Chapter 138

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 138

Chapter Title: The Perfect Scapegoat

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I let out a groan, shuddering as I stretched.

The poisoning scheme had come to mind the moment the Empress's tea arrived in individual cups.

"Since it's served in teacups—and the Empress personally picked a separate one for each guest—tampering would be a breeze."

"That makes sense."

I'd figured at least one person would try something.

"Elizabeth's the most likely culprit. Doesn't it strike you as odd that she was gone from her seat for so long?"

"It does seem suspicious, but is that enough to be certain she prepared the poison?"

"I don't need certainty. Even the slightest suspicion calls for precautions."

The high society I'd navigated was a den of beasts. Let your guard down, and you'd be the one devoured. In those circles, the devoured were always the fools.

So you never let even the smallest opening slide.

"Among the guests at the Empress's tea party, the ones with a grudge against me are her herself, Elizabeth, or Marquis Nodelli. No matter which one it turns out to be, it works in my favor."

"If the Empress were the culprit, Duke Marsch would have no choice but to abandon Ballua territory to back her. If it were Marquis Nodelli or Elizabeth, it'd disrupt their water source supply."

Having Trigon, the chief court mage, on my side was a godsend.

As the barrier's overseer, he could smooth over any use of holy power in the palace without triggering alarms.

After I collapsed, the party descended into chaos—I worried the cups might get mixed up, so I'd used holy power to mark mine with a subtle sign.

To do it without prying eyes, I'd summoned butterflies in the Empress's garden to draw attention away.

And he even fabricated a story about the inspector having that nonexistent poison!

Pinpointing the drug in Elizabeth's possession was simple. Any poison that slipped past palace inspections had to be a curse catalyst.

I giggled "Hee-hee" and hopped off the bed. The chamberlain sighed deeply.

"Ever since joining hands with you, Little One, my heart shrinks a little more with each passing day. Do you realize that?"

"It's thriving just as much, day by day. Anyway, what about Elizabeth?"

"She's locked in the Nodelli Marquis's outpost prison on Princess Ingrid's orders. The princess was furious."

My eyes lit up at his words.

The prime suspect I wanted most just got nailed.

The chamberlain furrowed his brow, utterly baffled.

"What on earth possessed Marquis Nodelli to flog his own daughter...?"

"Odre was in charge of the tea service."

"Odre?"

"The Empress's maid. She's having an affair with the marquis."

The chamberlain's face twisted in disgust.

"He sacrificed his daughter for his mistress? Have you ever seen such a madman...!"

I snapped my fingers and pointed at him with my index finger.

"Bingo!"

"Pardon?"

"Princess Ingrid would never forgive him if she found out, right?"

"Obviously... Wait, did you plan for this too?"

Marquis Nodelli might be an idiot, but he was still head of a great noble house.

He wouldn't destroy his family just for love. He might have known Elizabeth had the poison. With searches underway, they'd both be in hot water—so he struck first, letting his mistress take a swing to buy favor.

"But everyone will talk just like you did."

"That he's a shameless wretch who sold out his own child for his paramour."

"Exactly."

I plopped back onto the bed and swung my legs playfully.

"High society is basically where the matrons handle diplomacy, right?"

"Precisely."

"And betraying your family for an affair? That's what they despise most. Who'd defend House Nodelli now?"

"Plus, after the young ladies overturned teacups at your party, the marquis tore through his vassals like a madman..."

We exchanged sly grins.

"Now we just sit back and watch House Nodelli crumble."

"The question is how to expose his affair, isn't it?"

"That's what I wanted to talk about..."

I lowered my voice to a whisper, and the chamberlain nodded.

"As expected of you."

Odre clung to Marquis Nodelli, planting kisses all over his cheeks.

"But what if the Empress Dowager flips out?"

"What can she do? Elizabeth really had poison in her hands. Damn that Wise—spared him for his brains, and he dares hand poison to my daughter?"

"What are you going to do with that guy?"

"Sent troops to his hideout to snap his neck, but the rat had already fled."

As the marquis grumbled, Odre hummed thoughtfully and nodded.

"He sure gets news fast. The poisoning blew up the second the young lady collapsed, and His Majesty clamped down on rumors right away. How'd he find out? Does he have eyes in the palace?"

"Hmm, you're right..."

Odre pulled the marquis's arm close and whispered.

"Someone that plugged in is too valuable to cut loose now. He'd have ties everywhere."

"But because of him..."

"Exactly why you can't let him go. Keep him under your thumb—you can always break his neck or limbs later. After you've used him up, of course."

The marquis grinned and pinched Odre's cheek lightly.

"You little cutie. So wise, it's why I'm head over heels."

"Just words?"

"Hardly. I'd divorce my wife in a heartbeat if I could. If not for that diamond mine of hers..."

That's when footsteps echoed from afar.

Odre scurried away from him, and the marquis's adjutant appeared.

The adjutant glanced at their disheveled clothes and bowed routinely.

"The nobles have gathered before the throne."

"Because of Elizabeth?"

"Yes."

The marquis clicked his tongue, patted Odre's waist, and strode off.

Before the throne.

The Emperor clutched his head with one hand, eyes squeezed shut.

Marquis Nodelli cleared his throat awkwardly, as if making excuses.

"Elizabeth couldn't have known. She's only nine. She must've just played a prank out of spite."

"A prank? Did you just call it a prank?"

Ishak, standing with Duke Duvered, scowled and stomped the floor. Henri blocked him with an arm.

"By the results alone, your daughter's prank has my little sister fighting for her life. So how exactly did she slip the poison to her?"

"Well..."

"How can you be sure she acted alone? Couldn't the marquis, the princess, or even Her Majesty the Empress have helped?"

Marquis Nodelli flinched.

That cunning brat...!

He was saying they'd hound him unless he threw Elizabeth under the bus.

Duvered's second son was more treacherous than a snake, never missing a gap.

This could drag me down too.

"So what do you want? Imperial law states crimes by minors under twelve can't be judged."

"Unless they infringe on imperial or divine authority."

Henri narrowed his eyes and added,

"—as explicitly stated in the imperial code."

"What...!"

"Smuggling illicit drugs into the palace is treason. Attempting to poison the Child of Destiny defies the Pope's will. Elizabeth Nodelli can't escape the ultimate penalty."

The Empress Dowager, fidgeting anxiously, shouted, "Enough, young Duvered!" The eldest son, Yohan, stepped forward.

"Shall the temple intervene?"

"Threatening an old woman, are you?"

"Wasn't it clearly stated in the oath you witnessed when we adopted Leblain? In case of harm to Leblain, Duvered receives the temple's 'assistance.'"

She'd insisted on that clause herself, so she had no retort.

Henri Duvered spoke.

"We have three conditions. First, investigate the party host and all invitees—detain if necessary. Second, allow His Majesty's physician to examine my sister."

"And the third?"

"If Elizabeth Nodelli's guilt is proven solo, let us duel for your house's banner, per the precedent with Count Esla and Marquis Suheil in year 31."

"...!"

The throne room froze.

After the late Marquis Suheil fell to Count Esla's blade, his son took the house helm and challenged the count.

Five blood heirs from each house dueled under the Emperor's watch; the defeated Count Esla lost his head.

Impossible!

Duvered's side had the duke, three sons, and even Javelin Ariège—all five aura users.

"Your Majesty!"

A duel meant certain death.

The Emperor shot Duke Duvered an irritated glare.

"Must you push this far?"

"I once begged you not to corner me. Today, I've toed the line. Please extend your grace so I don't cross it."

Duke Duvered's eyes gleamed icy blue.

"If I do cross, even I can't predict how far I'll go."

Insolent cur.

The Emperor tsked silently. But with his pampered daughter poisoning in the palace—and the victim being the Child of Destiny to boot—the temple had perfect pretext to encroach on imperial power. Better to end it here.

Reluctantly, the Emperor nodded.

Marquis Nodelli's face drained pale.

The assembled nobles exchanged glances.

House Nodelli has only one play left.

He'll try linking the Empress to this mess.

That way, Duke Marsch steps in personally to clean it up. Even Duvered would back off if the imperial family and Marsch allied.

But the Emperor would welcome tying in Empress Yvonne. With her influence flooding the throne now, tarnishing her palace's prestige opens a chance to flip the inner court's dynamics.

Which side to back?

The nobles gauged the winds swiftly.

At that moment, in the Empress's palace.

Crash! Items from the table scattered across the floor.

"Calm down, Your Majesty."

"How can I?! What is Father doing at a time like this!"

"..."

The Empress glared at her silent head maid, Terrasa, brows furrowed.

"Why aren't you speaking? What is Father doing?"

"..."

"Terrasa!"

"He's meeting with Marquis Nodelli."

"What? Why meet the man who caused this disaster!"

The Empress bit her lip hard.

She knew her father had a secret alliance with Marquis Nodelli. But to meet him even after he'd bared fangs at her? Why?

"Unless he's got some leverage over him..."

That's when a young maid hurried into the bedroom.

"Your Majesty!!"