Chapter 188: Exit
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 188: Exit
"Is the prisoner's name Meisel?"
The administrator standing before the iron bars asked.
"Arbor Meisel! I am Meisel, the Lady of House Arbor!"
Meisel answered urgently during the formal identification process.
Clearing his throat, the administrator began to recite the sentencing.
"The prisoner, Meisel, has committed numerous grave crimes, including treason, blasphemy, violation of magical doctrine, fraud, and impersonation... The depth and weight of these sins are truly beyond measure. Accordingly, she is sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor. The prisoner shall faithfully carry out her sentence until death and repent for the sins she has committed."
The administrator tucked the documents away with a weary expression.
"The list of specific charges is too long, so I will skip reading them. The sentence is to be carried out immediately. The labor site is the Waste Mine. Spend the rest of your life in atonement."
As the administrator turned to leave out of habit, Meisel called out to stop him.
"Wait, wait! There must be some mistake!"
"A mistake?"
The administrator looked back, startled. His face was etched with extreme wariness at the prospect of more work.
"I am the Lady of the Count of Arbor! How can I be sentenced to hard labor? I am a noble!"
Nobles could not be sentenced to hard labor. Especially for women, the highest punishment—excluding the death penalty—was being sent to a monastery.
"Ah, that's what you meant."
At those words, the administrator let out a visible sigh of relief.
"The prisoner was expelled from House Arbor as of midnight yesterday."
"W-what did you say?"
Meisel stammered in shock. Expelled? That couldn't be.
Father couldn't have abandoned me...
The moment one was expelled from the family, the person known as Arbor Meisel effectively ceased to exist.
Furthermore, the Waste Mine.
It was called a mine, but in reality, it was a dumping ground where the remains of monsters were buried and burned after being dismantled. It was a place where one had to handle monster entrails and all sorts of filth amidst a horrific stench. Located in the coldest, deepest mountain range of the North, it was notorious as the most grueling labor camp.
Work there until I die?
The death penalty would be better; this was essentially a sentence to live in hell for the rest of her life.
"The sentence was handed down after the expulsion, so there is no issue."
After confirming once more, the administrator handed the signed document to the knight in charge of the transport.
Spotting the knight, Meisel hurriedly pressed her face against the bars.
"Sir Knight! Where is Sir Tiern? I am his cousin! Please, call Sir Tiern!"
If her brother had heard this news, no matter how disappointed he was in her, there was no way he wouldn't show his face. She shouted, clinging to a sliver of hope.
"Sir Tiern has left the castle for a campaign."
"How could this be...!"
He should have at least left after promising to somehow get her out of the mine.
As Meisel fell into despair, the knight spoke, glancing at her with a cold expression.
"I don't particularly like Sir Tiern, but frankly, I'm glad he doesn't have to see this."
He looked her over with disdain.
"How can you shamelessly look for him? If even a fraction of what you tried to do had succeeded, Tiern's head would have rolled for failing to protect the Grand Duchess."
That was impossible. She had never even considered such a thing.
I just wanted the Grand Duke.
Why was everyone being so cruel to her?
Everyone had abandoned her. The Grand Duke, her father, and even Tiern.
Tears streamed down her face as she felt pity for her own wretched state. However, no one was there to witness her pathetic display.
The carriage began to rattle as it departed. Meisel was still wearing the worn-out dress she had worn at the monastery. The dawn wind pierced through the fabric, chilling her to the bone.
Meisel curled into a ball and looked out through the bars at the main castle. Leaving behind the main castle, where not a single light flickered—as if no one cared about her departure until the very end—the carriage carrying Meisel left the Grand Duke's Castle.
*
"Every single one of these works is of such low quality."
The Empress sneered as she looked at the paintings hanging in the Imperial Gallery.
"Indeed. How can such unrefined works by artists with no pedigree be hung in the Imperial Palace?"
The noblewomen standing behind her chimed in, sensing her mood.
This gallery exhibition, organized by the Crown Princess, featured a large number of works by rookie painters. Of course, it was a calculated political move. Unlike the Empress, who targeted the great noble families, the Crown Princess cared quite a bit about her reputation within the Empire. Because of this, she was quite popular among young nobles and the commoner middle class.
The Empress had thought she wouldn't need to worry as long as she brought the Grand Duke to her side.
To think the Crown Princess would target the same side.
She had belatedly heard that the Crown Princess had also sent a letter to Blenheim. The Crown Princess must have realized that whichever side secured the Grand Duke and his wife would have an overwhelming advantage.
Thinking about it, the Grand Duchess building a shopping district by the lake and putting on operas were all aimed at winning public sentiment.
In that respect, she might actually get along with the Crown Princess.
The thought made her even more displeased.
How dare she reject my invitation.
The Empress ground her teeth. If she had known it would turn out like this, she would have disciplined her before the marriage.
At least, from what she could see, it seemed the Crown Princess's invitation had also been rejected.
The Empress frowned, pondering an excuse to send another letter to Blenheim, when the Crown Princess appeared in the gallery, leading her ladies-in-waiting.
"I greet Her Imperial Majesty the Empress."
"It has been a while."
The Crown Princess forced a smile. It was nothing new for the Empress to intentionally omit her title as Crown Princess.
"What do you think of the works?"
At the Crown Princess's question, the Empress lifted her chin slightly.
"Well, they are light works, so they are easy on the eyes."
The Empress elegantly phrased her opinion that the works lacked class.
"I believe more dignified works suit the Imperial Palace, but I suppose having a bit of a rest like this once in a while isn't bad."
"A rest?"
"The imperial painters need a break too. I thought it better to hang something rather than leave the gallery empty."
At those words, the tips of the Crown Princess's ears turned red. This exhibition was a major event she had prepared to nurture the Empire's rising artists.
I mustn't fall for such a provocation.
"Since these are tailored to current trends, they might feel unfamiliar to Your Majesty. Young people these days tend to dislike things that are too old-fashioned."
The Crown Princess threw back a sharp remark.
"Indeed, I suppose I have grown old."
Surprisingly, the Empress conceded a point.
"I am quite worried that I won't even be able to communicate with the young ladies anymore."
What is she up to?
The Crown Princess wondered.
"But what can I do? The Grand Duchess is much younger, so I, as the elder, must make an effort. I only hope she doesn't find talking to me boring."
The Crown Princess flinched at the words the Empress dropped while pretending to belittle herself.
Could it be that the Grand Duchess accepted the Empress's invitation?
"Why would you worry about such a thing?"
The Empress's lady-in-waiting chimed in.
"The Grand Duchess would surely consider it an honor just to receive guidance from Her Majesty."
"Besides, Prince Valentin is there, and he is of a similar age."
"True, isn't the Third Prince the youngest blood in this old-fashioned Imperial Family?"
At the other lady-in-waiting's words, the Empress let out a soft laugh.
"Is the Grand Duchess planning to come?"
The Crown Princess asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
"After all, she has a connection with the House of Frais, so she doesn't feel like a stranger to me."
The Empress wore a triumphant smile.
"I plan to give her various pieces of advice and help her make her debut in social circles. Now that the Grand Duke of Blenheim is married, I, as his elder, must step up and look after her."
The Crown Princess's face hardened.
Is the Grand Duchess really siding with the Empress?
Based on her past actions, she had thought the Grand Duchess had severed ties with the Marquis.
The Crown Princess, failing to realize the Empress was bluffing, paced restlessly as soon as she returned to the Eastern Palace.
If it were the Grand Duke she knew, he would never side with any faction. But the Grand Duchess was different. If the Grand Duchess, who had already properly won the hearts of the people in the North, stood by her side, her own position as Crown Princess would be much stronger. The Grand Duke would have no choice but to follow his wife.
It would mean having a backer incomparable to the Empress or her supporters.
Those who opposed her succession to the throne wouldn't dare speak up.
I must bring the Grand Duchess to my side at all costs.
— "...I, as his elder, must step up and look after her."
The Crown Princess scoffed, recalling the Empress's justification.
So she's going to use that excuse?
If it's an elder, the Crown Princess had one on her side as well.
If the Empress intended to draw the Grand Duchess to the capital, she would send someone to Blenheim ahead of her to train the Grand Duchess.
Why didn't I think of this sooner?
When she had tea with Ladriel, she had heard several stories about the illegitimate younger sister who had caused all sorts of havoc at the Marquis's estate.
The Grand Duchess seems to be no pushover, but it doesn't matter.
Because 'that person' was someone who once ruled the social circles and held every young lady under her thumb.
All the Crown Princess had to do was craft a letter well enough to make that person want to personally go down to the Grand Duchy and put the Grand Duchess in her place.
The Crown Princess hurriedly asked her lady-in-waiting for a pen and paper.