Elliot glanced discreetly toward the group.
They wore long black coats, with the royal crest embroidered on their cuffs in gold thread.
They were from the Court of Judgment.
The Night Watch Bureau managed the supernatural world, and it had detectives to pursue leads, but its true supernatural fighting force lay in these squads of supernatural personnel from the Court of Judgment. They were called "Executioners."
Executioners did not investigate. They destroyed.
Normally, they only deployed in a crisis, though the Night Watch Bureau could also request their deployment when it encountered trouble it could not handle. Legally, Elliot was not the lord of the Hearthfire District. His administrative authority came from Duke Sterling, his father.
The Third Prince could have questioned his father, but after receiving the news, he had not gone to the Sterling Family's mansion. Instead, he had returned straight to his own palace and had Holly drag Elliot, who was still playing with the Difference Engine inside, out for questioning.
This was blatant favoritism.
After all, the Third Prince had not come alone. A large number of Executioners accompanied him, yet he had deliberately strolled straight back to his palace before beginning to question Elliot here.
That gave the Old Duke time to react. Moreover, Elliot was only an heir and held no title, so even if he said something wrong, it could still be explained away. If there was no trouble in the Hearthfire District, all the better, but if something really was happening, there would be more time to deal with it.
Feeling the Third Prince's gaze on him, Elliot looked somewhat helpless.
Although he was grateful for Sidney's favoritism, he really was completely innocent.
How could there possibly be a problem with the Hearthfire District? That was his home base!
Wasn't this just