Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Child of Prophecy
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Felix’s interim report on the “investigation” was quickly delivered to Carlyle.
“Digesting it will probably take about a day.”
“⋯⋯? Digesting what?”
“⋯⋯There’s some stuff.”
The Hero made a queasy face as she said that, sticking out her tongue.
Every motion screamed that she had no desire to explain in detail.
“Anyway, squeezing out all the info should take just one day.”
⋯⋯Hmm.
With demons definitely running rampant in the capital right now, waiting a day was a real pain—but it was also clear that Carlyle had no option to slack off.
It wasn’t just Felix; interim reports were coming in on other tasks he’d delegated too.
“⋯⋯Looks like you’ve taken on a ton of business.”
Carlyle glanced at the piles of flowers stacked in Bisels’s room as he said that.
She’d called him here saying there was something to report on the investigation he’d assigned her, but what was all this?
“Well, when you’re disguised as a maid gathering intel, this kind of thing happens.”
Bisels grumbled as she pulled out a cigarette and put it in her mouth.
“Tch. Can’t believe how unpopular these guys must be to hit on a mere maid like that.”
“⋯⋯No, it doesn’t seem like simple flirts.”
Carlyle picked up one of the love letters scattered around and said.
He hadn’t read them all, but every line dripped with sincerity.
“Who’d fall head over heels for something I said? What part of me is even feminine?”
“⋯⋯Suit yourself?”
“Besides, who’d take a liking to a girl who spits out guy talk like it’s nothing? They’d just think she’s vulgar.”
“What the hell have you been up to⋯⋯?”
“Nothing much? Just tried to win some favor—chimed in on noble guys’ hobbies, hung out a few times when I had free time, gave brotherly advice on women. That’s all it was, guys bonding.”
“⋯⋯.”
“So that’s how I got close quick and pried out all sorts of info.”
Let’s see.
A beauty who was knowledgeable about manly hobbies, talked and acted like one of the guys, approached everyone with zero distance, and gave deep empathy and spot-on advice on men’s troubles.
“⋯⋯.”
Hmm.
Wasn’t that top-tier wife material?
“You’ll probably get a marriage proposal from someone soon. Just saying.”
“⋯⋯What nonsense is that?”
She seemed utterly clueless about her own appeal.
Anyway.
Time to get to the point of calling Carlyle here: the princes and princesses’ “secret.”
“⋯⋯They’re both head over heels for one person.”
“Yes?”
Bisels puffed on her cigarette and continued as Carlyle blinked.
“The 1st Prince and 2nd Princess—they’re both totally wrapped around one human’s finger.”
“⋯⋯.”
What to say.
She used to be so polite with Theodore and Bellatrix back in the day.
Even in private, talking this harshly meant it had to be something extreme.
“What do you mean ‘wrapped around their finger’?”
There was hardly anyone on the continent, let alone the empire, who could leverage power against them.
Even Felix would have to comply if they asked a favor without much justification.
“They’re emotionally tied down tight to one person. Completely smitten.”
With those words, a file with someone’s photo dropped in front of Carlyle.
It was a document meticulously detailing someone’s background.
“It’s something only insiders know, but they both ‘cherish’ this person for sure. The prince and princess are hiding it to protect her from harm.”
“⋯⋯How’d you get this?”
“I’m low in the imperial pecking order, so I’ve done these odd jobs plenty. Not many have sharper ears for palace intrigue or hidden info than me.”
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle quietly stared at Bisels.
“⋯⋯What.”
“Nothing. Just thought you were a total wastrel prince, but you’ve got more skills than I figured.”
And she had.
Infiltrating the palace as a maid to dig up info was high-risk, yet she’d pulled it off flawlessly and delivered such clean results.
It made sense why Theodore and Bellatrix had trusted her from the start.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯If you’re grateful, how about giving my body back?”
Bisels grumbled before continuing.
“She’s a commoner girl. Name’s Rachel Kibein.”
“⋯⋯A commoner girl?”
Modest credentials for a femme fatale ensnaring both prince and princess.
“They say she’s sweet. Cute. Raised with tons of love—pure as can be.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Noble inner circles and high society can’t fathom why the prince and princess are so obsessed.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯Hmm.”
Carlyle nodded slowly, reading through the documents she’d handed over.
“And that’s not the only odd thing.”
He tapped the last page with his finger.
“She has precognition⋯⋯?”
“⋯⋯Yeah.”
Bisels said in a disbelieving tone.
“Apparently near-perfect on demon-related stuff. She’s the one who sensed something dormant in Princess Ilia’s body.”
“⋯⋯.”
“The ability’s legit, from what I hear. Everyone involved swears by it. That’s why the prince and princess trust her.”
Hmm.
Carlyle stroked his chin.
‘Hero. Know anything about prophets?’
[Of course.]
The Holy Sword snorted.
[Back when the world was falling apart, plenty claimed to be prophets. Saw enough to last a lifetime.]
‘⋯⋯And we both know what they really were.’
[Con artists. Some possessed by demons, stirring up even more chaos.]
Carlyle couldn’t agree more.
Through countless regressions, he’d never met a human who could truly ‘see the future.’
Especially since he himself knew what would happen from repeated loops—practically a prophet.
Usually, it was demon tricks.
This Rachel girl.
She stank of rot.
Not just a whiff—the stench burned his nose.
“The Church finds out, they’ll burn her for heresy on the spot.”
Bisels gave a wry smile.
“Since the inquisitors rebranded as Templars, they don’t do that brutal stuff anymore.”
⋯⋯Though her tone agreed with Carlyle underneath.
“Anyway, I’ve met her.”
“Oh? What’s she like?”
“⋯⋯.”
Bisels paused, choosing her words, then spat it out cynically.
“Seemed like a good kid.”
“Yeah?”
“Gave off vibes like she couldn’t hurt a bug.”
“⋯⋯.”
Hmm.
The rotten stench grew stronger.
Just like the puppets demons planted in society that he’d seen countless times.
“⋯⋯Well, if I get the chance, I’d like to meet her myself.”
Probably best to do it soon.
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And as if his intent had been heard.
Carlyle wouldn’t have to wait long at all.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle narrowed his eyes at the pink-haired girl sitting blankly in his room.
The very “Child of Prophecy” who’d been the talk of the town earlier.
The one the prince and princess were both obsessed with.
He hadn’t expected to meet her just hours after hearing about her.
“⋯⋯Rachel Kibein. They said you had business with you.”
Lionel, who’d brought her, said that.
“Ah, hello!”
The small, animal-like girl bowed energetically.
So hard she smacked her forehead right into the tea table in front of her.
⋯⋯She popped back up unfazed, though.
Her swelling red forehead was impressive.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle shot Lionel a what-the-hell-is-this look, and Lionel shook his head.
Meaning he had no idea either.
‘⋯⋯Even the Grand Duke.’
He looked utterly baffled.
Didn’t know who this Rachel Kibein was or why the prince and princess had asked him to make the intro.
“The prince and princess personally asked me to arrange this meeting⋯⋯ but I don’t know what they want to talk about either.”
“⋯⋯Talk?”
“They said they have something important to ask you.”
⋯⋯Aha.
She had business with him.
Carlyle scanned Rachel up and down.
‘Anything?’
[Nothing.]
‘Same here.’
Ever since Ilia’s case, he’d built resistance to demons subtly embedding demonic energy in people.
He’d spotted it instantly with the Emperor before, and sensed Gregory’s disguise to some extent.
But with Rachel now—nothing.
⋯⋯She felt like a completely normal human.
Low chance she’d been hit with any demon “tricks” right now, at least on the surface.
No, not demons—nothing special at all.
And that made the next question chilling.
“⋯⋯Mr. Carlyle, um.”
Rachel opened her mouth cautiously.
“Are you⋯⋯ from the future?”
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle froze.
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