Chapter 9 - THE MAP AND THE LEDGER
"She is neither senile nor lying, Lord Cedric," Eleanor countered with icy calm.
She raised her right hand, holding aloft the sealed, wax-stamped leather tube she had taken from Thomas's old sea chest.
"This is the original royal survey map drawn by Thomas Vance before you took his life," Eleanor announced to the gasping room. "It proves that the gold vein you have been secretly mining for fifteen years sits entirely upon Royal Crown territory! Every coin in your bank accounts, every jewel around your daughter's neck, was stolen directly from the King's treasury!"
Cedric’s eyes darted frantically toward the side terrace doors, where Vance, the blackmailer, was already attempting to slip quietly into the dark garden—only to be intercepted and slammed against the stone wall by two royal guards.
Julian stepped down from the podium, placing his body squarely between his mother and Cedric. He reached into his coat, pulling out the heavy black ledger and thrusting it directly into the hands of the High Sheriff.
"And this, High Sheriff," Julian declared, his voice ringing with fierce liberation, "is the complete financial ledger of every bribe, illegal transaction, and murder payoff made by Cedric Van Doren over the last decade! I give it to you freely, along with my own confession!"
Vivienne let out a manic shriek, lunging toward Eleanor with her manicured fingernails aimed at the old woman's eyes. "You ruined us! You filthy old peasant bitch!"
Before Vivienne could reach Eleanor, Julian stepped into her path, catching both of his wife's wrists in a tight, unyielding grip.
"Do not dare lay a hand on my mother ever again, Vivienne," Julian said, his eyes burning with absolute, chilling contempt. He shoved her backward into the waiting hands of the royal guards. "Our marriage was an extortionate lie, and it ends tonight."
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The High Sheriff quickly flipped through the ledger's pages, his face darkening with intense anger as he read the names and numbers. He looked up at Cedric with cold authority.
"Cedric Van Doren, Vivienne Van Doren, and Vance of the capital," the Sheriff commanded, drawing his heavy steel sword. "You are under arrest for high treason, illegal mining, conspiracy, and the murder of Thomas Vance!"
