“You really ought to be prepared. In any case, if this becomes public, you won’t be able to maintain good relations with the royal family or the Grand Duchy.”
“How dare you say that!”
Originally, the plan was to create a mechanism in this castle to absorb magical power, with Eurushia at the center, without her knowledge. However, Isabella and Cordle seemed to believe that was insufficient and that ‘extracting’ it while depriving her of consciousness would be more efficient.
In that state, they could take Eurushia’s magical power, which would provide almost the required amount. That’s why they drugged Eurushia. It’s not just to put her to sleep. They must have also used a dangerous drug to facilitate the release of her magical power.
But by involving Prince Ludrick, who was not part of the plan, the Capel family has surely incurred the enmity of the Grand Duchy and the royal family.
The Duke of Capel was pursuing this plan for the sake of the Holy Kingdom of Taliteld. He did not intend to antagonize the royal family and divide the nation.
“Then, wouldn’t it be better for you to become the ‘King’ instead of the opportunistic current royal family?”
“What are you saying!?”
“Secretly advancing this against the royal family and the Grand Duchy was also because you wanted to protect the nation, wasn’t it? You must know what is best for the country.”
Captivated by Isabella’s beautiful smile and sweet breath, the Duke of Capel was confused, his thoughts becoming incoherent.
“Prince Ludrick is also here. If you say it’s impossible, we could have him marry Cordelia and make him the new King.”
“…………”
Isabella had previously suggested that Ludrick marry into the Capel family. But then, what would happen to the Duke’s two sons?
That’s why the Duke of Capel had rejected Isabella’s proposal, but now, his thoughts were numb, and he could only embrace his sleeping beloved daughter, unable to delve deeper.
“From now on, I, Isabella, will take charge. First, have the attendants who took the Prince away secure him. And move the Duke and Cordelia to the annex.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
At Isabella’s instructions, several people silently sprang into action. Then, as Isabella looked around questioningly, the subordinates of the shadowy group, who had been integrated into the Capel household’s servants years ago, all bowed their heads.
“Very well,”
Isabella nods, satisfied with the attitudes of the people from her original family.
While she is a citizen of the Holy Kingdom, she does not wholeheartedly believe in the existence of God. However, she knows that there are powerful beings referred to as “gods.”
Some of these are the “spirits” and “demons” that are worshipped as local deities. If she can borrow even a portion of their power, it would be a great benefit. That is why even the non-believing Isabella agrees with Count Capel’s research into these matters.
But Isabella’s purpose is different from Count Capel’s.
As the second wife of Count Capel, Isabella oversees all the dark operations under the Capel family. Her father, brother, and younger brother are now under her command, and they, being loyal to the Capel family, understand Isabella’s ideas and are willing to act for her plans, even if it means conspiring against Count Capel himself.
“Ah, umm… Baroness Isabella, what does this mean?”
“Oh my, Archbishop Calisto…”
When Isabella turns her gaze, there is the figure of Archbishop Calisto, who is showing an unsettled demeanor, unable to understand what has happened.
Likely, as a devout believer, he did not drink the drugged wine that was prepared.
Although Calisto has stepped back, he has the backing of the cardinals. That is why, even when he causes problems, he is not excommunicated but exiled to another country. His ideologies, however, are useful for the current plan, which is why Isabella personally assisted in his return to the country.
He is not a particularly capable man, but his steadfast beliefs and influence over the Costelle Church cannot be ignored. That is why, while feeling the troublesome nature of having to keep him, Isabella smiles at Calisto.
“There is no problem, Archbishop Calisto. This is when our ‘god’ will descend. Please wait patiently.”
“I-I see…”
Calisto is concerned about the fallen Eurushia. Likely, he considers her a true saint, but once the “powerful being” referred to as “god” descends, that issue will no longer be a problem.
Even if the country is divided, opposing the royal family, as long as the Costelle Church, the national religion of the Holy Kingdom, supports it, the ruckus of the pro-royalist nobles will eventually be quelled.
“Isabella”
There was another person approaching.
Cordle, the researcher from Terthed. Isabella knows his true identity.
They did not reveal it themselves, but when they made contact through the dark operations, Isabella considered them usable and chose not to pursue it further.
Cordle may think he is the one using them, but it is actually the other way around.
Moreover, if they can build a cooperative relationship, Terthed, while siding with humanity, can secretly collaborate with the enemy of humanity and steer the affairs of the human kingdom in their favor. This is the conclusion Isabella has reached, combining her noble and dark operations-based thinking.
“What is it, Cordle?”
“My subordinates and I will proceed with the preparations. Don’t let the saint’s attendants interfere.”
“Understood.”
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“…What happened?”
Ludrick, whose poison was neutralized by Eurushia’s sacred magic, wakes up, pressing his unsteady head.
“…You’ve regained consciousness?”
“You…”
Scanning the unfamiliar forest around him, Ludrick’s vision is filled with Eurushia’s attendants, including Barnabas and Vio, who were supposed to be elsewhere. The voice just now belonged to the butler who had been lying them on the forest floor.
Shrugging his shoulders, the butler gives Ludrick a somewhat cold gaze, causing Ludrick to retreat slightly.
Eurushia’s attendants pledge absolute loyalty only to their mistress, Eurushia, and only pay superficial respect to Ludrick, the prince of this country.
The butler frequently directs cold glares towards Ludrick and Noel. As a fellow man, his scrutinizing gaze is a bit uncomfortable for Ludrick, unlike the female attendants who have less involvement.
“…Where is Lucia?”
Apparently just regaining consciousness, Noel speaks his first words while pressing his forehead, and Ludrick hurriedly looks around.
“That’s right, where is Eurushia!?”
Her presence is nowhere to be seen. The last thing he remembers is being overwhelmed by a sudden drowsiness and losing consciousness.
“What happened!? Why is Eurushia not here!?”
the butler of nearly the same height returns a cold, merciless gaze, unflinching.
“It seems she was drugged at the Capel Ducal Residence. In her current condition, Eurushia-sama could not be immediately moved, so we left a dedicated knight and a dedicated maid to guard her.”
“What!?”
Ludrick is stunned by the butler’s calm explanation. To protect Eurushia, that was the only reason he unreasonably insisted on coming. But what on earth has he been doing?
“I have to go right away…”
Noel tries to stumble towards his beloved lady, but the butler stops him again with a cold tone.
“In your state, what can you do? Eurushia-sama used sacred magic just before collapsing, so it’s better if you don’t move around yet.”
“You, of all people, what are you doing leaving Eurushia alone!?”
The emotionless butler stated the facts, but his cold, murderous aura caused Ludrick’s anger to dissipate.
“It was Eurushia-sama’s order. That person had said beforehand that if anything happened, we were to secure your safety first. Otherwise, we would not have left our master’s side.”
“…Tch.”
Ludrick could only glare, unable to retort against the butler’s implication that they were too weak, causing trouble for the others.
“…And your name is?”
“…Noah.”
As the two glared at each other, a petite silver-haired maid appeared, carrying several other maids, and placed them on the ground without reading the room.
“Noah, that’s everyone! The others are left over there!”
“Understood, Fanny. Now I’ll return to the master.”
“Okay!”
“I’ll…”
Before Noel could follow, Noah raised a hand, looking down at the still-unsteady Noel.
“You must protect these people. That is your duty. We will guard Eurushia-sama with our lives.”
“Noah! Hurry!”
Urged by the impatient Fanny, Noah nodded and dashed off. Ludrick and Noel were left speechless, unable to comprehend the exceptional physical abilities of Eurushia’s attendants as they disappeared in an instant.
“Damn it.”
Ludrick struck the tree trunk in frustration. Noel, who had been stopped, briefly bowed his head but quickly looked up, his eyes determined.
“I’m going… no matter what they say, she’s the one I want to protect.”
“…Yeah. Me too.”
Ludrick also steeled his resolve at Noel’s words. But as Noah said, someone needed to watch over the fallen, and leaving them behind felt like losing to him.
“Noel, can you heal them with magic?”
“Well… I’m not sure if my sacred magic can cure this.”
“…Go.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a voice. Vio, the third to awaken, stretched out a hand to them, wavering on her feet.
“─’Let there be light’─”
“Vio-san!”
“You two…”
Vio’s sacred magic was cast upon the two boys, purifying the remaining toxins.
“I’ll take care of them. So, for Euru-sama… I know it’s not my place as a commoner to ask this of you noble gentlemen, but please…”
“We understand. We feel the same way.”
“Yes, please leave it to us. We’ll definitely rescue Lucia!”
“Please!”
The boys nodded firmly, responding to Vio’s pleading.
Then-
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