Soon afterward, Lambert's search knights returned and presented several letters recovered from the nobles' residences.
The names written on the letters were clear: Holmes, Klan, Bolton, Harlov, and Himan.
The letters detailed the conference seating arrangements, the order of speakers, knight deployments, and efforts to steer public opinion against Red Tide.
A final line was appended: "If Red Tide comes under attack, take it as heaven's will and seize power while the opportunity lasts."
Everyone present sank into even deeper shock.
The four nobles turned deathly pale. Their legs weakened, and they nearly collapsed to the ground.
"That isn't my letter!" Holmes's voice trembled, his mouth still twitching.
"It was only a draft for the conference!" Klan nearly shouted in desperation, veins bulging at his temples.
"Someone forged my seal!" Harlov was drenched in sweat, his voice shaking.
"You're trying to frame us!"
As they spoke, their explanations grew increasingly confused. They even dropped to their knees, holding up the letters with trembling hands and frantically insisting they had been wronged.
"We never intended to betray anyone!"
"His Highness the Sixth Imperial Prince was the one who started it!"
Their panicked protests echoed through the empty ruins, torn apart by the cold wind, sounding utterly powerless.
Harlov lowered his head and clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.
Himan's eyes darted about. He looked toward Louis but dared not meet his gaze.
Fear and regret spread through their hearts. Had they known, they would never have gotten so close to that madman Asta.
If they were convicted of colluding with the Barbarians, their families, fiefs, and even their names might be erased after tonight.
Besides, they really had been wronged. They had never colluded with the Barbarians; they had only wanted to cause Red Tide