Rosalie traced the map with her fingertips. The spot her gaze landed on was to the north of the capital’s outskirts, where Nine had hidden the proof of her corruption.
“We may be a little late, but it’s time to start moving.”
Their activities had been delayed due to the unexpected monster subjugation. However, they had obtained the map, and the knights who would explore the forest had just arrived at the mansion this morning.
Rosalie rolled up the map and looked at Toronto.
“We’ll begin the search under Sir Toronto’s command.”
The eastern forest wasn’t vast, so narrowing the search area shouldn’t take too long.
“If you encounter any suspicious individuals or places, retreat as instructed and prioritize reporting. Do not reveal your identities.”
“Yes, understood.”
Toronto and Whitney, who would be leading this expedition, replied firmly to Rosalie’s instructions.
“Your main mission is to locate the target’s whereabouts. After that, you’ll follow my lead. Sir Joey, please relay their reports to me.”
“Yes, understood.”
“We’ll head out immediately.”
Toronto and Whitney left the office first, Joey and the other members of the expedition nodding respectfully before following suit.
“May I come in?”
At the sound of a knock and Erudit’s voice, Rosalie granted permission. Then, he opened the door and entered.
“I need to discuss some adjustments to the contract.”
“Come in and have a seat.”
Rosalie invited Erudit to sit on the sofa. He placed the documents he was holding on the table and expressed his concerns.
“By the way, why did you call the knights separately?”
Reaching out to pick up a document, Rosalie hesitated for a moment and then decided to give him an explanation.
“We’re looking for the Empress’s secret hideout.”
“…A secret hideout?”
Rosalie had tried to mask it as a secret hideout, but the perceptive Erudit quickly understood that it was a location where dangerous things were stored. He could also easily deduce why Rosalie was searching for it.
“Is it because of His Highness?”
“Yes.”
“…Do you like him?”
Erudit asked cautiously. Rosalie didn’t reply, but her unusual embarrassment and blushing face were enough of an answer.
Trying to act as if he hadn’t noticed, Erudit lowered his gaze.
“That was an inappropriate question. I apologize.”
“No, it’s okay. I see you more as an ally than just an aide, so don’t think that way.”
She said it with him in mind, but Erudit couldn’t help but feel a bitter taste in his mouth. Rosalie, oblivious to his feelings, picked up the documents.
“So, what’s the matter for discussion?”
“Oh, that’s….”
Erudit suppressed his feelings and calmly explained the matter at hand while Rosalie focused on the documents.
⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰
Rosalie, who usually preferred simple dresses over extravagant attire, wore an even more modest dress today as she headed towards the carriage outside the mansion.
Today, the carriage was bound for the temple.
“The temple.”
There was a temple on the outskirts of the capital. In this world, there were many gods, but the most powerful of them all was the god who had created the world itself. Since the god who created the world was ‘God’ itself, no other qualifier was needed.
Many nobles and occasionally the Emperor himself visited the temple to pray.
‘Is all this really a joke from God?’
Rosalie recalled the hypothesis put forth by the magician. Lost in thought, she hardly noticed when the carriage stopped. As weapons weren’t allowed inside the temple, Rosalie handed over her ring and the dagger she had hidden in her dress to the temple guards.
‘There are imperial knights.’
Returning the ring, Rosalie absentmindedly relaxed and noticed the knights standing at the temple entrance. She stole a glance at them and then proceeded into the temple courtyard.
The excessively white temple invoked a sense of strangeness, but the enormous golden statue in the center of the courtyard, fashioned after the God who had created the world, exuded an indescribable sense of awe.
‘Where is Derivis?’
Rosalie wandered around the temple under the guise of sightseeing, searching for Derivis, whom she had arranged to meet there. Thus, she inadvertently found herself entering the temple’s largest prayer hall.
The prayer hall boasted a high ceiling and had an aura of mystery. Inside the prayer hall where one could freely offer personal prayers, few people were seated here and there, each deep in their own prayers.
Rosalie took a seat in the corner and gazed at the statue identical to the one standing outside, bathed in various colors of light.
‘Hmm, I don’t really feel anything special.’
Rosalie had a passing thought that if everything was really a prank by God, then visiting the temple in this fantasy world might elicit some extraordinary sensation. However, contrary to her expectations, she felt as calm as ever.
“May I sit beside you if it’s not too much trouble?”
“Yes, you may.”
Since Rosalie had intended to leave anyway, she responded nonchalantly but then realized whose voice it was. She turned her head to see Derivis, who was dressed in a deeply-hooded robe, sitting beside her.
“I hope I haven’t interrupted your prayer.”
Rosalie couldn’t help but chuckle at the formality unbecoming of him and sat back down fully.
“I was about to leave anyway, so there’s no need to worry.”
“If you don’t pray hard enough, then the gods might not listen to your prayers.”
Derivis made an unexpected joke, causing Rosalie to burst into laughter. She leaned in to search for his blue eyes hidden beneath the robe.
“How did you know I was here?”
“I prayed fervently. I asked the gods to tell me where you were.”
Derivis lifted his robe slightly to meet Rosalie’s gaze, his face serious despite the joke, prompting Rosalie to laugh again. He then lowered his robe and stood up.
“Let’s go. Radinis is waiting.”
Rosalie also stood up to follow him. Derivis walked along the corridor and turned to a corner exit.
It eventually led them to a small prayer room where people’s footsteps seldom reached. It seemed like a small prayer room that had not been used for a long time.
When Derivis opened the door and entered, there was a bit of dust in the sunlight, and various white-clothed statues and furniture were lined up inside.
“Radinis.”
When Derivis called his name, Radinis emerged from beside a statue covered in a white cloth.
Rosalie bowed her head upon seeing him.
“Hello, Prince Radinis.”
“Duchess Judeheart…?”
Radinis alternated his gaze between Rosalie and Derivis, who had appeared while he was offering prayers as usual. A man in a robe had arrived after he began his prayers and called him by name.
Initially on guard, he was surprised to learn that it was Derivis, and even more so when he asked for a moment of his time. Bringing Rosalie along only added to his astonishment and confusion.
“Brother… What is this about?”
“I asked for this meeting.”
Rosalie replied instead of Derivis, leaving Radinis to try to make sense of the situation.
“Why are you here, Duchess?”
“Your Highness. I’ll get straight to the point.”
“Yes, go on.”
“Do you want to ascend to the throne?”
Radinis momentarily doubted his ears at Rosalie’s unexpected statement. However, the solemnity on Rosalie’s face confirmed the fact that he hadn’t misheard her. Then, he turned towards Derivis.
But Derivis, the next heir to the throne, remained unfazed.
“Do you want to ascend to the throne, Radinis?”
“Brother, that…”
“I’m not accusing you; I’m making a proposal.”
Radinis couldn’t easily answer. The sudden question left him bewildered, and how could he dare to mention his ambitions for the throne in front of Derivis?
Rosalie noticed that Radinis seemed intimidated by Derivis’s inherently authoritative demeanor. Thus, she quickly added an explanation.
“Your Highness, I plan to drive out the Empress’s forces. I can no longer stand idly by and watch her misdeeds.”
“…Are you proposing this because you need my cooperation?”
“If you cooperate, you’ll have the assurance of your safety when we eventually remove Her Majesty the Empress.”
Indeed, his cooperation was necessary. Moreover, Derivis needed someone to take his place once he left the palace. This would help ease the opposition from the nobles.
“And finally… I haven’t forgotten the look in your eyes when you looked at me during the monster hunting tournament.”
Rosalie couldn’t shake off the memory of Radinis’s desperate gaze during the tournament as he was being led away by Nine.
“That’s…”
“Your Highness, I can offer you my help.”
Radinis furtively looked at Derivis.
“…Will you give me time to think? This is an unexpected proposal, and I’m confused.”
“I can give you some time, but not too much.”
“I will give you an answer soon.”
With Radinis’s response, silence filled the air. The slight pause indirectly signaled the end of their conversation.
“Radinis, if you disclose today’s discussion…”
Derivis warned Radinis, and Radinis gestured emphatically as if to reassure him that he wouldn’t. Meanwhile, a bitter feeling began to weigh on his heart.
“His Highness Radinis would not speak of it.”
Radinis’s eyes widened at Rosalie’s assurance, and he clenched his fists tightly.
He had been an obedient child, unable to pursue his dreams for the sake of his brother and father. Knowing the heavy guilt weighing on him, Rosalie was certain he would never speak of it.
“I will leave first. Derivis, will you come with me?”
Derivis also turned as if to follow as Rosalie turned to leave. Radinis, who was watching them, felt his fingertips tremble.
‘Of course, I can actively cooperate in removing Mother. But can I really dare to covet the throne?’
However, contrary to his hesitation, his ambition had already taken root and he almost called Rosalie back immediately. But whenever he thought of Nine, who carried out ruthless actions without a hint of guilt, his conscience seemed to shake him by the collar, telling him to come to his senses.
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