The Villain Is Obsessed With His Fake Wife

Spreading rumors wasn’t that hard. Since there were rumors that she was behind this incident, people would have wanted new gossip.

‘The stronger the gossip, the easier it would be.’

As much as the villainess who was jealous of the saintess, the story about the saintess who was jealous of the villainess was very provocative. Unlike her who had no place to fall, the saintess had a lot to lose.

‘Plus, the source was so rich that there was no need to try to embellish it.’

Honestly, as she spread the rumors in detail, she began to think that the saintess was doing it on purpose.

‘It’s not like it wasn’t intentional, but the circumstances under which the saintess appeared were coincidental.’

It’s especially awkward when she thought about the young Yestella she saw.

‘There’s something to do with me and Yestella, who is said to be dead.’

Maybe it was the curse that had been tormenting her without her knowing. She held the saint’s hand and comforted her.

“It’s okay, saint. Even so, it’s just a ridiculous rumor.”

“Yes, yes. That’s right.”

The saint nodded slightly and looked at me. Her eyes, as clear and blue as a lake, stared at her.

“But I should check how such a rumor came about.”

Just by looking at her gaze, it seemed like the saint had already decided that she was the culprit.

“I guess I should say it’s strange.”

She felt uncomfortable with the saint from the moment she first met her. It wasn’t just because she was hurting her and being annoyed by Yestella.

“I didn’t really sense malice from the saint.”

Having received all kinds of malice, she could easily sense malice in people. However, Stella, who had no malice toward her, strangely made her feel uncomfortable.

‘So I was worried about how to treat her…’

She wondered why she was worried so much. Maybe because things didn’t go as she wanted, she could now sense malice from the saintess.

“Confirm? But is it possible to confirm the source of the rumor that we don’t even know who started?”

She tilted her head as if she didn’t know anything. The saintess said in a firm voice.

“Yes. I can confirm. And I will catch the instigator of the rumor and punish him in the name of the Holy Kingdom.”

“I don’t know what kind of misunderstanding caused the rumor, but isn’t it too hasty to talk about punishment already?”

The more the saintess took a hard line, the more she tried to persuade her, pretending to back down.

“I think it would be better to take a more gentle attitude, like the saintess who has been considerate and forgiving up until now.”

“If this were my personal matter, I would have done the same. I don’t feel at ease either.”

The saintess looked at me and sighed deeply. But the pride in those blue eyes remained undiminished.

“But this is not just my problem. That rumor not only tarnishes my honor as a saint, but also the entire Holy Land, and even the name of the god Athea that the Holy Land worships. That is something that I can never overlook.”

The emperor, who had been quietly watching them, added a word to the saint’s attitude.

“It is certainly something that I cannot easily overlook as a saint of the Holy Land.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty.”

The saint bowed her head to the emperor and smiled kindly at her.

“Then, what do you think about Duchess Blanchett helping us investigate the source of this rumor?”

“Duchess Blanchett?”

“Yes. Since she is my close friend and a major figure in this case, I think it would be a great help if Duchess Blanchett stepped forward.”

The saint smiled at her. It seemed as if her smile was talking to her.

‘Do you think someone like you can beat me?’

They probably plan to push her into the role of investigating, and bury her by revealing the fact that she was the one who started the rumor.

‘I don’t have many connections in society anyway, so it’ll be hard for me to do well.’

Common sense dictates that she should refuse.

The Emperor asked with a tone of interest.

“What about Duchess Blanchett’s intentions?”

“Ah… Your Majesty.”

She pretended to hesitate and dragged the conversation on.

“I’m not sure if I can take on such a heavy responsibility.”

“Don’t put yourself down, Duchess. The Duchess can do it.”

The saintess put strength into her hand and spoke kindly.

“If you’re not sure, I’ll help you a lot so that the Duchess can do it well. So please do me a favor.”

“Even this emperor thinks it’s not a bad idea for Duchess Blanchett to investigate. Let’s review it as positively as possible.”

“If it is your Majesty and the Saint’s will, then yes.”

The Saint’s hand tightened. She also used all her weak strength to firmly press down on her hand.

“I will do it.”

Then, looking at the Emperor, she shouted brightly as if she had just realized something.

“Now that I think about it, I have a really good idea.”

“What do you think?”

“I want to hold an imperial trial so that I don’t miss anything.”

The Saint’s eyes, which had been confident at the word trial, widened slightly. The Saint quickly interjected.

“Isn’t a trial too much? I understand your desire to do well, but holding an imperial trial when it’s not even a matter of the royal family seems excessive.”

“Don’t worry. Fortunately, His Highness the Crown Prince Carlos is also involved in this matter.”

She smiled brightly.

“Besides, the reason Princess Diana was taken to prison and investigated was ultimately related to the crime of blasphemy. So I don’t think it’s excessive to hold an imperial trial.”

An imperial trial was a trial held in the imperial court to mediate when something big happened related to the royal family. Since it involved even the great nobles, the process, results, and procedures were thoroughly investigated and a verdict was handed down.

‘And the verdict handed down in an imperial trial cannot be overturned.’

There would probably be much more torn up than what she, who didn’t have much influence in the social world, would investigate.

“…But if that happens, there won’t be much the Duchess can do.”

“That’s what I think, too.”

The emperor’s golden eyes looked at her.

“Soon, the saint will perform a purification ritual and hold a hunting ball in the empire. If an imperial trial is held during that time, it could cause confusion for the people of the empire.”

When the Emperor took her side, the saintess said in a regretful voice.

“Your Majesty, you say that too. I appreciate the Duchess’s feelings, but I think it would be difficult to hold an imperial trial.”

“So does that mean that you agree to holding an imperial trial?”

“I trust the Duchess’ decision since I asked her to investigate.”

“Then it is fine.”

She politely spoke to the Emperor in front of the suspicious saintess.

“Your Majesty, if Princess Diana is not enough of a justification, then the saintess and I will receive an official imperial trial at the same time.”

“Duchess Blanchett and the saintess at the same time?”

“In any case, the reason the royal family’s name was mentioned is because of me and the saintess. So I think that if both of us receive a fair trial, all questions will be resolved.”

The Emperor rested his chin on the armrest and asked.

“I just told the Duchess that I was concerned about the confusion of the imperial people. But are you saying that you will make things worse and hold an imperial trial?”

“However, Your Majesty, in the current situation where rumors are circulating, pushing ahead with the event will not eliminate the confusion of the people of the empire. Rather, it may increase their anxiety.”

Even if the situation was somewhat expected, she was nervous because she was talking to the Emperor and the Saintess in front of them.

“In that sense, if we can definitely sort out the situation in the name of Your Majesty the Emperor, it will eliminate the cause of the problem and be more effective in quelling the confusion in the empire.”

She hid her anxiety and smiled even more beautifully.

“Fortunately, the Saintess said she believed in me and followed me, so it is possible. If I had been the only one to be tried, there might have been a problem with fairness.”

“Duchess, I…”

“This is all thanks to the Saintess. I am so happy that I can clearly state the friendship between the Saintess and me in front of everyone and set the truth straight. Don’t you feel the same way?”

The Saintess’s eyes shook quickly.

“But, Duchess, aren’t you making too hasty a decision on the imperial trial?”

When she glared at her with her fierce eyes, her whole body filled with pride.

‘I guess I did a good job because I see her feeling bad.’

The saintess let go of her hand and placed a hand on her chest, appealing to the emperor.

“Your Majesty, I agree with the duchess’ feelings, but since it is an important matter, I think it would be better to discuss it carefully with others before making a decision.”

“Well, the imperial trial involves many nobles.”

“Yes. I think I should also tell the cardinal and discuss it with him. Even as a saint, I can’t make a decision carelessly. Do you understand my feelings, Duchess?”

The saintess looked at her with a secret look. She answered with a bright smile.

“Oh, don’t worry about that part.”

“…Yes?”

“The saintess said that this rumor would tarnish not only her honor but also the honor of the Holy Nation, and even more so, the honor of the god Atea.”

She listened to all that nonsense just for this moment.

“There’s no way the Holy Nation, of all places, would oppose something related to the honor of the gods.”

“Well, even so, we need the consent of the other nobles…”

The saintess looked at the emperor as if she was looking for the last line of salvation. The emperor, who had seemed to be on the saintess’ side all this time, spoke in a dignified voice.

“Saintess, you don’t have to worry about that part.”

“Yes?”

“I will recruit them myself. As fairly as possible.”

The saintess, Stella’s expression hardened.

“Well, then, Your Majesty.”

“Minister Orteca, as soon as Saint Stella performs the purification ritual, hold an imperial trial on this incident.”

She looked at her and secretly exchanged glances with the emperor.

‘It was a good thing I made a deal in advance.’

Since ancient times, when selling such traps, it was best to make a deal with important people in advance.

‘I should have guessed since I called you here by the Emperor’s order.’

* * *

When she heard the whole situation from Queen Isabella’s representative, the decision she made was that she had to bring the Emperor to her side.

‘The Crown Prince Carlos is on the Saint’s side.’

Then she had to make someone on her side who could suppress the Crown Prince with power. So she asked John to arrange a meeting with the Emperor.

“Does Duchess Blanchett have something to say to me?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

She said elegantly, looking at the Emperor.

“I would like you to call the Saint by the Emperor’s order.”

“Call the Saint?”

The Emperor’s golden eyes scanned her.

“Is there a reason why I should do that?”

“Yes.”

She smiled calmly, looking at the Emperor.

“I know the location of the treasure Your Majesty is looking for.”

The treasure she saw at the Emperor’s waist the other day, that treasure.

‘I don’t know where it is either.’

At least she could tell that the Emperor wanted it very much. The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly at her bold words.

“The treasure I covet? How ridiculous. What does the Duchess think of me now?”

“Do you really not have any idea?”

“Even if you do, how dare you deal with me as a subject?”

She looked at the Emperor who seemed to be full of anger and said calmly.

“The cracked imperial seal.”

“…!”

“How long have you tried to hide the fact that you lost the seal?”

Naturally, the deal between her and the Emperor went well. It was a problem the Emperor could never ignore.

* * *

Cardinal Simon found the saint.

“Saint, what on earth are you doing in the imperial court? An imperial trial?”

“Ah, Cardinal Simon.”

The saint greeted Cardinal Simon with a pale face. However, even her pitiful appearance could not calm the cardinal’s anger.

“His Majesty the Holy Emperor is very angry at the saint’s unilateral action. Not only did you use the seal without permission, but you are now going to be tried in the imperial court!”

Cardinal Simon wanted to correct the saint’s unilateral action this time. However, the saint’s reaction was completely different from what Cardinal Simon had hoped for.

“Then what should I do?”

The saint answered in a sad tone.

“I was just doing what God led me to do.”

“…God made you do this?”

The saint nodded sadly.

“As you know, Cardinal Simon, God’s will is something that cannot be immediately understood by human thinking. I also feel sorry for that. But I had no choice in order to follow Athea’s will.”

Cardinal Simon touched his head.

“God Athea. How could you put me through such a trial…”

At that moment, a noble lady rushed into the room with urgent steps.

“Saint! What should I do now!”

As Luigi rushed after Cardinal Simon, the saint asked with a tired face.

“What’s going on, Lady Luigi?”

“The Duke of Blanchet sued me for insulting Duchess Blanchet!”

Luigi cried and shouted at the saint.

“And it says here that the saint will testify to the scene. What are you going to do about this? I trusted you!”

Stella was confused as she listened to Luigi’s whining.

‘What the hell is going on?’

 

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