Chapter 7
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 7 - Suspicion and Suspicion
The abandoned ruins on the outskirts of the village.
In that place where no one was around, the conversation between Saintess Azelia and the prince's Chancellor, Edric, continued.
To the astonished Azelia, Edric spoke calmly.
"I cannot tell you the source... but I have heard that the Saintess possesses decisive evidence. If you give that to me, I will save the South."
Azelia was shocked.
That was a secret only she knew.
How did he know that?
And what surprised her even more was the light she felt from him.
He was truly saying he would 'save the South' with that evidence.
Azelia was confused.
She wanted to trust Edric.
But what if... he was telling a lie?
What if he was trying to deceive even her divine authority and destroy the evidence?
As such thoughts continued, Azelia felt that Edric was 'scary'.
"Th... that's..."
"It seems... you cannot trust me."
A chilling sense of disappointment mixed into Edric's voice.
However, because that disappointment was 'false', Azelia was even more confused.
This person was only pretending to be disappointed, but sincerely trusted her.
Even she, who was called a Saintess, harbored suspicions, yet he actually trusted her.
"Th-that's not it! But... I mean... well... please give me time to discuss it with my comrades."
Azelia barely squeezed out an answer.
She felt like she absolutely couldn't decide on this answer alone.
When she thought that the survival or ruin of the Southern commoners might be decided by her choice... a pressure beyond imagination crushed her.
Edric stared at such a her for a moment, then soon withdrew the pressure and took a step back.
"I understand. However, we do not have that much time. I ask for your answer by tomorrow."
"Yes..."
Edric left a short bow and disappeared into the darkness.
Left alone, Azelia collapsed and gasped for breath.
She was confused.
He definitely had demon-like eyes, but he was the only man she had seen who did not tell lies.
Yet he even knew the dangerous secret that no one else knew and only she had hidden.
'Lord Edric... just who are you?'
Azelia looked at the place where Edric had disappeared.
Is he an enemy or an ally?
Should she trust him, or should she not trust him?
The time for a choice was approaching even at this moment.
'Wow, she's freaking pretty, no wonder the prince fell hard.'
That was the first thought that came to mind as I came out after finishing the conversation with the Saintess.
In the original work, it was said that the prince fell for her appearance once, and fell for her heart praying for him every time they met.
So I wondered how beautiful the Saintess's face actually was for such a description to be made, and it was truly a beauty that would make you want to obsess over her even if it meant blowing up the empire.
Is that also a blessing from god? Or is it a blessing of genetics?
Either way, it seemed to be a truly amazing blessing.
"Did the conversation end well?"
"Yes, it ended well."
Having somehow conveyed what I wanted to the Saintess, I went to Liesel, who was waiting for me.
As it was a secret matter, I brought only Liesel with me as an escort knight to this place.
Since it would be dangerous if we stayed here any longer, we quickly rode our horses and escaped that place.
"Did that Saintess give Lord Edric what you wanted?"
"No, it seems the Saintess still needs time."
It was a pity.
If I only had that evidence the Saintess possesses, I could proceed with the work much faster.
But the Saintess seemed confused.
No, she definitely should have been able to see inside my heart with the Eye of Truth or whatever it was, so why is she doubting me?
Did I have some idle thoughts?
...Hmm... Thinking the Saintess was fucking pretty would be an idle thought, if you could call it that.
"Is that so... that is a shame. While Lord Edric is working this hard for the sake of the South, to harbor suspicions is too much."
"It can't be helped. The Saintess and I only just met today, so it's not unreasonable to be suspicious."
Since coming here, Liesel had personally seen me escorting her and investigating behind the Southern nobles' backs.
So she was one of the only people who knew my true intentions.
Ah... Saintess, please give me the evidence.
Then I will definitely resolve this.
Please!
The next morning, inside a shabby warehouse in downtown Livia.
At the call of Saintess Azelia, only a few core figures she could trust the most among the commoner leadership were secretly summoned.
Azelia confessed about the private meeting she had with Edric last night.
"Sir Edric came to see me. He wants conclusive evidence to completely bring down the Southern nobles."
Azelia paused her words for a moment and clenched her trembling hands.
It was a remark made with the 'evidence' she harbored in mind, which she hadn't dared to tell even her comrades.
Azelia talked about the existence of that evidence she had been hiding.
"I couldn't tell you all until now... but I have that evidence."
"You have such evidence, Saintess?"
At her comrade's words, Azelia nodded.
The comrades were all surprised. Because Azelia had never acted like this before.
"I am sorry for keeping it a secret from everyone. But... this was an evidence that important."
"Saintess..."
"It is alright. Saintess, we understand."
In war, there are times when you must deceive your allies to defeat the enemy.
Because they believed in the Saintess, they thought there must be a reason.
The Saintess, seeing the light of truth on everyone's faces, brought up the main topic.
"Should I give that evidence... to Sir Edric? I want to hear everyone's opinion."
A brief silence flowed.
The one who broke that silence was the assault captain of the peasant rebel army.
He slammed the desk and raised his voice.
Bang—!
"We must trust him! Did you not hear the speech he gave in the plaza? He said he would judge them according to the law, whether they are a Count or a Duke. Sir Edric is the first person to spout such words while even bringing the Imperial Knight Order along!"
That was a true statement.
He was the first to make a remark about judging the nobles right in front of the nobles.
However, the veteran staff officer sitting next to him shook his head.
His eyes were full of distrust.
"Saintess, you must not be deceived. Edric Noel is a sycophant who was called the 'Red Snake' even in the center."
He was the only person in the leadership who had studied in the capital.
He had heard the rumors of the prince's scoundrel days, and naturally, he had also heard the rumors about Edric during his Red Snake days when he was by his side.
"Him demanding the evidence might not be to help us, but a trap to secure a card to negotiate with the nobles or to wipe us out all at once. Even seeing those snake-like eyes, can you trust him?"
"Are you doubting Sir Edric right now!"
"Then are you saying you will trust him based on just that one speech!?"
The meeting room quickly divided into pros and cons and became hostile.
The side wanting to trust Edric's 'truthful speech' and the side wanting to be wary of his built-up 'reputation as a sycophant' clashed tightly.
Unable to watch any longer, Sister Cale shouted in a cold, sunken voice.
Bang—!
"Stop it, all of you!"
At Cale's shout, the warehouse instantly became quiet.
Cale looked at Saintess Azelia and spoke.
"In the end, the only one who faced him and looked into his eyes is the Saintess. No matter how much we talk like this, it is only our imagination. Saintess."
All eyes focused on Azelia.
Cale spoke to Azelia with a pitiful gaze.
"I am sorry, but... I think it is right for the Saintess to make this decision. I apologize for making you bear such a burden."
"P... please raise your head! Cale!"
Azelia stood up in surprise at Cale, who bowed her head.
Azelia recalled Edric's eyes she had seen in the ruins last night. She clearly felt that strangely clear light of truth hidden behind his terrifying appearance.
After agonizing over it, Azelia made a decision.
At the same time, in the office of the Lord of Livia's mansion.
Count Wilhelm was receiving a report from a subordinate standing in the darkness.
His brow was furrowed deeper than usual.
"You say we are being investigated?"
"That is correct, Count. Someone has been thoroughly scouring our side's ledgers and logistics hubs since a few days ago."
The subordinate quietly reported to Count Wilhelm.
The subordinate continued speaking while looking at Count Wilhelm's darkening expression.
"Their movements are so extraordinary that they even shake off the tails we attached to them. Judging by that skill... it is highly likely that they are the 'Shadow Warriors' directly under the Imperial Family."
Wilhelm's fingers rhythmically tapped on the desk.
It was an expected matter that Edric would investigate them.
However, moving by mobilizing even the Shadow Warriors was not an ordinary matter.
Moreover, the report did not end there.
"And although this is not certain yet... intelligence has come in that Chancellor Edric Noel secretly contacted the Saintess alone last night."
"He contacted the Saintess?"
"Yes... according to the eyewitness's words."
Wilhelm's eyes flashed.
Meeting the Saintess was not a strange thing.
Since she was the center of the commoners, but why did they meet secretly in the evening?
That was what was important.
'Edric Noel... what on earth is this snake-like bastard scheming?'
He was definitely the bastard who agreed to the idea of pretending to be fair and acting to get rid of future repercussions just the night before last.
Yet, behind the scenes, unleashing the Imperial Family's shadows and having a private meeting with the Saintess...
It was certain that he had some other scheme.
"Go and relay this. Tell Sir Edric that Count Wilhelm quietly requests a private meeting tonight."
"Yes, understood."
Watching the back of the servant leaving, Wilhelm muttered.
"Edric Noel... what on earth are your intentions..."
In the heart of Count Wilhelm, the ruler of the South, a massive sense of anxiety toward the unknown variable named Edric began to sprout.