In the drawing room, LeBlanc's disguised male voice slowly rang out.
"Back then, I was still one of the representatives of the nobility. Jarvan III returned in triumph, but to everyone's surprise, he also brought back a woman with him and intended to make her queen."
"You should know the story after that. I will start directly from when Melli, already pregnant, left the capital."
"Back then, I and a group of ministers opposed Jarvan III's decision to take another queen, but the two sides remained locked in a stalemate for some time. So I sent people to privately find Melli and carefully persuade her, telling her that her existence would affect Jarvan III's ability to stabilize royal power, and that it would also damage his reputation terribly."
"Women are emotional creatures. After Melli heard that, she immediately made the decision on her own to leave Jarvan III. At that time, I was not certain whether she knew she was pregnant. In any case, she very quickly decided to leave the capital, wanting to hide away for the rest of her life under a false name. As long as she could look toward him from afar, that would be enough."
"She agreed to let me take her out of the capital. But what she did not know was that I never intended to let her live."
When LeBlanc said this, her expression carried a hint of amusement. Then it returned to calm, as if she were merely an audience member recounting a story.
Luke continued listening quietly.
"She was originally supposed to die on the day she left the capital. But perhaps it was from that day onward that my carelessness brewed today's result."
At this moment, a faint trace of regret could be heard in LeBlanc's words. "I sent people to escort her out of the capital. Once they were far enough away, they were to end her on the spot. Afterward, I received word that Melli was dead. She did indeed disappear from the world all at once. Or rather, she disappeared from my sight."
At this point, her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Luke. "That move deceived even me. Before you appeared, I always believed she really had died. So when you appeared in Grand Plaza, I knew that someone must have secretly helped you back then, helping you escape the capital and slip out from under my eyes. I want to know who that person was, Second Prince."
After hearing all this, Luke looked at the probing look in LeBlanc's eyes and smiled faintly. "So there are things even you don't know. Seeing how composed you are, I thought you had seen through everything."
LeBlanc said calmly, "I am composed because I know there is no longer any room to turn this matter around. Since that is the case, what use would impotent rage be? I have now told you the truth of what happened back then, Second Prince. Shouldn't you also tell me who the person behind you is?"
After hearing that, the smile on Luke's face did not disappear. Instead, it grew a little brighter. "You want to know?"
As his words fell, he saw the rich interest in the orange eyes on LeBlanc's beautiful face. Her thin lips curled lightly, and there was not the slightest trace of defeat in her curious expression.
It seemed that in her view, from beginning to end, today's rebellion and even those events from long, long ago were nothing more than a game.
So Luke said, "I won't tell you."
LeBlanc's expression paused. She said, "I have already told you the truth of that year without hiding anything. Now I am already a person about to die. Why can't you at least let me die with a clear understanding?"
Luke chuckled. "Exactly. Since you're about to die, why do you need to know so much?"
Seeing that he had no intention of speaking, LeBlanc revealed a thoughtful expression. Her eyes flickered, and then she said, "Even if you don't say it, I have actually guessed it. If I am not mistaken, the person who secretly helped Melli escape back then, and who secretly helped you after you returned to the capital, is that Veiled Lady, isn't it?"
As her words fell, she looked at Luke's face, only to see that he had also revealed a thoughtful expression.
"So according to you, the one who helped my mother escape from your hands back then was actually the Veiled Lady?"
He spoke to himself.
LeBlanc froze for a moment, then could not help asking in surprise, "You don't know?"
"How would I know?" Luke raised his head and looked at her. "I wasn't even born yet. Where would I have learned that? Still, thank you for providing that clue."
For a moment, LeBlanc did not react. "Then everything you did in the capital..."
At that moment, surprise and confusion finally flashed through her composed eyes.
Her earliest guess had been that Luke's actions were secretly supported by Jarvan III.
But later, she realized that did not seem to be the case.
According to her deduction, the person who had been capable of deceiving her eyes back then and taking Melli away could only be the Veiled Lady, someone about whom even LeBlanc herself possessed little information.
LeBlanc could be one hundred percent certain that this Veiled Lady existed, and that she had always been secretly watching over Demacia.
It was only because of the matter between her and her sister that she had always refused to show herself.
LeBlanc did not possess much information on the other party either, so for all these years, both sides had actually been probing each other from the shadows.
Luke's appearance made LeBlanc believe that he was very likely receiving secret guidance and help from the Veiled Lady.
The true players facing each other across the chessboard were her and the Veiled Lady.
Only that Veiled Lady had the ability to overturn in one move all the foundations LeBlanc had left behind over so many years and make her suffer such a crushing defeat.
But now, seeing Luke's expression, LeBlanc realized that it seemed even he himself did not understand the Veiled Lady.
This matter was beginning to grow strange.
LeBlanc suddenly realized that there were actually many things she could not figure out.
"We've chatted about enough. It's time to send you on your way."
As Luke's words fell, the long blade in his hand had already left its sheath first.
While LeBlanc was distracted, the long blade had already cut across her neck. With the sharp sound of sword light, a head fell to the floor.
After Russell's body collapsed, Luke saw LeBlanc's image within it gradually scatter like a reflection in a pool of water.
And at the very last moment, those eyes were still fixed on him.
Looking at the corpse on the floor, Luke's gaze was calm.
He knew this was only one of LeBlanc's many clones. The death of a single clone might not even affect her true body.
It was even possible that she still had other clones hiding in Demacia.
But that no longer mattered. If that was all, she could not stir up much trouble.
As for what LeBlanc had said just now, Luke naturally would not believe it all. He was certain this woman was still hiding things.
Because everything she had just recounted had been told from Russell's perspective.
Then from her own perspective, what kind of story would it be?
If it really was as she guessed, and the Veiled Lady had acted back then to help Melli, then what had happened back then was definitely not that simple.
There had to be hidden details.
He definitely could not get the answers by asking, so there was no need to waste any more words.
As for exposing LeBlanc's identity, Luke also believed there was no need.
Since she liked playing sinister little games from the shadows, Luke would naturally play along.
This woman had caused Demacia so much trouble. It was hard to imagine how much she had done over the years.
Luke intended to repay every last one of those things in full.
And then there was the Veiled Lady.
A thoughtful look appeared in Luke's eyes. He faintly felt that this Veiled Lady had probably been observing from the shadows all along.
He turned and walked outside. The maid, Yurna, was quietly waiting at the door. Even after everything that had happened today, not a single expression could be seen on her beautiful face.
By now, it was already evening outside. His gaze shifted from Yurna's lovely face to the setting sun. The sun was nearing the edge of the horizon, scattering a stretch of gentle light.
It made the entire sky glow with rosy clouds, and it was extremely beautiful.
Afterward, he saw Jarvan IV walking toward him. An entire afternoon had added a little more exhaustion to his resolute face.
Too many things had happened today.
When Jarvan IV saw Luke, he spoke first. "Second Brother, I was just coming to arrest Russell. Where is he?"
Luke answered, "I already cut him down. That guy was the mastermind. Tourt and the others were all acting under his orders."
A flash of anger rose in Jarvan IV's eyes. "Dying just like that was far too easy for him!"
"Calm down. Think of it another way. If not for him, we would never have been able to pull out so many parasites all at once."
Luke smiled and patted Jarvan IV on the shoulder. "Come on, let's go to Grand Plaza together."
"Let's go."
Jarvan IV let out a soft sigh. That was all they could tell themselves.
In a certain sense, this was a good thing. At the very least, it meant Demacia would welcome a cleaner tomorrow.
"We arrested many people this afternoon. A lot of them were dirty."
On the road, Jarvan IV slowly spoke to Luke.
Over the course of the afternoon, he had arrested too many people.
If every single one of those people were investigated carefully, almost none of them would be clean.
Embezzlement, bribery, privately keeping slaves, hiding military equipment, abusing power to bully others. Some pieces of evidence had even been placed openly in plain sight.
These parasites hidden in dark corners where the light could not reach were gnawing little by little at Demacia's noble soul.
This was precisely what made Jarvan IV furious. Before this incident, he had once believed unwaveringly in the justice of Demacians.
Yet the truth was that he had been given a harsh slap in the face.
What happened today tore at his heart, and even made him wake up somewhat. If Luke had not made arrangements ahead of time, then on this day, he would have lost the father he respected and loved most.
The more he thought like this, the more violently the anger in Jarvan IV's heart burned.
He knew that perhaps he needed to make some changes too.
Luke knew that among these people, some had been affected by LeBlanc's influence.
But there were definitely others who had already been filthy mud to begin with, with no outside influence needed.
And today, starting from the capital, he would uproot them all.
At this moment, a firm resolve flickered in both brothers' eyes.
They hurried toward Grand Plaza. Along the way, they encountered many civilians who were also heading there.
Today would be a day of great significance for many Demacians.
At the same time, on the other side, in Noxus.
Beneath the Noxian capital, under the Immortal Bastion, within the dark stone-carved doorway, there was a deeper darkness still.
Walking down the winding spiral staircase, one would find a maze of complicated tunnels in the darkness. The walls were carved with obscure inscriptions, and fragments of bones were scattered across the stone bricks.
Every last detail spoke of the ancient fortress's long history.
Yet in such a place, in a room underground, there stood a luxurious large bed.
On the bed, a graceful and stunning woman slowly opened her eyes from sleep. She looked as if she had been sleeping for a very long time, and her orange eyes still carried a hint of drowsiness.
After she woke, the torches in the room suddenly lit up as well.
"What an unpleasant dream."
She yawned and rose from the bed. Her alluring body was completely uncovered, pale and smooth, looking glossy, delicate, and full of tempting charm.
She extended one translucent, jade-like foot and stepped onto the floor, only for a shoe to suddenly appear on it.
Immediately afterward, smooth clothing appeared over her long, flawless legs and her graceful body.
Not long later, the door opened. A woman with the same face as hers walked in, holding a cup of hot tea at just the right temperature.
She naturally took it from the other woman, brought it to her lips, and took a gentle sip, savoring it carefully.
Then she lowered her eyes slightly. The tea in the cup in her hand swayed faintly. On the surface of the water, the reflection of a man suddenly appeared. He was handsome, dignified, and had sharp brows and bright eyes, carrying a thoroughly masculine charm.
In terms of looks alone, even over all her many years, few could compare to him.
Simply looking at him was indeed very pleasing to the eye.
Yet this was the very man who had destroyed the great chess game she had spent centuries constructing.
"Second Prince of Demacia, what kind of person are you exactly?"
A curious gleam flickered in her eyes. She gently shook the teacup in her hand, and the reflection inside the cup swayed along with it.
After looking at it for a moment, she raised the cup and continued drinking her tea, her eyes thoughtful.
To be honest, it had been a very long time since she had failed so thoroughly.
In a single day, she had gone from being able to influence Demacia's most important decisions to having no influence there at all.
After this day passed, she believed the forces she had left in other parts of Demacia would probably be uprooted as well.
There were two key figures in this, no, three.
The Veiled Lady, that Second Prince, and Melli.
It could be said that Melli was the true fuse that had led to her current failure.
When had it begun?
From the moment she had betrayed her back then.
Now, although Melli herself was dead, her child had survived, and had made LeBlanc suffer such a tremendous fall.
That prince had acted as though he did not know of the Veiled Lady's existence, but LeBlanc was certain that the Veiled Lady had always been there.
In other words, there were two possibilities.
One was that the prince had lied deliberately.
The other was that he truly did not know.
If it was the latter, then things had become interesting.
During the time she spent with that prince, she had indeed discovered the sense of mystery around him.
It had been a very long time since she had encountered someone capable of stirring her interest like this.
The only pity was that, if her deduction was correct and the Veiled Lady was also secretly observing that prince, then she would not be able to approach him in another form.
However, she was not in a hurry.
To many people, time passed in the blink of an eye.
To her, it was the cheapest thing in the world.
She was a very patient person.
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