Chapter 6: The Painting’s Secret

I led my people to the Grand Matriarch’s residence.

Then I ordered my other rider, Pearl, "Pearl, investigate. If anyone’s suspicious, interrogate them—dead or alive, I don’t care."

"Yes, Miss."

Pearl came from a family of coroners on my estate. Though a woman, she was exceptionally talented and had learned the trade from a young age. At home, she could only carry bodies and assist her brothers. Discontented, she volunteered to serve under me.

Before coming to the city, I realized I’d need her skills, so I had her learn the city’s rules.

I figured, since I’d just arrived with an army, and they’d planned to lure me into the city, no matter when Evelyn disappeared, the matriarch’s residence would only have been cleaned up last night or this morning. In a rush, they’d surely have left clues. Pearl was meticulous—she’d find something.

Meanwhile, Ginny asked how I planned to handle Savannah.

I looked at her with a half-smile. "I rescued you from the bandit stronghold at the border, trained you for years, and brought you all the way to the city. Now you finally face your enemy, and you’re asking me what to do?"

Ginny stiffened. "Understood."

I waved her off. "Get me what I want. Take back the justice that should’ve been yours."

"Yes!"

It took half a day to turn the Grand Matriarch’s residence upside down. We took down two stewards and more than ten staff. The funny thing was, as they went down, they shouted, "The Grand Heiress is out of control! Running her own court!" Their cries were so loud I could hear them from the study.

‘The law applies equally to all’—that was always an empty slogan. Until Evelyn appeared. After the rebellion, to restore order, she enforced the law strictly. These people had gotten used to it, thinking every leader would be fair and lenient. If they dared betray her, they’d have to face a world without her.

Pearl brought me the clues I wanted.

First, Evelyn hadn’t returned home since entering the mansion two weeks ago. The official story was that she was "recovering in the mansion." The old staff had been taken away in batches, and after last night’s commotion, the remaining house staff were removed too. Now, the “housekeeper” turned out to be a man from the main house—and a maid in disguise.

Next, about Chris Chandler. Evelyn really had chosen him as her fiancé…

According to Savannah, she and Chris were in love, and Evelyn stole him away—and even said she’d give up the family trust for him…

Ginny said, "I beat her half to death, and that’s still her story."

So, in summary: it was still the tale of Evelyn fighting over a man.

Just then, Pearl stepped forward. "Miss…"

"Speak."

Pearl held out a painting and slowly unfurled it for me to see.

Everyone fell silent, not daring to breathe.