Chapter 7.05

Whether the assassin’s skills were good or not, the crown prince had been unable to wake up for several days.

During that time, I smiled brightly while looking at the response from Shangele.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Oh, because something interesting seems about to happen.”

“What?”

“Melina is finally starting to move.”

The rumors must have spread as much as they could. It was a natural result.

As I smiled while watching Rubellian insert his cravat pin, he opened his mouth.

“Today I’ll suggest to the emperor that we call the saint to treat the crown prince.”

“Oh dear, the House of Colica will make a fuss.”

“Since the crown prince has shown no signs of waking up for several days, they’ll have no choice either. And—”

“And?”

“I’ll take this opportunity to gradually give hints to the House of Colica about the relationship between the saint and the crown prince.”

“Ah.”

I let out a faint exclamation.

“The crown prince went with holy water to save the saint who was in danger. Hearing this, the House of Colica will try to find the crown prince’s ears in the temple and question the truth of it.”

“Then they’ll find out that the crown prince was trying to win Rachel’s favor.”

Ah, wait a minute. I tilted my head and rolled my eyes around.

“Rubellian, if that happens, won’t they also find out that I solved the Acedium antidote?”

“It’s fine. To keep you from getting involved, I’ll bribe one of those in the temple—”

“Hmm, don’t do that and just reveal it.”

“Eve?”

“I think it would be okay to reveal that I found the solution to Acedium.”

I smiled broadly as I spoke to Rubellian. At this, Rubellian narrowed his brow and stared at me.

“Eve, if that happens, you’ll be in danger.”

“It might actually be more advantageous for me. Especially since Melina has heard the rumors.”

I smiled meaningfully. He looked at me with a face that seemed to understand but not quite, then eventually sighed deeply and nodded.

“Fine.”

“Huh? I thought you’d oppose more strongly. You agreed surprisingly readily?”

“Since you say you’ll go through with it, I won’t stand in your way.”

With that, Rubellian kissed my forehead.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Have a safe trip.”

I waved at Rubellian with a smile, and before long, I visited the temple.

* * *

“Eve, you came?”

“Are you feeling well?”

“Yes. Thanks to you.”

Rachel seemed to look much better than expected. At such a smile from her, I sat on the sofa with a relieved expression.

Perhaps she had just finished a ceremony, as she was still in ceremonial dress.

“You must be very busy these days because of the Holy Spirit Festival, right? Moreover, you need to store up holy power for the fireworks ceremony.”

At my worried voice, Rachel nodded lightly.

“But today ended a bit early, so it was okay. However, lately I have some concerns in other areas… Strange rumors have been circulating recently.”

“Strange rumors?”

“Rumors that I was poisoned. The temple hasn’t announced it yet, but somehow it leaked out…”

“……”

Saying so, Rachel blinked her eyes.

At this, my conscience stabbed me terribly. I tried to accept her gaze as nonchalantly as possible and opened my mouth.

“I see. I don’t know which despicable person spread it, but they truly deserve divine punishment. Ugh! May they step on a banana peel and fall while passing by!”

“That would hurt.”

“No, someone with such a wicked heart as to spread such rumors, that much is nothing.”

“Instead of that, shall we say they get constipation?”

“Then get hemorrhoids!”

I shouted unconsciously in an agitated voice.

At Rachel’s face, which was staring at me with a gentle smile as if she knew everything, I eventually hung my head low.

“…I’m sorry…”

“It’s fine. It was a story that would spread someday.”

At my apology, Rachel answered with an elegant smile. As if a halo was shining behind her, I became caught up in even more intense pangs of conscience.

“I’m sorry. I was… trying to find the culprit.”

“Do you think it’s Lady Melina Barnes?”

“You heard that rumor too?”

“There are quite a few people writing love triangles with His Highness the Crown Prince, me, and Lady Melina Barnes as the main characters. If you combine the stories of people coming to the Holy Spirit Festival, you get an interesting novel.”

I’m amazingly possessed in that novel right now.

“But how did you know it was me?”

“I told you, didn’t I? That I have good intuition. At least I can tell whether the person in front of me is telling the truth or lying.”

Amazing. Wait, then you can’t know the crown prince’s inner thoughts?

I stared at Rachel, who was still speaking gently, with fascination, then realized this wasn’t the time and shook my head.

“Um, Rachel, I was too hasty and… I’m sorry. Even if I had ten mouths, I’d have nothing to say.”

“Oh my, I’m really fine.”

“I think I would be disappointed…”

I expressed both admiration for Rachel’s generous heart and doubt at the same time. Are you truly a heavenly saint?

At this, Rachel smiled bitterly.

“I told you, didn’t I? That I’m strong against others’ malice and I didn’t sense any malice from Eve.”

But… still, wouldn’t it be normal to get angry?

Rachel was righteous, kind, gentle, and did everything by herself—truly a perfect human being. She rarely got angry and calmly resolved any situation, the representative example of a crush.

Perhaps that’s why. Even in a situation where I would have definitely made a fuss, she was this calm.

“But Eve. I heard His Highness the Crown Prince was attacked… Do you perhaps know what happened?”

“I don’t really know either. It’s just that the assassin was the same one who attacked Rubel— ah, my husband last time…”

“I see.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

At my answer, Rachel looked at me meaningfully then shook her head.

That’s when it happened. Breaking through the silence that had fallen between Rachel and me, Alfred’s voice came along with a knock.

“There’s a message from the imperial family for the duchess.”

Alfred, who entered, immediately handed me a paper.

“Lady Lilith Bolton delivered it to me.”

“Hmm?”

Taking the summons from Alfred’s hand, I frowned and read it.

Duchess Evangeline Florence is summoned by imperial command.

At the briefly and concisely written text, Rachel spoke to me.

“Why is the imperial family calling for Eve…”

“I wonder.”

Could it be that the emperor also noticed that I detoxified the Acedium?

‘This somehow feels good?’

I smiled brightly while looking at the summons.

* * *

“You came, Duchess.”

I take back what I said about having good intuition.

Standing in the center of the grand audience hall and taking a bow, I made a sour face. Nobles were lined up on both sides, and the emperor sat on the highest platform looking down at me.

This is seriously stress-inducing. I grumbled internally.

“Raise your head.”

Following the emperor’s words, I slowly raised my head. Right now, I was alone receiving everyone’s gaze. Among them, I caught Rubellian’s worried look and smiled softly, but strangely, it was the noble next to him who blushed.

“There are two reasons I summoned you here today, Duchess. First, that you know the solution to Acedium.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“What is that solution?”

“Holy water, Your Majesty.”

I didn’t waste any more words and got straight to the point. As soon as I finished speaking, the audience hall began to buzz.

“Holy water…?”

“That is correct. Not ordinary holy water, but only holy water containing the saint’s holy power can lift the curse of Acedium.”

The emperor’s face hardened slightly.

Mankind shall surely perish by Acedium.

I smiled coldly, recalling the phrase written in every ancient text.

“Then, only the saint can detoxify Acedium.”

“Correct. Only the saint can make the curse of Acedium return to nothing.”

So what this meant was—if Rachel had evil intentions and released Acedium in the imperial palace, not only the imperial family but the entire empire could fall into an abyss.

Hmm, how terrifying.

I clicked my tongue internally and smiled.

The emperor’s face, realizing the gravity of the situation, was terribly frozen. Not only Duke and Duchess Colica, but the families led by them also seemed to have fallen into panic.

Among them, only Duke Colica, who had kept his wits about him, shouted loudly.

“How did Duchess Florence come to know that solution?”

“I…”

The possibility of getting through this by being evasive was close to zero, but I couldn’t spill everything either.

I smiled brightly at Duke Colica and continued.

“I learned it by chance, Your Grace.”

“So what was this chance? Until now, no one has found the solution to Acedium by ‘chance.'”

“Are you interrogating me now?”

“Don’t dodge the question. This is a serious—”

“Acedium is said to be God’s curse. One with no antidote in the world.”

I calmly interrupted Duke Colica’s words.

“If it’s God’s curse, then God should be able to lift it. If that’s the case, I merely speculated that the saint, who possesses the greatest power among existing holy powers, might be the solution.”

“With just that clue? Are you saying you experimented on the saint?”

“All antidotes were ineffective, and even the High Priest had given up. Moreover, it was the saint’s own holy water—what great problem could there be?”

A person was dying—what did that matter?

At my words, Duke Colica clicked his tongue.

“They say the ignorant are lucky.”

Despite Duke Colica’s sarcasm, I smiled brightly.

“I’ve always been lucky.”

Ho ho ho ho ho— I even added laughter at the end.

Then suddenly I noticed the emperor sitting on the platform. His hands were gripping the armrests of the throne tightly. So tightly that bulging veins looked ready to burst.

By now, he must have felt fear at Rachel’s power.

“If the solution to Acedium is the saint, then the power the saint possesses must truly be God’s power.”

“……”

“I understand. Still, it’s fortunate that you ‘accidentally’ found the solution, Duchess. Now when we go to the Land of Death at the southern tip, we can reduce unnecessary casualties.”

Though he was trying to speak casually, the emperor’s face was trembling.

Oh my, now it’s time to choose between the House of Colica and the temple.

I was secretly laughing at him when suddenly I heard Rubellian’s voice.

“Your Majesty. As my wife just reported, the saint’s power can even lift the curse of Acedium. I believe it would be proper to ask the saint to heal His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Duke, one thing—”

“Duke Colica, will you just watch His Highness the Crown Prince lying there like that?”

“…!”

“Moreover, His Highness and the saint are close enough that he personally visited her when she was ill. The saint would not ignore His Highness’s health either.”

Rubellian, you really have titanium alloy plated on your face. He’s my husband, but he’s truly scary at times like this.

I admired Rubellian, who was spouting nonsense with a straight face. I could see Duke Colica getting agitated, but it was useless.

Looking up at the emperor, he seemed lost in thought. If he had any brains, he would have guessed that Rubellian was behind the attack on the crown prince.

He’s probably wondering why he’s behaving like this, but since there’s nothing wrong with Rubellian’s words, that only makes it more unsettling. The crown prince had indeed been lying down for too long.

Eventually, I could see the emperor biting his lips hard. Soon, as silence fell over the audience hall, Marquess Barnes opened his mouth.

“However, Your Majesty, we cannot fully accept Duke Florence’s words.”

Ah, he just has to interrupt when the mood is good!

I whipped my head around to stare at Marquess Barnes. Though he claimed to be the House of Colica’s closest right hand, his brain was so lacking that he was only worth about a right thumb nail.

The father and daughter both act foolishly.

“It’s not even certain that His Highness visited the saint.”

“The High Priest will testify to it.”

“Even if that’s true, I don’t understand why Duke Florence is so desperately trying to bring the saint—someone they say is a demon who could destroy the empire—into the imperial palace.”

At Marquess Barnes’ harsh words, I gasped. Not a right thumb nail, but the dirt stuck between them.

“Marquess, watch your words.”

Even the emperor pointed out Marquess Barnes’ presumption. However, rather than being intimidated, Marquess Barnes raised his head even more boldly.

“Your Majesty. I speak because I have heard rumors about the House of Florence.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Duchess Florence is someone who spreads false rumors and muddies the waters of high society. The sinister rumors currently circulating in high society due to rumors from her mouth are truly horrifying.”

I raised an eyebrow. Feeling somewhat amused, I looked at him with interest, when Rubellian muttered in a low voice as if crawling up from hell.

“Marquess Barnes, watch your tongue.”

His voice was so ominous that not only Marquess Barnes but even I was startled. There was clear intent to cut off his tongue if necessary.

“Th-threatening me won’t help. Your Majesty, please allow me to reveal Duchess Florence’s misdeeds in this place.”

When the word “misdeeds” came from Marquess Barnes’ mouth, I stiffened and pressed my lips together. However, contrary to my outward expression, I couldn’t help but smile broadly inside.

A perfect catch!

Because he had reacted faster than expected.

However, I asked with the most composed face and trembling voice possible.

“Wh-what misdeeds have I committed?”

Actually, I was trembling from laughter, but perhaps judging it to be from fear, Marquess Barnes smiled triumphantly.

“As Your Majesty knows, my daughter has been fulfilling her duties as the future crown princess by His Highness the Crown Prince’s side. All the nobles here will testify to this.”

So this family’s duty as future crown princess is to poison the saint, I suppose.

I looked at Marquess Barnes with indifference. The preamble was too long and boring to listen to. Get to the point already— I was thinking internally when Marquess Barnes continued.

“However, recently in the capital, there have been unseemly rumors that my daughter tried to harm the saint, and according to testimony, those words first flowed from Duchess Florence.”

Suddenly, everyone in the hall inhaled simultaneously.

Is this synchronized choreography? I was amazed and laughing when he looked at Countess Alke and said.

“Isn’t that right, my lady?”

“Well…”

“For the honor of my daughter, who will become the future crown princess, please speak only the truth.”

Future crown princess. The implications contained in those words were enormous.

Sure enough, Countess Alke nodded with a trembling face.

“Yes, Duchess Florence said such things at the tea party. But—”

“Your Majesty, Countess Alke is someone who serves as a model for noble ladies. I believe Your Majesty can attest to the credibility of her testimony.”

Countess Alke looked at me with a troubled face, but I smiled at her instead.

When Marquess Barnes finished speaking, the emperor frowned. Though he was clearly thinking of using this opportunity to get rid of the House of Florence, his acting skills surpassed the crown prince’s.

Eventually, the emperor sighed and spoke.

“So, Marquess. Are you telling me not to listen to Duke Florence’s words because Duchess Florence spread such rumors?”

“No, Your Majesty. If it had only been rumors, I too would have merely harbored suspicions about the duchess’s character and would not have done this. However—while my daughter was investigating to prove her innocence, she discovered a crucial fact.”

“What is that?”

That I tried to poison the saint, I suppose.

“That Duchess Florence may have staged this whole thing herself.”

“Gasp.”

“How could this be!”

“What a disgrace to the nobility!”

The reactions were so good that in modern times, they would have been selected as employee of the month for playing tambourine next to the boss.

I burst into laughter and hung my head low. However, perhaps misinterpreting my action, Marquess Barnes wore a sneer.

“Your Majesty, please use this opportunity to reveal Duchess Florence’s crimes and clear my daughter’s injustice.”

Eventually, the emperor sighed and spoke as if reluctantly.

“Fine, let’s hear it. Lady Barnes will become part of the imperial family. It’s directly connected to the imperial family’s honor.”

“I am grateful, Your Majesty!”

“However, if the marquess is talking nonsense, I will make sure you pay the price dearly.”

That was the wisest thing the emperor could say in this situation.

Marquess Barnes, perhaps confident in his beliefs, smiled triumphantly.

“Then, Your Majesty. I humbly request that you summon witnesses to thoroughly expose Duchess Florence’s crimes, and also the saint.”

“Even the saint?”

The emperor looked somewhat unsure—and understandably so. What a disgrace it would be before the temple if something went wrong based solely on Marquess Barnes’ word.

However, he soon sided with Marquess Barnes.

“Bring the witnesses and the saint.”

While waiting for them to arrive, tension flowed through the audience hall.

During that time, I just stood there with my head down, expressionless. I didn’t want to ruin things by acting strangely.

How much time passed like that? The door burst open and familiar figures entered side by side.

“The saint. The High Priest came too.”

“I greet Your Majesty.”

“But who is that person behind Lady Barnes?”

I looked at Rachel, Alfred, and then Melina in turn, then smiled dryly at the middle-aged man standing behind Melina. His white chef’s uniform spoke for his identity.

“I greet Your Majesty. This person is a patissier from Shangele.”

“Shangele?”

She spoke boldly to the emperor as if she had grasped victory.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The rumors circulating were so detailed that I investigated all the dessert shops in the capital just in case.”

“Rumors…”

“The ridiculous false rumor that I put Acedium in cookies and sent them to harm the saint out of jealousy.”

“So that rumor came from Duchess Florence’s mouth?”

“That’s—”

“No, Your Majesty. I categorically state that I have never said such things.”

Just as Melina was nodding, I quickly interrupted her words.

Marquess Barnes’ face turned red and blue at my sudden interruption after being quiet until now. He pointed his finger and shouted loudly.

“Duchess, what are you saying! The witness is right here…”

“Marquess Barnes. Watch your finger.”

But before he could finish, Rubellian spoke coldly.

He’ll have to watch his tongue and finger soon. Thinking so, I spoke.

“It’s true that I mentioned at Countess Alke’s tea party that the saint had been harmed. However, I only said that someone had done such a thing out of jealousy toward the saint—I never specified the culprit.”

“That’s false…”

“Countess Alke, isn’t that right?”