“Beep!”
Pipi stomped one of his feet.
“Hmm?”
“Beep!”
He said he could do it.
“Are you saying you’re going to bring Duke Piellion?”
“Beep!”
His little head bobbed up and down vigorously. Lasilia tilted her head, looking into her spleen eyes.
“You’re too… to do something like that… Yes, it’s a phoenix.”
“Beep!”
It didn’t matter that he was a phoenix, because he would be what Lasilia wanted. But she wished she could still remember so well that she was a phoenix.
“You have already learned how to be condescending.”
Lasilia stroked his tiny head.
“Beep.”
“Um, yeah. But I don’t want to bother you too much with my work. When it comes to calling someone, there are ways other than you. And the Duke won’t understand you, so I’ll have to write a letter. It’s too big for you to carry.”
“Beep?”
“Hmm? Can I just order a crow?”
“Beep!”
“Ah… I guess so. “If I write a letter and deliver it, a crow will be faster than a person.”
As soon as Lasilia finished speaking, Yvette came out.
“I’ll bring paper and pen.”
“Okay… No, get the secretary. That would be great.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
The Duke could have recognized the Empress’s handwriting. So it was safer to have the secretary do it.
“Hurry.”
“Yes…? Ah yes. Of course, Your Majesty.”
It was only on the outside that Lasilia seemed calm. When Yvette was told to hurry, she guessed that the Empress was actually nervous and hurried her steps.
* * *
However, Duke Piellion was not at the Duke’s residence. By the time Lasilia wrote her letter, the Duke had already entered the palace and was in the process of meeting Lescal.
“This is an insult.”
The Duke stared at the emperor with his gray eyebrows raised straight up.
“Of course, Your Majesty knows.”
“Hmm.”
The Emperor’s golden eyes seemed to grow slightly thinner, but he did not say anything more. Every time he saw him, it felt foreign, as if it wasn’t human. Those eyes were the same, but the expressionless expression was more foreign. There were many people who had little emotion and lacked expression, but the face of the Emperor was different. According to records, demons have eyes that are different from humans. They said he saw darkness hidden behind bright lights, and saw things lying and squirming in the darkness. So the Duke was afraid. Perhaps the Emperor knew that the mark had been erased long ago. He guessed he was just letting things like the temple and the Marquis of Parshad move on their own so as not to kill his companion.
‘…No, that can’t be true. If that were the case, dethronement would have been mentioned long ago. ‘I would have to find a new companion before it’s too late.’
There would be no such thing as a new companion. The Empress of the empire was Cartagena, and she was to remain so. To do this, they even brought in a shadowy person like a Trinidad shaman.
“This is an absurd accusation. Didn’t His Majesty already see the mark with his own eyes before the wedding ceremony? By talking about the mark, they are insulting not only the Piellion family but also the imperial family.”
The Emperor had nothing to say. The Duke, who was obviously nervous, was the first to reveal his true feelings.
“Shut the mouth of the temple. Order them to kneel before Your Majesty and tear up the indictment with their own hands. I know that is the attitude an Emperor should have.”
“…Did you know the ball?”
The Emperor, who had been silent, slowly raised his gaze and asked. For a moment, Duke Piellion resisted the urge to take a step back.
“What do you mean? I learned about their claims entirely through the complaint.”
The Duke acted like he had practiced at home. In fact, there was no other way. He must have been completely unaware that the mark was disappearing. e knew that, and yet he proceeded with the wedding ceremony, and if it was discovered that he had called a witch doctor to quell the affair, it would have been treason. He will not be judged like a thousand others. Even if the mark that was being erased was revealed to the public, he would have to remain unaware of it. Then the sinner will end up with only one daughter.
“There is no fact that you sent the Duke to Trinidad?”
“That is… What are you saying, Your Majesty? My adopted son went to a place like Trinidad? Why would someone from Piellion step into such a dark place?”
“That’s the ball’s position.”
Those golden eyes were ominous. The Emperor already knew that Ternaden had visited Trinidad. The Duke felt like his stomach was melting away as he didn’t know what else he knew.
“How could any other position exist?”
“Then.”
The Emperor nodded his head lightly. The Duke, who became anxious, once again chased the Emperor.
“You are too sparing with your words, Your Majesty. The honor of Her Majesty the Empress is at stake. As her father, I need to hear the answer as to what you will do.”
“Nothing has been decided yet. I need to talk to the Empress before that.”
“Nothing has been decided. Hasn’t the temple already set a trial date with the Supreme Court Justice? This is not the time for you to be so idle.”
“I don’t want to make a decision on my own without knowing the Empress’s position. I will listen to the Empress as soon as the ball disappears.”
“Is it true that His Majesty is doubting his own companion?”
The Duke’s golden eyes were shining for some unknown reason.
“You’re right. The Empress is my companion.”
“…Then protect your companion, Your Majesty. So that corrupted mouths do not go around talking nonsense without knowing anything.”
“I will take care of that.”
The Emperor pointed to the door with his chin.
“If that’s all you have to say, then let’s go.”
“…”
Duke Piellion suppressed the sound of his teeth grinding.
“Ryan. Guide the Duke outside.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s shadow knight approached him. The Duke did not dare to say any more, but placed his hand on his chest as a courtesy and left the Emperor’s office.
Sound of a door closing.
As soon as he left the double office and entered the hallway, the Emperor’s Shadow Knight closed the door and disappeared.
“…cheeky.”
Duke Piellion gritted his teeth after holding on. No matter how much he thought about it, the Emperor’s attitude was too lukewarm. He was not angry at the insult hurled at the temple, nor was he laughing at the absurdity of his accusation. The Duke stamped his foot and walked down the long corridor towards where he had parked his carriage.
“You probably don’t believe it… No, I definitely didn’t check it with my own eyes.”
It was the final step of the engagement ceremony. The Emperor confirmed the mark, and the engagement was concluded. Although Cartagena was ashamed that it was no different from showing her naked body, she kept her body in shape by starving herself for several days. But you never know. “Cartagena may not have been her jailer very well.” Could it be that the Emperor never had to look at the mark during the four years that followed? That was something he couldn’t be sure about. He didn’t know anything else, but he trusted his daughter who used her amazing brains when it came to satisfying his greed, but the Emperor could have been more shrewd.
“If that’s the case, I…”
It was a moment when the Duke was trying to calmly consider how to save his family and himself.
“Ahem. Lord Piellion.”
Suddenly, a polite tone of voice was heard in his ears, and the Duke was startled.
Fod Duck!
Strangely enough, there was the sound of wings flapping. No, it wasn’t strange. A large parrot was flying near his head.
“You… Are you talking to me? A bird?”
“I spoke to you. This body also has a name, so I would like to call it Lord Shryden instead of Bird. Anyway, Her Majesty the Empress will come with me when she sees me.”
“What…?”
“I don’t think you’re at the age where your butt will become heavy yet. This is a secret calling, so make haste. They say I don’t have eyes to see right now, but you never know.”
“How can a bird…”
“Then open your eyes and follow me.”
Fod Duck!
The parrot increased its speed and flew straight ahead.
“…”
The Duke, who still had a dazed look on his face, followed Duke Shryden with some doubt.
* * *
“How is this happening?”
This was the first thing he said as soon as he saw her face. t seemed that father and daughter were not friendly enough to say hello to each other or hug each other.
“It’s a long story. First, take a breath.”
Unfortunately, there were no chairs for people to sit on in the north tower. Lasilia pointed to the side of the window frame she was leaning against.
“What is this place doing? And what is that talking bird?”
“This is the Duke of Shriden. I am the owner of this tower. For now, you are leaving at my request, so you just need to know that.”
“The bird… The master of the tower? Inside the imperial palace?”
Explaining the existence of Shryden would be a long story. Lasilia cut off the Duke’s words.
“Is the reason for your audience with Your Majesty today an indictment from the temple?”
“…Your tone of voice has changed, Your Majesty.”
Duke Piellion said, looking at me with strange eyes. Even if it was just a few days ago, he would have been concerned. But not now.
“Maybe so. You may have heard that I lost my memory. I don’t remember what happened before.”
“What? Is that really true?”
Perhaps because he was surprised, the Duke forgot the honorific.
“Yes. I can’t be gone for long, so I’ll speak quickly. Does the Piellion family have any way to respond to the temple’s accusation?”
“No, that can’t be. I received the complaint just this morning!”
Chin!
The Duke grabbed Lasilia’s shoulders with both of her hands.
“You… Do you have any thoughts?”
“…From what you’re saying, I guess you already knew about the mark.”
“Otherwise, who would have sent Ternaden to Trinidad?”
“So that’s what happened.”
Lasilia quickly continued her thoughts.
“If the public is also involved, there will be more that will be revealed at trial. Are you ready to handle it?”
“What on earth are you talking about! A trial! Of course you shouldn’t go to trial!”
Looking at the Duke jumping up and down, I could guess the seriousness of the matter. In Lasilia’s opinion, it would not be good to involve the Duke in this matter. The moment the Duke intervened, this incident might not be a tragedy for the Empress, but a treason for the Piellion family.
“In that case, let the ball remain unknown until the end.”
“Carti…?”
“I will keep the matter related to the mark to myself.”
The Duke’s complexion changed.
“You… No, that’s too hasty a conclusion. We still don’t know how the Emperor will emerge.”
“The Emperor was already suspicious of me. I asked a shadow knight, a shaman, to check if there were any traces of shamanism left on my body. The indictment would only drive a wedge and would not surprise the Emperor.”
“Unbelievable.”
The Duke’s body staggered. He stroked his face with both palms.
“I was having doubts… So what happens to our family now…”
“Ball.”
Lasilia placed her hand on the Duke’s shoulder. The Duke lowered his palm and looked at Lasilia.
“You have to look at the situation right away. There is no way for the Emperor to ignore the trial. He goes beyond the imperial authority, and above all, the Emperor has no reason to do so. If my mark disappears, it means that another companion is somewhere. The trial will give the Emperor an excuse to easily dethrone the empress and find another companion.”
She wasn’t sure if Lescal was really thinking that way. But if he were the Emperor, he would not miss this great opportunity. It was the fastest way to minimize damage to the royal family and at the same time solve my own problems. Maybe it was a good thing for both sides. The Emperor would find a true companion, and he would be able to return to Dell’Arta.
“However, if there is a trial, it is impossible to know how far the revelations will continue. The Piellion family may be in danger. So the best way is,”
Lasilia cut her off and stared at the Duke.
“I am admitting guilt before the witnesses testify.”
The Duke’s eyes widened in bewilderment.
“What… what? If you do that…”
“I will be punished. On my own.”
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
Next week I will take a little rest so see you in 2024 😉
Let me wish you in advance Merry Cristmas and Happy New Year.
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on January, 7.
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