Doctor Hailey

Hailey silently widened her eyes and took a step closer to Kai.

The Crown Prince was as stunningly handsome as the rumors said, but his complexion was noticeably poor.

His face was flushed, possibly from a fever.

He clearly looked unwell…

Was she so taken aback by his greeting or unable to recall their previous meeting?

“Stand up.”

Kai said.

“Why are you in handcuffs?”

Hailey didn’t avoid Kai’s gaze. She stood with her shoulders squared.

The term “heir” made her mouth feel dry. She took a steady breath.

“Chief Investigator Grand arrested me as a criminal and put these on.”

“Is Lady Hailey a criminal?”

Hailey smiled wryly.

“Of course not.”

For the Chief Investigator to arrest her directly, how could the Crown Prince not know?

Even though she had little interest in politics, she knew well that it was the Crown Prince, not the Emperor, who currently oversaw the Empire’s affairs.

‘Could the Chief Investigator have acted alone without the Crown Prince’s approval in arresting the heir of the Salisbury family?’

She shook her head.

“Chief, what is the meaning of this?”

Grand, who had been kneeling, stood up.

Seeing the beads of sweat on his forehead, Hailey smirked.

“I submitted a report after summarizing the case.”

“Are you telling me to go read the report now?”

“No, not at all! The Lady was arrested for possessing drugs and conducting illegal clinical trials.”

“Illegal clinical trials?”

Kai’s face hardened.

“Y-Yes.”

“An emergency arrest is authorized when a high-ranking noble is involved, or if the suspect is found to be a threat to the royal family or involved in rebellion against the royal court, without needing higher approval. Do you understand that?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kai looked at the Chief, who nodded frantically.

“Chief, what led you to make an emergency arrest of Lady Hailey?”

“Among those involved in the illegal clinical trials, there was a member of the royal family.”

Hailey’s eyes widened at the Chief Investigator’s words.

The Crown Prince’s gaze turned cold as he looked at her.

Then he redirected his attention to the Chief Investigator.

“A royal family member?”

“Yes.”

The Chief Investigator answered firmly.

“That’s why we came here. We intended to obtain the Lady’s confession through the testimony of Professor Lihael, who was among the illegal clinical trial subjects.”

Hailey’s mouth dropped open.

She let out a deep sigh.

So they brought her to the academy because of Professor Lihael?

Professor Lihael had helped with the experiments and even sponsored them.

Hailey clenched her pant leg tightly with her cuffed hands.

“I kept the report brief. Given the sensitive nature of Professor Lihael’s direct involvement, I intended to report the details verbally.”

The Chief Investigator’s voice gained confidence.

Hailey trembled.

And the Crown Prince… said nothing.

“Lady Hailey conducted illegal clinical trials on Professor Lihael. Under the guise of anesthetic research, she had the professor inhale narcotics…”

“Stop!”

She cut off the Chief Investigator’s words and stepped closer to him.

“Enough.”

“Lady, you are admitting to the charges.”

The Chief Investigator’s lips curled into a smug smile.

She shook her head in disbelief at his gleaming eyes.

“No. You speak as if I committed some heinous crime without knowing the full context.”

“That’s for Professor Lihael to testify. Lady, you…”

“Chief.”

Kai interrupted the Chief Investigator.

“Yes, Your Highness!”

He bowed his head. Hailey glared at the back of the Chief Investigator’s head.

“There will be no testimony from Lihael.”

The Chief Investigator looked up, confusion in his eyes.

Hailey also looked at the Crown Prince.

His face revealed nothing.

“Your Highness, a confrontation between the professor and the lady could resolve this without needing a trial.”

“Chief.”

Hailey bit her lip at the cold tone and gaze of the Crown Prince.

Sweat trickled down her back. Her mouth felt dry.

The Chief Investigator was trembling as well.

“I repeat, there will be no testimony from Lihael. Therefore, there’s no need to interrogate the lady.”

“Your Highness…”

“It is not the Chief Investigator’s authority to conclude the case. If you wish to question the witness, you should formally request it during a trial.”

Kai made eye contact with Hailey.

She hiccuped involuntarily.

Of all times for diaphragm spasms…

She took a deep breath, but,

Hic!

“Release her cuffs. The lady seems frightened.”

At Kai’s command, the guard behind her quickly unlocked her cuffs.

As the heavy cuffs were removed, she felt an immense sense of relief.

“Your Highness, what about this case then…”

The Chief Investigator trailed off.

Seizing the moment, Hailey stepped forward and spoke.

“The reason for my emergency arrest was the claim that I conducted illegal clinical trials involving a royal family member, but that is merely the Chief Investigator’s assertion without any witnesses or evidence to support it.”

The Chief Investigator’s expression hardened.

Hailey pressed on, glaring at him.

“Let me go now.”

“That is impossible.”

The Chief Investigator stood firm.

His obstinacy made Hailey clench her fists.

“Did you not hear me? The reason for my emergency arrest was…”

“We have already secured evidence of your possession of narcotics. We will supplement the investigation with testimonies. It is the duty and right of the investigative body to detain you until the investigation of your other crimes is completed.”

“It was anesthetic research, not narcotics. No matter how many times I explain it as medical use, you refuse to listen…”

Grand smirked, showing he had no intention of considering her words.

“Talking to you is impossible. Fine, I will prepare for trial then.”

The Chief Investigator glanced her over before turning to the Crown Prince, bowing deeply.

“Your Highness, I will take my leave now.”

“Submit a more detailed report on this case by tomorrow.”

“Yes! I will re-incarcerate the lady and immediately work on a new report.”

At the mention of re-incarceration, Kai sighed and nodded.

While there was no evidence of illegal clinical trials, the investigation into her possession of substances for experiments needed to be thorough.

Feeling emboldened by the approval, the Chief Investigator turned to Hailey.

“Let’s go, Lady Salisbury!”

Hailey let out a deep sigh.

There was no choice. She bowed to the Crown Prince.

“I will return. Your Highness.”

“…Lady.”

Kai hesitated, then nodded.

She followed the Chief Investigator.

Once outside the academy’s main gate, Hailey looked back. The Crown Prince had already disappeared into the distance.

Thick clouds once again obscured the moonlight, and the torches the guards held flickered in the wind.

As Hailey looked up at the sky, the Chief Investigator sneered.

“Don’t be mistaken. The Crown Prince wasn’t protecting the likes of you.”

Look at that, he’s already calling me ‘the likes of you’.

She smirked. Well, she had used formal speech with the Crown Prince herself.

“You will regret this soon.”

It didn’t take her long to understand his meaning.

“This place…”

She was speechless when she saw where the Chief Investigator had brought her.