Interrogation

Marquis Adrien caved in with a nod.

"Good," Bruno smiled coldly. "We will begin with your accomplices. I am sure that you are not the only one who shares resentment and then suggests that you go against your government, right? I want their names."

Adrien's face hardened, the brief flicker of defeat from earlier replaced by a steely resolve. He pressed his lips together, his silence speaking louder than any words could. His eyes bore into Bruno, defiance clear in his posture despite his bound state.

Bruno raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. He began to pace slowly in front of Adrien, his boots clicking against the cold stone floor with each deliberate step. 

"Silent treatment, is it?" Bruno asked. He stopped and turned to face Adrien directly. "Do you think this will earn you some kind of moral victory? Or are you under the illusion that your silence will protect the others?"

Adrien's jaw tightened, his breathing steady but tense. He refused to answer, his gaze unwavering.

Bruno let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head as if dealing with a petulant child. "You nobles are all the same," he said, his voice laced with disdain. "So quick to demand respect and loyalty from those beneath you, yet so eager to conspire against your own sovereign when it suits your whims."

When Adrien remained mute, Bruno leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing. "Tell me, Marquis, do you love your family?"

Adrien's eyes flickered for a fraction of a second, betraying the crack in his façade. It was enough for Bruno to see.

Bruno smiled faintly, but it was a smile devoid of warmth. "Your wife, Camille. A refined woman, elegant in her demeanor. And Sophie… your daughter. So young, so innocent." He paused, letting the words sink in. "I imagine you would do anything to keep them safe. Am I wrong?"

Adrien's silence stretched for a moment longer, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him. His eyes darted to the floor, then back to Bruno. For the first time, there was a glimmer of fear in his expression—a fear that gnawed at the edges of his pride.

"I'll ask again," Bruno said, his voice soft but unyielding. "Do you love your family?"

Adrien swallowed hard, his throat dry. The image of Camille and Sophie, terrified and at the mercy of Elysean soldiers, flashed in his mind.

"I…" His voice cracked, but he quickly steeled himself, forcing a facade of defiance. "You wouldn't dare harm them. It would turn the nobility against you."

Bruno tilted his head, his expression coldly amused. "Oh, Marquis, you misunderstand me. I have no desire to harm them. In fact, their safety is entirely in your hands. Their fate is tied to your cooperation—or lack thereof."

Adrien's breathing quickened, and his mind raced. He knew he was cornered, and the fear that had crept onto his face now spread through his entire being. For all his bluster, he was a man who cherished his family above all else, and the thought of their suffering crushed his resistance.

Bruno leaned back, giving Adrien a moment to absorb his predicament. "So, I'll ask one last time," he said firmly. "Who are your accomplices? I want their names."

"You promise that if I tell you who my accomplice is, you will let me and my family go?" Adrien asked, his voice strained, barely above a whisper.

"You have my word. Cooperate, abide by the reforms, and live as a loyal citizen of the Kingdom of Elysea. Your family will remain unharmed, and you will be allowed to return to them."

Adrien hesitated, doubt clouding his face. His lips pressed together in a thin line, and his breathing was shallow, uneven. He wanted to believe the prince's assurances, but the nagging thought of betrayal lingered. Could Bruno, a man who had orchestrated his capture and humiliation, truly be trusted?

Bruno observed the Marquis closely, the flicker of doubt not lost on him. He stepped forward and spoke to him.

"Adrien," he said, using the Marquis's first name for the first time. "You're not the first noble to find themselves at a crossroads, and you won't be the last. But make no mistake—your actions now will determine the future of your family. You can cling to your pride and gamble with their safety, or you can choose to protect them. The choice is yours."

The weight of Bruno's words settled heavily on Adrien's chest. He glanced up at the prince, his own expression a mixture of fear and loathing. Every fiber of his being rebelled against surrendering to the man before him, but the image of his family suffering for his stubbornness was too much to bear.

He exhaled shakily.

"Count Duval," he said, the name falling from his lips like a stone. "He… he has been the most vocal. He believes you will not stop until every noble in Corse is stripped of their power."

 "And the others?"

Adrien hesitated again, his mind racing. He had crossed a line now—there was no going back. "Baron Vallier. Lady Genevieve. They were at the center of it, discussing ways to… weaken your position."

Bruno nodded, his expression betraying no emotion. "Good," he said simply. "Continue."

Adrien shifted uncomfortably, shame washing over him with every word. "Marquis Adrien Lavigne, though he has kept his involvement quiet. He's… cautious. And Renard—Lord Renard, but he's hesitant. I don't know how far he's willing to go."

Bruno remained silent for a moment, his piercing gaze fixed on Adrien as he processed the information. Finally, he nodded again and stepped back.

"You've done the right thing, Adrien," he said calmly. "Your cooperation will ensure the safety of your family. But remember this—if you think to deceive me, if you withhold any part of the truth, I will know. And should that happen, there will be no place for mercy."

Adrien nodded weakly. "I've told you everything I know. So, you are going to start arresting them now?" 

Bruno shook his head. "Arrest them? No, that is no fun. I have plans for them." 

"What is it?"

"You will see when you attend the banquet that I will host soon."