An extravagant tea party was being held today at the luxurious mansion the emperor had given to his mistress.
In fact, it was a tea party, and it was a place to rally nobles who supported Abel.
“You look so beautiful today, Lady Haveron!”
“Only Lady Haberon could throw such a perfect tea party. The garden, the tea, the tea food, everything is the best in the Calais Empire.”
“Sure! The empress’s palace was not as beautiful as this. Isn’t this all filled with His Majesty’s love?”
Surrounded by women praising her beauty, wealth, and power, Sasha smiled brightly and greeted the guests in a skillful manner without showing the slightest hint of boredom.
“I am always grateful that His Majesty the Emperor showers so much love on me, an insignificant person. I’m thankful that I get to enjoy this beautiful season with you all.”
“Oh my, you are so humble. There is no other woman in the empire as beautiful and wise as you.”
“That’s right. What should we do if a beautiful woman who appears once in a century is worthless? Hahah!”
Since Abel, who might become the crown prince, was standing next to Sasha, the women competitively praised Sasha and laughed out loud.
They hoped they had caught Abel’s eye and that their family would benefit from it.
Even while Sasha was enjoying the praise directed at her, she also listened to the latest news flowing from the social world.
“By the way, they say the Lindel family will return to the empire next week.”
“Lindell? It’s a name I’ve heard a lot before.…”
“The same Lindel from the <Lindel Trading Company>.”
“Oh! Really?”
Lindell Trading Company was a huge trading company with branches not only in the Calais Empire but also in many other countries.
It was well known that the owner was from the Calais Empire, but few people had ever met him in person.
It would not be easy to make an appointment with Count Lindell, as he had more wealth than most royal families and was so busy that he barely had time to sleep.
Sasha secretly pricked up her ears to hear the story of a big man who would suddenly appear.
“Where is he going to stay until now?”?”
“We don’t know that. There is no place in the surrounding country that does not have at least a mansion or villa owned by the Lindel family.”
“Does it matter where Is he going to stay? Why you come back is important.”
Sasha nodded inwardly at someone’s interference.
The reason why the Lindel family, which had no presence, is returning at this time. That should be everyone’s concern.
He has already achieved enormous wealth and has strong relationships with royal families and influential figures in each country.
Rumor has it that he had enough military power to conquer even a relatively small country.
No matter where he lives, he has nothing to regret, so why does he return to his homeland?
She thought no one knew what was going on, but someone added something.
“Ah, but the one coming back this time is not Count Lindell himself, but his successor.”
“What? Are you saying only his successor will return?”
“That’s right. Perhaps you are planning to entrust His business in the Calais Empire, which has been neglected until now, to your son?”
“Well, even though he was from Calais, he has been a bit neglectful of business in Calais.”
“Perhaps he lived comfortably abroad, and pass the count’s title in the empire to his son early.”
Speculation among people soon led to gossip.
“By the way, how old is the son who is the heir?”
“My cousin said she saw him at a cafe downtown the other day, and he looked to be in his early 20s.”
“Is he engaged or married?”
“I heard there was no ring on his finger.”
“oh! In that case, Lindel’s son will be a big name in the matchmaking this year. Hahaha!”
The fact that the Lindel successor was unmarried was important to the nobles lady, but for Sasha, the news that he might succeed to the Count’s title early was more important.
“Malek.”
“Are you talking about Count Lindell?”
“You are really perceptive. are you using your magic to know that?”
“Isn’t it obvious what you would say to me in this situation?”
Malek, who is now Abel, smiled.
Sasha risked her soul and life to summon Malek and make a wish for him to take this empire into her hands.
Since the emperor’s mistress cannot become the emperor, Malek promised to make her son Abel the emperor and allow Sasha to wield the real power.
However, until then, the more nobles that supported Sasha and Abel, the better. Malek was helping because it was a helpless part of Sasha’s coup.
“It would be a good idea to contact the heir of the Lindel family before he begins his activities in earnest.”
“I think that’s what the Crown Princess is thinking as well.”
“We’ll have to bait him with something sweet that Anais can’t offer. They’re a big business family, so there must be some bad things going on behind the scenes.”
Sasha’s eyes lit up and Malek giggled in amusement.
“And you’re going to help with those things?”
“Anais would use it as blackmail, but it wouldn’t be much of a blow to the Lindel family, who can already live in other countries, so I think it would be more appealing to help them.”
“It’s not that difficult for you.”
Sasha was talking cutely to Malek, but when someone approached her, she quickly changed to a motherly tone and voice.
That evening, when they had obtained such small information and solidified the solidarity of their supporters, unlike Sasha’s mansion, where the lingering memories of a fancy party remained, the prince’s room, where Abel returned, was filled with gloomy darkness and silence.
“Argh…”
A sound that could be either was sobbing or groaning came from a corner of the room.
And it was Abel, who was leaning in the corner of the big room, who made the noise
The man who had been so bright and lively by Sasha’s side during the day was now lying on the floor with a pale face and a cold sweat.
“Hah…hah…Someone,
someone please save me…”
Tears streamed down his face, which hadn’t yet faded.
His hands and feet twitched slightly from lack of strength, and his chest rose and fell uneasily as he continued to breathe raggedly.
It seemed to everyone that he was not normal, but no one looked at him.
It was intentional neglect. The person lying in the room was the ‘real’ Abel, who had been freed from Malek’s mind control.
He kept crying and muttering, ‘Please help me.’ Sometimes to his mother Sasha, sometimes to Malek who grabs him, and sometimes to people outside his room who couldn’t even reach him.
But no one heard his earnest plea, and Abel’s soul withered away as he went through hell alive.
Although he could hear and see everything, it was Malek who reacted, not Abel.
Although he could think about right and wrong, it was Malek, not Abel, who made the outward judgment.
As a person named Abel, it was Malek, not Abel, who formed relationships with others and lived life.
Abel had to watch helplessly as everything was done with his body.
Malek’s magical power was so strong that Abel, an ordinary human, could not even dream of opposing it, and that had continued since he was one year old took away all hope and will from Abel.
Still, every time he was released by Malek, Abel had no choice but to desperately beg someone.
“I want to live…please save me…hah…”
Even after 17 years of begging, Abel continued begging until he lost his mind today.
* * *
[I’m in a bad mood being in a temple surrounded by divine power. I’m going to go outside today, so if you need me….]
“I’ll call you.”
[……okay.]
On the day that Elaine attended weekend services for the first time, Raves looked anxiously at Elaine several times before disappearing.
Feeling good about Rabes’ concern, Elaine also prepared to attend the service.
Although the worship services attended by saints were only for nobles, there were always enough people to fill a medium-sized chapel.
In particular, today was the first day for members who joined the church this year to attend, so it seemed like many of their families also came.
‘There’s no mention that the Newt family would coming. hope he doesn’t come.’
Elaine shuddered as she felt like L’Arch would come.
She wondered how she could hate him so much when she had loved him so much in her previous life.
‘Maybe I didn’t really love him.’
That was good.
‘Let’s say I took an expensive class. It was really hard, but I learned a lot.’
Elaine smiled faintly as she gently stroked her chest.
‘If my liking for L’Arch was nothing more than a childhood longing, I could at least get over the pain of being deceived.’
‘And it was actually getting better. In my past life, my heart was throbbing every time I thought of L’Arch but now it is very calm.’
“Good! I can do it!”
Elaine brushed her wheat-colored hair and tied it up in a simple braid.
Then, I took the scriptures and headed to the chapel.
“hi!”
“hi?”
A boy ran over to Elaine, saying hello briefly.
And then the boy she met hit his forehead while looking at the scriptures in Elaine’s hand.
“Oh right! scripture!”
“There’s still time, so why don’t you hurry up and get it?”
When Elaine gave him some obvious advice, the boy turned his steps toward the dormitory.
Someone greeting Elaine and talking to her was something that had never happened in her previous life.
And this change began the day Elaine taught them how to make potato puree.
While the saints under Lorina’s watchful eye were unable to speak to her,, but some saints were treating Elaine as an ordinary saint.
She knew this could be a bad rumor, but Elaine didn’t care.
Even if she think of a bad situation and try to take precautions, it is not possible to avoid all the dangers, and even if she try to take precautions, she will still be talked about.
* * *
