"Mori, are you okay? ...Huh?"
Chession was taken aback. It was because of Gremory, who started crying as soon as she saw him.
"What, Mori! Why are you crying all of a sudden? Did the archbishop harass you badly?"
"...?"
Gremory was embarrassed by the tears she shed without realizing it.
'What is this? Why are you crying?'
Didn't tears only flow when there was a sad situation that you couldn't control?
I'm happy to see Chesion now, but why am I crying?
I didn't feel sad. I'm just glad and relieved that Chession is safe, so why is that?
Chession gave Gremory a cold hug.
"You must have been very surprised. Everything is fine now."
"...Even if you are surprised, do you cry?"
"Huh? Of course you can."
Gremory pondered her feelings.
'It's something different than being surprised. It feels weird. What is this?'
Gremory's anguish was cut off by Chession's words.
"The accusation that you and Isolen are witches has been cleared. It was all concluded that it was done by the southern barbarians with black magic."
"Huh?"
Tears welled up in her eyes. How did the barbarians suddenly identify him as a criminal? Out of the blue.
Chession explained the situation.
"...So they came to the conclusion that it was the work of southern barbarians. You and Isolene have been manipulated by their memories, so you just think of each other as witches."
"That's right."
"Soon the imperial mages will come to check if there are any traces of black magic on you and Isolen's bodies."
"!"
"Checking the traces of black magic is a transaction that will be carried out 'with the relic restraint removed'. All you have to do is go inside the magic circle and sit down."
Gremory understood the meaning of Chession's words. While the relic restraint was released, it seemed that she was told to do something with the power of the witch.
'Should I brainwash the priests while the restraints are released? It's going to be a bit difficult because they have divine power.'
At that time, she was thinking of a rather nasty method. Chession made a sound like a blue sky.
"The verification process will be held in the large square. In front of all the nobles."
"!"
"His Royal Highness Prince Severian will also come. As the one who directly struck the neck of the southern barbarian chieftain who used black magic, he decided to come in person to check the black magic."
"...?...!"
Chession hugged Gremory gently. Then he whispered in his ear.
"It's okay. If you can't cope, I'll do something about it."
"What about Catherine?"
"I've solved it. The demon was extinguished, and I destroyed the second fragment of the soul that Catherine had."
"What? Why does she have it?"
"I would like to explain in detail later. I don't have time."
Chession was conscious of the priests around him, and he fell off.
"I have to go now, see you later."
"Wait, Chession."
"Huh?"
"Everything will be fine. Don't worry too much."
Gremory smiled softly.
Chesion nodded faintly, believing her. Fortunately, there seemed to be a way to overcome this situation.
The priests began to urge Chession.
"Your Highness, the time for the visit is over."
"... Yes."
Chession took a heavy step. As he crossed the threshold and looked back, Gremory was smiling comfortably. As if to tell him to rest assured.
***
When Severian heard the news from his adjutant, he was so surprised that he almost fainted.
"What? A witch appeared in the county of Sien?"
"Yes, one of the maids of the Grand Duke of Ethel is suspected of being a witch, and it is said that both of them have now been taken to the Great Temple."
"What the hell happened?"
"Let me explain."
Severian was inextricably surprised. One of the two maids is a real witch.
'If it turns out that there are witches in the world, it will be a problem. It may even be revealed that I summoned a witch.'
In particular, during the interrogation, the woman asked. "Did the Prince summon a witch too?" What if she says that? It may lead to dethronement and even death.
At that time, he was restless. A letter from the Archbishop arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Severian heard the contents of the letter from his lieutenant. The content was confusing and unmatched.
'What? It almost turns out that the two of them are not witches? What is this?'
If it were an archbishop, he would have done everything he could for Gremory. He must have fed her holy water, wounded her with silver, and done a lot of other strange things. In the process, Gremory must have been found out to be a witch.
"Did Gremory endure the whole process and succeed in hiding her identity? So the archbishop's final conclusion was black magic?"
It seemed likely. After all, black magic is the only way to explain the anomalies that have occurred so far. Except for the possibility that it is the work of a witch.
'I don't think it's the black magic of the barbarians. Although black magic can explain the phenomena so far, the black magic skills of the southern barbarians were mediocre. Large-scale earthquakes and sandstorms can never occur. I think the archbishop has made a fuss.'
When he was thinking about this and that, the servant called out to Severian.
"Your Highness, His Majesty the Emperor is calling."
"Yes? Yes."
Severian went to see his father with an ominous heart. Then he heard a sound like thunder.
"Severian, I think you should lead the wizards to the Great Temple. You've dealt with the dark magic of the southern barbarians, so you'll know more about the situation when you go."
"Yes, that's right. I once cut the throat of a southern barbarian chieftain. Haha, if I had known that the barbarians would run amok again, I would have wiped out all the remnants then."
"I believe in you, Severian. Come and calm the chaos of the empire. I will entrust you with all the work of clearing out the southern barbarians."
Cold sweat flowed down Severian's spine. Without Oppensia, he was just a fool. But to be entrusted with such a ridiculously important task.
'How do you deal with barbarians without witches? They're dirty, I can't borrow the witch's power again... the power of witches... Borrow?'
"Please leave it to me."
Severian replied confidently, and the Emperors smiled proudly at the Prince's trust.
"Let's go."
"Yes, father."
After a brief silent salute, Severian hurriedly prepared to head to the Great Temple.
A good idea came to mind.
Two carriages were prepared. The carriage for the imperial palace wizards, and the luxurious carriage for Severian.
Severian ignored his own carriage and boarded the wizard's carriage.
"Let's ride with you."
First, the two wizards in the carriage were frightened.
"Oh, how dare we ride in a carriage with Your Highness the Crown Prince?"
"Oh my God, Your Highness! Our carriage will be too narrow and uncomfortable for Your Highness to ride!"
"Now that it's okay, let's ride together. Let's get to know each other."
Severian, who had closed the carriage door in a dead end, shouted out the window. The coachman hesitated for a moment and set off.
The two wizards were sitting stiffly with their mouths shut.
"Hey, you."
"Yes! Your Highness!"
"Don't you need anything these days? Something you want to have."
"No, I don't."
"Feel free to say it, because it's okay."
The two wizards looked at each other. Then the old wizard spoke cautiously.
"Hey, I've always wished there was a little more research funding. Research materials."
"I'll give you money, materials, or anything. It is a reward given to those who work hard for the imperial family. I'll give you jewels and gold coins in moderation."
When Severian smiled kindly, the two wizards relaxed and were happy.
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
"I don't know what to do. Haha!"
"If you're grateful, I want you to grant me one request."
"Oh, say anything!"
Severian laughed wickedly at the excited wizards.
"You guys, when you check for traces of black magic. Even if there is nothing, pretend to have a trace unconditionally."
"Huh? Why?"
"Don't ask anything. Just pretend to have traces of black magic unconditionally. Declaring that there must be traces of the southern barbarians. It's not that difficult, is it?"
Severian judged that it was very likely that the archbishop had made a mistake. If so, it will be discovered that there is no trace of black magic, and Gremory will be accused of being a witch again.
'If that's the case, I'll just frame the remnants of the southern barbarians. They're the enemies of the empire that needs to be wiped out anyway, aren't they?'
If it is concluded that everything is the work of barbarians, Gremory can be cleared of all charges. If so, Gremory will also keep her mouth shut about the existence of Oppensia.
"After that, you can leave the matter of dealing with the barbarians to Gremory."
It was a perfect plan.
Comments
Post a Comment