She leans back. “So Geoffroy nearly wrecked Ozzi’s smuggling route without even realizing it.”
“Correct.”
I want to accept it. It really does sound like my half brother wasn’t a traitor. But doubt lingers like a bad taste.
“All circumstantial,” I point out.
Von Dietz meets my stare. “We have harder evidence, too. We combed through the duc’s and his son’s accounts. Lavish spending, yes. But no unexplained transfers. No ties to Ozzi’s network.”
“He could’ve been paid cash,” I argue.
“Unlikely,” Von Dietz retorts. “The duc never used cash for anything. His patterns stayed consistent. Nothing suggests secret income.”
“That’s good,” I say. “Anything beyond the financial review?”
Von Dietz nods. “The circle of access. From past incidents including the attempt on the crown prince, we know Ozzi’s mole must be in the royals’ inner circle, or at least close enough to touch it.”
Eva’s voice is low but firm. “Geoffroy never had that kind of access. The royals put up with him when they had to, but they never liked him.”
“Exactly,” Von Dietz says. “He wasn’t in a position to trade state secrets. He wasn’t privy to them.”
Eva’s shoulders ease and mine do, too.
For the first time in this briefing, the weight lifts. The Castellane name is safe. For me, it’s a marginal victory. I’m a math professor at the University of Pombrio. My academic output matters more than my family name. But for Millie, Rohinn’s duchess, and for Eva, it means everything.
30
ALEX
Von Dietz doesn’t bother with his papers anymore.
His gaze fixes on Eva, then shifts to me. “The reason I asked about Her Grace’s opposition to the resort project is because it matters to our working theory.”
My eyes narrow. “Which is?”
“Kurt Ozzi knew of it,” he says. “And it served his interests for Her Grace’s stance to prevail, because it preserved his tunnel.”
Eva’s lips part, then press together.
I lean in. “You’re suggesting Ozzi wanted Geoffroy out of the way so that Eva… I mean, Her Grace, would be in charge?”
Von Dietz folds his hands. “Consider the sequence. While His Grace was still discussing his resort project, Ozzi could afford to wait.” He turns to Eva. “Your husband’s spending was already dragging the estate toward collapse, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” she says quietly.
“Ozzi hoped,” Von Dietz continues, “the estate would fall into his hands, either through his associate who was the duc’s co-investor and through one of his shell companies. That would secure the tunnel.”
Eva clutches the strap of her handbag. “But when Geoffroy applied for blasting permits, he became an immediate risk. Ozzi could no longer afford to be patient.”
“Correct. Your husband’s push forced Ozzi’s hand.”
I peer at him. “So, he ordered the hit on Geoffroy.”
“Yes, and on Julian,” Von Dietz says. “The sniper’s priorities were to eliminate Princess Felicia, the duke, and his heir.”
Eva’s breath hitches.
Von Dietz’s gaze shifts to her. “Ozzi expected Lady Millicent to inherit the estate. You, as her legal guardian, would run it in her stead.”
