“This trust. If it is announced directly by your own mouth and finally comes true...”
Adrienne recognized the desire in Teln's eyes.
For Teln, donations are just additional income.
What he needs is the authority of the temple through an oracle.
Doris also approached him under the pretext of a donation, but in the end, didn't she gain his trust by handing over the prophecy she had fabricated to Teln?
“Not only will the status of the temple be raised, but wouldn’t it be no different from having the birth of a new Crown Prince accomplished by your own hands?”
Teln collapsed under the weight of the horse.
The high priest, who had lost all his energy, headed to the guest room, leaving us alone in the reception room.
“I’ve been so wrong about this person! If you encourage Teln to tell such lies, then I’ll have no justification for criticizing him.”
“Marchioness. Didn’t you just threaten to reveal the truth about Doris Castagna to the world if we didn’t announce the oracle together?”
Adrienne kept quiet for a moment, feeling it was premature to reveal that she was in fact the real Adrienne. But somehow, Ephero took her side.
“Well, I was so taken in by this lady’s confidence that I didn’t realize it. Madam, did you really save the Count?”
“Does that matter?”
“It’s important!”
“No, Marchioness..”
Adrienne had been excited all along, looking for a clue to confront Doris's misdeeds.
Rather than getting caught up in trivial matters and not being able to give Rhodnes what he wanted, she decided it would be better to completely deceive everyone.
“The important thing is to atone for the sins of His Highness the Crown Prince who passed away, even if only a little, and to achieve what His Highness the Second Prince, who sacrificed himself, wanted.”
“!”
Adrienne felt a little guilty, but she touched Canula's sensitive spot.
“Have you already heard from Lord Vincenzo the true will of Her Majesty Empress Letina? To uphold that will, help Her Majesty Empress’s life to shine the brightest light on Ronta. And you, Lord Ephero, must avenge the six Princes.”
Adrienne looked at the speechless Canula and Ephero in turn and said.
Ephero's expression darkened rapidly when the story of the six Princes came up.
The day he returned to the mansion from the cave first, following Vincenzo.
He asked Vincenzo all sorts of questions.
Why on earth did my brothers have to die and have their bodies preserved like that?
At that time, Vincenzo's answer gave Ephero a great shock.
The one who killed was probably the Duke of Castagna.
It was Bardenaldo who encouraged him to do so.
The reason the body was placed there was probably to be brought out and displayed in a secret room after ascending to the throne.
Vincenzo's confidence that he would have considered it as loot without any guilt.
Ephero shook his head as he recalled the painful memories and regained his composure.
Even though the Crown Prince is already dead, aren't the Duke of Castagna, who actually killed his brothers, and his daughter Doris living in luxury?
“That’s right, Marchioness. Isn’t it also your responsibility that His Highness the Crown Prince grew up like that?”
Ephero said the cutting words with a smiling face.
Canula paused for a moment, frozen in place, then sank back into the sofa.
Canula supported Rhodnes and felt responsible for Bardenaldo's atrocities, intending to spend the rest of her life atonement.
But she was suddenly afraid that urging the high priest to lie would be another sin and incur the wrath of God.
“Your Grace.”
Adrienne, who had noticed her, quietly called out to Canula.
Canula had a hard time understanding how this fragile-looking beauty could have had the nerve to tell such a lie.
But Adrienne smiled as if to reassure her.
“Prophecies are not lies.”
“If you intend to spout nonsense...”
“I will make the prophecy come true.”
Her sparkling green eyes shone with intelligence.
“To clear His Highness the Second Prince of his ridiculous and ominous reputation of having red eyes, wouldn’t it have to be something like ‘God’s will’?”
Canula stared deeply into the eyes of Adrienne, who had overwhelmed the High Priest earlier.
What was more shocking was not the eyes that told lies.
As rumored, she wasn't a witch, but maybe she was a mad woman. The way she held down the high priest was like the aura of a half-mad person.
“By God’s will, please grant me Your Grace’s help in clearing away all the remaining trash.”
But strangely enough.
Why is it that I like the woman in front of me so much more than Doris, who used to flirt with me and say all sorts of sweet things?
“Yes, Marchioness. In my experience, if you become this lady’s friend, at least you won’t attend her funeral where I am the main character.”
At Ephero's defense, who had regained his arrogance in the meantime, Canula's expression became one of neither crying nor laughing.
Emperor Julius' face, facing his son for the first time in a long time, was quite indifferent.
Following Letina's death, the death of Baroness Kuroseda, and the death of his successor, he was exhausted both physically and mentally.
“Do you want to be Emperor?”
The Emperor glanced at Rhodnes, who had come in heavily armed despite not being on display.
“You’ve become greedy too.”
“Are I greedy?”
The Emperor's lips were closed.
If you really think about it, it was natural that Rhodnes, who was second in line for succession, would become the new successor.
Even Ephero, the successor to the throne, was qualified to be promoted if the Emperor so desired.
“Roan.”
"Yes."
“They say that the Emperor is a position given by God.”
Julius gestured for Rhodnes, who was standing at the entrance to the audience room, to come closer.
“But it’s also a position that you can never achieve alone.”
“...”
“Among my brothers, there was one who was particularly talented like you.”
The Emperor naturally recalled the fierce competition of his younger days, which was incomparably more intense than it is now.
Without Noevian's help, he would not have been able to ascend to the throne smoothly even though he was the Crown Prince.
“The person you are thinking of. Noevian Ronta was like that, and before that, there was a younger brother with red eyes like you.”
It was the first time Rhodnes heard this story.
The Emperor smiled bitterly as interest returned to Rhodnes' eyes.
“If there had been someone like Doris Castagna who was given the title of ‘Saintess’ back then, I might not be where I am today.”
The brow of Rhodnes, who had been frozen in place at the Emperor's sudden mention of Doris' name, furrowed.
“...What does that mean?”
“If someone like Doris, who was given the title of ‘Saintess’ at that time, had been able to put the red-eyed ghost story to rest, if a woman with the name of Saintess had become his spouse, my younger brother could have become the Emperor.”
“Does Your Majesty agree to the revival of the criminal investigation system?”
“Then. You can become the light of Letina!”
The Emperor suddenly opened his eyes.
“If you can just neutralize the legend that you are an evil Prince, you should marry the Duke of Castagna, not Doris! If you want to become the Emperor, this is a gateway you must pass through. Besides, Count Raylon and Count Siscometin, who had been wandering after Bardenaldo’s death, are finally coming to support you because of Doris. Now that the Duke of Castagn, who dislikes you, has fallen, it is the right time.”
Rhodnes took a step closer to the Emperor.
The Emperor's mouth moved faster as he interpreted the action differently.
“Yes, does it feel real now? Roan, my son. Since Bardenaldo died, you are the only proof that Letina and I loved each other in this land. I will pass the throne to you. Even if you have red eyes!”
"Father."
"Yes."
Rhodnes, who had come close to the Emperor's nose, turned his back to the moonlight and looked down at his father.
The face of Emperor Julius, willing to hand over the throne, was hidden in the shadow of Rhodnes.
Within, Rhodnes whispered.
“The first Emperor Kirpis is a traitor.”
The corners of Julius' mouth, which had been smiling faintly, hardened.
“The true first Emperor is the Red-Eyed Caldeion. Therefore, the symbol of the legitimacy of the Ronta Imperial Family is the Red Eye.”
“...Roan?”
“Does my father know about this record?”
The Emperor staggered even though he was sitting. His face instantly turned ashen.
Rhodnes just stared at him with clear eyes without holding him back.
“The fake successors of the Blue Eyes conspired as if they had planned it, and kept and hid the records. They had no intention of using the Mana Stones to prosper the country but instead banned magic, and the national power was caught up to Elacon...”
“Roan, Roan, what are you talking about...”
“Red Eyes, who was among the many royals killed by Noevian Trovica in place of my father, was not even recorded in history.”
The Emperor opened his mouth and could not make a sound. The cold red eyes of Rhodnes seemed to be squeezing his throat.
“Is this really a coincidence?”
The Emperor just stared blankly at Rhodnes, who was biting him again, with a face that seemed to have forgotten to breathe.
The son's face, which was extremely neat and tidy, was as cold as frost.
“I don’t know if I need that Saintess.”
“Roan. Ro, Roan...”
The Emperor was speechless and kept calling out to his son.
“I will give you a chance to set history straight.”
The red gaze that had been staring at the roughly dry lips smiling brightly turned straight to the deep blue eyes.
“I will give you a chance to make up for the years you kept your mouth shut about the truth and lived against God’s will.”
“This, this is not such a simple matter, Roan!”
The Emperor barely managed to shout.
But when the cracks appeared, the blue eyes would shake and show anxiety.
“I... Do you think I did it because I wanted to? My father’s, my grandfather’s, and that grandfather’s honor are all at stake! Do you intend to destroy the foundation of the Ronta royal family that has been built up until now?”
“If you want to silence me, don’t tell me to take Doris Castagna as my wife. Don’t tell me that you’ll give me the place that’s mine in return for that.”
“Roan! Roan!!”
With those words, Rhodnes left the audience room.
It was late at night, and he was equally hurt by the fact that his father knew about Rossi's records and buried the truth.
“Even if I follow your words! Keep in mind that politics involving various forces is never that simple!”
The Emperor's urgent voice echoed through the closing doors.
Rhodnes's steps quickened.
The flag of the second Prince, Rhodnes, suddenly entered the palace.
It was an early return.
As soon as Doris heard the news, she postponed her plans to go to the Great Temple.
Although it was late at night, he had Noura help her with her makeup. She was a woman who dealt with noble ladies, so she had a discerning eye.
Of course, to maintain the image of a Saintess, she cannot dress up as extravagantly as before, but she must also put effort into maintaining elegance.
Doris ordered Noura, who had been called out at night, to wet her already dry hair and comb it.
Noura did what she was told without a word.
“Why do you feel like things have been going well since Noura came back from the North, don’t you?”
“...Is that so?”
“The Second Prince, whom we were worried about because there was no news, returned safely and quickly.”
“...But, His Excellency the Duke of Kasnagna, hasn’t his condition gotten worse?”
Doris's gaze suddenly became sharp as she looked in the mirror while humming a tune.
Doris, who had been staring at Noura's face for a while as she was combing her hair indifferently, smiled again.
“He was in a slump, so he’ll be up soon.”
There was a hint of discontent in Doris' voice as she spoke.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
“I’m done combing now!”
Doris glared nervously at Noura, who couldn't even comb her hair properly, even though she usually did it well.
Adrienne recognized the desire in Teln's eyes.
For Teln, donations are just additional income.
What he needs is the authority of the temple through an oracle.
Doris also approached him under the pretext of a donation, but in the end, didn't she gain his trust by handing over the prophecy she had fabricated to Teln?
“Not only will the status of the temple be raised, but wouldn’t it be no different from having the birth of a new Crown Prince accomplished by your own hands?”
Teln collapsed under the weight of the horse.
***
The high priest, who had lost all his energy, headed to the guest room, leaving us alone in the reception room.
“I’ve been so wrong about this person! If you encourage Teln to tell such lies, then I’ll have no justification for criticizing him.”
“Marchioness. Didn’t you just threaten to reveal the truth about Doris Castagna to the world if we didn’t announce the oracle together?”
Adrienne kept quiet for a moment, feeling it was premature to reveal that she was in fact the real Adrienne. But somehow, Ephero took her side.
“Well, I was so taken in by this lady’s confidence that I didn’t realize it. Madam, did you really save the Count?”
“Does that matter?”
“It’s important!”
“No, Marchioness..”
Adrienne had been excited all along, looking for a clue to confront Doris's misdeeds.
Rather than getting caught up in trivial matters and not being able to give Rhodnes what he wanted, she decided it would be better to completely deceive everyone.
“The important thing is to atone for the sins of His Highness the Crown Prince who passed away, even if only a little, and to achieve what His Highness the Second Prince, who sacrificed himself, wanted.”
“!”
Adrienne felt a little guilty, but she touched Canula's sensitive spot.
“Have you already heard from Lord Vincenzo the true will of Her Majesty Empress Letina? To uphold that will, help Her Majesty Empress’s life to shine the brightest light on Ronta. And you, Lord Ephero, must avenge the six Princes.”
Adrienne looked at the speechless Canula and Ephero in turn and said.
Ephero's expression darkened rapidly when the story of the six Princes came up.
The day he returned to the mansion from the cave first, following Vincenzo.
He asked Vincenzo all sorts of questions.
Why on earth did my brothers have to die and have their bodies preserved like that?
At that time, Vincenzo's answer gave Ephero a great shock.
The one who killed was probably the Duke of Castagna.
It was Bardenaldo who encouraged him to do so.
The reason the body was placed there was probably to be brought out and displayed in a secret room after ascending to the throne.
Vincenzo's confidence that he would have considered it as loot without any guilt.
Ephero shook his head as he recalled the painful memories and regained his composure.
Even though the Crown Prince is already dead, aren't the Duke of Castagna, who actually killed his brothers, and his daughter Doris living in luxury?
“That’s right, Marchioness. Isn’t it also your responsibility that His Highness the Crown Prince grew up like that?”
Ephero said the cutting words with a smiling face.
Canula paused for a moment, frozen in place, then sank back into the sofa.
Canula supported Rhodnes and felt responsible for Bardenaldo's atrocities, intending to spend the rest of her life atonement.
But she was suddenly afraid that urging the high priest to lie would be another sin and incur the wrath of God.
“Your Grace.”
Adrienne, who had noticed her, quietly called out to Canula.
Canula had a hard time understanding how this fragile-looking beauty could have had the nerve to tell such a lie.
But Adrienne smiled as if to reassure her.
“Prophecies are not lies.”
“If you intend to spout nonsense...”
“I will make the prophecy come true.”
Her sparkling green eyes shone with intelligence.
“To clear His Highness the Second Prince of his ridiculous and ominous reputation of having red eyes, wouldn’t it have to be something like ‘God’s will’?”
Canula stared deeply into the eyes of Adrienne, who had overwhelmed the High Priest earlier.
What was more shocking was not the eyes that told lies.
As rumored, she wasn't a witch, but maybe she was a mad woman. The way she held down the high priest was like the aura of a half-mad person.
“By God’s will, please grant me Your Grace’s help in clearing away all the remaining trash.”
But strangely enough.
Why is it that I like the woman in front of me so much more than Doris, who used to flirt with me and say all sorts of sweet things?
“Yes, Marchioness. In my experience, if you become this lady’s friend, at least you won’t attend her funeral where I am the main character.”
At Ephero's defense, who had regained his arrogance in the meantime, Canula's expression became one of neither crying nor laughing.
***
Emperor Julius' face, facing his son for the first time in a long time, was quite indifferent.
Following Letina's death, the death of Baroness Kuroseda, and the death of his successor, he was exhausted both physically and mentally.
“Do you want to be Emperor?”
The Emperor glanced at Rhodnes, who had come in heavily armed despite not being on display.
“You’ve become greedy too.”
“Are I greedy?”
The Emperor's lips were closed.
If you really think about it, it was natural that Rhodnes, who was second in line for succession, would become the new successor.
Even Ephero, the successor to the throne, was qualified to be promoted if the Emperor so desired.
“Roan.”
"Yes."
“They say that the Emperor is a position given by God.”
Julius gestured for Rhodnes, who was standing at the entrance to the audience room, to come closer.
“But it’s also a position that you can never achieve alone.”
“...”
“Among my brothers, there was one who was particularly talented like you.”
The Emperor naturally recalled the fierce competition of his younger days, which was incomparably more intense than it is now.
Without Noevian's help, he would not have been able to ascend to the throne smoothly even though he was the Crown Prince.
“The person you are thinking of. Noevian Ronta was like that, and before that, there was a younger brother with red eyes like you.”
It was the first time Rhodnes heard this story.
The Emperor smiled bitterly as interest returned to Rhodnes' eyes.
“If there had been someone like Doris Castagna who was given the title of ‘Saintess’ back then, I might not be where I am today.”
The brow of Rhodnes, who had been frozen in place at the Emperor's sudden mention of Doris' name, furrowed.
“...What does that mean?”
“If someone like Doris, who was given the title of ‘Saintess’ at that time, had been able to put the red-eyed ghost story to rest, if a woman with the name of Saintess had become his spouse, my younger brother could have become the Emperor.”
“Does Your Majesty agree to the revival of the criminal investigation system?”
“Then. You can become the light of Letina!”
The Emperor suddenly opened his eyes.
“If you can just neutralize the legend that you are an evil Prince, you should marry the Duke of Castagna, not Doris! If you want to become the Emperor, this is a gateway you must pass through. Besides, Count Raylon and Count Siscometin, who had been wandering after Bardenaldo’s death, are finally coming to support you because of Doris. Now that the Duke of Castagn, who dislikes you, has fallen, it is the right time.”
Rhodnes took a step closer to the Emperor.
The Emperor's mouth moved faster as he interpreted the action differently.
“Yes, does it feel real now? Roan, my son. Since Bardenaldo died, you are the only proof that Letina and I loved each other in this land. I will pass the throne to you. Even if you have red eyes!”
"Father."
"Yes."
Rhodnes, who had come close to the Emperor's nose, turned his back to the moonlight and looked down at his father.
The face of Emperor Julius, willing to hand over the throne, was hidden in the shadow of Rhodnes.
Within, Rhodnes whispered.
“The first Emperor Kirpis is a traitor.”
The corners of Julius' mouth, which had been smiling faintly, hardened.
“The true first Emperor is the Red-Eyed Caldeion. Therefore, the symbol of the legitimacy of the Ronta Imperial Family is the Red Eye.”
“...Roan?”
“Does my father know about this record?”
The Emperor staggered even though he was sitting. His face instantly turned ashen.
Rhodnes just stared at him with clear eyes without holding him back.
“The fake successors of the Blue Eyes conspired as if they had planned it, and kept and hid the records. They had no intention of using the Mana Stones to prosper the country but instead banned magic, and the national power was caught up to Elacon...”
“Roan, Roan, what are you talking about...”
“Red Eyes, who was among the many royals killed by Noevian Trovica in place of my father, was not even recorded in history.”
The Emperor opened his mouth and could not make a sound. The cold red eyes of Rhodnes seemed to be squeezing his throat.
“Is this really a coincidence?”
The Emperor just stared blankly at Rhodnes, who was biting him again, with a face that seemed to have forgotten to breathe.
The son's face, which was extremely neat and tidy, was as cold as frost.
“I don’t know if I need that Saintess.”
“Roan. Ro, Roan...”
The Emperor was speechless and kept calling out to his son.
“I will give you a chance to set history straight.”
The red gaze that had been staring at the roughly dry lips smiling brightly turned straight to the deep blue eyes.
“I will give you a chance to make up for the years you kept your mouth shut about the truth and lived against God’s will.”
“This, this is not such a simple matter, Roan!”
The Emperor barely managed to shout.
But when the cracks appeared, the blue eyes would shake and show anxiety.
“I... Do you think I did it because I wanted to? My father’s, my grandfather’s, and that grandfather’s honor are all at stake! Do you intend to destroy the foundation of the Ronta royal family that has been built up until now?”
“If you want to silence me, don’t tell me to take Doris Castagna as my wife. Don’t tell me that you’ll give me the place that’s mine in return for that.”
“Roan! Roan!!”
With those words, Rhodnes left the audience room.
It was late at night, and he was equally hurt by the fact that his father knew about Rossi's records and buried the truth.
“Even if I follow your words! Keep in mind that politics involving various forces is never that simple!”
The Emperor's urgent voice echoed through the closing doors.
Rhodnes's steps quickened.
***
The flag of the second Prince, Rhodnes, suddenly entered the palace.
It was an early return.
As soon as Doris heard the news, she postponed her plans to go to the Great Temple.
Although it was late at night, he had Noura help her with her makeup. She was a woman who dealt with noble ladies, so she had a discerning eye.
Of course, to maintain the image of a Saintess, she cannot dress up as extravagantly as before, but she must also put effort into maintaining elegance.
Doris ordered Noura, who had been called out at night, to wet her already dry hair and comb it.
Noura did what she was told without a word.
“Why do you feel like things have been going well since Noura came back from the North, don’t you?”
“...Is that so?”
“The Second Prince, whom we were worried about because there was no news, returned safely and quickly.”
“...But, His Excellency the Duke of Kasnagna, hasn’t his condition gotten worse?”
Doris's gaze suddenly became sharp as she looked in the mirror while humming a tune.
Doris, who had been staring at Noura's face for a while as she was combing her hair indifferently, smiled again.
“He was in a slump, so he’ll be up soon.”
There was a hint of discontent in Doris' voice as she spoke.
“I can say a prayer for my father at the altar, too... ouch!”
“I’m done combing now!”
Doris glared nervously at Noura, who couldn't even comb her hair properly, even though she usually did it well.
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