As Odette turned around to leave, the Countess cried out in a panicked voice.
“What are you guys doing?! Stop that woman right now! Kneel before me!”
But it seemed that Rolf wasn't the only one who felt threatened because even though she shouted, no one among the people in attendance was willing to step forward.
'What on earth is going on?'
Was Odette originally like that?
The aristocratic dignity she created was even more perfect than Madame's. It was enough to make one feel that one should not touch Odette in the present state.
“Huh! No one dares listen to me? Do you also want to be kicked out of this Count’s house? Have you forgotten how your colleagues were silenced three years ago! Get that woman now! Rolf, you too!”
The Countess's new voice broke the atmosphere that Odette had been controlling. Only then did Rolf hurriedly intercept Odette.
'I almost brought this to you and sent you off without knowing it! ... How dare you humiliate me?'
Rolf, possessed by evil, held Odette's arm tightly and appealed to the Countess.
“Madam, the young lady needs a stronger punishment. Please lock her in the dungeon. It will take a wise and bold decision on your part to correct this loose behavior!”
But she looked reluctant. It was because Ferdinand had asked her not to keep Odette in the dungeon until the founding of the country.
After being locked up there, Odette would suffer from long-term tuberculosis. During the founding period, wouldn't it be necessary to have a doll to raise the young master's spirit?
'But it's okay. There's no way the young master would be angry with the madam.'
Rolf grinned with confidence. That was when he saw those cool blue-green eyes staring at him.
'What's with those eyes?'
The gaze that seemed to pierce through something was eerie. However, in the moment when her body shook, Odette's eyes became calm again.
“There must be another way, Rolf. Ferdinand would hate it.”
"Lady."
“I’d rather inject this kid with a few bottles of Mengele. I’ll confiscate her new clothes.”
Knock, knock.
“What are you guys doing?! Stop that woman right now! Kneel before me!”
But it seemed that Rolf wasn't the only one who felt threatened because even though she shouted, no one among the people in attendance was willing to step forward.
'What on earth is going on?'
Was Odette originally like that?
The aristocratic dignity she created was even more perfect than Madame's. It was enough to make one feel that one should not touch Odette in the present state.
“Huh! No one dares listen to me? Do you also want to be kicked out of this Count’s house? Have you forgotten how your colleagues were silenced three years ago! Get that woman now! Rolf, you too!”
The Countess's new voice broke the atmosphere that Odette had been controlling. Only then did Rolf hurriedly intercept Odette.
'I almost brought this to you and sent you off without knowing it! ... How dare you humiliate me?'
Rolf, possessed by evil, held Odette's arm tightly and appealed to the Countess.
“Madam, the young lady needs a stronger punishment. Please lock her in the dungeon. It will take a wise and bold decision on your part to correct this loose behavior!”
But she looked reluctant. It was because Ferdinand had asked her not to keep Odette in the dungeon until the founding of the country.
After being locked up there, Odette would suffer from long-term tuberculosis. During the founding period, wouldn't it be necessary to have a doll to raise the young master's spirit?
'But it's okay. There's no way the young master would be angry with the madam.'
Rolf grinned with confidence. That was when he saw those cool blue-green eyes staring at him.
'What's with those eyes?'
The gaze that seemed to pierce through something was eerie. However, in the moment when her body shook, Odette's eyes became calm again.
“There must be another way, Rolf. Ferdinand would hate it.”
"Lady."
“I’d rather inject this kid with a few bottles of Mengele. I’ll confiscate her new clothes.”
Knock, knock.
The Countess walked in front of them and asked, grabbing a clump of splendid platinum hair.
“Odette, aren’t you ashamed to see Ferdinand? If you have a brother who is going to marry into the royal family, you should be careful about your behavior. How dare you act so carelessly.”
Rolf closed his mouth. He was overwhelmed by the Madam's eyes, which were filled with the passion to crush the rebellion.
“Marrying a royal family? You’re really out of your mind. No one in the world would take a drugged murderer as their son-in-law.”
But Odette remained unshaken as if she felt no pressure at all.
Instead, the Countess's body froze under Odette's momentum.
'The situation cannot end so abruptly.'
It was difficult to follow this stupid story and not reach the conclusion that it was an underground prison.
'My mother herself must put me in prison.'
Because she had to plant the seeds of conflict between Ferdinand and the Countess.
“You dare insult my son?!”
“I just told the truth. How is that an insult?”
In contrast to her mother's new, raised voice, Odette's voice became lighter, almost like a song.
“That’s why we don’t take in human babies.”
“Since you gave birth to a beast child as your son, it is only natural that you should not take in a human child.”
Odette laughed mockingly as she watched her mother clench her teeth and make her jaw bulge.
“Oh my, I made a big mistake. The name ‘beastling’ is too much for Ferdinand. I think ‘pest’ would be just right.”
“...Lock this woman in the dungeon right now!”
Eventually, the mother couldn't stand it anymore and called the footmen.
That was when.
“Mother, what are you doing?”
The voice of a young man, soaked in alcohol, echoed through the lobby.
Ferdinand walked slowly down the stairs, looking down at the lobby with his snake-like copper eyes.
Odette's expression turned as white as a wax doll. It was because of disgust and hatred. Her arm, which was held by the footman, trembled.
“It’s a toy I bought, so shouldn’t I use it as I please before I die?”
'You dared to insult me.'
As Odette's arms trembled, the Countess smiled in satisfaction, mistaking the trembling for fear of the dungeon.
“Now you know your place. Do you see? How wrong you were?!”
The excited woman, who had become more assertive, raised her voice cheerfully.
“Take that thing to the dungeon right now!”
“You there, let go of that hand right now. How dare you touch my toy without my permission-”
“Don’t delay! Get him underground quickly!”
Ferdinand's efforts were of no use.
The footmen quickly dragged Odette into the dungeon. As she was being dragged, Odette clenched her fists so tightly that blood flowed from her palms.
'I have to be stupid to rush to that dog.'
As she was leaving the lobby, she could hear Ferdinand screaming from a distance.
“Mother! Do you dare to imprison Odette in the dungeon now?”
“Ferdinand, listen to the mother’s point of view. That child...”
“Mother, why are you acting like this? Why are you using my toys so carelessly?”
Ferdinand's voice, higher and rougher than usual, grew distant.
The honey water in Ferdinand's room that Lize had secretly swapped out. The confession liquid mixed in it was the sound of the seeds of conflict between mother and son.
The Albrecht family had an unusually high number of rebellions by vassals and collateral branches. The dungeon was filled with various torture devices and skeletons as if to prove its history.
The smell of blood stuck to the bloody execution platform and the musty smell of mold. A place where even the slightest movement causes a cloud of dust to float.
'When I was little, I cried so much because I was scared of something like this.'
I thought, locked behind bars in a dungeon.
Staying in this dark and cold place with the remains all day long made me feel like this was my grave. That's why when I was released from my confinement, I would be very grateful to my family.
'It's not even funny. That word 'family' was my grave.'
After laughing at my past self, I got up. It was almost dawn, so I had to get moving.
'The injured Crown Prince should have returned to the palace by now.'
<The Crown Prince's Reckless Driving Incident>.
“Odette, aren’t you ashamed to see Ferdinand? If you have a brother who is going to marry into the royal family, you should be careful about your behavior. How dare you act so carelessly.”
Rolf closed his mouth. He was overwhelmed by the Madam's eyes, which were filled with the passion to crush the rebellion.
“Marrying a royal family? You’re really out of your mind. No one in the world would take a drugged murderer as their son-in-law.”
But Odette remained unshaken as if she felt no pressure at all.
Instead, the Countess's body froze under Odette's momentum.
***
'The situation cannot end so abruptly.'
It was difficult to follow this stupid story and not reach the conclusion that it was an underground prison.
'My mother herself must put me in prison.'
Because she had to plant the seeds of conflict between Ferdinand and the Countess.
“You dare insult my son?!”
“I just told the truth. How is that an insult?”
In contrast to her mother's new, raised voice, Odette's voice became lighter, almost like a song.
“That’s why we don’t take in human babies.”
“Since you gave birth to a beast child as your son, it is only natural that you should not take in a human child.”
Odette laughed mockingly as she watched her mother clench her teeth and make her jaw bulge.
“Oh my, I made a big mistake. The name ‘beastling’ is too much for Ferdinand. I think ‘pest’ would be just right.”
“...Lock this woman in the dungeon right now!”
Eventually, the mother couldn't stand it anymore and called the footmen.
That was when.
“Mother, what are you doing?”
The voice of a young man, soaked in alcohol, echoed through the lobby.
Ferdinand walked slowly down the stairs, looking down at the lobby with his snake-like copper eyes.
Odette's expression turned as white as a wax doll. It was because of disgust and hatred. Her arm, which was held by the footman, trembled.
“It’s a toy I bought, so shouldn’t I use it as I please before I die?”
'You dared to insult me.'
As Odette's arms trembled, the Countess smiled in satisfaction, mistaking the trembling for fear of the dungeon.
“Now you know your place. Do you see? How wrong you were?!”
The excited woman, who had become more assertive, raised her voice cheerfully.
“Take that thing to the dungeon right now!”
“You there, let go of that hand right now. How dare you touch my toy without my permission-”
“Don’t delay! Get him underground quickly!”
Ferdinand's efforts were of no use.
The footmen quickly dragged Odette into the dungeon. As she was being dragged, Odette clenched her fists so tightly that blood flowed from her palms.
'I have to be stupid to rush to that dog.'
As she was leaving the lobby, she could hear Ferdinand screaming from a distance.
“Mother! Do you dare to imprison Odette in the dungeon now?”
“Ferdinand, listen to the mother’s point of view. That child...”
“Mother, why are you acting like this? Why are you using my toys so carelessly?”
Ferdinand's voice, higher and rougher than usual, grew distant.
The honey water in Ferdinand's room that Lize had secretly swapped out. The confession liquid mixed in it was the sound of the seeds of conflict between mother and son.
***
The Albrecht family had an unusually high number of rebellions by vassals and collateral branches. The dungeon was filled with various torture devices and skeletons as if to prove its history.
The smell of blood stuck to the bloody execution platform and the musty smell of mold. A place where even the slightest movement causes a cloud of dust to float.
'When I was little, I cried so much because I was scared of something like this.'
I thought, locked behind bars in a dungeon.
Staying in this dark and cold place with the remains all day long made me feel like this was my grave. That's why when I was released from my confinement, I would be very grateful to my family.
'It's not even funny. That word 'family' was my grave.'
After laughing at my past self, I got up. It was almost dawn, so I had to get moving.
'The injured Crown Prince should have returned to the palace by now.'
<The Crown Prince's Reckless Driving Incident>.
That was today.
An incident in which the Crown Prince, who was building up signs of recklessness, suffers from the aftereffects of battle and symptoms of recklessness.
In her previous life, she had incurred the irreversible hatred of the male protagonists because of that incident. She was very lucky that her return occurred the day before the <Crown Prince's Reckless Incident>.
She felt around the bars of the prison cell and the floor, where the iron skewers were plentiful. After being stabbed several times, she finally found the only iron skewer that was made of a different material.
'This is it.'
She pulled hard on the cone and a key covered in a thick layer of dust popped out. It was the key to the secret passage.
It was something that the head of the household a few generations ago, who was worried about a rebellion, had hidden in case his subjects imprisoned him.
She knew this because, in her previous life, she had accidentally hidden in this secret passage to avoid the transcendent beings.
'I must use it usefully in the future as well.'
Clank.
An incident in which the Crown Prince, who was building up signs of recklessness, suffers from the aftereffects of battle and symptoms of recklessness.
In her previous life, she had incurred the irreversible hatred of the male protagonists because of that incident. She was very lucky that her return occurred the day before the <Crown Prince's Reckless Incident>.
She felt around the bars of the prison cell and the floor, where the iron skewers were plentiful. After being stabbed several times, she finally found the only iron skewer that was made of a different material.
'This is it.'
She pulled hard on the cone and a key covered in a thick layer of dust popped out. It was the key to the secret passage.
It was something that the head of the household a few generations ago, who was worried about a rebellion, had hidden in case his subjects imprisoned him.
She knew this because, in her previous life, she had accidentally hidden in this secret passage to avoid the transcendent beings.
'I must use it usefully in the future as well.'
Clank.
Odette opened the prison bars with the key and walked towards the execution platform. As she pulled the blood-stained platform, a secret passageway that was barely big enough for one person to pass through was revealed.
She walked down the endless, labyrinthine passage without any light. It was a spiral staircase that made her lose her sense of direction, but it was no problem at all for her, who had used it dozens of times in her past life.
Odette was soon able to get where she wanted.
Count Albrecht's apothecary storehouse. This is where the highest grade of runaway delay agents were stored.
The height of spring. The soft, warm scent of roses flowed sweetly.
After grabbing some runaway delay agents from the apothecary warehouse, Odette escaped through the exit closest to the palace and headed straight there.
Thanks to the guards who recognized Odette as soon as they saw her face and opened the gates of the palace, she was able to quickly reach her destination, the palace gardens.
<The Crown Prince's Reckless Driving Incident>.
She walked down the endless, labyrinthine passage without any light. It was a spiral staircase that made her lose her sense of direction, but it was no problem at all for her, who had used it dozens of times in her past life.
Odette was soon able to get where she wanted.
Count Albrecht's apothecary storehouse. This is where the highest grade of runaway delay agents were stored.
***
The height of spring. The soft, warm scent of roses flowed sweetly.
After grabbing some runaway delay agents from the apothecary warehouse, Odette escaped through the exit closest to the palace and headed straight there.
Thanks to the guards who recognized Odette as soon as they saw her face and opened the gates of the palace, she was able to quickly reach her destination, the palace gardens.
<The Crown Prince's Reckless Driving Incident>.
She heard the story of that day so many times in the courtroom.
“Odette Lina von Albrecht. You have refused the Crown Prince’s repeated requests for purification.
You said you would purify it if I gave you enough diamond mines, and even though I gave you 20, you never came. In addition, you threatened my father so that you wouldn't give me even one pill of the temporary runaway delay drug that the Count had monopolized!
The Crown Prince ended up having to give up one of his own eyes with his own hands! Even though the body parts cut off when he was on the verge of going berserk do not regenerate permanently!”
An S-class transcendent rampage is nothing short of a disaster.
Odette learned at the trial that the military and the imperial agents had knelt before her father and asked him to purge her to prevent the empire's destruction.
Fortunately, there were no deaths, but the Crown Prince eventually went berserk and had to sacrifice one of his eyes to stop himself.
It was only at that trial that she learned that she had become a notorious villainess for things she had never done.
'I was so incredibly stupid. So thoughtless and without a plan.'
At the trial, Count Albrecht gave a brilliant performance.
“I was born a late-born daughter with a weak body, so I just tolerated her whining. It was because of my lack of education, so please punish me!”
Wearing extravagant dresses at memorial services as if mocking the dead, dressing up more extravagantly than the Emperor at his birthday party, and shamelessly charging the palace for all the expenses of these extravagances.
He changed the names of the diamond mines and fertile lands granted by the Empire without permission and sold them to other kingdoms at a low price. He used the money to commit criminal activities such as human trafficking and drug distribution. He demanded the enslavement of the Fenrir clan. He blamed all of this on Odette.
“Ugh, ugh!”
And then the fact that she was a 'S-class Purifier' was also a lie. It was only natural that she should be sentenced to death by hanging.
The cold faces of the Emperor and the noble jury who were pronouncing the verdict. She was speechless and could do nothing but be terrified.
Shaking off the memories that were flooding back, Odette walked slowly. Towards the center of the rose garden. Towards a beautiful fountain with a relief of the World Tree.
“Lady Albrecht... What are you doing here?”
And exactly where she expected, the Crown Prince was lying down.
His muscles were torn so much that his bones were visible from his shoulders to his hips. He was covered in blood and panting.
“Ha, His Highness.. brought you here? Looks like Father is causing trouble again.”
Contrary to the feeble pretense, it is clearly an urgent appearance in need of purification.
“Odette Lina von Albrecht. You have refused the Crown Prince’s repeated requests for purification.
You said you would purify it if I gave you enough diamond mines, and even though I gave you 20, you never came. In addition, you threatened my father so that you wouldn't give me even one pill of the temporary runaway delay drug that the Count had monopolized!
The Crown Prince ended up having to give up one of his own eyes with his own hands! Even though the body parts cut off when he was on the verge of going berserk do not regenerate permanently!”
An S-class transcendent rampage is nothing short of a disaster.
Odette learned at the trial that the military and the imperial agents had knelt before her father and asked him to purge her to prevent the empire's destruction.
Fortunately, there were no deaths, but the Crown Prince eventually went berserk and had to sacrifice one of his eyes to stop himself.
It was only at that trial that she learned that she had become a notorious villainess for things she had never done.
'I was so incredibly stupid. So thoughtless and without a plan.'
At the trial, Count Albrecht gave a brilliant performance.
“I was born a late-born daughter with a weak body, so I just tolerated her whining. It was because of my lack of education, so please punish me!”
Wearing extravagant dresses at memorial services as if mocking the dead, dressing up more extravagantly than the Emperor at his birthday party, and shamelessly charging the palace for all the expenses of these extravagances.
He changed the names of the diamond mines and fertile lands granted by the Empire without permission and sold them to other kingdoms at a low price. He used the money to commit criminal activities such as human trafficking and drug distribution. He demanded the enslavement of the Fenrir clan. He blamed all of this on Odette.
“Ugh, ugh!”
And then the fact that she was a 'S-class Purifier' was also a lie. It was only natural that she should be sentenced to death by hanging.
The cold faces of the Emperor and the noble jury who were pronouncing the verdict. She was speechless and could do nothing but be terrified.
Shaking off the memories that were flooding back, Odette walked slowly. Towards the center of the rose garden. Towards a beautiful fountain with a relief of the World Tree.
“Lady Albrecht... What are you doing here?”
And exactly where she expected, the Crown Prince was lying down.
His muscles were torn so much that his bones were visible from his shoulders to his hips. He was covered in blood and panting.
“Ha, His Highness.. brought you here? Looks like Father is causing trouble again.”
Contrary to the feeble pretense, it is clearly an urgent appearance in need of purification.
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