Chapter Twenty-One:
"Come with me, Kaiba," Atemu said as he strode down the dais and headed out of the throne room.
Seto did, aware of three guards following at a pace of a few yards. Atemu said nothing as he walked through the halls of the palace and Seto didn't either. His mind was racing. McDonnell had admitted to the murder of Lady Helen and attempted murder of Atemu. It was no accident and no crazy act by someone unhinged. It was a direct plot. That much was obvious, but it still didn't make sense. As assassination attempts, it was reckless and stupid and poorly planned. It also meant that Katsuya and Yuugi were neither of them the man in the hood. At least, not the one at the pond.
The man in the alley still could have been Katsuya. Seto was sure that McDonnell had to actually be closer to Katsuya's height than Yuugi's, but he was much shorter than Seto and unless Seto saw them side by side, he couldn't be sure if McDonnell was shorter than Katsuya. That didn't much matter anyway. McDonnell had the look of someone who cringed and scurried around like a rat searching for scraps in the bins, and that was exactly what he was. He could easily have been standing hunched and frightened as he had there in the throne room and thought Katsuya was taller than he was. Or it could have been someone else, of course, but Seto was still sure this came back to Katsuya.
Because it was also clear what this was: a frame-up attempt.
Atemu led Seto back into his private quarters, leading him into the main sitting area. A maid was just setting out tea with scones and crumpets and she curtsied to Atemu as he dismissed her without even looking at her.
"Out," Atemu added to the three guards who had followed the two of them in.
"Your Highness-"
"Out," Atemu snapped. "Stand outside the doors, but out."
The three left and the doors closed. Atemu sat down in one of the chairs and gestured Seto into the other. Seto did so, watching as Atemu poured himself some tea and sweetened it with honey.
"I can no longer be free of them," Atemu said with a sigh. "Every attempt meets with so much pushback that I just give in."
He was referring to the guards, Seto thought. After a murder attempt, no doubt that was entirely true. The Captain of the Guard; Atemu's Senior Gentleman of the Bedchamber, whoever that actually was; probably any Peer or Member of Parliament, they all would insist. Undoubtedly, any attempt by Atemu to have his way would be met with guards just happening to be near. His previous life was definitely over.
"You know why I have asked you here," Atemu said. He was staring at his tea.
"Yes."
"You still think it was Yuugi."
"Katsuya," Seto said. "With or without Yuugi."
"Perhaps."
"You asked me here for another reason than for me to know about McDonnell."
Atemu raised his eyes. He said nothing, waiting for Seto to talk.
"You wanted to make sure McDonnell didn't mean I was under the hood."
Atemu snorted and picked up a scone. He took a bite and chewed and swallowed before speaking, "I know you were not the one under the hood, Seto. I wanted McDonnell to say the same for all to hear."
"Then you know it's a frame-up."
"Yes. I do, but others don't agree."
This was worse than Seto thought. "I'm an official suspect."
"Officially, yes. You're not the only one, but you are. This morning, McDonnell was shown a series of police sketches or photos of everyone at the pond that day to see who he had seen before, including all police and guards. He named you, all of my childhood mates, Yuugi, and some others. He didn't recognize Katsuya."
"That doesn't mean anything."
"I'm aware. The Yard has had no run ins with McDonnell except on complaint of ladies with their noses in the air disagreeable about his very existence. In none of those cases was Katsuya ever one of the ones who dealt with him. Katsuya is no member of mine or my father's court and certainly no friend of mine. He was not at the party. Yuugi, he would have seen with me at times. Or thought he was me."
Seto had thought the same, once. Their resemblance was far closer than Seto's to his own brother.
"Every person named by McDonnell is a suspect. My own vouching is not enough to clear anyone's name. What little description McDonnell has only clears Yuugi and every woman."
Because Atemu and Yuugi were the only two of the whole bunch who were both male and shorter than McDonnell. Atemu's attempt to clear Seto's name had failed simply because there was too little information. In fact, all it had done was clear Yuugi, at least insofar as being directly responsible.
"What happens now?" Seto asked.
Atemu sighed. "McDonnell will be executed. When and how is up to me to decide."
That was not what Seto meant, but he didn't say anything. It was but the start of justice for Lady Helen and no doubt Atemu's thoughts were on her rather than Seto. Of course, McDonnell would get a trial, which was why the Magistrate had been there to begin with, to hear what McDonnell had to say before a more official trial started, but ultimately his fate lay with Atemu. He could have been pardoned, though of course that was not in Atemu's considerations. True, Atemu didn't actually have to do anything, but it was clear he was not leaving anything to the courts. The fact that he wanted revenge was no surprise, and as King, he would get his way.
"As for you, at least McDonnell didn't implicate you at all anymore clearly than he did any other of my mates," Atemu continued. "The investigation will continue. But you recall what I said the last time I saw you."
Seto was sure he did. That if there were no developments during Yuugi's time away, Atemu would consider him guilty in his heart if not officially and start the process of having his cousin held responsible. Now, of course, the link between Yuugi and the incident at the pond was foggier than ever.
Seto wondered if that was chance or intentional. He said the same to Atemu.
Atemu shook his head. "It doesn't matter, Seto. I am telling you now. Yuugi is innocent of this whole matter unless I hear otherwise from someone else. He will stay away until the fifteenth and then return home, as planned. I will hear no more from you on that subject. Is that clear?"
Seto almost protested. He understood Atemu's position, but it meant nothing. Yuugi didn't have to be the man in the hood to be behind the whole thing. But he stopped himself. Atemu was smart enough to know that. He was telling Seto that the matter was closed because there was nothing else. Seto had no proof, and to accuse Yuugi at all was a dangerous undertaking. The mere fact that Atemu had heard his opinion at all was extraordinary and Seto had not understood that so clearly until right then. A virtual stranger had accused Atemu's blood of treason against the crown with no proof and no good reason to suspect except that Yuugi and Atemu clearly hated each other. Seto didn't believe so much in coincidence, but it could be that and they both knew it.
It was for Seto's sake that the matter was indeed closed.
"It's clear," he said softly.
"Good. Return home, Seto." Atemu set down his cup of tea and looked Seto in the eyes. "I do not suspect you. But you are a suspect. As such, all indulgences are withdrawn. You are banned from the Palace. Return again without my express permission and you will be arrested. If this is a frame-up from Katsuya, then don't make it easier for him. Begone. You and I are over."
