous and unforgivable.
“These are the gathered evidence and testimonies, Your Highness. Please review them.” After finishing his report, Axel placed the stack of evidence before Austin.
As Austin skimmed through the pages, his expression darkened. At first, he thought Langdon was just another corrupt, greedy, and lecherous official. He had never imagined the man was responsible for so many deaths.
“How will you try to talk your way out of this?” Austin asked coldly before hurling the documents at Langdon’s face.
“Lies! It’s all lies. I won’t admit to this.”
Langdon scrambled to pick up the scattered documents and furiously tore them to shreds, abandoning all pretense.
“You dare destroy evidence in front of us?” Axel’s eyes flashed with fury, and he reached for his sword.
But Austin raised a hand to stop him. “Let him tear them up.”
“All these are fake. Every last one of them is fake.”
Under countless watchful eyes, Langdon shredded every document into pieces.
Austin merely watched in silence, showing no sign of stopping him. But his expression was as cold as if he were staring at a dead man.
“Are you done?” he asked indifferently.
Do you have any last words?”
“Austin! Don’t think you can intimidate me!” Langdon shouted frantically. “I won’t admit to any of this. You’re framing me, and I’m going to report you to the prince!”
“No last words? Then, take him away and execute him in three days.” Austin gave the order without hesitation.
“Yes, Your Highness!” Axel grinned viciously. He had been waiting for this moment and had no intention of letting Langdon off easily tonight.
“You dare?”
Panic finally set in as Langdon’s bravado crumbled, and he barked a weak threat, ” I’m a member of the Rhys family. Your elder, and your father’s brother. If you execute me, you’ll be committing treason. You’ll be betraying your own bloodline!”
Austin’s expression remained impassive. ” My elder? My father’s brother?”
He continued, “You’re nothing more than a distant branch of the Rhys family. Your wealth and status exist only because of my father. How dare you stand here and demand respect?
“If you had quietly enjoyed your fortune, perhaps you would have lived out your days in peace. But you chose to break the law and prey on the innocent. If I don’t make an example of you today, how many more will follow in your footsteps?”
“You-” Langdon was at a loss for words.
“Guards! Take him away and show no mercy,” Austin commanded.
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Axel waved his hand. He ordered his men to shackle Langdon and drag him toward the door.
At that moment, Langdon finally broke.
