– Click, creeeeeak..

A wall of the Cardinal’s reception room opened at that moment.

“Sounds like a ruckus.” One side of the bookshelf opened and Frédérique Riester appeared. The bookshelf was a secret passage that only the Empress and the Prince Consort had been allowed to use.

Aurélie’s eyebrows relaxed and she stood up. Élisabeth quickly wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood at attention.

The Empress motioned to the child who was like her own daughter. “You keep eating. I can’t look Caroline in the face these days because you have lost so much weight.”

“Yes, your Majesty.” The Vice Captain of the Imperial Guard received the order and sat down.

Frédérique stared at the half unconscious attendant. Her blood-colored eyes showed not an ounce of compassion.

Jeanette sporadically convulsed while breathing heavily. The pain had decreased quite a bit because of the Cardinal’s Divine Power. However, her body was still not listening because of the fear and shock, and she could not even twitch a finger despite being in front of her stern liege. She couldn’t even greet the Empress as it was difficult to open her mouth.

“Sob, ugh……!”

“Is she the one?”

“Yeah. Laura and the other attendants were all clean.”

They had all lost the memories of meeting with the Cardinal. Aurélie’s method was simple. First, she calls an attendant to see her for trivial reasons. The ones to be summoned were restricted to individuals who had contact with Simon de Sarnez in the past ten months. Once the person in question enters her reception room, open her circle and pressure them. The ether would react if they lie and nothing would happen if they tell the truth. If it was the latter, she would use a Divine Oracle to erase their memory of being interrogated. That way, no weird rumors would spread throughout the Imperial Palace.

“Good job.”

The Cardinal had been supporting the Empress like this for a long time. Frédérique caressed her back once as she asked.

“Is it brainwashing then?”

“Yeah. It wasn’t a Cardinal but an extremely strong Archbishop.”

“You should be able to undo it then.”

“This child might lose her mind before that happens. Like the Imperial Guard member from last time.” Aurélie looked up at her soulmate as she answered.

The Imperial Guard member she was talking about was one of the people who had been sent to the Bellang Barony with the Captain of the Imperial Guard. He had returned to the Imperial Palace in critical condition and proclaimed that Johann Geens had brutally attacked the Imperial Guard at Jesse Venetiaan’s orders. It was hard to believe that he would dare to lie in front of his Empress. However, the Empress had felt like something was off.

‘Aurélie, you meet with that surviving Imperial Guard member.’

As a result, she requested her partner to look into his soul.

‘……Aaaaaaah! Ugh! It hurts! Aaah!’

‘Mmm.’

However…

‘Oo…….! Ugh. Ahaha. Hahahaha!’

– Bang, clang!

The results had been miserable. The patient was unable to handle the Cardinal’s strong Divine Power and went crazy. His soul, which had already gone through an intense brainwashing, was as fragile as a glass bottle after being in critical condition. The Cardinal forcing the lid open made it break. His plate had weakened because of his dying body. She had been unable to gather any information from him. Well, other than the fact that someone had controlled his mind.

“This one looks healthy, so she should be able to handle it.”

“That is my hope as well.”

Aurélie smiled. A Cardinal was naturally stronger than an Archbishop, and she was one of the high-ranking Cardinals. Logically, she should be able to easily deactivate an Archbishop’s incantation. However, brainwashing using Divine Oracle had many variables. The victim’s age, health, mental fortitude, relationship with the priest……

‘My Divine Oracle is very strong. It isn’t very hard for me to completely cleanse the minds of children who have lived their whole lives being brainwashed.’

The Cardinal suddenly recalled the story she had told the prince last spring. The two of them had not been teacher and student at that time. Aurélie had successfully undone the brainwashing on the twins who had attempted to kill the prince. It was only a Bishop level priest who had controlled the two Clergy level Holy Knights and the thirteen year old boys had clear plates and strong bodies. They were at an age where it was easy to brainwash them but also easy to remove it. That was why it had not been difficult.

On the other hand, this girl……

[Let’s try hard, Jeanette. It all depends on your mindset.]

“Sob……”

[You can be free if you handle the pain well. Everything in front of your eyes will be clearer.]

Frédérique was ruthless even to criminals who had been controlled, but Aurélie pitied them.

‘Tsk.’ The Empress clicked her tongue from behind. She didn’t like being nice to someone who would pay for their sins anyway.

A Divine Oracle as gentle as a lullaby filled the room.

[Rest a bit. See you later.]

“Your Eminence……”

The woman called out to the Cardinal in a voice that sounded as if it would cut off at any moment and closed her eyes. Her weak breathing continued. Natalie, who had silently been standing there, put a blanket over Jeanette. Aurélie looked toward the Empress.

“What happened with the Imperial Capital Garrison?”

“As we expected. All of the soldiers who volunteered to look for the Prince and his people were trained in Sarnez.”

“The Captain resides in the Imperial Capital and receives reports from the Vice Captain but only the Vice Captain has met with Archbishop Eugénie Kessié, your Majesty. Based on my investigation, the Vice Captain is a member of the Imperial Capital’s Central Temple. Kessié has come up from her Archdiocese to the Imperial Capital since some time ago.” The young Countess put down her black tea as she reported.

“I see. The Vice Captain was the problem.”

“I have also confirmed that Kessié visited the Sarnez Lord’s Castle.”

The Cardinal nodded her head. A distinguished Archbishop like Kessié staying in the Imperial Capital was not anything special. She was one of the priests who gave her life to the central faction. She frequented the estates of the Pair de Riester and was known for lobbying for different things. Basically, she was a power-focused religious figure who cared more about going to social clubs than religious meetings.

But she had been quiet at the last Annual Prayer Meeting. She had never shown any actions of going against Prince Jesse in front of the Imperial family.

Frédérique grumbled. “Eugénie Kessié. She acts like a wise woman on the outside, but how many actually believe that?”

“I would say a surprising number of people.” Aurélie smiled bitterly as she answered. However, they should be able to get the truth if they release Jeanette’s soul from its chains. She then asked, “What about Duchess Blanquer?”

“She is in Strauder Palace. Her daughter and the witness are with her as well. She has yet to hold a funeral for her son.”

“It’s been a while since members of that family have resided in the Imperial Palace.”

The Empress snorted. The two of them could joke like this about Alexandre now.

“Has little Bacary woken up?”

“Not yet, your Eminence,” Natalie politely answered. It had already been eight days since the seer had lost consciousness. His mana interphase was quite long.

“Fire and explosion, sword and blood…… Maybe his body is unable to handle such a dreadful prophecy.”

“Reality was even worse, Aurélie. The Imperial instructor killed thirty people.”

“Do you think the prince saw it?” The Cardinal whispered. Élisabeth moved her fork as she thought to herself. She thought that the Cardinal was no joke, worrying about the Prince’s feelings when she was being told that people died.

“Hmph. Johann Geens is not someone who would show the prince such a thing,” The Empress sharply answered. The mercenary was like a white fox. Frédérique had long been aware of the fact that the Holy Knight who swore loyalty to her had offered his soul to the prince. He himself had proclaimed it to her as well.

‘I will live for you, your Majesty, but I will die for his highness.’

The Empress’s sword and the Prince’s bow.

“You don’t need to worry about them.”

The ruler instantly changed topics. Her cherry-colored eyes turned sharp. The Vice Captain of the Imperial Guard quickly sat up straight.

“I have gathered a portion of the Knights Brigade in my territory.”

“……”

A heavy silence filled the reception room.

The Imperial Guard, the Imperial Capital Garrison, and the Imperial soldiers were not the only troops under the Empress’s command. The land that she had inherited, the territory of her family, naturally had lots of knights. There was also a large group of elite soldiers who moved in secret to complete missions.

The young Countess gulped. Her aide, whom she had sent to the March, had returned yesterday without being seen by anyone. She had reported the following to these two elders.

‘Apparently his highness and the Marquis left a long time ago for the Imperial Capital. Only young ladies Antoinette and Thérèse were at the Lord’s Castle. Two attendants, including young master Callamard, as well as Baron Bellang’s family are safely within the castle. The territory is sealed off with the security being extremely tight and the Knights Brigade being ready for war.’

She was relieved to hear that Ganael was fine, but she could not let her guard down.

Even her Majesty would have no choice if the Imperial Capital Garrison and the March’s Knights Brigade ended up fighting. Her friends needed to safely get to the Imperial Palace before that could happen. They needed to get here tomorrow at the latest. If not……

“It will soon be decided. Which branch I will need to cut off.”

The Empress calmly commented. The Cardinal gently rubbed the Empress’s hand that was over her sword.

*

We cleaned off with water Christelle made for us, changed into clothes on the ship that fit us best, and gathered in one room to sleep in order to keep the heating the most efficient. We thankfully had enough blankets. Maria did her best to take care of her ailing eldest brother while Captain Hervé helped Isabelle with the mast. Ellen and Sir Johann took turns with them as well.

The morning of the 27th arrived like that. The pirate ship was rowdy.

– Chh!

“Please look at this. It’s the same. This is all my father’s doing.” Christelle placed two pamphlets on the floor of the Captain’s room as she spoke solemnly.

We were eating fresh seafood, potatoes, sweet potatoes and other food cooked with the Imperial Crown Prince’s flame. The seafood was delivered by Tithé while the red panda organic farm provided the rest. Christelle put some salt, pepper, and chili flakes on them, which made them all tasty. I was happily eating a grilled sea bream that melted in my mouth.

The Holy Domain that surrounded three Holy Knights fluctuated. This truly was amazing. ‘The meat comes right off.’

“Your highness.”

‘Oh wait. Hey! Focus!’

“You are right. This is the pamphlet Lady Sarnez found in the Sarnez Lord’s Castle……” I quickly answered. The punk of a crown prince was looking at me as if I was stupid.

“This is the one from Claire Plaza.”

“Yes, your Royal Highness.”

I took a bite of the fish as I attentively looked at the text underneath the crown prince’s hand. The content was so dramatic. I couldn’t help but scowl.

“……This is slander, your Royal Highness. Baron Bellang and his wife are saving and helping refugees from the Holy Kingdom that come down the Unité River. Some of them are child soldiers, but all of them are in such terrible health that they can barely even lift a spoon. The reason the orphanage is so big is to accept all of them.”

Christelle and Isabelle were shocked to hear that. The crown prince tilted his head.

“You saw it yourself, your Royal Highness. Forget hiring soldiers from the Holy Kingdom, the Barony doesn’t even have enough money to get a set of new clothes for the young Baroness.”

“……”

“As for the second thing, that’s so scary. Are you okay, your Royal Highness? Were you hurt anywhere?”

‘Prince Jesse Venetiaan schemed a terrorist incident against the Imperial family!’

I quickly turned my head while reading the second thing that was written extremely large. Captain Hervé did tell me that he and Vice Captain Élisabeth were both safe. But that was that and I needed to personally ask to make sure he was fine. The crown prince scowled.

“Is that all?”

“That is the most important thing, your Royal Highness.”

“You are being framed by the Pair de Riester of the Empire. But you don’t seem to care about yourself at all.”

It sounded as if he was scolding me. ‘Well, that…… It’s not that big of a deal?’

“Her Eminence is there and her Majesty is not that easy to fool, and…… Most importantly, all of you came so far for me.”

I felt a bit awkward after saying that. But I’d always been this kind of person. I never paid much attention to being cursed at or any misunderstandings with people I didn’t know. What mattered to me were the people who were always by my side. My precious family and my few friends. The cat family that roamed around the flower bed of my workplace that I greeted every morning. The old security guard who liked the small yellow yogurt. I wanted to be a decent person at least to them. That feeling was the same right now.

“It is enough for me that all of you trust me.”

I smiled and added on. It was true that there were some extremely scary times that made me cry. I knew that I could be killed or kicked out because of this incident. But I had friends who would help and support me to make sure that does not happen. I trusted that things would go well if I tried my best and I had help from those around me. It may make me sound complacent, but I didn’t want to give up such a mindset.

“……How frustrating.”

The crown prince brushed back his hair as he spoke, almost in a sigh. ‘Why are you like that when we are eating such a delicious meal?’

“We need to reach the Imperial Palace by the 28th.”

He nonchalantly commented.

“Excuse me?

“Her Majesty gave the Duhem March a week. Does that finally make you more serious?” He acted as if he was the only one who was serious. The divine beasts and I dropped our jaws in shock. The group who had been listening all gasped as well.

“Holy Almighty God.”

Marquis François placed the back of his hand over his forehead as he gasped. Rumble, slam! Captain Hervé and Maria jumped up and headed out to the deck. Isabelle urgently asked Sir Johann a question.

“Sir, what day is it today?”

“The 27th.”

“Come on! Why would you not say something that important until now?! Err… your Royal Highness.”

– Kiiiiiii!

– Aarf!

– Pipo!

Christelle and the little troublemakers all got upset. ‘My thoughts exactly!’

“I didn’t think anything would change by telling you in advance.”

The punk maintained his unnecessarily handsome angle as he retorted. It sure was a talent to annoy us despite speaking the truth.

—
Translator’s Comments

I mean… #butishewrong?

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