As night fell, Howard pretended to leave but stealthily sneaked back into the castle, catching a perpetrator red-handed!
The cloaked figure, recognized by Howard, was a military officer from the Habsburg family, brought by Nora after the conquest of the imperial capital.
The link became clearer when Howard recalled that the open space on the second floor of the castle was arranged under Nora's suggestion to Alonso.
The evidence was almost unmistakable.
Although Howard was still unsure of Nora's motives for harming Alonso, it was evident that the culprit was not getting away.
Waiting until deep into the night, Howard quietly approached Alonso's room.
He hid in the room next door, closed the door softly, and pressed his ear against the wall to listen to the sounds from Alonso's room.
Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor – the distinct clicks of high heels and the thuds of leather boots.
