Chapter 138

TL: Zimming

I stretch out as I groaned.

The idea of this self-produced drama came when the tea already came in with the cup.

“It’s easy to pull a stunt because it’s already in a teacup, and the empress has chosen a separate teacup for each guest.”

“I see.”

I already thought that at least one of them would try to harm me.

“The most likely one to harm you is Elizabeth. Isn’t it strange that she has been away too long?”

“But how could a child prepare poison?”

“Either way someone around her would be punished for this.”

The society I went through was a den of predators. If you loosen your guard, you would be attacked for sure.

‘Even if we didn’t have any enemies, we shouldn’t let our guard down.’

“Among the guests, either the empress, Elizabeth or Nodelli family would be suspected.”

“If the empress is to be the culprit, Duke Marche would have to give up the Vallua’s property to help the empress, and if Marquis Nodelli or Elizabeth were the culprits, there would have been a setback in securing Suwon.”

It really helped a lot that the head mage, Trigon, is on my side.

Because of him, I wouldn’t be caught even if I used divine power in the palace.

I used divine power to mark my teacup in case the party went into chaos after I collapsed and the teacups were mixed.

To do so, I had to avoid the eyes of others, so I made butterflies appear in the empress’ garden.

‘He could even make up as if I was poisoned by something that couldn’t be detected by the inspectors!’

It wasn’t hard to specify the poison Elizabeth had. The only poison that would not be caught during the inspection of the imperial palace was a curse that was put into a medium.

I laughed and jumped out of bed. The Chairman let out a long sigh.

“I was so surprised when I heard this, did you know?”

“You’ll get used to it one day. By the way, how is the Nodelli family?”

“The Marquis of Nodelli has been locked up in oksa. Princess Ingrid was furious as well because he snitched on Elizabeth.”

When I heard what he said, my eyes flashed in glee.

The chairman narrowed his brows as if he didn’t expect this.

“Why did he do that to Elizabeth…….”

“The tea was prepared by Audrey.”

“Audrey?”

“The empress’ maid. She’s having an affair with Marquis Nodelli”

The chairman frowned.

“He sacrificed his daughter for his mistress? What kind of man would do that……!”

I suddenly pointed at him.

“That’s it!”

“What?”

“If Princess Ingrid finds out, could she even forgive him?”

“…… No way, did you aim for this?”

The Marquis of Nodelli, no matter how stupid,is the head of a family.

Just because he was blinded by love, he wouldn’t ruin his family like that.

Maybe he already knew Elizabeth had poison in her hands. So when they found out through the search,they wouldn’t be punished as much.

“People would definitely think like you, even though that’s not the case.”

“A shameless man who went crazy and turned in his child.”

“Bingo.”

I sat on the bed again

“It’s considered disgusting that a father would turn in their child for an affair. Who would defend the House of Nodelli?”

“Before this happened, Marquis Nodelli was reprimanding the nobles under his command because of the incident at your tea party”

We face each other and raise the corners of our mouths with an evil smile.

“Now we just have to wait and see how Nodelli’s going to fail.”

“Shouldn’t we think of ways to expose his affair?”

“That’s why…….”

The chairman nodded as I lowered my voice and whispered at his ears.

***

“As expected, you’re a capable man.”

Audrey hugged the Marquis of Nodelli and kissed him everywhere on the cheek.

“But what if the empress gets angry?”

“What can she do? It’s true Elizabeth had poison in her hands. That damn Weiss, I saved him because he’s useful. How dare he gave poison to my daughter?”

“What are you going to do with him?”

“I sent a knight to his place to twist his neck, but he had already fled.”

When Marquis Nodelli grumbled, Audrey said, “Hmm…….” and nodded.

“But there’s something weird.As soon as the lady fell, the emperor knew it?…. Is there a spy among us??”

“Maybe…….”

Audrey hugged Marquis Nodelli’s arm and whispered.

“He heard the news so fast, so ther emust be many spies. But that’s alright”

“But because of him…….”

“I need to use those spies to my advantage before throwing them away.”

Marquis Nodelli grinned and pinched Audrey’s cheek lightly.

“You cutie. You have a good brain and ways with words.”

“Only that?”

“No way, for you I would divorce my wife at any minute. If it’s not because of that diamond mine…….”

Then they heard someone’s footsteps from the distance.

Audrey quickly got away from him, and Marquis Nodelli’s lieutenant appeared.

The lieutenant looked at the marquis and Audrey’s disheveled clothes as he bowed his head, already familiar with this kind of scene.

“The nobles gathered in the palace.”

“Is it because of Elizabeth?”

“That’s right.”

The marquis quickly went out.

***

The emperor closed his eyes tightly with his head held in one hand.

Marquis Nodelli had come inside the room and said,

“There’s no way Elizabeth knew. She’s only nine years old. She must be joking.”

“Joke? Did you just say it was a joke?”

Isaac and the Duke of Dubbled, hit the table. Henry blocked them and said,

“Look at the outcome, my sister is in this state because of her pranks. But, how did the lady poison my sister herself?”

“That……”

“How can we be sure that only the lady poisoned her? The marquis, the princess, or the empress could have helped.”

Marquis Nodelli was flabbergasted.

‘That cunning fellow……!’

He didn’t forget to drag other people.

Dubbled’s second son, who is more cunning than a snake, never missed a gap.

‘At this rate, I may be entangled.’

“What are you saying! The law stated that minors under 12 cannot be judged.”

“She will if it is considered to violate imperial and church rights.”

Henry said while closing his eyes.

“—That’s what the law stated anyway.”

“What……!”

“It could be considered a crime if she brought poison to the palace. It is also against the Pope’s will when she tried to poison my sister, the child of fate.Elizabeth Nodelli can’t avoid punishment.”

The eldest son, Johann continued his brother’s words. The empress who was watching the situation nervously shouted, “Hey, Lord Dubbled!”

“Should I notify the church?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Isn’t it clearly stated in the oath when Leblaine was adopted? When Leblaine had a problem, Dubbled could receive the church’s help. Her Majesty is present at that time as well”

The empress is at a loss of words, so Henry Dubbled said,

“We only have three terms. First, investigate both the party organizer and the guests. If necessary, please proceed with the arrests. Second, let our doctor see my sister.”

“What is the third term?”

“If it is certain that Elizabeth is the sole perpetrator, then we’ll follow the precedent of Count Esla and Marquis Shuheil in the year 31. We’ll fight them.”

“……!”

Everyone froze.

After the predecessor of Shuheil’s family was killed by Count Esla’s sword, his son continued to compete with Count Esla.

They competed in the presence of the emperor, and the defeated Count Esla was cut off the neck.

‘Th, that’s ridiculous!’

The Dubbled family including Javelin Ariage is all aura users. So winning against them would be considered impossible.

“Your Majesty!”

If they compete, they will surely die.

The emperor looked at the Duke of Dubbled in displeasure.

“I don’t think you should go that far.”

“The other day, I asked you not to drive me into a corner. Today you crossed the line.”

The Duke of Dubbled’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“I’m not sure how far I’ll go if you cross the line.”

‘This bastard.’

The emperor couldn’t say anything,even if the child he cherished was about to be punished.

‘She’s the child of fate so I couldn’t decide anything recklessly…….’

The emperor nodded reluctantly.

Marquis Nodelli’s face turned pale.

The aristocrats gathered in the palace exchanged glances.

‘The marquis couldn’t even save his child now’

‘I need to tie the empress somehow.’

‘That way, Duke Marche will come forward to sort things out.’

At that time, in the empress’ palace.

“Please calm down, empress.”

“Just what is my father doing at a time like this?!”

“…….”

The empress looked at Jean Theresa, a maid who narrowed her brows without saying a word.

“Why are you silent? What’s my father doing?”

“…….”

“Theresa!”

“He’s meeting Marquis Nodelli .”

“What? Why did he meet him instead!”

The empress bit her lips tightly.

“Why…….”

Just then, a maid ran into the room.

“Empress!!”

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