Chapter 4

Carlos didn't give up.

A few days later, at a royal banquet celebrating a neighboring prince's visit, he found his chance to strike back.

The event drew nearly every notable noble.

When I entered the banquet hall beside Vincent, all eyes turned to us.

A once-dazzling heiress now married to a cripple.

It was the juiciest gossip in high society.

Carlos held court, surrounded by young nobles, talking confidently.

When he saw us, a vicious glint flashed in his eyes.

Isabella wasn't there, banned by the duke's order.

But Carlos already had a new companion, the finance minister's daughter.

Halfway through the banquet, the minister's daughter let out a piercing scream. "My necklace! My Ocean Heart is gone!"

The necklace, a priceless royal gift to the minister, was invaluable.

The hall erupted in chaos.

Guards sealed every exit and began searching.

Vincent and I were about to slip away to the balcony for some air.

Carlos, flanked by guards, blocked our path. "Why the rush to leave?"

He smirked, his smile cold. "Got something to hide?"

I frowned. "Carlos, what are you implying?"

"Nothing much." He shrugged. "This is serious. Everyone's a suspect. To prove your innocence, everyone should cooperate with the search, right?"

His gaze lingered pointedly on my small handbag.

I understood.

This was a trap aimed at me.

"Fine." I handed over my bag calmly. "Go ahead."

A guard took it and emptied its contents in front of everyone.

Lipstick, a mirror, a handkerchief-ordinary women's items.

Carlos's smile faltered.

Unconvinced, he signaled the guard.

The guard began patting down my dress pockets.

My simple evening gown had none.

"Nothing," the guard reported, shaking his head.

Carlos's face grew darker.

"How's that possible?" he muttered.

Suddenly, the minister's daughter pointed at Vincent and shrieked. "It's on him! I saw Aria slip the necklace into his wheelchair!"

All eyes snapped to Vincent's wheelchair.

A triumphant gleam sparked in Carlos's eyes.

Their real target had always been Vincent.

They wanted to humiliate not just me, but my husband.

"Vincent, looks like we need to check your wheelchair," Carlos said with mock concern.

Vincent's face remained expressionless.

He glanced at the shouting girl, then turned to me. "Push me over."

I wheeled him through the crowd to the center of the hall.

Two guards began roughly searching his wheelchair.

They lifted the blanket over his legs, checking every crevice.

The guests formed a circle, whispering and pointing.

"Pathetic, a cripple being searched like a thief."

"He married Aria. Of course Carlos wouldn't let that slide."

"The duke's family is utterly disgraced now."

My hands gripped the wheelchair handles, knuckles whitening with force.

I hadn't expected Carlos to stoop to such vile tactics against Vincent.

"Found it!" A guard shouted, pulling a sparkling sapphire necklace from a hidden pocket under the wheelchair's cushion.

It was the Ocean Heart.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

The minister's daughter rushed forward, snatching the necklace and crying out. "That's it! My necklace!"

She spun, pointing at us angrily. "You thieving couple! How dare you steal from me!"

Carlos grinned victoriously.

He stepped forward, looking down at Vincent in his wheelchair. "I'm ashamed of you. I never thought you'd sink so low as to make your wife steal."

He shook his head, feigning sorrow. "Caught red-handed. What do you have to say?"

"Guards!" he waved grandly. "Arrest them and hand them to the royal guard!"

Several guards advanced like wolves.

I stepped in front of Vincent instinctively.

"Who dares touch us!" I snapped.

"Aria, still protecting him?" Carlos sneered. "Don't forget, you're an accomplice."

My body shook with rage.

I didn't care what they thought of me, but I couldn't stand them humiliating Vincent.

At that critical moment, Vincent gently tugged my hand. "Don't worry."

His voice was soft but carried a calming strength.

He looked up, his steady gaze sweeping the room before settling on the minister's daughter's flustered maid.

"You put it there." His tone was certain, not a question.

The maid's face went pale, her eyes darting away, unable to meet his.

"You're... you're lying! I don't know what you're talking about!" she stammered.

"Really?" Vincent smiled faintly. "The inside of your left sleeve should have some gray-black down feathers stuck to it. Those feathers are from a custom shock-absorbing material made for my wheelchair by royal artisans ten years ago. It's one of a kind. Only my wheelchair uses it in this world."

The maid instinctively moved to hide her hand.

Too late.

Every eye turned to her sleeve.

Carlos's face shifted, and he snapped. "Nonsense! You'd frame an innocent maid to save yourself?"

"Guilty or not, a check will tell." A cold voice came from the edge of the crowd.

The neighboring prince, escorted by guards, stepped forward.

His sharp gaze swept the room, landing on Carlos. "Causing a scene at my welcome banquet, Carlos. Doesn't your duke's family owe me an explanation?"