He died in the end.
From the moment I learned that Valend Pale was connected to strange magic, I didn't think he would survive, so it wasn't that surprising.
All that remains is regret that a proper confession and uncovering of the background were not possible.
“If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have worn the brooch. Then I might have been able to use it for something more useful...”
“I can’t help it. It’s already been spilled, and I never would have guessed that he would be under some strange spell.”
Perdes stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and then asked me.
“You said he suddenly collapsed while talking?”
"Yes."
“He didn’t have any strange symptoms before?”
“Yes. There wasn’t any. A magic circle suddenly appeared inside the palm of his hand.”
If there was a magic circle on Valend Pale's palm, the knights in charge of searching his body would have reported it to me.
“Then it seems like it was triggered by some condition... What was the last thing he said before he had a seizure?”
What did he say?
I couldn't remember very well because Valend Pale was talking nonsense so much.
I thought back over the conversation I had with him.
So, before the seizure occurs, clearly...
“Your Highness... I think I said that.”
As I thought about that, a hypothesis crossed my mind.
The hypothesis is that the Emperor may not be human.
'No. That can't be true.'
If the Emperor were not human, the temple would have recognized him immediately.
Because the priests had the 'eyes of god' that could see into the essence of living things.
There was no way they wouldn't recognize it.
Then who is the Majesty that Valend Pale spoke of?
Surely... you’re not talking about the empress?
Or is it another third party?
“My head hurts.”
Perdes nodded in agreement.
“If he were alive, we could have figured out who was behind it. What a pity.”
“Yeah, but I think I can at least try.”
“Try it?”
Perdes tilted his head slightly.
“Does that mean you know who the culprit is?”
“No. I’m literally just going to stab him once. If he’s the culprit, he’ll be so shocked that he’ll trip and come out.”
The eruption of a volcano during the inauguration of Duke Leopold as Grand Master of the Order of the Knights spread throughout the Empire in less than three days.
The volcano that had been quiet for hundreds of years suddenly erupted because Adele Leopold had incurred the wrath of the Red Dragon.
“Indeed, the current Duke Leopold is not the official successor recognized by the previous Duke Leopold, but she inherited the title of Duke, so it is understandable for the Red Dragon to be angry.”
“But she is the only blood relative of the Duke Leopold family. There is no one else who can become the Duke.”
“That’s right. If that’s the logic, then wouldn’t the Red Dragon have been angry even if His Highness the 4th Prince had become a Duke?”
So isn't that why the red dragon is angry?
If there is another reason, what might it be?
Is it possible that the current Duke is not a blood relative of the Leopold Duke family?
But is it really true that the volcano erupted because the red dragon was angry?
Could it be that a simple natural disaster has occurred?
Rumors and speculations, mixed with all sorts of delusions, spread wildly.
Those who had been listening intently to the news from the Duchy of Leopold, even making bets on which of the two would win, were soon stunned by the rumors they heard.
“The Red Dragon wasn’t angry, but someone deliberately erupted the volcano to disrupt the Knight Commander’s inauguration ceremony?”
“That’s what they said. And they said the criminal confessed that he did it under His Majesty’s orders.”
“His Majesty... His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Her Majesty the Empress is there too...”
Emperor and Empress.
Which of the two is the culprit?
People's attention was immediately focused on an unprecedented incident involving two of the highest-ranking people in the empire.
People waited with their ears pricked up, wondering what excuse or answer the imperial family would give.
However, the royal family remained silent and did not offer any explanation.
As such, people's curiosity and doubts grew.
Maybe both of them were involved in this.
This is an opportunity for the royal family to swallow up the Duke Leopold family.
Amid the murmurings, a relief convoy led by the Crown Prince visited Leopold's duchy.
It was the morning of the tenth day since the volcanic eruption.
The gates were locked tightly to prevent outsiders from entering the territory, but there were a few exceptions where entry was permitted.
One of them was when relief supplies and volunteers from each territory arrived.
It would be absurd to treat those who came to help the Duchy of Leopold coldly, so the gates were opened wide to welcome them.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Duke Leopold.”
So, unfortunately, I couldn't stop the Crown Prince from entering the duchy.
I expected the imperial family to react when I spread such a rumor, but I never thought they would send the Crown Prince.
It was absurd and ridiculous, but also a little surprising.
I also wondered whose mind this idea came from.
Sending the Crown Prince was an excellent choice.
Because the Crown Prince could be on the side of either the Emperor or the Empress.
If they had sent someone biased towards one side, people would have whispered that he was the culprit.
I too would have thought that person was behind this incident, but that turned out not to be the case.
“Welcome to the Duchy of Leopold, Your Royal Highness.”
I bowed my head slightly and said something I didn't mean.
“As you know, the situation in the dukedom is not good, so I cannot treat you more generously. I ask for your understanding.”
“Of course I understand. Even if that’s not the case, you don’t have to be so formal with me. We’re going to be a family soon.”
“There’s no need to be so formal, Lady Leopold. We’re going to be family soon.”
Who would say they're rich? Their words and actions are the same.
That in itself was disgusting, but what was most disgusting was putting me in the fence called family.
I drank my tea to stifle the nausea that was welling up in me.
Thanks to the fragrant chamomile, my upset stomach gradually calmed down.
“I was very surprised to hear that a volcano erupted during the Knight Commander’s inauguration ceremony. And it wasn’t just a natural disaster, there was a culprit.”
The Crown Prince sighed as if he was very sorry, but his eyes were smiling.
Unlike the Emperor or Perdes, the Crown Prince was not very good at acting.
It's good because I'm easy to deal with.
“It’s fortunate that the damage is not as severe as expected. I hope that the situation is resolved as soon as possible.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
After that, the Crown Prince continued to talk about useless things, such as asking about Perdes' well-being.
Even though we're not close, your insistent questioning means that you have something to tell me.
“If you have nothing important to say, may I stand first? As Your Highness the Crown Prince knows, I am a little busy with the restoration of my territory.”
If you have something to say, don't waste time and say it quickly.
When I said it with that meaning, the crown prince's expression suddenly distorted.
He took a deep breath and opened his mouth carefully.
“Have you heard... that rumor?:
That's the story, after all.
“What kind of rumors are you talking about?”
I knew everything, but I pretended not to know and asked back.
Then the Crown Prince frowned as if he was a little troubled.
He clasped his hands together and added:
“There is a rumor that either His Majesty the Emperor or Her Majesty the Empress is behind the volcanic eruption.”
“Oh, that’s it.”
As I nodded, acting as if I finally understood, the wrinkles between the Crown Prince's eyebrows deepened.
He asked me in a lower voice than before.
“Do you believe that rumor?”
“No way. There’s no way I would believe such a rumor.”
“Right?”
The Crown Prince's crumpled face was smoothed out as if it had been ironed.
He continued speaking with a smile.
“His Majesty the Emperor and His Majesty the Empress truly cherish and love Duke Leopold and your family. When they heard the news of the recent volcanic eruption, they were very saddened.”
I guess you must have felt sorry.
Speaking of plans that failed.
Based on what we've discovered so far, a third party seems like a strong suspect, but I don't think so.
To be exact, I thought that a third party, the Emperor or Empress, had joined hands to do this.
Of the two, the most likely candidate was, of course, the Emperor.
“But how can such a rumor spread...”
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth as if he was angry just thinking about it.
I can see the clear anger in his eyes, so he must be really angry this time.
“This is a clear insult to the royal family, so we will definitely catch the culprit and punish him.”
“Please do so.”
If that's possible, that is.
I smiled, hiding my dark feelings.
The crown prince smiled in response, then checked the time and let out a short exclamation.
“I guess I've been holding onto a busy person for too long.”
When the Crown Prince stood up, I also stood up.
“Then I will take my leave now, Duke Leopold.”
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yes. I would like to stay a little longer and talk to the Duke, but the circumstances do not allow for that, so there is nothing I can do.”
“Then who is the culprit?”
The Crown Prince looked at me as if he didn't understand my question.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince said you would definitely catch the culprit who started that rumor.”
“Yes, it was.”
“I don’t know who started the rumor, but the source of the rumor is the culprit who caused the volcanic eruption, Valend Pale. He confessed that ‘His Majesty ordered it.’”
“...!”
“If you’ve heard the rumors, you should know this, but why are you leaving without meeting Valend Pale? It’s like..."
I stared straight into the shaking eyes and smiled.
“Like someone who knows they’ll never meet that person..."
From the moment I learned that Valend Pale was connected to strange magic, I didn't think he would survive, so it wasn't that surprising.
All that remains is regret that a proper confession and uncovering of the background were not possible.
“If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have worn the brooch. Then I might have been able to use it for something more useful...”
“I can’t help it. It’s already been spilled, and I never would have guessed that he would be under some strange spell.”
Perdes stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and then asked me.
“You said he suddenly collapsed while talking?”
"Yes."
“He didn’t have any strange symptoms before?”
“Yes. There wasn’t any. A magic circle suddenly appeared inside the palm of his hand.”
If there was a magic circle on Valend Pale's palm, the knights in charge of searching his body would have reported it to me.
“Then it seems like it was triggered by some condition... What was the last thing he said before he had a seizure?”
What did he say?
I couldn't remember very well because Valend Pale was talking nonsense so much.
I thought back over the conversation I had with him.
So, before the seizure occurs, clearly...
“Your Highness... I think I said that.”
As I thought about that, a hypothesis crossed my mind.
The hypothesis is that the Emperor may not be human.
'No. That can't be true.'
If the Emperor were not human, the temple would have recognized him immediately.
Because the priests had the 'eyes of god' that could see into the essence of living things.
There was no way they wouldn't recognize it.
Then who is the Majesty that Valend Pale spoke of?
Surely... you’re not talking about the empress?
Or is it another third party?
“My head hurts.”
Perdes nodded in agreement.
“If he were alive, we could have figured out who was behind it. What a pity.”
“Yeah, but I think I can at least try.”
“Try it?”
Perdes tilted his head slightly.
“Does that mean you know who the culprit is?”
“No. I’m literally just going to stab him once. If he’s the culprit, he’ll be so shocked that he’ll trip and come out.”
***
The eruption of a volcano during the inauguration of Duke Leopold as Grand Master of the Order of the Knights spread throughout the Empire in less than three days.
The volcano that had been quiet for hundreds of years suddenly erupted because Adele Leopold had incurred the wrath of the Red Dragon.
“Indeed, the current Duke Leopold is not the official successor recognized by the previous Duke Leopold, but she inherited the title of Duke, so it is understandable for the Red Dragon to be angry.”
“But she is the only blood relative of the Duke Leopold family. There is no one else who can become the Duke.”
“That’s right. If that’s the logic, then wouldn’t the Red Dragon have been angry even if His Highness the 4th Prince had become a Duke?”
So isn't that why the red dragon is angry?
If there is another reason, what might it be?
Is it possible that the current Duke is not a blood relative of the Leopold Duke family?
But is it really true that the volcano erupted because the red dragon was angry?
Could it be that a simple natural disaster has occurred?
Rumors and speculations, mixed with all sorts of delusions, spread wildly.
Those who had been listening intently to the news from the Duchy of Leopold, even making bets on which of the two would win, were soon stunned by the rumors they heard.
“The Red Dragon wasn’t angry, but someone deliberately erupted the volcano to disrupt the Knight Commander’s inauguration ceremony?”
“That’s what they said. And they said the criminal confessed that he did it under His Majesty’s orders.”
“His Majesty... His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Her Majesty the Empress is there too...”
Emperor and Empress.
Which of the two is the culprit?
People's attention was immediately focused on an unprecedented incident involving two of the highest-ranking people in the empire.
People waited with their ears pricked up, wondering what excuse or answer the imperial family would give.
However, the royal family remained silent and did not offer any explanation.
As such, people's curiosity and doubts grew.
Maybe both of them were involved in this.
This is an opportunity for the royal family to swallow up the Duke Leopold family.
Amid the murmurings, a relief convoy led by the Crown Prince visited Leopold's duchy.
It was the morning of the tenth day since the volcanic eruption.
***
The gates were locked tightly to prevent outsiders from entering the territory, but there were a few exceptions where entry was permitted.
One of them was when relief supplies and volunteers from each territory arrived.
It would be absurd to treat those who came to help the Duchy of Leopold coldly, so the gates were opened wide to welcome them.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Duke Leopold.”
So, unfortunately, I couldn't stop the Crown Prince from entering the duchy.
I expected the imperial family to react when I spread such a rumor, but I never thought they would send the Crown Prince.
It was absurd and ridiculous, but also a little surprising.
I also wondered whose mind this idea came from.
Sending the Crown Prince was an excellent choice.
Because the Crown Prince could be on the side of either the Emperor or the Empress.
If they had sent someone biased towards one side, people would have whispered that he was the culprit.
I too would have thought that person was behind this incident, but that turned out not to be the case.
“Welcome to the Duchy of Leopold, Your Royal Highness.”
I bowed my head slightly and said something I didn't mean.
“As you know, the situation in the dukedom is not good, so I cannot treat you more generously. I ask for your understanding.”
“Of course I understand. Even if that’s not the case, you don’t have to be so formal with me. We’re going to be a family soon.”
“There’s no need to be so formal, Lady Leopold. We’re going to be family soon.”
Who would say they're rich? Their words and actions are the same.
That in itself was disgusting, but what was most disgusting was putting me in the fence called family.
I drank my tea to stifle the nausea that was welling up in me.
Thanks to the fragrant chamomile, my upset stomach gradually calmed down.
“I was very surprised to hear that a volcano erupted during the Knight Commander’s inauguration ceremony. And it wasn’t just a natural disaster, there was a culprit.”
The Crown Prince sighed as if he was very sorry, but his eyes were smiling.
Unlike the Emperor or Perdes, the Crown Prince was not very good at acting.
It's good because I'm easy to deal with.
“It’s fortunate that the damage is not as severe as expected. I hope that the situation is resolved as soon as possible.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
After that, the Crown Prince continued to talk about useless things, such as asking about Perdes' well-being.
Even though we're not close, your insistent questioning means that you have something to tell me.
“If you have nothing important to say, may I stand first? As Your Highness the Crown Prince knows, I am a little busy with the restoration of my territory.”
If you have something to say, don't waste time and say it quickly.
When I said it with that meaning, the crown prince's expression suddenly distorted.
He took a deep breath and opened his mouth carefully.
“Have you heard... that rumor?:
That's the story, after all.
“What kind of rumors are you talking about?”
I knew everything, but I pretended not to know and asked back.
Then the Crown Prince frowned as if he was a little troubled.
He clasped his hands together and added:
“There is a rumor that either His Majesty the Emperor or Her Majesty the Empress is behind the volcanic eruption.”
“Oh, that’s it.”
As I nodded, acting as if I finally understood, the wrinkles between the Crown Prince's eyebrows deepened.
He asked me in a lower voice than before.
“Do you believe that rumor?”
“No way. There’s no way I would believe such a rumor.”
“Right?”
The Crown Prince's crumpled face was smoothed out as if it had been ironed.
He continued speaking with a smile.
“His Majesty the Emperor and His Majesty the Empress truly cherish and love Duke Leopold and your family. When they heard the news of the recent volcanic eruption, they were very saddened.”
I guess you must have felt sorry.
Speaking of plans that failed.
Based on what we've discovered so far, a third party seems like a strong suspect, but I don't think so.
To be exact, I thought that a third party, the Emperor or Empress, had joined hands to do this.
Of the two, the most likely candidate was, of course, the Emperor.
“But how can such a rumor spread...”
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth as if he was angry just thinking about it.
I can see the clear anger in his eyes, so he must be really angry this time.
“This is a clear insult to the royal family, so we will definitely catch the culprit and punish him.”
“Please do so.”
If that's possible, that is.
I smiled, hiding my dark feelings.
The crown prince smiled in response, then checked the time and let out a short exclamation.
“I guess I've been holding onto a busy person for too long.”
When the Crown Prince stood up, I also stood up.
“Then I will take my leave now, Duke Leopold.”
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yes. I would like to stay a little longer and talk to the Duke, but the circumstances do not allow for that, so there is nothing I can do.”
“Then who is the culprit?”
The Crown Prince looked at me as if he didn't understand my question.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince said you would definitely catch the culprit who started that rumor.”
“Yes, it was.”
“I don’t know who started the rumor, but the source of the rumor is the culprit who caused the volcanic eruption, Valend Pale. He confessed that ‘His Majesty ordered it.’”
“...!”
“If you’ve heard the rumors, you should know this, but why are you leaving without meeting Valend Pale? It’s like..."
I stared straight into the shaking eyes and smiled.
“Like someone who knows they’ll never meet that person..."
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