Chapter 91
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 91
“Servants?”
“Yes. They were serving wine. There was a maid wearing a scarf and a man with delicate hands who didn't look like a servant at all. The male servant, however, seemed to know Lady Rohanson.”
The person who had bloodied Evangeline was said to have a young girl’s voice. Therefore, the male servant could be ruled out, as he was not only a man but also an acquaintance of Evangeline’s.
As for the maid wearing a scarf… Gabriel recalled seeing her as well.
When a wine glass meant for Evangeline had struck him instead, injuring his head, he had gone to get treated. The maid who had handed him a change of clothes and a cloth to wipe himself with had also been wearing a scarf. He was about to dismiss her as a suspect, given that she was mute, when Madame Toten suddenly mentioned the wine, as if just remembering.
“Only the wine that maid served tasted subtly different.”
“The taste?”
“Yes. It wasn't poisoned, since I suffered no ill effects, but it was… how should I put it? The taste was light, as if it had been watered down.”
A colorless, odorless liquid that weakened the taste of wine but wasn't poison… The first thing that came to Gabriel’s mind was holy water. Madame Toten seemed to have reached a similar conclusion.
“I believe it was… holy water.”
A pained expression crossed Madame Toten’s face, her brow furrowing deeply.
“When Ryder was sick, holy water had no effect on him, no matter how much he drank, so he refused it completely. Still, clutching at straws, I would mix it into his drinks. It only occurs to me now, but the wine I drank had that same clean taste… It was very similar to a drink mixed with holy water.”
Mixing holy water into wine for someone to drink? If so, the target was obvious. They had administered it out of suspicion toward Evangeline.
“Wasn’t that maid mute?”
“How did you know that, Sir Gabriel?” Madame Toten asked, surprised that he knew a detail she hadn't mentioned. “Could it be… that maid is the culprit?”
“She may not be the culprit, but she is certainly involved.”
The maid had been outside with Gabriel while he was changing his clothes, so she couldn't have been the one to murder the Crown Prince directly.
“Then she must be one of Bishop Marik’s people.”
Gabriel remained silent at Madame Toten’s confident assertion.
“As you are close to Lady Rohanson, Sir Gabriel, you must already know… but she is special, isn't she? It was strange from the beginning that Bishop Marik, who hadn’t appeared in public for over a decade, suddenly stepped forward to be the young lady’s chaperone. Besides, the only person with the power to divert holy water for personal use is Bishop Marik. Am I wrong?”
“There is likely… more to it.”
“More to it?”
For the first time, Gabriel spoke aloud the theory he had been forming ever since his encounter with Bishop Marik in the basement—a thought he hadn't even shared with his own subordinates, knowing the massive repercussions it would have the moment it was voiced.
“Bishop Marik seemed to want to reenact the past.”
“The past? Surely not… a reenactment of the pagan massacre?” Madame Toten gasped, covering her mouth in shock. The memories of that time were still vivid for her. While many had built their power on the foundation of the pagan massacre and looked back on those days fondly, Kinder Toten was not one of them. The one who had benefited most, of course, was the Emperor, Mater.
“Bishop Marik is mobilizing the paladins. Some under my command have even deserted the order to follow her.”
“Could another pagan massacre really happen? So many died back then. To do it again… His Majesty would never allow it.”
The memory of the pagan massacre was only now beginning to fade. Though not as absolute as it once was, the authority of both the Emperor and the Temple remained secure. There was no reason to deliberately unleash such a bloody storm.
“If that is indeed her plan, then Bishop Marik must be acting on her own.”
“Could that be why His Highness the Crown Prince was murdered? He was the most vocal opponent of the Temple. We must inform His Majesty at once…!”
Gabriel stopped the highly agitated Madame Toten.
“As you well know, Madame, Bishop Marik arrived late to the scene. Even if she is the culprit, she didn't act directly, which means she must have an escape route prepared. Besides, all we have right now is suspicion.”
“Indeed… But a pagan massacre…”
Marchioness Toten stared at the curtained window, lost in thought. Gabriel knew she was thinking of Ryder, who lay just beyond it.
* * *
After his conversation with Madame Toten, Gabriel returned to the Imperial Palace, not the Temple. He had tried to visit Evangeline, but after their first meeting, he was repeatedly turned away.
While searching for the maid in the scarf, he received a report that she was now serving Princess Tenebrae.
He kept a close watch on Tenebrae’s retinue, but this, in turn, sparked rumors that Gabriel suspected Jeremia. For a rumor that had appeared so suddenly, it spread at an unnaturally rapid pace, making it clear someone was intentionally fanning the flames. It eventually reached the ears of Princess Jeremia herself, who was so shocked that she fell ill and took to her bed.
Some believed the rumors and condemned Jeremia; others claimed Gabriel had lost his senses, bewitched by Lady Rohanson.
Either way, the impact of the rumors could not be ignored.
And then, the Emperor broke his silence. He gathered his loyal vassals for a meeting.
“Vicious rumors have been circulating within the palace.”
“Is it not because of Sir Gabriel?” someone ventured.
Since Bishop Marik was present, no one dared insult the Temple by association. The Emperor, who seemed to get a headache at the mere mention of Gabriel’s name, massaged his temples.
“Sir Gabriel is not to blame.”
“He dared to suspect an imperial grandchild, yet you say he is not to be punished?”
“A witness has come forward.”
“A witness?”
“A servant reportedly saw Jeremia take the sword presented by Evangeline Rohanson.”
“Your Majesty! Is that testimony credible? It is merely the word of a servant!”
“Silence.”
Despite the fierce objections, the room fell quiet at the Emperor’s dismissive wave. He appeared to genuinely believe the testimony—and even if he didn't, if the Emperor said it was so, they had no choice but to accept it.
Those present exchanged uneasy glances. Was Jeremia truly the culprit? That gentle princess looked as if she couldn't harm a fly. Above all, Jeremia was the grandchild who had enjoyed the late Crown Prince’s undivided favor.
“And another piece of testimony has come to light.”
At the Emperor’s words, someone whispered, “Of course.”
“We have testimony that Jeremia and Tenebrae swapped necklaces before the banquet. This comes from their nanny, so there is no reason to doubt it.”
“They swapped necklaces?”
“Yes.”
The Emperor continued to press his temples, looking utterly exhausted. Seeing that he lacked the energy to speak further, Bishop Marik took over the explanation.
“Princess Tenebrae disguised herself as Lady Jeremia to carry out her scheme. She did this so that even if the crime were discovered, the innocent Lady Jeremia would take the blame in her stead.”
“What on earth…”
“Those of you gathered here know that I returned to the banquet hall late. I felt a deeply ominous energy and was guided back by Goddess Rachel. And I sensed a similarly sinister energy emanating from Princess Tenebrae.”
No one asked why she was only revealing this now. With the Emperor having made his move and the Temple backing him, there was no room for objection.
“Every citizen of the Empire has heard of the ominous twins. Foolishly, I did not trust the legend and spared those two pitiful children, but that mercy has cost me my son’s life.”
And so, the Emperor declared:
“Tenebrae dabbled in sorcery and murdered her own father, a crime that cannot be expiated even by death. As it was I who spared her life, the right to take it also belongs to me. From this moment on, Tenebrae is no longer an imperial grandchild but a criminal who murdered the Crown Prince. Bring the sinner before me.”
* * *
“Tenebrae. Look outside.”
At Azazel’s call, Tenebrae glanced out the window. Below, countless knights were lined up, marching toward the castle where the twins resided.
“It seems the Emperor made up his mind faster than I expected.”
Tenebrae shot to her feet, filled with ecstasy. She had envisioned this very moment dozens, even hundreds, of times.
Before the knights could arrive, she rushed to Jeremia’s room. Unlike usual, no guards stood before the door, making it incredibly easy to enter.
“Jeremia! Wake up! Something terrible has happened!”
Tenebrae shook Jeremia awake in a panic. Jeremia, who had grown noticeably haggard, rubbed her eyes and sat up, unable to resist her sister’s urgency.
Tenebrae pulled the still-dazed Jeremia to the window and forced her to look outside. When Jeremia saw the immense formation of knights below, her eyes widened.
“They’re coming to arrest you.”
“Te-Tenebrae, what… what are you talking about?”
Still half-asleep, Jeremia failed to notice the trace of amusement in Tenebrae’s voice. She turned pale, staring at her sister. Wiping away any hint of laughter as if it had never been there, Tenebrae continued in an agitated tone.
“Lady Rohanson and Sir Gabriel conspired to frame you.”
“Sir Gabriel?”
The rumor that had tormented her until she fell ill flashed through Jeremia’s mind. Sir Gabriel framed Jeremia as the culprit to save Evangeline Rohanson. How could a paladin fall for a depraved witch and bear false witness?
“Even so, Grandfather would never suspect me.”
Jeremia tried to deny it. Though not as much as Oratorio, the Emperor had always been fond of his charming granddaughter. Surely he would take her side, not listen to the wicked Lady Rohanson and the man who had murdered her father. But Tenebrae immediately shot back.
“You idiot! Then who do you think sent those knights?”
Jeremia’s jaw dropped. Tenebrae, who had never spoken so harshly to her, had spat out the insult with venom. It made her panic feel all the more real. Just as Tenebrae said, the only ones with military authority in the Imperial Palace were the Emperor and the Crown Prince. And since her father was dead… had Grandfather really sent the knights to capture her?
Just then, one of the knights broke from the formation and cut down a maid who was blocking the castle gates. Jeremia watched in horror as a human life was extinguished so easily. Tenebrae drove the final nail in the coffin.
“They said you murdered Father, Jeremia. They said you must be executed for it.”