An Understated Dominance Novel (Dahlia & Dustin) by Marina Vittori updated 2025-26 - An Understated Dominance Chapter 2480

Chapter 2480

Austin sat in his chair, silently watching the self-righteous remonstrators without offering a single response.

He sipped his tea leisurely, as if their accusations meant nothing to him.

His indifference made Adonis and the others frown.

Gradually, the voices of condemnation weakened.

They had spoken with great fervor, but their words fell on deaf ears. It felt like playing the lute to a cow.

“Are you finished?” Austin finally spoke as the noise died down. “If not, go on. Say as much as you need to satisfy yourselves.”

“Young Prince! We’re here to discuss serious matters with you. Your dismissive attitude is truly disappointing!” Adonis said, his voice heavy with disapproval.

“Serious matters?” Austin chuckled. “You can’t even distinguish right from wrong, yet you act with such arrogance, throwing around baseless accusations. To me, you’re no different from jesters.”

“You—you are being insolent!” Adonis’s face darkened with anger. “We were appointed by the prince as remonstrators! We have the authority to challenge injustice! Yet you abuse your power and persecute loyal officials. This is both unlawful and unjust. We must protest!”

“That’s right! We demand justice for Cardinal Dragon Marshal!” the others echoed.

“Protest? Justice?”

Austin suddenly laughed, as if he’d just heard the most ridiculous joke.

“What are you laughing at?” Adonis asked, his expression grim.

“I’m laughing at your ignorance, your foolishness, and your self-righteousness!” Austin’s laughter vanished, replaced by an icy glare. “What makes you so sure Cardinal Dragon Marshal is innocent? What proof do you have that he was wrongly convicted? You haven’t even uncovered the truth, yet you blindly defend him and try to whitewash his crimes. Should I call you naive or complicit?”

“We only see that you’ve thrown the city into chaos, spread fear among the people, and used your power to suppress others. Nothing more!” Adonis shot back.

“Oh? Then today, I’ll make sure you see the truth clearly.”

Austin gestured with his hand. “Manuel! Bring the evidence. Let these so-called defenders of justice see who the real villain is.”

“Yes, sir.”

Manuel stepped forward and placed stacks of documents on the table, each detailing Cardinal Dragon Marshal’s crimes.

The evidence was overwhelming—this wasn’t just a case of corruption or bribery. It was ruthless disregard for human life.

Hundreds of direct victims. Countless more indirectly affected.

Just glancing at the records made the ministers’ scalps tingle.

They were no saints themselves, but what they saw here was beyond anything they had imagined.

It was pure, unrestrained evil.

If these crimes were real, then by defending Cardinal Dragon Marshal, weren’t they aiding a tyrant?

“What do you have to say now?” Austin’s voice was cold and sharp.

The ministers exchanged uneasy glances.

If Cardinal Dragon Marshal had truly committed such atrocities, even the bravest among them wouldn’t dare plead for him.

“No! Impossible!” Adonis’s face was pale, but he refused to back down. “Where did you get this so-called evidence? How could a dignified Cardinal Dragon Marshal—a loyal and courageous hero—commit such heinous acts? This must be a setup!”

Many nodded in agreement.

To them, Cardinal Dragon Marshal had spent his life fighting for his country. He was a national hero.

That he might have made mistakes in the heat of battle was understandable.

But cold-blooded murder? It was hard to believe.

Perhaps this was the work of a hostile foreign force, trying to sow division within West Lucozia.

“Adonis!” Austin’s voice dropped to an icy chill. “The evidence is right in front of you, yet you still refuse to see the truth. Are you covering for him? Are you involved in something sinister yourself?”

His patience had run out.

He had held back, respecting Adonis’s status as an elder.

But if Adonis insisted on pushing his luck, Austin would have no reason to hold back any longer.