Chapter 176

TL: Zimming

The Empress Dowager looked at the young ladies with a happy expression. She couldn’t hide her delight ever since the selection announcement was made. Before, she was pushed back by Camilla, after that, she had to give Empress Elsa authority, and later Empress Yvonne monopolized power.

So this time, she must have been desperate to obtain the power of the inner palace as she was given a chance.

As expected, the Empress Dowager looked at Lady Amboise, the candidate for the Empress, whom she supported with a subtle gaze. Then she was startled and muttered,

“What th…”

The emperor frowned when the Empress Dowager was about to let out inappropriate words.

“Mother.”

Then the Empress Dowager coughed and asked Lady Amboise.

“What could have happened to make the lady like this?”

When the Empress Dowager asked the question, Lady Amboise licked her lips due to her nervousness.

“It is my fault, your majesty. How could I blame a child for my mistake?”

She pretended to be thoughtful, but emphasized the world child. I was the only child in this place. At those words, the eyes of the Empress Dowager, the emperor, and everyone in the venue turned to me.

“Child, tell me. What happened?”

When the Empress Dowager asked me, Lady Amboise secretly sneered at me.

Surprised by my words, Cecilia tried to interrupt me but I didn’t let her.

“I accidentally spilled the juice. But don’t worry, your majesty. Lady Amboise had forgiven me.”

The Empress Dowager frowned at my brazen remarks.

“Child, it’s good for you to be forgiven, but don’t take it for granted. Have you properly apologize to Lady Amboise?”

As expected, the Empress Dowager, whose hobby was discriminating against people, still has nonsensical words as her speciality.

The emperor’s expression hardened.

Forcing an apology in a crowded place is no different than giving shame to her. Especially the daughter of Dubblede, who was in a fiery collusion with the emperor.

“Mother, as an adult we need to forgive a child’s mistakes.”

“It is also the role of an adult to teach a child, your majesty.”

The Empress Dowager, who cut off the emperor’s words, looked back at me with a kind face.

“Now, child. Go on.”

“Your majesty, then it’s me and Ms. Cecilia Olga who should receive the apology first.

“What?”

“Lady Amboise made a mistake first, but she told me that mistakes should be forgiven, so I had no choice but to forgive her.”

“It can’t be. Lady Amboise is a wise one, I guarantee that.”

“Lady Amboise called me and Miss Cecilia Olga a commoner. My aunt said that anyone who called me that was insulting to your majesty and Dubblede.”

I continued speaking with my eyes fixed on Lady Amboise.

“I am the daughter of my dad, who was sent by the Empress Dowager and adopted by Dubblede. So you can’t call me that.”

Gloria Amboise did not know what to say, as she did not know that I would say it to her majesty.

Because, in society, my origin was usually considered a shame, so she thought I would never speak of it myself.

‘But I’m different.’

I could say it easily.

I used to live as a beggar and listen to all kinds of insults. In my first and second life, I’ve heard a lot more from people who are hostile to me.

So that insult means nothing to me.

“I, I…… don’t…… the child told that on purpose……!”

Gloria Amboise’s words sparked criticism in the venue.

“Is a child’s mistake the same as an adult’s?”

“She’s lucky if she doesn’t get slapped. If it was me, I would slap her.”

Empress Dowager, who was staring at Lady Amboise, was at a loss for words and kept tapping the table.

“Stop! What are you doing in front of the emperor?”

The Empress Dowager continued after coughing in vain as Lady Amboise and the people bowed their heads.

“I will leave this thing to Lady Amboise and the child. Don’t resent each other.”

The people at the party were unhappy.

Because they saw how the Empress Dowager is quick to help Lady Amboise’s reputation. The Empress Dowager even guaranteed that the lady was wise. Right now, Empress Dowager’s and Lady Amboisd’s face was completely crumpled.

‘Now that this has happened, no one will bother Cecilia as much.’

The emperor, who was watching the situation, smiled at me. His smile was like my dad’s when he was proud of me.

***

Cecilia and I walked down the hallway from the Imperial Palace to the lodgings reserved for the participants.

“Lady…….”

Cecilia looked at me with a worried expression.

“Yes?”

“Forget the words of Lady Amboise.”

“No more than that, are you okay?”

Cecilia bit her lip as I said so.

“It’s a fact for me. But to say that to a noble…….”

“Actually, it is not such a big insult, is it? I brought it up in front of the Empress Dowager on purpose.”

“… Then you know that the Empress Dowager will defend Lady Amboise?”

“That’s right! She was supported by her as expected. No matter how much the Empress Dowager supported Lady Amboise, if she was like that, the other participants would get angry.”

“Then Lady Amboise would become a public enemy.”

‘Cecilia is smart.’

She’s perfect as an empress.

Cecilia continued as she rubbed her chin.

“It was luck either way. If the words hadn’t been criticized by other participants and recommenders, things wouldn’t have gotten this far.”

“Luck?”

As I tilted my head, Cecilia said to me.

“Yes, aren’t we lucky?”

“Sure, if you think so.”

People usually say that I’m not lucky.

‘Even after being adopted by dukes, I died twice, and then ran away as a beggar and died of starvation.’

Can I believe in luck like that?

“Wait a second… those who criticized Lady Amboise were planted by you!”

I pulled up the corners of my lips.

“Now that was true.”

Because of Lady Amboise’s personality, I thought she would definitely do something like this.

It was my godmother who helped me plant people.

“Really, you’re amazing.”

“I know!”

Cecilia grinned as I had my proud expression.

“Such a wonderful child should go home and have a nice snack. I’ve been baking pies these days. Lemon pie is my specialty.”

“I’m excited!”

I said to Cecilia, “Let’s hurry up and go to the lodging.” But then,

Bzztt-.

I felt a little vibration. This was a similar feeling to when I hold a devil’s passage.

‘What is this?’

I don’t have the devil’s passage now. The amethyst, which was obviously a devil’s passage, was kept in the lodging in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

‘I’m not holding on to it, but is there a passage that’s strong enough for me to feel it from a distance like this?’

If so, I have to get it in my hands. If the temple finds this and joined hands with Mina, some kind of misfortune may come to me as I am opposed to the temple.

‘Damn it. There is no one to investigate.’

We cannot bring servants or knights from our family while we are in the palace.

And, if Cecilia, an empress candidate, investigates it and was found out, her chance as an empress will disappear.

‘It would be better if I, as a child, wandered around the Imperial Palace at will.’

“Cecilia, go back first.”

“Huh?”

“Go back.”

As I spoke with a serious face, Cecilia’s expression became grim. But she’s a quick-witted person, so she realized at once what was happening and nodded her head.

“You must be back before dinner.”

“Yes.”

After replying, I immediately headed to the epicenter of the vibration.

‘The more I go outside, the more intense the vibration is.’

And as I entered the garden, I saw a shabby building.

‘The Empress Dowager’s secret library.’

That was the place where I received the original bible in return for helping her. But I didn’t feel this vibration before…

‘I should check it out. To do that, I need to get rid of that guard first.’

I grabbed the etwal, which I had in my pocket

‘Pur.’

The etwal trembled slowly.

Yesterday, I heard about Pur’s power.

“A devil who has become bound to something can’t do everything like before. We can only use our abilities. The devil itself will be weaker than before and there are some limitations. But, my ability is…”

‘To call upon the rain.’

Then as Pur’s power activated, the sky became dark in an instant, and rain drops began to fall one by one. The guard who was guarding the front of the library clicked his tongue.

“These meteorologists never get the weather right.”

Then he quickly left the library in search of an umbrella. My whole body was trembling.

‘Wow the vibration is too much, it took up a lot of my powers like I was summoning a devil.’

I gritted my teeth, made a barrier and entered the room.

[Are you crazy? If you do this, your divine power will be completely depleted and you could die!]

I heard Pur’s shout in my head, but I ignored it.

‘It’s better than having such a powerful devil fall into the hands of the temple.’

I scrutinized the inside of the library.

‘What, why is the vibration weakening?’

It was obviously in the library, but as soon as I entered it seemed to weaken.

“Who was inside…”

They’re walking away with the devil’s passage.

‘Who is… what is this?’

I frowned and looked at something like an old journal sticking out of the bookshelf.

‘It’s clear that someone was reading it, and they left in a hurry.’

I pulled out the journal, which was the only clue I had in the library to find the whereabouts of the person.

[Are you stupid? Don’t waste your time like that…! Hey, can’t you hear me? Hey!]

I didn’t heed Pur’s words on purpose and stiffened while holding the book.

“What is this?”

[What?]

“Why is this here? No, why is it different from my memory?”

This journal is the parenting record from an orphanage. Parenting records were given to parents when they adopted a child. The name written on the front of the journal is…

‘Leblaine.’

This is a journal about me.

“But why is the name of the orphanage not the one I was in, but somewhere else…”

[Leblaine – Cebuland Nursery/ Written by Asital.]

I was at Enoch’s private orphanage. Cebulan Nursery, I’ve never been in a place like that.

I flipped through it with trembling hands.

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