Chapter 130

Proofreader: somnium

Marchioness Camellia hesitated. She knew that a slight gap could make Grand Duke Roygar even more offended. But sometimes these days, Marchioness Camellia did not have complete control over her expression.

Because her fatigue has accumulated. And she seldom had a chance to get a sense of victory to blow it away, unlike before.

Still, she was Grand Duke Roygar’s most important counselor.

However, there were more cases of disagreement with Grand Duke Roygar than before.

In particular, there were many times when she felt anxious and uneasy about what Grand Duke Roygar was doing, like this one.

It was not clear why she felt that way, so she did not persuade Grand Duke Roygar.

So in the end, she was forced to say something like this with an embarrassing laugh.

“You speak as if I were working for Grand Duchess Evron, Your Grace.”

It was more problematic because that kind of feeling was usually felt when Artizea was entangled.

There were times when Marchioness Camellia herself thought that she was overly sensitive to Artizea issues.

However, Artizea’s reaction was not always clear.

Her own daughter, Skyla, is also bright and calm for her age. However, Artizea’s demeanor is incomprehensibly calm and cool.

Marchioness Camellia used to look back on herself twenty years ago.

At an early age, she herself won the recognition of Marquis Luden.

The Empress? She was a key figure in the rise of Gregor to the throne.

But she thinks that both of them, herself and the Empress, are far inferior to the present Artizea.

Just like this time too.

There was no sign that Artizea had intervened. Everything could have happened by chance.

The necromancer who taught Miraila was a famous socialite last winter. Even Skyla had attended that person’s seance.

It is no wonder that there is a history book written in ancient language at the Rosan mansion. Even if you are not an old book collector, it is natural for a noble family with a long history to have a few old books in their library.

It was not too strange that there was a book in which only the words of the curse were selected and copied.

There were not many nobles who learned ancient languages through culture. They usually give up at the beginning. However, selecting and copying the sentences that interest them are what many do.

Even before Miraila, the Marquisate Rosan was not such a peaceful and good family. It was not strange even if there was a person in the family who had collected at least one curse word.

It was also well known that Miraila was a mentally unstable person. She was someone more than enough to curse the Empress when she got angry.

And the recent situation was enough to drive Miraila crazy.

There is no surprise about human sacrifice. She already had a criminal record of annihilating the Marquisate Rosan family.

The other party was a child who had been sold because of poverty. Not only Miraila, but most nobles would only consider the child as a stray dog.

But, nevertheless, Marchioness Camellia was not convinced.

Did something like this happen purely by chance in an imperial political world, where conspiracies were constantly swirling around?

To Marchioness Camellia, it felt like the probability of throwing three beans and accidentally getting an equilateral triangle.

Sooner or later Miraila will be doomed. Lawrence also struggled to challenge for the throne.

Such things never happen by chance.

But neither Grand Duke Roygar nor she conspired.

She didn’t even think that the Empress would have done it. This is not the way the Empress organizes things.

Grand Duke Roygar throw a soft voice to Marchioness Camelia, who was lost in her thoughts.

“I understand, knowing that you cared about Grand Duchess Evron and put a lot of effort into her. But I think you overestimated her, sister-in-law.”

“Your Grace.”

“Aren’t there times when things like fame and power have a current trend, and you can’t overcome them with your own strength alone?”

“Yes…….”

“Even sister-in-law could not have guessed that she would be arrested in this way. It’s too bad for the Grand Duchess.”

“Grand Duke Evron will not divorce her over this.”

“Cedric is not like that. So it’s a good thing.”

“What do you mean, good thing?”

“That guy is far from politics or scheming. Wouldn’t it be better for us if the Grand Duchess that was going to manage it in his place loses her power?”

When Grand Duke Roygar asked if it wasn’t so, Marchioness Camellia had no choice but to agree.

But the sadness in her heart didn’t go away, so she came back and called Skyla.

“Did you have any acquaintances with Lady Hazel of Belmond?”

“Yes, mother. This time, I became a little acquainted with her while preparing for Her Majesty’s birthday party.”

“I would like you to approach Lady Hazel. How did she get the idea to follow Dowager Marchioness Rosan?”

“I had bought the information from the maid when I found out that the daughter of the Belmond newspaper went to find out about the necromancer. I thought mother would know. There was a very detailed article.”

“Yes. But somehow I think there is more to it than that.”

Skyla opened her mouth for a moment, then closed it again. And she asked

“Does uncle think so too?”

Then Marchioness Camellia had a conflicted face.

“It’s just that I have some doubts. In fact, it feels kind of strange that Viscounty Pescher is back.”

“Feels strange?”

“It’s not easy for a descendant, from a family that everyone thought to be extinct, to appear?”

Marchioness Camellia let out a sigh.

“It is even more so if the family was responsible for the death of the prince and princess just 18 years ago and the couple committed suicide. They also dramatically debuted at the Empress’ birthday party, didn’t they?”

“Yes.”

“It was buried because of the incident of the Dowager Marchioness Rosan. Like……. Knowing that it would happen and releasing Viscounty Pescher at the same time.”

“Are you thinking too much? I think mother is a little sensitive these days.”

“I wish I did. But isn’t it too surprising to even call it a coincidence?”

Skyla didn’t answer.

“Or maybe she predicted this would happen and she put Viscounty Perscher in line with it…….”

“Mother.”

“It could be a coincidence. But if even one of these is not a coincidence, but someone planned it, it is too dangerous not to know such a person. It’s better to be careful and nothing happened, so you can’t get hit without prior knowledge.”

Skyla thought for a moment. And she said in a cautious manner.

“If such an eminence grise really existed, what would mother do?”

“We’ll have to figure out a way to deal with it. Make sure you know their purpose.”

Marchioness Camellia looked at Skyla.

“I don’t know if she is working for the Empress or if she has some other purpose… … .”

It was difficult for her to know for sure whether Marchioness Camellia was suspicious of Artizea or not.

So Skyla thought about it a bit.

“But aren’t you and uncle the only one who benefits from this? Who would plot such a conspiracy? It’s probably not what Her Majesty the Empress would do for Viscounty Pescher.”

The Empress openly exposed Viscount Pescher to all attention in her birthday celebration. She does not hide who she was holding in her arms.

So, conversely, it was not logical to also secretly plot to hide Viscounty Pescher from the public eye.

Marchioness Camellia agreed.

“Yes. Her Majesty the Empress is not someone who hides herself and plans things secretly.”

“Will it be something that uncle did without mother’s knowledge?”

“It definitely isn’t.”

“Then maybe it was done by the temple.”

“That seems a little likely. Dowager Marchioness Rosan always attracts attention, so she must have been the best bait.”

“Maybe it was the work of Grand Duchess Evron.”

“She’s losing too much for that.”

Marchioness Camellia was silent. So Skyla turned her back in an awkward mood.

Marchioness Camellia said.

“Yes. That’s why I don’t know either.”

Skyla was guessing more about this matter than Marchioness Camellia. But she decided not to say it all.

It was because she could not abandon the thought that Marchioness Camellia was moving for Grand Duke Roygar.

But it was not time yet to decide where to go next.

Skyla was almost certain that Artizea was in control of this.

If so, going to the temple could also be part of the plan.

Unless Artizea was defeated, it would be foolish for Skyla to give up on her and just remain under Grand Duke Roygar.

“I’ll talk to Lady Hazel and continue to find out what happened at the Empress’ Palace.”

She said just that.

***

The room given in the temple was a small monk’s room with only a bed and a small desk. The clothes they gave her to change into were also monk’s clothes made of rough hemp.

Hayley was not interested in luxury. But she couldn’t help but open her mouth to this treatment.

“Look, Priest, I didn’t come here to be treated lavishly, but at least I should be treated as a guest, right?”

“Because I’m just following orders… … .”

“I’m fine, Hayley. If you feel uncomfortable, you can go back.”

Artizea said so. Hayley, of course, couldn’t do so.

“I mean, Your Grace should not be treated like this.”

Hayley said, recalling a few warnings from Ansgar.

Artizea also thought it was abnormal.

Whether she is a noblewoman or Grand Duchess Evron is a secondary matter.

She gave an enormous amount of offerings that she has poured out so far. Besides, she was in a kind of partnership with the temple because she was in the Western Rebirth project.

As such, it is strange to be treated like this.

Laying down on a squeaky, straw mat in itself was not a big deal for Artizea herself.

No matter how bad the bed, it is heaven compared to falling asleep on chains and fainting. Even the rough clothes themselves were nothing special.

But Artizea did not expect to come and be treated by the temple like this. That was the problem.

While she didn’t appear to be too generous on the outside, she thought that on the inside she would be treated appropriately as a large donor.

But when she came here, it was strange from the attitude of Bishop Akim. It was illogically aggressive.

‘Bishop Akim must be a person who can speak well enough.’

Artizea saw him as a person like herself. It’s not that he doesn’t have faith. But he wasn’t the kind of person who wouldn’t go back and forth because of doctrine or piety.

Unlike the accommodation and clothes, the dinner was quite luxurious. Artizea was sure then.

It must have been that the forces were divided and fighting within the temple.