The meeting venue was set at the Imperial Palace. As I walked to the meeting, I was struck by the fact that I wasn't afraid at all.
Regardless of who came to the meeting, I would be safe and able to return to Duke's territory. I hadn't finished what I was working on, but Julian would have taken care of it all.
I walked with a confident air, one hand resting on my slightly swollen abdomen. The knights transporting me almost seemed to be escorting me.
The knights hurriedly opened the conference room door, telling me to hurry in, and I leisurely walked inside. Because I had intentionally arrived late, the conference room was packed.
The Emperor and the Crown Prince, Princess Abigail, and... Julian.
I locked eyes with Julian, who was sitting on the right side of the conference room. He hadn't blinked for a single moment since I appeared. He stared at me with such intensity that it seemed as if he was going to engrave me into his eyes.
I smiled brightly at him. I was glad to see him, and at the same time, I wanted to reassure him. But Julian still stared at me with a hard, unwavering expression.
“Grand Duchess Duchzan.”
I must have been exchanging glances with Julian for quite some time. The Emperor called out to me in a low voice. I wiped the smile from my face, lifted the hem of my dress, and bowed.
“I greet you, Your Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire.”
I placed my hand on my abdomen again. It was a gesture of obvious intent. I felt everyone's gaze instantly drawn to my abdomen.
The Emperor closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and offered me my seat. He knew how public opinion would react if word spread that he had left a pregnant woman standing for hours.
I sat up straight in my seat as if it were a given. Looking around, I saw that there were many people there, in addition to the four I'd mentioned.
First of all, there were the knights of Winsley and Duchzan who would be on my side, my personal doctor Tien, and Sylvia, who would explain the curse.
On the surface, they may seem to be on the Emperor's side, but in reality, they are on Princess Abigail's side, including the Knight Marker, several soldiers, Count Sasha, and Viscount Lesa.
Among them, it is truly ridiculous that Viscount Lesa has already been firmly recruited by Julian.
The meeting was presided over by Marquis Aiden. His remarks clearly bore the influence of the Emperor and Princess Abigail. Marquis Aiden offered a polite greeting to the Emperor and each of the participants.
“I swear before His Majesty the Emperor that I will be a fair host.”
They say the eldest son of the Marquis Aiden was a handsome man of exceptional talent, and indeed, his father was also upright and flawless. Count Sasha's desired son-in-law was that man's son. Marquis Aiden looked straight at me.
"I ask Grand Duchess Duchzan. Do you admit to summoning the demons?"
So this is how it's been from the very first question. I was astonished by the bold approach. I shook my head and said,
“I don’t admit it. I know the identity of the person who summoned the demon.”
My words stirred the conference room. Only a few of those who could be considered on my side stared at me silently. I looked at Princess Abigail, one of the many. She smiled, showing no significant change in emotion. When Marquis Aiden spoke again, I turned to face him.
"This is a place that deals with the honor of the Grand Duchess. Please answer only with 'yes' or 'no.'"
"Are you referring to my honor? I'd like to ask if accusing me of the crime of summoning demons without any evidence would serve my honor."
“There is no definitive evidence, but it is a possibility.”
“Are you trying to force me into something as dishonorable as summoning a demon just because of the possibility?”
"Summoning demons is a heinous act. Even the slightest possibility deserves investigation. Furthermore, the summoning of demons is highly likely to involve magic. Furthermore, there's talk of the Grand Duchess being cursed."
I asked, twisting my lips upward.
“What does being cursed have to do with summoning a demon?”
“First, answer. Is it true that the Grand Duchess is cursed?”
The room fell silent. Everyone present seemed to be wondering whether or not it was true that I had been cursed while imprisoned in the Sapphire Palace. What difference would it make if I lied? I gave a brief answer.
"Yes."
Someone let out a small scream.
"...Curse!"
It was only natural that the murmurs would grow louder with those words. The world still feared magic, let alone curses. There were even those who felt fear simply from breathing the same air as curses, as if they were some kind of contagious disease. And there were those in this room, too, who swayed their hips as if they were one of those people.
At this point, Tien raised his hand.
"I am Tien Yus, the personal doctor to Her Highness the Grand Duchess. I have something to say."
“Permission granted.”
Marquis Aiden was already acting in an unjust manner, but he couldn't completely silence our people. Tien stood up, bowed politely to the crowd, and then spoke.
"It's true that Her Highness the Grand Duchess is under a curse. However, it is currently being lifted..."
As he spoke, for some reason, my gaze drifted towards Princess Abigail. Her mask-like smile cracked with a crunching sound.
Princess Abigail was staring intently at me, and I could sense a strange madness in her violet eyes. I hadn't felt fear for a single moment before arriving here, but I felt a strange pressure.
"...Oh!"
I clutched my chest and stumbled. I unconsciously glanced at my index finger, but the magic tool was intact. Nevertheless, I felt a pang of pain, as if something was squeezing my heart.
“Layla!”
The first to react was none other than Julian. He ran straight to me, regardless of who was watching or where I was. He then wrapped his arms around me, practically lifting me up.
I gasped for breath, my head buried in Julian's shoulder. The pain in my heart seemed to ease as I left Princess Abigail's gaze.
I muttered something to reassure Julian.
“It’s okay, it’s okay... It was just for a moment.”
But Julian bit his lower lip, not seeming at all relieved.
“You’re so skinny.”
It was the moment when I was about to shake my head and refute.
“Curse! How dare you break the curse? It’s not even that bad!”
Someone jumped up from their seat and swung at me.
“And if you move on to everyone here...!”
“Calm down! Her Highness the Grand Duchess’s curse is not contagious!”
The sound of Tien's efforts to appease public opinion could barely be heard.
"But."
But a sound so clear that it cut through the noise, blocking out even Tien's words and shouts.
“Could it be that the Grand Duchess put a curse on someone and got it back?”
It was Princess Abigail. She was looking at everyone with an elegant smile, as if her smile had never cracked. I leaned against Julian's shoulder, catching my breath, and glared at her.
Tien continued to defend me.
“No, Her Highness the Grand Duchess cannot use magic.”
"Oh, really? But isn't it strange? Who on earth could have placed such a powerful curse on the Grand Duchess? From my limited knowledge, I've heard that anyone who places a curse will inevitably receive it back. Who on earth could possibly hate the Grand Duchess so much?"
Princess Abigail tilted her head as if she couldn't understand.
“She might have done something damnable. Like summoning a demon.”
“You are being unreasonable!”
"But Lord Tien, it's true that it would be difficult to understand the Grand Duchess's curse without it. And indeed, some claim that the Grand Duchess can use the curse."
As soon as Marquis Aiden finished speaking, he looked at someone. It was Viscount Lesa, who was sitting in a corner.
He shuddered and groaned as he rose from his seat, sweat pouring down his face. He took a handkerchief from his bosom and wiped his forehead and neck. Marquis Aiden looked at him disapprovingly and asked.
“Viscount Lesa, have you ever been imprisoned by the Grand Duchess?”
Viscount Lesa trembled nervously. He squeezed his eyes shut, seemingly contemplating something. But then, as if he'd made up his mind, he pursed his lips and then opened them.
“No. I was not imprisoned on the day of the carriage accident with Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess, but rather received treatment at the Grand Duchess’s residence.”
“... Viscount Lesa?”
Marquis Aiden looked at Viscount Lesa with a face that seemed to ask, "Are you crazy?" But Viscount Lesa continued speaking, trembling.
"I don't even know whether Her Highness the Grand Duchess can cast curses or not. However, I do know that Her Highness Princess Abigail has ordered me to accuse Her Highness of being a witch. And if there's a witch here, it's not Her Highness the Grand Duchess..."
“Viscount Lesa! Do you know what kind of position this is, and dare to frame Her Highness the Princess?”
Marquis Aiden shouted. He looked at Princess Abigail, at a loss. But Princess Abigail merely raised her eyebrows and muttered a single word.
“It seems certain that the Grand Duchess has placed a curse on Viscount Lesa.”
Princess Abigail ran a hand through her beautiful hair, as if she were tired of this meeting.
"I am the First Princess of this empire, born and raised in a place where countless people can see me. How could I hide the fact that I am a witch? I have never shown any magical qualities."
Regardless of who came to the meeting, I would be safe and able to return to Duke's territory. I hadn't finished what I was working on, but Julian would have taken care of it all.
I walked with a confident air, one hand resting on my slightly swollen abdomen. The knights transporting me almost seemed to be escorting me.
The knights hurriedly opened the conference room door, telling me to hurry in, and I leisurely walked inside. Because I had intentionally arrived late, the conference room was packed.
The Emperor and the Crown Prince, Princess Abigail, and... Julian.
I locked eyes with Julian, who was sitting on the right side of the conference room. He hadn't blinked for a single moment since I appeared. He stared at me with such intensity that it seemed as if he was going to engrave me into his eyes.
I smiled brightly at him. I was glad to see him, and at the same time, I wanted to reassure him. But Julian still stared at me with a hard, unwavering expression.
“Grand Duchess Duchzan.”
I must have been exchanging glances with Julian for quite some time. The Emperor called out to me in a low voice. I wiped the smile from my face, lifted the hem of my dress, and bowed.
“I greet you, Your Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire.”
I placed my hand on my abdomen again. It was a gesture of obvious intent. I felt everyone's gaze instantly drawn to my abdomen.
The Emperor closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and offered me my seat. He knew how public opinion would react if word spread that he had left a pregnant woman standing for hours.
I sat up straight in my seat as if it were a given. Looking around, I saw that there were many people there, in addition to the four I'd mentioned.
First of all, there were the knights of Winsley and Duchzan who would be on my side, my personal doctor Tien, and Sylvia, who would explain the curse.
On the surface, they may seem to be on the Emperor's side, but in reality, they are on Princess Abigail's side, including the Knight Marker, several soldiers, Count Sasha, and Viscount Lesa.
Among them, it is truly ridiculous that Viscount Lesa has already been firmly recruited by Julian.
The meeting was presided over by Marquis Aiden. His remarks clearly bore the influence of the Emperor and Princess Abigail. Marquis Aiden offered a polite greeting to the Emperor and each of the participants.
“I swear before His Majesty the Emperor that I will be a fair host.”
They say the eldest son of the Marquis Aiden was a handsome man of exceptional talent, and indeed, his father was also upright and flawless. Count Sasha's desired son-in-law was that man's son. Marquis Aiden looked straight at me.
"I ask Grand Duchess Duchzan. Do you admit to summoning the demons?"
So this is how it's been from the very first question. I was astonished by the bold approach. I shook my head and said,
“I don’t admit it. I know the identity of the person who summoned the demon.”
My words stirred the conference room. Only a few of those who could be considered on my side stared at me silently. I looked at Princess Abigail, one of the many. She smiled, showing no significant change in emotion. When Marquis Aiden spoke again, I turned to face him.
"This is a place that deals with the honor of the Grand Duchess. Please answer only with 'yes' or 'no.'"
"Are you referring to my honor? I'd like to ask if accusing me of the crime of summoning demons without any evidence would serve my honor."
“There is no definitive evidence, but it is a possibility.”
“Are you trying to force me into something as dishonorable as summoning a demon just because of the possibility?”
"Summoning demons is a heinous act. Even the slightest possibility deserves investigation. Furthermore, the summoning of demons is highly likely to involve magic. Furthermore, there's talk of the Grand Duchess being cursed."
I asked, twisting my lips upward.
“What does being cursed have to do with summoning a demon?”
“First, answer. Is it true that the Grand Duchess is cursed?”
The room fell silent. Everyone present seemed to be wondering whether or not it was true that I had been cursed while imprisoned in the Sapphire Palace. What difference would it make if I lied? I gave a brief answer.
"Yes."
Someone let out a small scream.
"...Curse!"
It was only natural that the murmurs would grow louder with those words. The world still feared magic, let alone curses. There were even those who felt fear simply from breathing the same air as curses, as if they were some kind of contagious disease. And there were those in this room, too, who swayed their hips as if they were one of those people.
At this point, Tien raised his hand.
"I am Tien Yus, the personal doctor to Her Highness the Grand Duchess. I have something to say."
“Permission granted.”
Marquis Aiden was already acting in an unjust manner, but he couldn't completely silence our people. Tien stood up, bowed politely to the crowd, and then spoke.
"It's true that Her Highness the Grand Duchess is under a curse. However, it is currently being lifted..."
As he spoke, for some reason, my gaze drifted towards Princess Abigail. Her mask-like smile cracked with a crunching sound.
Princess Abigail was staring intently at me, and I could sense a strange madness in her violet eyes. I hadn't felt fear for a single moment before arriving here, but I felt a strange pressure.
"...Oh!"
I clutched my chest and stumbled. I unconsciously glanced at my index finger, but the magic tool was intact. Nevertheless, I felt a pang of pain, as if something was squeezing my heart.
“Layla!”
The first to react was none other than Julian. He ran straight to me, regardless of who was watching or where I was. He then wrapped his arms around me, practically lifting me up.
I gasped for breath, my head buried in Julian's shoulder. The pain in my heart seemed to ease as I left Princess Abigail's gaze.
I muttered something to reassure Julian.
“It’s okay, it’s okay... It was just for a moment.”
But Julian bit his lower lip, not seeming at all relieved.
“You’re so skinny.”
It was the moment when I was about to shake my head and refute.
“Curse! How dare you break the curse? It’s not even that bad!”
Someone jumped up from their seat and swung at me.
“And if you move on to everyone here...!”
“Calm down! Her Highness the Grand Duchess’s curse is not contagious!”
The sound of Tien's efforts to appease public opinion could barely be heard.
"But."
But a sound so clear that it cut through the noise, blocking out even Tien's words and shouts.
“Could it be that the Grand Duchess put a curse on someone and got it back?”
It was Princess Abigail. She was looking at everyone with an elegant smile, as if her smile had never cracked. I leaned against Julian's shoulder, catching my breath, and glared at her.
Tien continued to defend me.
“No, Her Highness the Grand Duchess cannot use magic.”
"Oh, really? But isn't it strange? Who on earth could have placed such a powerful curse on the Grand Duchess? From my limited knowledge, I've heard that anyone who places a curse will inevitably receive it back. Who on earth could possibly hate the Grand Duchess so much?"
Princess Abigail tilted her head as if she couldn't understand.
“She might have done something damnable. Like summoning a demon.”
“You are being unreasonable!”
"But Lord Tien, it's true that it would be difficult to understand the Grand Duchess's curse without it. And indeed, some claim that the Grand Duchess can use the curse."
As soon as Marquis Aiden finished speaking, he looked at someone. It was Viscount Lesa, who was sitting in a corner.
He shuddered and groaned as he rose from his seat, sweat pouring down his face. He took a handkerchief from his bosom and wiped his forehead and neck. Marquis Aiden looked at him disapprovingly and asked.
“Viscount Lesa, have you ever been imprisoned by the Grand Duchess?”
Viscount Lesa trembled nervously. He squeezed his eyes shut, seemingly contemplating something. But then, as if he'd made up his mind, he pursed his lips and then opened them.
“No. I was not imprisoned on the day of the carriage accident with Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess, but rather received treatment at the Grand Duchess’s residence.”
“... Viscount Lesa?”
Marquis Aiden looked at Viscount Lesa with a face that seemed to ask, "Are you crazy?" But Viscount Lesa continued speaking, trembling.
"I don't even know whether Her Highness the Grand Duchess can cast curses or not. However, I do know that Her Highness Princess Abigail has ordered me to accuse Her Highness of being a witch. And if there's a witch here, it's not Her Highness the Grand Duchess..."
“Viscount Lesa! Do you know what kind of position this is, and dare to frame Her Highness the Princess?”
Marquis Aiden shouted. He looked at Princess Abigail, at a loss. But Princess Abigail merely raised her eyebrows and muttered a single word.
“It seems certain that the Grand Duchess has placed a curse on Viscount Lesa.”
Princess Abigail ran a hand through her beautiful hair, as if she were tired of this meeting.
"I am the First Princess of this empire, born and raised in a place where countless people can see me. How could I hide the fact that I am a witch? I have never shown any magical qualities."
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