Raised the Villainous Daughter and Ran Away

152. He is coming.

The palace where there is no time for silence.

It was historically unusual for the central council, where all the imperial officials gathered, to be held in succession so soon after.

Even during the war with Barenberg, there was only one emergency call-up.

“The Imperial Central Conference will now begin.”

This time, the prime minister led the meeting by distributing documents.

“The data I just shared is a criminal psychology analysis data sent by Lady Euplanet, the transcendent magician of the Descartes Tower.”

The imperial officials immediately checked the information, and soon their faces became stiff.

“Isn’t this too much of a conspiracy theory? It seems like they’re forcing the relationship between the events.”

Something bordering on insulting the royal family. The Secretary of State frowned, unable to hide his displeasure.

“It’s not entirely unreasonable. Certainly, the material Lady Euplain sent was an insult to the royal family, but the basis for this claim is solid.”

The Minister of Justice continued, pushing up his glasses.

“The previous Emperor and Empress suddenly passed away, and the imperial power was suddenly replaced. The new imperial family immediately took control of Descartes. And on the day that Duke Descartes visited the palace for a meeting, an assassination attempt occurred.”

The eyebrows of the imperial officials all narrowed. They knew from what they had seen firsthand that the reason Rezef was keeping Descartes in check was because of the empress.

“The reason all this is connected is because the cause of the deaths of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress and the ability that emerged from the attempted assassination of Duke Descartes are the same.”

Finally, the decisive blow.

“then….”

“Ahem… … .”

“Hmm… … .”

The officials coughed in vain and looked at the emperor. Rezef just listened with a shady face and did not express any particular opinion.

“The Duke of Descartes has not yet awakened, and this is only a guess and psychological analysis, so I will not forcefully mobilize the investigation team… … .”

The minister stared at Rezef with shallow eyes for a moment, then cautiously opened his mouth.

“I fear that the Duke of Descartes may escape before he wakes up, so I believe that we should detain Her Majesty the Empress, who is considered the prime suspect.”

The royal family was arrested. It was a shocking statement, but no one objected. Everyone had already guessed to some extent.

The culprit is the saint and empress, Somire.

“…Do you also agree with my opinion?”

Rezef asked. His deep voice spoke volumes about his feelings.

“…I’m sorry, but that’s true.”

“I agree with you.”

“I agree with that.”

There were ten key imperial officials gathered here. Except for four who could not speak about the incident because their fields were different, they all had the same opinion.

“… … .”

Rezef closed his eyes tightly, his arms crossed on the round table. His deeply furrowed brows revealed his complicated thoughts.

Even if he was the emperor of the empire, he couldn’t ignore the opinions of the imperial officials. Rezef sighed inwardly as if the world was going to end.

“Your Majesty, I am sorry, but I believe that Your Majesty the Empress should be detained until the truth is revealed. If this is a wrong judgment, I will resign from my position as an official and accept the punishment for insulting the Imperial Family.”

The stubborn opinion of the substitute. He had already decided that the culprit was Somire. Rezef looked around at everyone sitting at the round table with his eyes shallow.

“Ahem… … .”

“hmm…….”

“Big… … .”

The officials coughed and avoided Rezef’s gaze. Everyone, like the minister, had already made up their minds.

“… I understand your opinions. However, I am against arresting the empress, who is a saint of the empire and has joined the royal family, without any solid evidence.”

And then, Rezef continued speaking.

“I do not completely disagree with your suspicions. It is also true that, based on inference and analysis, the most likely suspect at present is the Empress.”

Rezef raised his head proudly and spoke sternly.

“So, just wait until Duke Descartes wakes up and reveals the truth. Then I will personally punish the culprit as he deserves.”

The key imperial officials nodded their heads in understanding.

“I think everyone agrees, so this central meeting will end here. Everyone, please disperse.”

Rezef was the first to rise from his seat.

“… By His Majesty the Emperor’s command, the central meeting will now be concluded.”

* * *

It’s a pitch-black dawn, not even the stars are shining.

Rezef sat by the fountain in the palace garden, quietly drinking alone.

“after…….”

Due to recent stress, the area under my eyes is hollow and my cheeks are sagging.

‘… The culprit is definitely Somire.’

It wasn’t just that everyone’s public opinion was focused on him that made him doubt himself. Rezef had also felt a sense of alienation towards Somire from the past.

It’s been over ten years since I spent time with her in the palace. It’s strange not to know.

The Somire that Rezef knew would never do something like that. She was kind and gentle to everyone.

But a year ago, after the war, Somire went through some mental stress and changed.

If you don’t look closely and only look at the surface, you may not be able to tell, but with Rezef, who I’ve been with for over 10 years, you can definitely feel it.

The current Somire is not Somire.

The life in Rezef’s eyes disappeared. It’s hard. I don’t want to think about it. I don’t know what to do.

No, I actually know that, but I’m just trying to ignore it.

A wise emperor, a monarch who will lead the empire in the future, must cast aside his personal feelings and make choices for everyone.

Rezef looked at the pitch-black sky with dead eyes.

“It brings back old memories… … .”

Born as the first prince of the Fedelian Empire, Rezef received harsh education from childhood because he was considered to be more timid and shallow-minded than others.

Leadership education including military, cultural, historical, political, and economic education. We have received mentally exhausting lessons to become great rulers.

As a result, Rezef was able to perfectly handle state affairs, and his military power also reached the level of Sword Master.

A man of both literary and martial arts talents.

However, he was always compared to Jean Barenberg, the first prince of Barenberg, a country right next door to the empire.

I tried to live up to everyone’s expectations. I worked so hard that I developed obsessive-compulsive disorder, and I pushed myself to the limit.

Still, Jean Barenberg could not be overcome.

Envy, jealousy, and inferiority complex. These three things were eating away at Rezef.

The one who cured this incurable disease of the heart that I thought I would have to live with for the rest of my life was the saint, Somire.

Whenever I saw her refreshing and pure smile, the chains of burden were released, and even when I was compared to Somire, I didn’t care about what others thought of me.

She brought light and color to a world that had become clouded and black and white as Rezef’s mind died.

Somire was everything to Rezef.

But now, Rezef was faced with the situation where he had to turn his back on everything in the name of being a monarch.

“under…….”

A hot sigh full of complexity.

How on earth did it turn out like this?

* * *

Falak. France leisurely flipped through the magic book. There was plenty of time left since Kazar had taken care of things while she was down.

“Your Majesty, how about some honey tea today?”

“Okay. Get ready.”

“yes!”

Helena hums a tune as she pours honey tea into her cup. According to the butler, Flügel, she has been promoted to chief maid…

‘So, are you excited?’

Helena is of commoner blood and is only 19 years old. The position of chief maid of the duke’s household is an absurd achievement.

‘It’s worth getting excited about.’

A delighted smile naturally appeared on France’s lips. At that moment.

Knock knock. Someone knocked.

─Your Majesty, it’s Kazar.

“Come in.”

Suddenly, Khazar arrived holding a letter with the imperial seal.

“Did you receive a letter from the imperial family?”

“Yes. I sent you the criminal psychology analysis data.”

Is that what I was talking about before? Frances nodded.

“Yeah, how did it go?”

“I think it went very well.”

Khazar continued, holding out the letter.

“Your Majesty, Saint Somire is currently the prime suspect and has been granted a suspended sentence. It seems that she has avoided arrest at the Emperor’s suggestion.”

This is very good news, since we have succeeded in driving the saint away.

“Now I just need to tell them that I’m awake and point out the culprit.”

“Yes,” said Kazar, nodding his head.

“The saintess is shaking with anxiety right now and can’t sleep. She has been given a reprieve, so she can’t run away either.”

The saint is currently like a death row inmate waiting for her execution day. Everyone is already assuming that she is the culprit, even though there is no solid evidence.

“Everything comes back to life. You have to repay the karma you’ve earned.”

Kazar continued, frowning.

“Just the things that saintess has done are truly…. She hired the continent’s tumor-like Mo-ok, and interfered with the search for Jin. Not only did she cause the Duke mental anguish, she even attempted to assassinate him herself.”

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got and I was going to continue gossiping… … .

‘… It’s complicated.’

I felt uneasy. The saintess was also a being from another world, and she had nightmares every night and was dying in burning pain all over her body.

He must have been struggling to survive.

‘…it’s okay.’

Kazar shook his head and shook off the distracting thoughts. There is nothing more foolish than feeling pity for the object of revenge.

“There’s less than a week left until Jin comes.”

Frances gazed out the window vaguely from her bed.

“Yes, I see. He must be on the move right now, but I hope he gets here soon.”

“Once you see me, I’ll pull your hair out and say a lot of harsh things to you.”

Frances, who pursed her lips. I don’t know if I can say this. Perhaps, when I see him, I will hug him and cry endlessly.

‘I miss you.’

Jin, who can be said to be everything about France.

It changed the way she saw the world, gave her a reason to live, and made everything she wanted come true. It gave Frances, who had been unable to trust people, many allies.

Jean was truly the beginning and the end of France.

Even though he left behind only a farewell letter and ran away, leaving behind a scar that would never be forgotten…

That’s okay though.

Aren’t they going to be together for the rest of their lives? Frances decided to be lenient about Jean’s escapades.

“Once Mr. Jin arrives, we will begin researching the bottle and interpreting Ladrien von Gracia’s magic formula.”

Kazar pursed his lips and continued speaking.

“… I feel sorry for shouting out so confidently and saying this, but to be honest, I’m a little scared. I’m afraid of what I’ll do if I can’t interpret it at all.”

Kazar, who is drooping and bowing his head. Although they are both in the same realm of transcendent magicians, the difference in the years they have lived is vast. Accordingly, he is filled with anxiety.

“It’s okay. You can do it. You’re one of only two transcendent wizards on the continent. I believe in you.”

Frances said that and smiled. Kazar smiled bitterly.

“Thank you for trusting me.”

“Yeah, everything will be okay.”

Frances nodded, meeting Kazar’s gaze.

It was trust.

* * *

The top of a tower outside the palace on a sunny day.

The transcendent wizard, Ladrien von Gracia, looked out the window and chuckled.

“You came.”

From afar, I feel an intense aura of destruction that seems to erase everything that exists. It’s Jean Barenberg.

‘There are about three days left.’

Now it’s time to see the end of all plans.

“Come and end the curse of knowledge engraved upon me, Jean Barenberg.”

A curse that has tormented Ladrienne von Gracia for hundreds of years. She has waited only for this day.

“Keep your promises. Fulfill your contract.”