Episode 33. The Happiest Woman in Kalime
“Is this the document you are looking for?”
“Yes. It’s the same as it was 10 years ago.”
Then the Emperor added again.
“Burn it.”
However, Kenny’s answer was unexpected.
“This document has a protective spell attached to it. It can only be burned if the person who placed the spell removes it.”
“He’s dead. Isn’t there a way?”
“A higher-level wizard than the dead wizard can do it.”
“Does that mean I have to find a higher-level wizard than you?”
“I’m sorry, but that’s right. I can’t destroy this document with my abilities.”
Jan looked defeated. Most of the wizards in Kalime were either sacrificed in the war or went into hiding to avoid being sacrificed. Kenny had also barely managed to survive after being burned in the war and losing both eyes.
‘I have to get rid of this as soon as possible...’
Jan thought that was the only way he could feel at ease.
On the tower of the Black Castle.
Christine was leaning against the railing of the castle wall with his arms folded. He was currently closing his eyes and concentrating on the sounds he was hearing.
"Then quickly find a higher-level magician than you."
"It will take some time."
"I only trust you."
Creak.
Step, step...
The Emperor closed the door and walked away.
Christine was lost in thought for a moment.
Jan, who had received the blank document, met with the magician to verify its authenticity. After confirming that it was genuine, he tried to burn it right away.
If so, then the blank document was Jan’s weakness.
The reason he had been trying so hard to obtain it was that it would be very difficult for him if it were released to the world.
“That’s right. It’s the same as 10 years ago.”
The document was written 10 years ago.
It was also 10 years ago that Marquis Oswald was attacked by thieves and became nothing more than a living corpse. So the two incidents were ultimately connected?
The Marquis obtained the document containing the weakness of the Grand Duke of Valencia, and the Grand Duke tried to kill the Marquis by using thieves to steal the document. However, the murder failed, and the Marquis was no better than a living corpse.
As a result, the document must have been sleeping in the Marquis’s safe and passed on to Adele.
Christine’s lips rose as he hypothesized up to this point.
“It’s more interesting than I thought.”
Just as the Emperor had discovered Adele’s weakness, he had also discovered the Emperor’s weakness.
Moreover, he could retrieve the document at any time. Since Adele had kept it for a long time, her scent had already seeped into it. No matter where the Emperor hid it, he could quickly find out.
The Emperor still did not know what power he possessed.
Three days later, on the day of the engagement ceremony.
“I don’t know if it’s a dream or reality, you're engaged to Count Weiss!”
Tanya had no idea how many times she had repeated that phrase since morning.
She laughed quietly every time, but Adele felt the same way.
She had barely recovered from Mark’s clinic yesterday afternoon. And now the engagement was happening today.
Furthermore, thanks to the Emperor’s special consideration, their engagement ceremony was scheduled to be held at the palace.
Every year, she would feel wronged and miserable while being pointed at as a villainess in that grand banquet hall of the palace. And that wasn’t all. The Emperor allowed her to stay in the VIP room to prepare for the engagement ceremony. Outside the VIP room, the guards who were now Christine’s subordinates were guarding.
All of this was treatment equivalent to that of a Princess.
Inside the VIP room, the best designers of the House of Chanel were dressing Adele, helping with her makeup and hair.
Tanya was watching everything from the side, constantly admiring them.
“Yes, it’s done. Do you like it?”
At Madame Chanel’s words, the maids brought a full-length mirror in front of Adele.
“...!”
Adele’s eyes widened at the sight of the unfamiliar woman in the mirror.
Thanks to the elaborate makeup, her transparent and white skin looked even more radiant and pure. At the same time, her green eyes were emphasized to give them a more alluring feel, and her lips were moist and lovely like freshly bloomed rose petals.
Her hair was wavy and decorated with baby's breath and pearls, which made her slender and elegant neckline and shoulders stand out even more.
In addition, the ivory dress, which was Madame Chanel's greatest ambition, made her look like a perfect goddess.
"Wow, so pretty, so pretty!"
Tanya and the maids next to her screamed excitedly.
"You don't have to respond that much."
Embarrassed, Adele gave them a sneaky look.
However, Madame Chanel also agreed, adjusting the folds of her dress.
“Oh, it’s only natural that she's impressed. Madame is my best work. I’m really worried that the Count might have a heart attack.”
Madame Chanel was as talented as she was eloquent. She wasn’t popular in Calais for nothing.
Adele was a little excited even though she knew it was just a formality. She definitely liked how beautiful she looked, more than usual. Her heart was already racing at the thought of showing it to Christine.
“Thank you. I think the Count and I will have a happy day thanks to you, Madame.”
“If you do, I would be even more honored. Congratulations on your engagement.”
Madame Chanel was gently embracing Adele as she greeted her.
“There’s the Count! I think the inauguration ceremony is over.”
Tanya pointed out the window with her finger.
As Adele looked outside, Christine and his party were approaching through the palace gardens. The VIP room she was in was on the third floor, so she could see them all at once.
His figure in his black guard uniform and gold epaulettes dazzled under the sun.
The long cape he wore around his shoulders swayed gracefully as he walked, and the sword on his sleek waist added to his bravery.
A medal that she had never seen before hung from the sash that crossed from his right shoulder to his left hip. It must have been given to him by the Emperor at his inauguration.
Dozens of guard officers, including Zimmer, followed him in a line.
'That man is my man...'
Just looking at him made Adele's heart race.
At that moment, Christine, who was in the lead, stopped walking.
Chuck!
The officers who had been following behind also stopped in unison.
'Why did you suddenly stop?'
Adele was puzzled, but Christine looked up at the window where she was. As if he knew that everyone was watching him.
"...!"
When their eyes met, Adele covered her mouth with both hands and took a step back from the window. It seemed as if everyone could tell how fast her heart was pounding.
At that moment, Christine waved his arms vigorously. He smiled so brightly that his even, white teeth were visible.
"Whoa! I don't know!"
Tanya and the maids were running around screaming. Fortunately, thanks to them, Adele was able to look rather calm.
“Miss, open the window and throw flowers!”
“Is this the document you are looking for?”
“Yes. It’s the same as it was 10 years ago.”
Then the Emperor added again.
“Burn it.”
However, Kenny’s answer was unexpected.
“This document has a protective spell attached to it. It can only be burned if the person who placed the spell removes it.”
“He’s dead. Isn’t there a way?”
“A higher-level wizard than the dead wizard can do it.”
“Does that mean I have to find a higher-level wizard than you?”
“I’m sorry, but that’s right. I can’t destroy this document with my abilities.”
Jan looked defeated. Most of the wizards in Kalime were either sacrificed in the war or went into hiding to avoid being sacrificed. Kenny had also barely managed to survive after being burned in the war and losing both eyes.
‘I have to get rid of this as soon as possible...’
Jan thought that was the only way he could feel at ease.
***
On the tower of the Black Castle.
Christine was leaning against the railing of the castle wall with his arms folded. He was currently closing his eyes and concentrating on the sounds he was hearing.
"Then quickly find a higher-level magician than you."
"It will take some time."
"I only trust you."
Creak.
Step, step...
The Emperor closed the door and walked away.
Christine was lost in thought for a moment.
Jan, who had received the blank document, met with the magician to verify its authenticity. After confirming that it was genuine, he tried to burn it right away.
If so, then the blank document was Jan’s weakness.
The reason he had been trying so hard to obtain it was that it would be very difficult for him if it were released to the world.
“That’s right. It’s the same as 10 years ago.”
The document was written 10 years ago.
It was also 10 years ago that Marquis Oswald was attacked by thieves and became nothing more than a living corpse. So the two incidents were ultimately connected?
The Marquis obtained the document containing the weakness of the Grand Duke of Valencia, and the Grand Duke tried to kill the Marquis by using thieves to steal the document. However, the murder failed, and the Marquis was no better than a living corpse.
As a result, the document must have been sleeping in the Marquis’s safe and passed on to Adele.
Christine’s lips rose as he hypothesized up to this point.
“It’s more interesting than I thought.”
Just as the Emperor had discovered Adele’s weakness, he had also discovered the Emperor’s weakness.
Moreover, he could retrieve the document at any time. Since Adele had kept it for a long time, her scent had already seeped into it. No matter where the Emperor hid it, he could quickly find out.
The Emperor still did not know what power he possessed.
***
Three days later, on the day of the engagement ceremony.
“I don’t know if it’s a dream or reality, you're engaged to Count Weiss!”
Tanya had no idea how many times she had repeated that phrase since morning.
She laughed quietly every time, but Adele felt the same way.
She had barely recovered from Mark’s clinic yesterday afternoon. And now the engagement was happening today.
Furthermore, thanks to the Emperor’s special consideration, their engagement ceremony was scheduled to be held at the palace.
Every year, she would feel wronged and miserable while being pointed at as a villainess in that grand banquet hall of the palace. And that wasn’t all. The Emperor allowed her to stay in the VIP room to prepare for the engagement ceremony. Outside the VIP room, the guards who were now Christine’s subordinates were guarding.
All of this was treatment equivalent to that of a Princess.
Inside the VIP room, the best designers of the House of Chanel were dressing Adele, helping with her makeup and hair.
Tanya was watching everything from the side, constantly admiring them.
“Yes, it’s done. Do you like it?”
At Madame Chanel’s words, the maids brought a full-length mirror in front of Adele.
“...!”
Adele’s eyes widened at the sight of the unfamiliar woman in the mirror.
Thanks to the elaborate makeup, her transparent and white skin looked even more radiant and pure. At the same time, her green eyes were emphasized to give them a more alluring feel, and her lips were moist and lovely like freshly bloomed rose petals.
Her hair was wavy and decorated with baby's breath and pearls, which made her slender and elegant neckline and shoulders stand out even more.
In addition, the ivory dress, which was Madame Chanel's greatest ambition, made her look like a perfect goddess.
"Wow, so pretty, so pretty!"
Tanya and the maids next to her screamed excitedly.
"You don't have to respond that much."
Embarrassed, Adele gave them a sneaky look.
However, Madame Chanel also agreed, adjusting the folds of her dress.
“Oh, it’s only natural that she's impressed. Madame is my best work. I’m really worried that the Count might have a heart attack.”
Madame Chanel was as talented as she was eloquent. She wasn’t popular in Calais for nothing.
Adele was a little excited even though she knew it was just a formality. She definitely liked how beautiful she looked, more than usual. Her heart was already racing at the thought of showing it to Christine.
“Thank you. I think the Count and I will have a happy day thanks to you, Madame.”
“If you do, I would be even more honored. Congratulations on your engagement.”
Madame Chanel was gently embracing Adele as she greeted her.
“There’s the Count! I think the inauguration ceremony is over.”
Tanya pointed out the window with her finger.
As Adele looked outside, Christine and his party were approaching through the palace gardens. The VIP room she was in was on the third floor, so she could see them all at once.
His figure in his black guard uniform and gold epaulettes dazzled under the sun.
The long cape he wore around his shoulders swayed gracefully as he walked, and the sword on his sleek waist added to his bravery.
A medal that she had never seen before hung from the sash that crossed from his right shoulder to his left hip. It must have been given to him by the Emperor at his inauguration.
Dozens of guard officers, including Zimmer, followed him in a line.
'That man is my man...'
Just looking at him made Adele's heart race.
At that moment, Christine, who was in the lead, stopped walking.
Chuck!
The officers who had been following behind also stopped in unison.
'Why did you suddenly stop?'
Adele was puzzled, but Christine looked up at the window where she was. As if he knew that everyone was watching him.
"...!"
When their eyes met, Adele covered her mouth with both hands and took a step back from the window. It seemed as if everyone could tell how fast her heart was pounding.
At that moment, Christine waved his arms vigorously. He smiled so brightly that his even, white teeth were visible.
"Whoa! I don't know!"
Tanya and the maids were running around screaming. Fortunately, thanks to them, Adele was able to look rather calm.
“Miss, open the window and throw flowers!”
“T-that much...?”
Tanya quickly took out a rose from the vase for Adele, who was hesitating.
“Come on!”
“Come on!”
Adele must have lost her mind due to the urging of the people. She kissed the rose in a panic and threw it at Christine with all her might.
The red flower flew across the blue sky like a bird... and landed gently in his hand.
As if to show off, he lowered his lips on the petals just as Adele had kissed them.
“Wow!”
Shouts erupted from the guard officers following behind.
The VIP room where Adele was was no exception. Even the elegant-looking Madame Chanel screamed.
‘Ah, I think I went crazy for a moment.’
Adele quickly ran away from the window and hid, her face turning bright red.
And this enviable sight was not only seen by those around Adele and Christine.
The nobles who had gathered to attend the engagement banquet also saw it clearly.
The Emperor, April, and even Seira.
The Grand Hall, the grand banquet hall of the palace, was filled with people.
It was more people than at the year-end banquet that most nobles in Calais attended. Even the senior nobles who had not attended the year-end banquet were there. That’s how hot the engagement of Christine and Adele was among the nobles.
For better or worse, they were the most famous people in Calais, and the engagement was so unconventional.
The Emperor’s right-hand man and the captain of the guard, Count Weiss.
Everyone expected that he would officially become the Emperor’s son-in-law from today.
But then his fiancée suddenly turned into the villainess of Calais, who had poisoned her husband.
Not only that, but there were rumors that the Princess was pregnant with his child. But Count Weiss abandoned the pregnant Princess and chose Adele, whom they had always been like siblings.
This was the worst of the worst. What could be a greater prey for those who love to make up stories?
Some said that Adele had put a spell on the Count and that she had lured him to bed every night and seduced him.
The Emperor, enraged by this, said that he might behead her that day. It was not uncommon for people to speculate that this would cause a rift between the Count and the Emperor.
Some even said that if they did, there would be civil war. Everyone suspected that the Emperor had some ulterior motive in giving them the grand hall for their engagement.
People watched the Emperor and the Count with nervousness and curiosity. This was a spectacle that would only happen once in a century.
Of course, the atmosphere between the Emperor and the Count was still the same as usual. The Emperor still had a face that trusted the Count, and the Count did not lose his composure beside him.
And finally!
The softly flowing music of the orchestra changed into a romantic one.
After a while, someone appeared on the spiral staircase in the center of the grand hall.
At that moment, soft cheers and murmurs flowed from the hall.
A beautiful, goddess-like woman was standing on the staircase.
At first, no one could tell who she was. Only when she slowly started to come down the stairs did people start whispering here and there.
“Oh my god, is that woman really the Marchioness Oswald?”
“Isn’t she really using magic? She’s a completely different person.”
Until recently, she was a woman who had been ostracized in a shabby mourning outfit right here.
But now, she was dazzlingly lovely and beautiful, to the point of having a halo.
Strides.
Christine, who had climbed the stairs as if to greet her, held out his hand as if to escort her.
“This is crazy, what were you thinking?”
He whispered with a very troubled face so that only Adele could hear,
“Why, did I make a mistake?”
Adele was quite embarrassed. She was used to people pointing fingers at her, but she was worried that she would make Christine feel that way because of her.
“Everyone knows. How beautiful you are.”
Adele blinked in amazement and then,
“Pfft!”
She barely managed to hold back the laughter that was about to burst out.
“My heart almost fell out, Chris.”
Adele glared at him without being offended and placed her hand on top of his like a timid cat. Christine whispered again, lovingly kissing the back of her hand.
“My heart almost fell out, Adele.”
“Did you get special training from Madame Chanel?”
“What are you talking about?”
“There is something like that.”
Adele smiled quietly and took his hand as she went down the stairs one step at a time.
The arrogant nobles of Calais were looking up at her with envious and jealous eyes. In particular, some of the women’s eyes were even murderous.
Still, this was definitely better than being despised and ridiculed.
Adele looked like the happiest person in the world.
She knew this moment wouldn't last forever, but for now, she just wanted to enjoy it.
“Come on!”
“Come on!”
Adele must have lost her mind due to the urging of the people. She kissed the rose in a panic and threw it at Christine with all her might.
The red flower flew across the blue sky like a bird... and landed gently in his hand.
As if to show off, he lowered his lips on the petals just as Adele had kissed them.
“Wow!”
Shouts erupted from the guard officers following behind.
The VIP room where Adele was was no exception. Even the elegant-looking Madame Chanel screamed.
‘Ah, I think I went crazy for a moment.’
Adele quickly ran away from the window and hid, her face turning bright red.
And this enviable sight was not only seen by those around Adele and Christine.
The nobles who had gathered to attend the engagement banquet also saw it clearly.
The Emperor, April, and even Seira.
***
The Grand Hall, the grand banquet hall of the palace, was filled with people.
It was more people than at the year-end banquet that most nobles in Calais attended. Even the senior nobles who had not attended the year-end banquet were there. That’s how hot the engagement of Christine and Adele was among the nobles.
For better or worse, they were the most famous people in Calais, and the engagement was so unconventional.
The Emperor’s right-hand man and the captain of the guard, Count Weiss.
Everyone expected that he would officially become the Emperor’s son-in-law from today.
But then his fiancée suddenly turned into the villainess of Calais, who had poisoned her husband.
Not only that, but there were rumors that the Princess was pregnant with his child. But Count Weiss abandoned the pregnant Princess and chose Adele, whom they had always been like siblings.
This was the worst of the worst. What could be a greater prey for those who love to make up stories?
Some said that Adele had put a spell on the Count and that she had lured him to bed every night and seduced him.
The Emperor, enraged by this, said that he might behead her that day. It was not uncommon for people to speculate that this would cause a rift between the Count and the Emperor.
Some even said that if they did, there would be civil war. Everyone suspected that the Emperor had some ulterior motive in giving them the grand hall for their engagement.
People watched the Emperor and the Count with nervousness and curiosity. This was a spectacle that would only happen once in a century.
Of course, the atmosphere between the Emperor and the Count was still the same as usual. The Emperor still had a face that trusted the Count, and the Count did not lose his composure beside him.
And finally!
The softly flowing music of the orchestra changed into a romantic one.
After a while, someone appeared on the spiral staircase in the center of the grand hall.
At that moment, soft cheers and murmurs flowed from the hall.
A beautiful, goddess-like woman was standing on the staircase.
At first, no one could tell who she was. Only when she slowly started to come down the stairs did people start whispering here and there.
“Oh my god, is that woman really the Marchioness Oswald?”
“Isn’t she really using magic? She’s a completely different person.”
Until recently, she was a woman who had been ostracized in a shabby mourning outfit right here.
But now, she was dazzlingly lovely and beautiful, to the point of having a halo.
Strides.
Christine, who had climbed the stairs as if to greet her, held out his hand as if to escort her.
“This is crazy, what were you thinking?”
He whispered with a very troubled face so that only Adele could hear,
“Why, did I make a mistake?”
Adele was quite embarrassed. She was used to people pointing fingers at her, but she was worried that she would make Christine feel that way because of her.
“Everyone knows. How beautiful you are.”
Adele blinked in amazement and then,
“Pfft!”
She barely managed to hold back the laughter that was about to burst out.
“My heart almost fell out, Chris.”
Adele glared at him without being offended and placed her hand on top of his like a timid cat. Christine whispered again, lovingly kissing the back of her hand.
“My heart almost fell out, Adele.”
“Did you get special training from Madame Chanel?”
“What are you talking about?”
“There is something like that.”
Adele smiled quietly and took his hand as she went down the stairs one step at a time.
The arrogant nobles of Calais were looking up at her with envious and jealous eyes. In particular, some of the women’s eyes were even murderous.
Still, this was definitely better than being despised and ridiculed.
Adele looked like the happiest person in the world.
She knew this moment wouldn't last forever, but for now, she just wanted to enjoy it.
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