Chapter 113: Saint Marianne (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 113: Saint Marianne (1)
“Oho. You’re the new one, aren’t you?”
“…….”
Greasy, dark gray eyes scanned me from head to toe. The mere gaze made my skin crawl, as if a snake were slithering over my body.
I lowered my eyes, pretending to be terrified. I stared at the filthy ground, my body trembling. Showing any sign of defiance would only make me stand out more.
“The quality of the kids coming in lately is quite excellent.”
The guard, who had just uttered those revolting words, seemed to be looking at me and Luciano beside me. Suddenly, my vision went dark.
“……?”
Luci was standing in front of me, blocking the guard's view. His body was shaking slightly.
I was only pretending to be scared, but I had expected Luciano to be truly terrified. I blinked in surprise, staring at his back, which was only slightly broader than mine.
“I’ll be the one to take you when it’s time to receive your ‘grace.’ Heh.”
“…….”
‘Grace,’ huh?
The priests who had imprisoned these children used that word to describe injecting them with the Demon’s Poison. They were truly insane.
The guard’s eyes were a dark gray, almost black. In this world, the more divine power a priest possessed, the lighter their eye color tended to be—much like Nathaniel’s bright gray eyes.
If that held true, this priest acting as a guard was likely low-ranking. It seemed they assigned the bottom-tier priests to handle the children, who were deemed powerless.
Clang.
The guard, who had licked his lips while looking at Luciano and me, slammed the iron bars shut. He slowly walked away. A thin sigh escaped Luciano’s lips.
Perhaps because my hair and eye colors were still altered, the guard didn't seem to realize who I was. Was that why the High Priest hadn't taken my magical tools? I felt a sense of relief, yet I frowned, unable to fathom their true intentions.
“Ian!”
Luciano turned around and rushed toward the child who had just been thrown into the cell. The young boy couldn't even respond to his name; he just lay curled on the floor, twitching.
“Ian, wake up!”
“Ugh… argh…”
“Are you okay? Can you hear me?”
Luciano reached out and gently stroked Ian’s back. Ian continued to groan, unable to form words.
‘Can’t you guys really do anything about the Demon’s Poison?’
[About that… we’re sorry.]
[If we were outside, we could at least dull the pain, but we can’t do anything inside the Temple.]
‘Sigh.’
That was my fault too. The demons couldn't exert their strength because I was still young. In contrast, Dollens, who was contracted to Dantalion, could fly around energetically even inside the Temple.
It would have been great if Dollens or Luers were here. But there was no way Dantalion or Veronica, who were contracted to them, would be in a place like this. I hung my head, feeling dejected.
“Brother Luci…”
“Ian!”
Fortunately, Ian soon regained consciousness. However, whether from the pain of the poison or the lingering fear, he was drenched in cold sweat and tears.
“Brother Luci, it hurts… It hurts so much…”
“Just a little… just endure it a little longer. Then…”
Luciano bit his lip, his words trailing off into empty platitudes. I stared at his face; he looked like he was in more pain than the younger boy.
I think I understood Luciano’s role here now. I hadn't realized it back in the Imperial Palace because he was always so cowed, but he was a dependable and mature child for his age.
‘I have to find a way to get all these children out of here.’
If things continued like this, the children wouldn't be able to hold on. The Demon’s Poison was the origin of the plague. It would be a problem if the poisoned children were released into the world, but I would have to find a way to solve that too.
‘But will I be okay?’
I wondered if they intended to turn me into a test subject for the poison as well. Given the circumstances, it was the only logical conclusion.
As if reading my thoughts, the voices of the demons echoed in my head.
[Master does not need to worry about being poisoned. As long as we are here, the poison cannot harm your body!]
[That’s right. You don’t have to worry. We can help you with at least that much.]
‘Hmm.’
Wouldn't that actually be more of a problem? If they brought me here to use as a test subject and I didn't show any symptoms of poisoning, the priests would get suspicious.
I told them to stay still during the experiments, but the demons threw a fit. They ranted that since I had no resistance to poison and a weak constitution, I could actually die.
In the end, we compromised: they would regulate the poison just enough to deceive the priests' eyes. I had my doubts about whether these current demons could control the spread of poison with such precision, though.
Regardless, I finalized the plan and prepared myself as calmly as possible for the disaster that was about to strike.
*
Veronica had been out of her mind for days.
Until she lost track of Claudia’s whereabouts, she had felt like she wanted to die. Fortunately, news arrived that Hamilton—one of Henrietta’s brothers—had accidentally discovered Claudia and was keeping her safe. That news finally allowed her to breathe.
Though she had few men to spare, she immediately ordered the Imperial Knight Order to head there. She believed she would soon hold her child in her arms again.
Veronica endured each day solely on that thought. She vowed over and over that once she had Claudia back, she would never let her go again.
“Your Majesty the Empress.”
“What is it?”
“Well…”
Seeing the dark expression on the Head Maid’s face, a sense of foreboding washed over Veronica. When she pressed for the news, her world turned dark in an instant.
“The trading company was attacked by an unidentified group, and the Princess…”
“Ah…”
“Your Majesty!”
The horrified Head Maid barely managed to catch Veronica as she collapsed. Pale with fright, the maid screamed for a physician.
“Dia… where is my child…?”
“I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty.”
“…….”
Everyone in the office wore a somber expression. Veronica simply could not believe this reality.
After dismissing the physician who had rushed in, Veronica composed herself and spoke.
“I must go see the Empress Dowager.”
“Your Majesty!”
As Veronica stood up with resolve, the maids and guard knights were startled.
Joshua, who had remained at the palace in place of Dantalion—who was currently in the South—also looked troubled.
“I beg your pardon, but I do not think that is a good idea. Your Majesty, please…”
“Anyone who isn't a fool knows that the Empress Dowager is the one who ordered Dia to be taken. I must have a showdown with her.”
“It is too dangerous, Your Majesty!” Joshua shouted, trying to stop the extremely agitated Veronica.
However, Veronica didn't even listen to him and strode forward.
“When His Majesty the Emperor returns, then…!”
“When? When exactly is His Majesty returning?”
“That is…”
Just before leaving the office, Veronica turned around and glared at Joshua. Joshua’s voice trailed off.
Although he was constantly exchanging news with Dantalion in the South, there was no telling when the Emperor would be able to wrap up the business with the Quincies and return.
In the worst-case scenario, they might have to consider a grim conclusion. By the time he returned to resolve the matter, there was no telling what would have happened to Claudia. Unable to voice his fears, Joshua fell silent.
“She is a cunning woman, so she won't even bat an eye if I go to her. But I will make her open her mouth.”
An eerie light flickered in Veronica’s red eyes. An intangible aura radiated from her—the mark of someone nearing the level of a Sword Master.
Joshua knew that Veronica’s swordsmanship was excellent, but he still had a very bad feeling about this.
The Apocrypha had infiltrated the Imperial Palace, and a massive sorcery that even the Imperial Mages couldn't detect had taken control of the Empress’s Chambers. The power the Empress Dowager possessed was not to be underestimated.
“It truly, truly could be dangerous. Your Majesty, please, you must preserve your safety.”
“Sigh.”
Veronica let out a long sigh at Joshua’s desperate plea. With Dantalion absent, Veronica, as the Empress, was essentially acting in the Emperor's stead. If something happened to her, the Imperial Family would lose its control tower and collapse instantly.
Knowing this all too well, Veronica felt trapped. Since the Winston Ducal Family had also led their forces to the South to support Dantalion, there was no one left she could trust with this task.
Was she really supposed to just sit here and wait for news of Claudia?
But when she thought of her child, likely crying and calling out for her, she couldn't bear it. Veronica grit her teeth.
“I will go.”
“...!”
Just then, a delicate voice spoke up. Veronica turned her head in surprise.
Marianne, dressed in her formal Saintess attire, looked up at Veronica with a calm face. She spoke again.
“I will visit Her Majesty the Empress Dowager in your stead.”
Her purple eyes, filled with resolve, gazed straight at Veronica.