Chapter 113
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Trap
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- Grind...
A grinding of teeth began to echo through the secret conference room, where a chilling silence had reigned.
"So..."
The one who first broke the silence in that atmosphere was Marquis Sharhen, radiating an intensity of murderous intent incomparable to anything he'd shown before.
"You're saying that the curse on the Sharhen family, which began rampaging ten years ago, was all because of that 'Black Heart'."
Unable to suppress his rage, he continued grinding his teeth as he stared at Kairen standing before him, murmuring with a pained expression.
"That's not all!"
"......"
"The Harkfrit family's 'Freezing', Belverk's 'Madness', and even Marquis Magnaris's curse—they all originated from there!"
Gauging Marquis Sharhen's mood, Kairen soon dropped another bombshell.
"The curse on the imperial family that we know of is the same."
"......"
"And that there was an imperial who has been colluding with that organization from the start..."
Astridje, who had been locking eyes with Kairen, chimed in at just the right moment.
"So, who the hell is that bastard?"
Around then, Marquis Magnaris posed the question in a cold voice utterly unlike her usual lively tone.
"...I don't know either!"
Kairen's response, after a brief pause, was slightly different from what anyone expected.
"That's why we need to pool our strength to find that bastard!"
Yet as Kairen finished his answer with the brightest smile possible and raised his voice confidently, the patriarchs' expressions grew complicated.
"Your Majesty the Emperor."
"Mm, go on."
"How credible is that claim?"
How much time passed? Countess Harkfrit of the Frontier rose quietly and spoke.
"Of course, it's a shocking statement... but what we've heard so far is merely the unilateral assertion of Kairen Nox Belverk."
At her words, the Emperor, who had been tilting his head thoughtfully, soon lifted the corner of his mouth slightly.
"You're saying we need cross-verification."
"Yes, that's what I believe."
"...Hmm."
After a moment of contemplation, the Emperor's gaze turned to the seat next to Countess Harkfrit, who had posed the question.
"The witness of history will handle that, won't he?"
"......"
"Isn't that right? Marquis Magnaris?"
Marquis Magnaris, receiving the Emperor's gaze, turned her head aside with an 'I knew it' expression.
"Due to the oath, I cannot speak of past events."
"......"
"But the one thing I can say is..."
However, as all eyes focused on her, she began to divulge information in a low voice.
"What you know about the Founding War is only half the story..."
Yet, the more she continued, the more sweat beaded on Marquis Magnaris's forehead, and a trickle of blood began to flow from the corner of her mouth.
"That's enough."
The Emperor, catching it with his sharp observation, immediately cut off the Marquis mid-sentence.
"I've understood the credibility of the testimony."
"Good. Then..."
"...But how does introducing Belverk's rites into the Crown Prince selection connect to this?"
Countess Harkfrit seemed somewhat convinced now, but the core issue remained unresolved.
"...Yawn. It's simple."
Thus, to wrap up the discussion, the Emperor began explaining swiftly despite his evident annoyance.
"Frankly, I already have a suspect in mind."
Her two eyes suddenly took on a golden hue.
"But regrettably, all the imperials who inherited my blood are competent and cunning."
"......"
"They wouldn't fail to prepare an escape route in a situation like this."
The Emperor's gaze, as she spoke, fell on Kairen and Astridje.
"And the collaborator might not be just one..."
Having heard the full truth from the two just before the meritorious houses' meeting, the Emperor could only reach that conclusion.
"So now, we set the bait."
"......"
"To identify the most suspicious one now that the Crown Prince position is vacant."
With the empire's two rulers already decided, the discussion swiftly headed toward a conclusion.
"In other words, the Crown Prince selection is merely a public excuse."
"......"
"Our true goal is to uproot the black seed that's infiltrated the empire."
The remaining patriarchs, now grasping the situation, shot Astridje sidelong glares but kept silent.
"And for that, we need Belverk's cooperation."
Around then, the Emperor's persuasion timely targeted the patriarchs.
"Belverk has always been at odds with the Holy Church, hasn't it?"
"...It has."
"Under Belverk's control, even the Holy Church would hesitate to intervene directly."
Of course, it was called persuasion, but no one dared refute it.
"Anyway, that concludes the explanation."
From the moment they realized they'd been played all along, the other patriarchs had all begun radiating killing intent and turned cooperative.
"Is there any patriarch left who wishes to exercise veto on Prince Alberion's wish?"
In the end, former Crown Prince Alberion's wish took immediate effect the moment the meritorious houses' meeting unanimously approved it.
"...Truth be told, knowing there'd be no objections, I already sent letters to all the imperials in advance."
By then, letters containing shocking contents had already been dispatched to every prince and princess of the empire.
"With that, this meeting is adjourned."
That would later go down in imperial history as the prelude to the Crown Prince selection tournament.
'In the end, I couldn't meet His Highness Alberion...'
Unlike what the letter had promised, even after coming all the way to the imperial palace, I couldn't meet former Crown Prince Alberion.
I'd at least wanted to discuss this matter a bit, but if even the maids don't know his whereabouts, there's really nothing to be done...
"Kairen."
"Mother!"
Thanks to that, as I left the conference room with a dejected expression, I scurried over and hugged my mother, who was already waiting outside.
"Did Kairen do well?"
"Of course."
"Hehe..."
My mother's warm body heat, as she predictably enveloped me in her arms today as well, always brought me blissful comfort no matter how many times I hugged her.
"I'm sorry, Kairen."
As I was beaming and nuzzling into her embrace, my mother suddenly apologized to me.
"If I'd found that woman sooner, we wouldn't have needed such convoluted schemes..."
"The Holy Church's movements have been sluggish for two years!"
But I knew. How the entire Belverk family, Mother included, had been desperate over the past two years to land even a single blow on the Holy Church.
Yet two years ago, the Holy Church had suddenly sealed off the Holy Land following the Pope's disappearance and hadn't opened its doors since.
A place that was already insular by nature had isolated itself completely, leaving us—who were natural enemies—utterly powerless.
"Sluggish is putting it mildly; they've been nonexistent."
Since the Holy Land's closure, the Holy Church hadn't shown a single external activity.
And Saintess 'Anastasia', who had become the de facto ruler, had shown no movement either.
"Still, if we seize evidence this time, we'll finally have something to track them by."
That was why this opportunity was a golden one—not just for us, but for the world.
"The Second Prince and his faction won't escape this trap."
It was the perfect chance to gather evidence warranting a national mobilization for all-out war on the Holy Land—not just Belverk acting alone.
"And Belverk never lets prey slip from its grasp once it's in hand."
Of course, seeing Mother with her eyes dyed red and radiating killing intent, it seemed inevitable that Belverk Ducal House and the Holy Church would clash head-on, scheme or no.
"Anyway, rest well for the time being."
"Yes!"
"Once all the imperials return to the palace due to the former Crown Prince's wish, we'll be quite busy."
Still, it was better to drag as many allies as possible rather than going it alone, so I nodded vigorously at Mother's words before yawning and preparing to nap in her arms.
"Oh, by the way."
But then, Mother spoke to me as my eyes were half-closed.
"A new tutor has been assigned."
"Oh, really?"
"Apparently, quite the famous figure in society."
Come to think of it, last year's tutor had ultimately resigned, unable to withstand Belverk's clannishness and the maids' pranks.
Belverk had been trying to change since opening its doors for the first time in centuries two years ago, but it was still too dangerous for ordinary folk.
"Her name is Rizelotte Evergle."
"Ooh."
"Young, common-born, but a private detective who's drawing enormous attention."
But hearing about this new tutor, I couldn't help feeling a spark of excitement?
"Want to see her profile?"
As I made a curious face with those thoughts, I skimmed the documents Mother held out and frowned.
"Hm..."
At the top of the submitted tutor resume was a photo of a young girl with the epitome of an innocent appearance.
"Sh-She looks so sweet!"
...Looks like before Belverk spawns more ghost stories, I'll have to step up and help this tutor myself!
Meanwhile, at that very moment. The sealed Holy Land of the Holy Church.
"...Finally."
The veiled woman standing silently before the statue of the goddess in the Holy Land lifted the document in her hand with a chilling smile.
"The time has come."
The document was none other than the acceptance notice for Belverk's tutor position.
"It's time for me to intervene personally."
She slipped Kairen's photo—evidently taken out and replaced multiple times—between the well-worn pages and left the chapel with a creepy smile.