Bruhl’s men moved fast. Within half an hour, they had contacted the relevant departments, uncovering a mountain of evidence. The once-grand manor was soon swarmed with Yata’s high-ranking officials. Chester’s crimes were laid bare. The scale of his embezzlement was staggering. The Robles family’s downfall was inevitable.
News of their collapse spread like wildfire, sending a chill through Yata’s nobility. The message was crystal clear—never, under any circumstances, cross Vincent. The Robles family’s fate was a brutal warning.
Meanwhile, in the royal palace, the King sat on his throne, his gaze cold as he looked down at Ryanna, who knelt before him.
“As a princess, you should have intervened the moment you saw this happening,” he said, his voice laced with disappointment. “You know what Vincent is capable of, yet you allowed this mess to unfold. Ryanna, you’ve failed me.”
Some of the stolen funds had even made their way into the royal treasury. But what did that matter now? The corruption had been exposed. The King could no longer protect the Robles family—not if he wanted to keep the people’s trust. And for a ruler, trust was everything. The fall of the Robles family was inevitable. But that didn’t mean the King was pleased. Their downfall also meant the loss of a steady financial channel—one that funneled state funds straight into his personal accounts. How could he possibly be happy about that?
Ryanna remained on her knees, her expression composed as she spoke. “Father, I did try to intervene. I instructed Annie to handle it, but she wasn’t fast enough. Several noble ladies were present at the time; they can vouch for me.”
Her voice was steady, betraying not even a hint of fear. She had ensured to issue her orders in front of witnesses.
The King studied her, then sighed. “Ryanna, you are the heir to the throne. You must learn to prioritize the bigger picture over temporary setbacks.”
She understood immediately. Lifting her gaze, she nodded. “I understand, Father.”
This was precisely why she had never directly confronted Katelyn. Even though Vincent’s broken engagement with her had been a public humiliation, she couldn’t afford to act impulsively. She could lose everything with one mistake. Ryanna wasn’t foolish enough to risk that.
The King leaned back in his chair and waved a hand. “Stand up. Handle this carefully. Do not make an enemy of Vincent. Keep emotions out of it, and he will remain a valuable ally.”
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The Yata royal family had reaped great benefits from their partnership with Vincent. It was because of him that Yata had reached its current level of power. Losing his support would be a disaster. The King had fought too hard to secure his position. He wouldn’t allow anything to jeopardize it now.
Ryanna rose gracefully. “Thank you for your guidance, Father. I will be more cautious in the future and ensure our interests remain protected.”
Finally, the King seemed satisfied. He nodded, then added, “Find time to visit Katelyn. Build a good relationship with her. Vincent has already acknowledged her as his future wife.”
Ryanna stiffened. For the first time ever, despite her usual composure, a flicker of shock flashed in her eyes.
“Vincent… publicly acknowledged Katelyn as his future wife?” Ryanna whispered, the words barely escaping her lips.
Ryanna hadn’t anticipated Vincent would go so far, and for a moment, her carefully controlled emotions threatened to surface. But she quickly masked them, nodding with quiet acceptance. “Sure, Father.”
As Ryanna left, the King’s gaze followed her retreating figure. His thoughts were clouded with uncertainty. He hoped everything would unfold as planned, without any more complications. Since Vincent and Katelyn had arrived in Yata, the King felt things were slowly slipping out of control. The unease gnawed at him, but for now, all he could do was attempt to regain control of the increasingly chaotic situation.
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