Raised the Villainous Daughter and Ran Away

151. The Criminal

The central conference room of the Imperial Palace. All the key officials were gathered here, centering around Emperor Rezef.

The agenda is the attempted assassination of Duke Descartes, which has recently caused a stir in the empire.

The sudden deaths of the previous emperor and empress were judged to be related to this, so the issue was brought back on the agenda.

“First of all, before we begin the meeting, I would like to inform you that Duke Descartes has not yet regained consciousness. Now, I will tell you the progress of the investigation.”

The Imperial Chancellor, Jasian Hagisirn, handed over a document containing information to everyone at the Round Table.

“As everyone here knows, this incident is related to the sudden death of His Majesty the Emperor. Therefore, we have decided to conduct a simultaneous investigation.”

It was a report investigated by Lady Euplanet, one of only two transcendent wizards on the continent.

“It is said that the criminal has a special mysticism that can erase or hide his aura and magic power.”

The prime minister continued speaking.

“According to Lady Euplanet, Duke Descartes has reached the rank of Grand Mage through black magic alone. There are only a handful of people who can defeat him.”

The substitute said.

“So what Lady Euplain is claiming is that the culprit is not your average assassin, but someone who uses powerful divine magic and possesses mystical abilities that no ordinary mortal could ever possess?”

The prime minister nodded and said, “Yes.” Rezef scrunched up his face and protested.

“Wasn’t it because the Duke of Descartes was attacked while he was asleep? There’s no evidence that the criminal and the Duke collided while the person in question wasn’t even awake!”

The current flow of conversation and investigation is such that anyone who is not an idiot can’t help but see that everyone’s suspicions are directed towards Somire.

Because of the work she has done so far and her position as a saint, trust is thick and it won’t be easily broken, but if things continue this way, it’s only a matter of time. Rezef, who loves Somire more than anyone else, wanted to protect her.

“Your Majesty, I am sorry, but there is already evidence about that.”

Rezef, his face crumpled, glared at the minister, asking, “Proof?”

“According to the knights’ report, Duke Descartes was lying in front of the door, not in bed. And there is ample evidence that there was a clash between the Duke and the criminal.”

Palak. The substitute continued speaking while handing over the materials.

“The wounds that Duke Descartes received were a dagger stabbing in the abdominal vena cava and a sprained ankle.”

If it was a surprise attack aimed at assassination, then of course you would aim for the neck. That would be easier and less likely to survive. However, the area that was stabbed by the dagger was the abdominal vena cava.

Likewise, it is included in the vital points leading to death, but is not suitable for assassination.

“The sprained ankle would have been an injury sustained while trying to avoid an attack or run away during the collision. The wound to the abdomen would have been sustained during a fight.”

None of the officials sitting around the round table in the central conference room expressed a different opinion, because the data presented by Khazar Uplein was so valid.

“… Here is the next material.”

The prime minister handed over another document to the officials.

“This is an investigative report submitted by the Transcendent Mage, Lady Euplanet. It also contains reasonable grounds, so please read it carefully.”

The officials held their breath and read the investigative report slowly. Their feelings were revealed by the changes in their facial expressions.

“…?”

Rezef, who had been observing the situation, sensed something unusual and quickly read the investigation report.

────────────────

Report on the investigation into the attempted assassination of the Duke of Descartes.

By – Kazar Uflein.

The culprit used a special magic called ‘Backside Barrier’.

Due to the nature of the ‘back barrier’, there are no traces of combat, but judging from the wounds suffered by Duke Descartes, it is believed that there was a clash with the culprit.

Duke Descartes’ realm is that of a great magician.

Although they focus on black magic and cannot use a variety of magic, they are stronger than the court magicians.

This will help narrow down the scope of the investigation.

The culprit is either one of the strongest people in the empire who can easily subdue the Archmage, or a powerful user of divine magic who can subdue the Archmage’s work through a match.

Additionally, it has a unique mystical ability to erase auras and magic.

Not a user who comes to see traces of wounds.

I hereby declare that I have investigated this objectively, on the honor of the Transcendent Wizard, Kazar Uflein.

────────────────

Rezef’s eyebrows furrowed. Anyone who saw it could tell that he was specifically referring to Somire.

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Rezef, seeing the expressions of the imperial officials, tried to remain calm and spoke quietly.

“I understand what you are thinking. However, since there is no concrete evidence yet, please refrain from making hasty judgments.”

The expressions on the officials’ faces are very dark. It’s not enough to immediately investigate the suspect who brought chaos to the empire, but because of their status as empress and saintess, they can’t easily touch them.

“… It seems like we’ll just be talking nonsense, so let’s call the central meeting to a close. Everyone, please disband.”

Rezef, unable to stand the chaotic atmosphere, forcibly stopped the meeting.

“… By His Majesty the Emperor’s command, the Imperial Central Council will now conclude. I thank all the ministers for their presence.”

And so the final ending of the prime minister’s speech was completed.

“Then, Your Majesty, I will excuse myself now.”

The officials left their seats one by one. The prime minister watched Rezef for a moment, shook his head slightly, and left the conference room.

“Phew… … .”

Rezef, left alone, lowered his head and clutched his head.

It will be revealed later that the culprit is Somire. Although there is no conclusive evidence yet and only speculations are rampant, everything will be concluded on the day Duke Descartes wakes up.

‘What on earth should I do… … .’

Finally, Rezef was faced with the thing he had been ignoring and ignoring, saying that it couldn’t be true.

Could it really be that Somirene was the one who killed his parents and attempted to assassinate the Duke? Rezef couldn’t even imagine what kind of face he was making right now.

“Somire… … .”

As I bowed my head and thought of her, a feeling of nostalgia for the past suddenly came to mind.

When Somire turned 10, she was chosen as a saint by the goddess and brought to the palace.

My first meeting with her is still unforgettable.

She had a pure and loving smile that showed no trace of malice. When I looked at Somire, I felt good because even I, who was full of envy and jealousy, felt like I was walking the right path.

But a year ago, after the war with Barenberg, something changed.

Yeah, it’s like I’m a completely different person.

* * *

A bedroom with a quiet and comfortable atmosphere.

Frances was leisurely lying on her bed, reading her magic book. She wanted to learn other attributes to prevent something like that from happening again.

“Your Majesty, would you like black tea today?”

Helena asked with a grin.

“Yeah, I haven’t had any black tea lately.”

“I’ll prepare dessert too!”

Helena was very excited to see Frances looking healthy and well, and headed to the kitchen of the mansion.

“Radea, do you have a favorite dessert?”

“…Suddenly?”

“I don’t really like dessert.”

Frances hated desserts served with tea. She had only bad memories of them from her childhood.

Ladea blinked her eyes and looked into space for a moment before answering.

“Well, I don’t know because I’ve never had sweet food like desserts before. They were expensive and the Baron Roark territory was very barren.”

Frances, who couldn’t help but feel sorry for her background, thought that she would have tried some kind of dessert.

“So? Then, try eating a lot this time, and if you like it, bring some to Leia too. I’ll give you as much as you want for dessert.”

Ladea’s face brightened.

“Really?”

“okay.”

“thank you!”

Fortunately, I think I got through it well.

As I was watching Ladea humming happily, smiling happily, the bedroom door opened.

I thought Helena had come back… … .

“Your Highness?”

It was Khazar.

“What’s going on?”

“I sent the investigation report to the royal family.”

Frances’ eyes narrowed.

“Did you get an answer?”

“There was no answer back.”

However, Kazar continued speaking.

“The key officials of the imperial family must have been quite shaken. They are very dissatisfied with the current imperial power.”

Rezef’s actions were wrong from the start when he touched the Duke of Descartes.

Even without that, the authority was so high that it was hard to keep an eye on the situation, so he provoked the quiet agent, saying that he would restore the balance of power.

The imperial officials would have been displeased with Rezef.

“If we do well, we might be able to bring down not only the saint but also the emperor.”

Frances tilted her head and asked, “What’s the basis?”

“Even on the day the Duke fell, the Emperor turned his arrows in this direction to defend the Saintess. A person so pitiful would not just watch the Saintess’ downfall.”

Indeed, Frances slowly mumbled while saying this.

“That would be understandable for a foolish emperor. He would probably value the saint more than the empire.”

To put it nicely, he is a single-minded lover, but to put it badly, he is a man who is obsessed with women and blocks his own path.

“Anyway. First, I planted the seeds of suspicion like this. Now, next is the sudden change of imperial power, the new emperor’s check on Descartes, and the assassination attempt. I have to link these three things together to make the seeds I planted sprout.”

It’s good that that stupid emperor and that damned saint are falling. But what next? Frances asked.

“Do you have any more plans?”

“yes?”

“I’m talking about the next emperor.”

There are other royals besides Rezef. But the question is whether they will inherit the throne.

“I’m not sure about that yet. Shouldn’t we meet in person and negotiate or force him to take the throne?”

Frances blinked repeatedly, wondering if she had misheard.

“… Now that I think about it, you didn’t know anything except about magic.”

He quickly shook his head and rubbed his forehead.

“I’ll take care of that.”

It’s good to have great power, but it’s also very inconvenient in this respect. With more power comes more responsibility.

While I was thinking about what to do next.

“I brought you dessert!”

Helena came in with a wagon full of desserts. I thought she was a little late.

“… Didn’t you bring too much?”

A three-tiered tray filled with all sorts of sugary desserts. Almost overwhelming.

“When it comes to recovering energy, sweets are the best!”

Helena clenched her fists against her chest and smiled brightly. Frances cautiously pushed the fork toward Ladea.

“Helena, eat too… … .”

“Yes? Me too?”

“I can’t eat all this by myself.”

Frances tapped the chair with her hand as Helena hesitated.

“hurry.”

“…yes.”

Helena, who was unexpectedly invited to afternoon tea. Kajar and Ladea inhaled the desserts like ghosts.

Looking at this sight, Frances smiled bitterly and sipped her black tea.

‘I wish Jin was here.’

Could it be because he left and a series of bad things happened, making me feel psychologically exhausted? It was a day when Jin’s absence was felt especially deeply.