Even at a time when there were all sorts of stories about the saint, parties were held one after another in the capital of the empire. No matter how big the accident was, they couldn’t miss the most important season in the social world.
It was that day.
“I’d like to introduce you to a very special guest.”
The saint, who was under house arrest for the imperial trial, suddenly showed up at the party. The saint, wearing a simple white dress as befitting a saint, looked very delicate. It was pitiful to see her come out alone without a partner.
“I don’t know if it’s okay for me to attend a place like this, but I had to attend the party because I urgently wanted to tell you something.”
Stella smiled faintly at the nobles she was close with.
“I’ll be able to perform a purification ritual in the Pescalos Forest in three days.”
“Are you saying that you’re going to… perform a purification ritual?”
“Yes. So I hope you all will pray with me in the Pescalos Forest. When everyone’s prayers reach me, Athea will be more pleased to bless me.”
The saintess who is currently on trial is not free to move. What’s more, since the trial is an imperial trial and she has been identified as a criminal, it was not the time for purification rites or anything.
Of course, one nobleman couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked.
“But are you okay while you are on trial?”
“Oh, that.”
Sadness passed over the saintess’s face, which had been smiling brightly. The saintess soon regained her composure and said.
“His Majesty the Emperor, who judged that the current imperial trial was too much for me, postponed the trial indefinitely.”
“Is that possible?”
“Of course, if His Majesty had not trusted me, it would have been impossible.”
Stella, who had secretly emphasized the emperor’s favor, nodded resolutely, clasping her hands together in a noble manner.
“So, I will definitely succeed in the purification ritual as a way to repay His Majesty the Emperor.”
* * *
She attended the party of the Royam Kingdom. It was to show her support for the Royam Kingdom, which had lost popularity because of Princess Diana.
“Thank you for coming to my party.”
Queen Isabella welcomed her warmly.
“You don’t look well.”
She knew that Princess Diana escaped safely, but she lost her status as a princess and escaped anyway.
“You must be upset.”
“No. More importantly, Princess Diana’s case…”
“It’s okay. I know that we were able to stay safe because of the Duchess’ kindness.”
However, Queen Isabella’s expression was still not good.
“I wonder if Diana is doing well?”
Since Johan didn’t tell her the details, she was also worried about Diana. Queen Isabella handed her a glass of wine and said,
“How is the Duchess doing lately?”
“I’m doing fine. The purification ritual has resumed and I’ve returned to the palace.”
It seemed that a dramatic agreement had been reached between the saint and the emperor. So the purification ritual would be held soon, and they would be staying at the palace again.
‘I can’t wait to see how great the purification ritual will be.’
Of course, her head already hurt thinking about the saint being so arrogant after the purification ritual. However, she deliberately brought up a different topic to Queen Isabella.
She didn’t want to give her, who was already so troubled, a new worry.
“Have you ever read a book called <The Beautiful Monster>? I’ve been reading it a lot lately.”
“Oh, it’s a popular story in the capital.”
Queen Isabella nodded.
“I heard that there was a discussion about that book in the salon recently.”
“Really?”
“Yes. If you are interested in the book, I recommend that you join the discussion, Duchess. There is more to talk about than you might think-”
Queen Isabella’s eyes furrowed. She pressed her index finger to the side of her head and spoke in a suppressed voice.
“I’m sorry, Duchess. I have a headache from staying up all night preparing for the banquet. I will take some medicine and come back.”
“Shall I go with you?”
“I cannot cause you any more trouble. Please wait a moment.”
However, Queen Isabella, who was going to see the doctor, looked as if she was about to collapse.
“I must tell you the news about Princess Diana as soon as possible.”
As she stood alone against the wall of the party, watching the people, a servant walked over cautiously.
“Excuse me. Duchess Blanchett, a nobleman wishes to see you.”
“A nobleman?”
“Yes. He asked me to see you by chance, so what will you do?”
There weren’t many people who would be considered precious to her, a duchess.
‘Imperial.’
However, since Crown Prince Carlos wouldn’t call me with such courtesy, there were certain people she could call.
The Emperor or the Empress.
‘Either way, it’s strange.’
She tilted her head and followed the servant. It seemed that the other person had taken one of the guest rooms of the banquet prepared by the Kingdom of Royam.
“Your Majesty, I have brought the Duchess Blanchett.”
“Come in.”
When she went inside, a woman with a plain appearance was sitting in the middle of the red curtains.
‘It’s the Empress.’
The Empress, with her brown hair, brown eyes, and delicate appearance, was considered the most inferior of all the empresses.
‘Some say that she doesn’t socialize at all and lives as if she doesn’t exist in the palace, so she will be kicked out one day.’
However, the Empress had the dignity and authority of an empress. The empress arrogantly glanced at her and then slowly said.
“Thank you for accepting my sudden request, Duchess Blanchett.”
“No, Your Majesty.”
The servant bowed and closed the door.
Now, the empress and she were alone.
“Would you like to have some tea instead of standing there?”
The empress nodded at the teacup in front of her. She smiled as the empress said and sat across from her.
“The tea was already poured.”
Inviting her suddenly at someone else’s party, not an official venue, and serving cold tea. This was an act of ignoring her, the duchess.
“It seems like you’re trying to pressure me.”
This behavior made her question the reputation of the empress as being easygoing and without a sense of authority.
“The crown prince has quite a relationship with Duchess Blanchett, right?”
“A little.”
“I also know that the Crown Prince has a frivolous temper. But, Duchess.”
The Empress took a sip of tea with a hostile gaze.
“I still hope that the Duchess will show a more appropriate appearance for her position. In short, I think she needs to look different from her maiden days.”
She stared blankly at the Empress without touching the tea.
‘You called me because of the Crown Prince.’
She wondered how the Crown Prince could live like he had no tomorrow, and she felt like her curiosity had been somewhat satisfied. Even though she pretended not to, it seemed like the Empress had taken care of the mess.
‘It’s convenient that you’ve revealed everything on your own.’
The Empress put down her teacup with a thud.
“Duchess, do you understand what I’m saying?”
At that moment, she saw something familiar on the edge of the Empress’s arm.
‘A bracelet? It’s not…’
With a strangely anxious feeling, she clenched her fists that were under the table. It was to draw out the power of the fairy.
‘Is this how it’s done?’
Recently, she had been learning how to use the power of the fairy from Isidor.
Thump, thump-
Her heartbeat grew louder. She felt something tightly wrapped around her heart slowly rising up according to her will.
‘If I do this, what I wanted to see will become clearer…’
Then, the object on the empress’s arm began to glow with the power of the fairy.
‘It was the empress’s weakness, after all. But that…’
It was the emperor’s old jade seal. The jade seal that the emperor had been looking for, no matter how she looked at it, it was the jade seal that she had traded with the emperor.
‘Why does that look like the empress’s weakness?’
She asked the trees in confusion without realizing it.
– Isn’t there a way to check if I used the power of the fairy correctly?
– Huh, what are you talking about?
– Right! What on earth did you see that make you say that?
– No, that right now.
Even if she explained the jade seal to the trees, they obviously wouldn’t understand. The empress on the other side pressed in a low voice, holding up her teacup.
“Duchess, can’t you hear me?”
– No, that.
“The imperial jade seal.”
Clang!
‘It’s ruined!’
She got confused while talking to the trees.
The empress in front of her dropped her teacup on the floor as if she was surprised, and shuddered. A strange silence followed.
‘What should I do with this?’
The empress, with her face pale and terrified, looked at me without even looking at the broken teacup and said.
“H-how could you, duchess?”
“Oh, that.”
“Are you trying to threaten me now?”
The empress swallowed hard as if she was in danger.
‘It’s too late to say it was a slip of the tongue.’
There’s nothing she could do about it. She had no choice but to act as if that was her original goal. She finally said, picking up her teacup.
“Well.”
As if she had been aiming for this from the beginning.
“That depends on what Her Majesty the Empress thinks.”
“As expected, Libertan’s daughter is Libertan’s daughter. I didn’t know she would tell you all that.”
The Empress shook her head with a miserable expression.
“Was there something between the Empress and Libertan?”
Anyway, it seemed that the Imperial Seal was a huge weakness for the Empress. And it must never be discovered. The Empress gripped the table tightly and glared at her.
“Tell me what you want. What do you want me to do?”
“I have nothing to ask of Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Are you trying to play with me now?”
The Empress’s brown eyes were filled with anger.
“I know you wouldn’t take out that ‘secret’ without expecting anything in return. So don’t drag it out any longer and tell me honestly what the Duchess wants.”
The frightened empress bit her lips.
‘It’s true.’
But it seemed like the empress wouldn’t back down until she heard my purpose.
‘First, make it look real, a little like John.’
She took a leisurely sip of tea, imagining the appearance of Black Mask John as much as possible.
“What do you think I wish for?”
* * *
The carriage shook with a thud.
Crown Prince Carlos, who was sitting in the carriage, furrowed his brow in annoyance as he thought of the saintess.
‘I will help His Highness the Crown Prince take possession of the Duchess.’
‘Is it okay for the saintess to do something like that?’
‘I am only helping the right relationship continue. Everything is the will of the god Athea.’
However, despite her confident words, the saintess did nothing. In fact, she was more of a hindrance. On such a topic, the saintess ignored the crown prince and seemed to have made a deal with the emperor alone, using the purification ritual as collateral.
‘I don’t know if I should keep you as crown prince. All the ministers are warning me of your immorality.’
‘…Father!’
‘If you act rashly one more time, you will no longer be crown prince.’
The emperor’s heart, which had always allowed him to maintain his crown prince position, seemed to have changed.
Honestly, he didn’t know it would become such a big crisis.
‘Fortunately, my mother said she would step in.’
If the empress made a deal with the King of Royam, it would be easier for Carlos to move around. Carlos arrived at the party hall and immediately looked for the empress.
“Mother, did you have a good talk with the Kingdom of Royam..”
Carlos’s golden eyes flinched. There was a woman he had never expected sitting in front of the empress.
“…Estelle?”
“Enough!”
At that moment, the empress shouted sharply at Carlos.
“Crown prince, are you in your right mind right now?”
“Yes?”
“Can’t you see this mother?”
The empress scolded Carlos with an angry face. Carlos was bewildered by the empress’s reaction, which he had never experienced before.
“No, I was just surprised by an unexpected guest.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I also know that you treated the duchess rudely.”
“Mother. Why are you acting like this now…”
“As the mother of the crown prince, I came to correct the prince’s mistakes, but I just can’t do that.”
The empress didn’t listen to Carlos and looked at Estelle.
“Duchess, the sins my son committed are yours. I will tell Your Majesty about the things I have done so far and I will try to ‘help’ you greatly.”
The empress got up from her seat and disappeared. The crown prince called the empress, saying, “Mother!” and clenched his teeth as he hurriedly chased after the empress.
Estelle, who was left alone, stretched.
‘There must be one reason why the Empress is acting so suddenly.’
It seemed like she’s going to stop the Crown Prince. Judging from his reaction, it seemed like the Crown Prince wouldn’t be able to move until this purification ceremony.
‘Come to think of it, the Crown Prince was the partner for this Saintess Ball, right?’
But the Crown Prince was in no position to attend the party right now. He’s probably busy guarding his own seat.
‘Then who will the Saintess partner with?’
She made him enter alone.
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
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 September, 4.
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