Chapter 1335

It was a dark red brocade box, thick with dust. Edgar blew on it, then wiped it with his sleeve. With a snap, he opened the clasp and took out a malachite pendant, gesturing for Jeremiah to take it.

The prime minister hesitated before accepting it. Upon closer inspection, he saw an intricate carving of a griffin encircling the malachite. It was unmistakably a personal item of Sigmund's.

“Look at the back, Mr. Murray,” Edgar said.

As soon as Jeremiah flipped the pendant over, he froze. On the back, a circle of griffin patterns coiled around a single maple leaf. Carved beside it, in delicate script, were the letters ‘S.C.’ The maple leaf and ‘S.C.’ were positioned on opposite sides—one large, one small.

Carissa also saw it, but didn't understand its meaning.

Jeremiah sighed heavily and spoke softly, “The late king’s first and middle names are Sigmund Constantine. As for Mr. Murphy, he spent time wandering the martial world and earned the nickname ‘the Iron Maple.’”

Edgar explained, “This pendant was a gift from King Sigmund to Commander Murphy. The griffin carving was originally all it had, but Commander Murphy added the maple leaf and the letters ‘S.C.’ himself. He carried this pendant, wrapped in a silk pouch. King Sigmund somehow discovered it and, in a fit of rage, threw it into a corner. I picked it up intending to return it to Commander Murphy, but there was never a suitable opportunity. After he left the capital, it remained with me.”

Carissa stood stunned. What did this mean? Did she understand correctly? But hadn't Clifford had an unresolved entanglement with Gerald? How did Sigmund fit into this?

She had always assumed Sigmund had discovered some impropriety between Clifford and Gerald, or perhaps that Clifford had acted in a way that displeased the late king, leading to his banishment. After all, Sigmund despised homosexuality. Since Clifford served in court, Sigmund might have believed he was deliberately flouting the rules.

“Mr. Whitley, did King Sigmund strip Mr. Murphy of his title because of that?” Carissa asked.

Though she realized the question might seem redundant, she couldn't help but ask.

Edgar paused, choosing his words carefully. “Perhaps it was indeed because of that. After the incident, King Sigmund was furious. After stripping Commander Murphy of his title, the late king recalled their past bond and the merits of Commander Murphy’s ancestors. So, he granted Commander Murphy the title of earl instead. As for why Commander Murphy left the capital… Well, it seems no one spoke up for him at the time.”

“Did Lord Quinton not plead for him?” Carissa asked.

“None of them did, and Lord Quinton certainly didn't,” Edgar replied, giving Carissa a brief look, realizing she and Jeremiah knew considerably more than he'd anticipated.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Carissa voiced her thoughts, “But wasn’t there some kind of bond between Mr. Murphy and Lord Quinton?”

Edgar's brow twitched. Even after all these years, he felt Sigmund's gaze upon him, warning him not to speak of such matters. But tonight, with Jeremiah's personal visit, he felt compelled to speak.

“Lord Quinton married and had children,” Edgar said.

He then claimed he was feeling unwell and needed to rest, signaling it was time for the guests to leave. He had said all he could and believed he had made himself clear.

Carissa understood that perhaps Clifford had once harbored feelings for Gerald. But Gerald, pressured by the responsibility to continue his family line, married and had children, perhaps breaking a promise he'd made to Clifford.

While Clifford was heartbroken, he continued to spend every day in Sigmund's company. The late king's exceptional appearance was undeniable, evident even in the features of his descendants like Salvador, Kendrick, and Rafael.

In his fragile state, Clifford eventually fell for Sigmund, crossing a line with the late king. So, was this the root of the resentment—unrequited love?

While the exact details remained unclear, one thing seemed certain: Clifford must have felt betrayed, affecting his loyalty to Sigmund. As a subject, he was bound to be loyal to his king. But when that loyalty became entangled with other emotions, it was no longer pure. He was no longer bound by the simple loyalty expected of a subject.

And with Nicholas having Clifford's support, it made sense why the former had never felt the need to reach out to the Spencer family. Of course, he might not have needed to yet, but would do so when the time came. It was likely because he understood that a life debt shouldn't be wasted, and had to be used at the right moment.

Carissa's end of the investigation was concluded, and Jacob had also gained a complete understanding of the river project situation.

Chapter 1336