Chapter 33
“Did you say child?”
“I said child.”
“When… Don’t tell me?”
“I’m telling you.”
Hector, who was staring at him with a smile, stared at him in amazement.
“Then, did you find that woman?”
“She gave birth to and raised my child.”
“Does that mean she will come back with you?”
“I don’t think it’ll be easy.”
At those words, Hector shut his mouth with Berthas’ words.
“If it’s not easy…”
“Yes. I don’t think it will be easy.”
Hector went out to announce the good news, and Berthas did not stop him. He wasn’t aiming for the throne of the Hillenton Empire… No, he had no particular need to aim for it, and the Imperial Family would clear itself.
However, things have changed. Since he had a daughter and knew that she would not be able to inherit the throne normally in Larchen, he had to return Hillenton to its original state for the sake of the child.
“First, let’s bring the Emperor down.”
No one listened to Berthas’ words that came out of his mouth.
“How is the Princess?”
“She is playing well. Now she’s babbling quite a bit.”
“I see.”
As Isilis smiled lightly, Meryl saw it and said.
“If you smile, the Princess will like it.”
“Me?”
“That’s right.”
She glanced down at the child’s face as Meryl expressed her opinion blankly. She smiled brightly, gazing at the child holding her finger tightly.
“Look. Isn’t the Princess happy, too?”
Isilis laughed, and the smile returned to the child, who smiled like the sun.
“You… Did you say you raised a child?”
“That’s right.”
“What about your sister?”
“…She is dead.”
“I asked the wrong question.”
“No, Your Majesty.”
At the end of those words, Meryl closed her mouth and Isilis held the Princess. The child’s laughter calmed her troubled heart.
“Your Majesty.”
Duke Verus came in through the door and said to her.
“It’s ready.”
“Let’s go.”
Isilis, who had handed the Princess over to Meryl and stroked the child’s head once before stepping away. There was silence as the two walked down the hallway.
“What is the nobles’ reaction?”
“Not good. Don’t you know?”
“Because Berthas Hillenton touched the barrier?”
“That’s right.”
The fact that the barrier was touched by someone within the Larchen Empire created anxiety among the nobles. It was fortunate that Berthas was not known as the Swordmaster. If that was the case, there were nobles who would rise up more ferociously.
It was difficult for the Princess to ascend to the throne even if nothing happened. This made it harder for her.
“Duke.”
“Yes. Your Majesty.”
“I have no intention of having another child other than that one.”
“That’s what… I thought.”
She really had no intention. Now unable to have Berthas as a mate, she didn’t want to imagine meeting new people and having to do what she did with him again. Looking at his face, it became clearer… She couldn’t do that. It was the Empress’ duty to protect her country though she was also a human being.
Isilis couldn’t do anything she didn’t want to do. The previous Empress, who was suffering after her father passed away, passed the throne and left. At that moment, her heart understood her mother.
“Then, come up with a plan.”
“Your Majesty…”
As Duke Verus called her in a lament, Isilis replied firmly.
“Find a way. If you don’t want to see this country fall apart.”
“I will try.”
She was unsatisfied with the answer but nodded her head.
There was no other way out. The succession could only be established with the support of the Empress or nobles. If the Princess had been gifted with magical powers, she would have been able to get them without any problems though it was impossible under the current circumstances. She had no choice but to convince the nobles who were on her side.
“What is the captured wizard doing now?”
“He is in a delirium due to the brainwashing spell. It’s hard to ask anything.”
“Did you do a body search?”
“There was nothing special about it, but… Oh, he had a strange tattoo on his arm.”
“A strange tattoo?”
“It’s not uncommon to get tattoos on the arms, but wouldn’t it be weird if that tattoo looked like a sword?”
“A sword?”
“It is a small sword with snakes around it.”
“Did you say snake?”
“That’s right. your majesty.”
Isilis got startled by those words. A sword and snakes… She had to search the Imperial Palace library.
“I’ll have to see it for myself.”
“Let’s go.”
The setting sun was falling behind the figure of the two of them moving in haste. The place where the wizard was held was a room with a huge magic circle.
“How is it?”
“Not bad.”
“The one who drew the magic circle.”
“The investigation into him has also been completed.”
The wizard left a magic circle drawn in blood. And he used it to perform movement magic. It seemed that the wizard used magic that should not be used in this country.
“The magic circle drawn in blood was devised by a wizard named Ignardo three hundred years ago.”
“Ignardo… Isn’t he the one who tried to take over Larchen with black magic?”
“That’s right.”
Exactly three hundred and twenty years ago, the Larchen Empire was at its greatest crisis.
“Then, does it mean that those who want to harm the Empire have raised their heads again?”
“Your Majesty. It’s too much to conclude…”
“Even if the situation is like this?”
“Maybe they didn’t expect it as well—”
“Get your act right now!”
When the wizard opened his eyes due to magic, the hallucination spell was immediately cast. So now, the wizard would see those around him as his colleagues.
[ “You couldn’t complete your mission.” ]
The chief wizard, who was in the same place, opened his mouth and said.
“No…! We succeeded in abducting the Imperial Family member as ordered! You’ve already reported it, haven’t you?”
[ “But?” ]
“The imperial barrier was strong, and the Empress appeared.”
[ “Therefore?” ]
“That… After that…”
Confused by his memories, the wizard wrapped his arms around his head.
“I caught the Princess as you commanded, but she has no magical powers! She had black hair! I didn’t fail my mission! Now that he knew that the Princess didn’t have magical powers… He said to kill her! I heard the order, but…”
[ “You heard it?” ]
“Uwaak!”
Confused but calmly confessing, the wizard suddenly screamed and vomited blood. Isilis hurriedly cast a spell but it was too late. He seemed to have stopped bleeding slowly, then poured more blood again.
“This!”
“Poison…!”
“Didn’t you do a thorough investigation?”
Allure, bewildered by Isilis’ words, jumped right and left.
“No, this is…”
“What happened?!”
The knight who was examining the dead wizard’s mouth at the prompting voice prostrated and opened his mouth.
“He clenched his teeth. There must have been a hidden poison in it.”
“How could a person with brainwashing magic be able to do that!”
“Your Majesty!”
Isilis hurried to her feet. On the back of the dead wizard’s neck, a faint but luminous pattern could be seen.
“That…”
“Ignardo’s magic… It’s a magic that can take the life of a wizard who was cast if the person with the spell could not be contacted for a certain period of time.”
With the investigator’s sighing words, Isilis touched her forehead.
“How dare you do such a rude thing to a wizard. Even in my land!”
The rising anger resonated with her magical power, and the White Palace wept. Both the servants and the people outside the Palace were startled and fell to their knees.
“Your Majesty, please calm down.”
Even though she could hear Duke Verus talking, she couldn’t stand it.
‘It’s not enough to have done a kidnapping in the Palace where it should be safest, those guys…’
Her thoughts did not follow. If that thought continued, it would be too pitiful for the Princess. When the White Palace did not stop its reverberation, she saw the nobles running in haste.
‘…Is there a traitor among them?’
The previous Empress’ words to trust no one came to mind. The Empress’ seat was lonely, that was why she should trust no one. Isilis remembered the words she had forgotten for a while.
“Your Majesty…!”
Watching the nobles looking with worried eyes, Isilis cleared her breath. As she struggled to calm her magic, the reverberation among the White Palace subsided.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded her head to Marquis Cyrka.
“I got too agitated.”
“It’s not good for your health.”
“That’s enough.”
As she waved her hand to the concern, she moved quickly. The number of nobles following her was increasing. As she sat on the throne in the audience room, the line of nobles bowed their heads.
“This is a matter for the survival of the Empire. So, I will raise a successor to solidify the Empire.”
“Who are you talking about?”
There was someone who defiantly stepped forward after her resolute words.
“Count Monto.”
“Who are you talking about? As far as I know, Your Majesty is the only true Imperial Family in this country.”
“What did you say now?”
She spoke with anger, but Count Monto casually opened his mouth again.
“A princess was born, but she was not born with magical powers, so even though she becomes the Royal Family, she cannot become an heir.”
Seeing the nobles who nodded their heads at his words, Isilis could not hide her hardening face. Perhaps they were afraid of her face, the other nobles withdrew their body, but Count Monto didn’t care.
“So, it seems right to welcome a spouse.”
“Did you say spouse?”
“There seems to be a problem with the Princess because there is no proper spouse.”
“…Do you dare say there is a problem with the imperial family?”
She couldn’t hold back the magic that was rising from her hand and shot it right away. One side of the audience room was engulfed in smoke after the ‘bang!’ sound. Surprised guards from outside rushed in, and as the smoke cleared, the wall that had been there collapsed.
Isilis parted her lips as she felt the nobles stare at each other in disbelief.
“Why can’t that child be the heir?”
“Isn’t it obvious? An imperial family without magical powers cannot become the Empress! Who maintains the magical barrier that protects this country?”
“Then, you should watch your mouth. The magical barrier that protects this country is made by my hand, so your spirit may not be protected, right?”
Count Monto was holding back his anger as his face turned red at her threatening words.
‘How dare you, a count…’
“Listen. Magical powers did not appear in the princess right now, but looking at the history of the Empire, there are instances in which magical powers appear after getting older. So, I will wait and make the Princess as the successor.”
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