CH 35

RJR11-13 minutes 15.10.2023

Even Lescal knew what kind of place Trinidad was. It was a city like the Land of the Dead, where the surviving shamans continued the faltering legacy, and where con artists and criminals pretending to be shamans were hiding.

“Why are you there?”

“The Duke of Piellion visited there a month ago. He was keeping an eye on it because it was something that had never happened before.”

Lescal’s expression crumpled reflexively when he heard the words Little Duke Piellion. It was a strange thing. Before, even though I knew about their relationship before marriage, he didn’t think anything of it, but now he felt like his ears were rotting just hearing the name.

“Was there any business worth keeping an eye on?”

“The purpose of my visit to Trinidad was to hire a shaman, but I was unable to find out the exact purpose. On the way back to the Empire, the Duke of Damanso discovered that he had issued a pass to someone.”

“Pass?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. So, I am guessing that they probably brought a shaman to the empire.”

“The shaman…”

Tuk.

Lescal put down the pen he had been holding in his hand until then. The Duke of Damanso, who had an affair with the Empress before marriage, personally visited lawless areas such as Trinidad and brought people with him. No matter how he thought about it, this fact only implied one thing.

“Was the Empress involved?”

“I think so. I looked into the Duke’s movements in Trinidad, and it is said that he spared no expense in finding the right shaman.”

The statement that no money was spared implied many things. Although the Piellion family’s wealth was enormous, the adopted son, the Duke, did not yet have the authority to dispose of the family property as he pleased. Duke Piellion, called the old fox, was a man who would gladly replace the Duke if a better person came forward even now. In the end, it was said that the Duke was not the only one looking for a shaman. The Piellion family was behind.

“The Empress has a problem.”

A problem that couldn’t be solved with magic or divine power and requires magic-level power.

“Did you say a month ago? Did the Empress ever visit the Piellion family in the meantime?”

“Not officially, Your Majesty. But maybe she was avoiding her eyes on purpose. She was extremely discreet in bringing the shaman with her.”

“Even if she didn’t go through House Piellion, she would have had plenty of ways to contact the Duke. In that case, the witchcraft must have been performed less than a month ago… Could it be that the Empress’s memory loss was caused by her witchcraft?”

“Ah… That might be possible. Witchcraft has a reaction. If the shaman is clumsy or cannot handle the power of the spell, it is common for the subject’s body to react.”

An unpleasant feeling began to creep in. He told the Empress that something was happening that she did not know about. Previously it wouldn’t have mattered, but now just thinking about it made his stomach turn. She looked at Lescal’s face as Decan grew increasingly hard, and then quietly added,

“I’m not sure, but that shaman may still be staying somewhere in the empire. The passes issued in Piellion’s name have not been used since.”

“A shaman would have the knack of walking around hiding his face.”

“That’s true, but… I feel like that’s not all.”

Lescal glanced at Decan.

“Is that what you say as a shaman?”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not old enough to be called that yet.”

Decan was probably the only shaman in the empire. Originally, Decan wanted to become a priest. He said that studying theology actually led him to study witchcraft. Most of his magic has now been lost, and he had no one to teach him, so he taught himself the magic of the Decan. In any case, the shaman had something of an innate sense. He could be said to have the ability to sense strange energies. If this sense was very keen, it could even seem like foresight.

“If you feel that way, it means there’s something there. He may be searched.”

“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”

And Decan had one more thing to do.

“And Your Majesty.”

“Speak.”

“It may be indecent, but I would like to meet Her Majesty, if you allow it.”

At those words, Lescal looked Decan up and down.

“The reason is?”

“I want to find out if there are any traces of witchcraft left.”

“…then.”

He said he didn’t really feel like it.

“Keep it as short as possible.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for your permission.”

Decan bent his back and disappeared without a sound.

* * *

“Today, I am your Majesty’s representative. I apologize, Your Majesty. Instead, I will take you comfortably.”

Yvette quipped and held out her hand.

“You don’t have to apologize. Because you are enough.”

Lasilia held Yvette’s hand and went down to the garden. The emperor, who had lunch with him, did not make it until time to go for a walk. The Emperor of an empire was quite a busy position.

“Still, he seemed really disappointed. He didn’t say it, but I felt it.”

Yvette had no doubt that the Emperor and Empress were a destined pair. In Yvette’s eyes, the Emperor appeared to be a loving husband who loved the Empress more than anything else in the world. However, she felt a little sad that the Empress did not seem to know his feelings. But it was much better than the other way around. If the Empress had longed for the Emperor alone and the Emperor had been cold-hearted, it would have been very heartbreaking to see her.

“…The weather is nice today. It seems like more flowers are blooming.”

Lasilia subtly changed the topic. She was worried about Serven, who was following her at a reasonable distance from behind. Everything he sees and hears would be relayed to the Emperor. Lasilia wanted to avoid a situation where the Emperor found out too much.

“I know, right. You look different from yesterday, Your Majesty.”

White flowers have begun to bloom again in the bare Gardenia Garden. After the Emperor destroyed two of her gardens, Lasilia refused the flowers. After that, it was fortunate that the palace garden was as beautiful as ever.

“I heard this, but the imperial tailor was very excited. She said His Majesty said she could wear whatever fabric or jewelry she wanted. I think she was loudly saying that she was going to make a ton of clothes. It’s a story that courtiers meet these days.”

Lasilia smiled bitterly.

‘I guess I should just leave those clothes unworn.’

All the new clothes will be a gift for your real pet. Like a garden without flowers cut to make bouquets.

“Oops. The Marchioness Parshad is coming tomorrow. Should I prepare some refreshments?”

Yvette’s face suddenly became solemn as she thought of such a thought.

“If you allow me, I will prepare really well. I want to make sure that people never hear people say that because someone from the palace is serving as the head of the maid, she has fallen to her standard.”

“I don’t think we need refreshments. And her princess is doing well. Even if her Marchioness tries to find fault with her, she won’t be able to.”

“Oh my. Her Majesty the Empress is too generous. I’m sure she’ll find fault with anything.”

Yvette clenched her fists as if she was already facing the Marchioness.

“Just keep doing what you’re doing. And there is no need for refreshments. Not even the Marchioness would have the presence of mind to touch her sweets.”

“Oh, I guess so. She wasn’t called to do anything good. Well then, I’ll forget about the refreshments. Instead, when you finish your walk, I will clean the parlor one more time.”

“Do whatever feels comfortable to you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

It was a moment when two people were passing a fountain while exchanging a lively conversation.

“What…?”

She felt an indescribably strange feeling. Lasilia unconsciously hugged Yvette as an eerie sensation suddenly struck her chest.

Sigh!

The water from the fountain surged like a living creature and attacked Lasilia.

“Your Majesty the Empress!”

Serven came rushing over. But it was already too late. Lasilia looked drenched from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

“Damn it! What a bastard!”

Sreung!

Serven drew his sword and stuck the tip of it in the bottom of the fountain.

Puck!

The marble fountain cracked and water splashed everywhere. Something resembling a shadow hovered among the spray of water.

Self!

Serven, who caught the momentary movement, stabbed his sword without hesitation.

Tsk!

The tip of the knife tore something.

“…Please do it gently.”

Then the shadow became a person.

“What… Decan?”

“It’s been a while, Lord Sigress.”

Serven’s complexion changed.

“Ha! What is this, you bastard! Did you just do that? Are you out of your mind?”

Decan raised both hands.

“I swear on Your Majesty’s name that I had no intention of harming Your Majesty the Empress. It’s because my ordering was poor.”

“Ha, what is this… Oh, I don’t know. First, kneel down and pray.”

Nodding his head, Decan knelt down on one knee in front of Lasilia.

“I committed a discourtesy. Please punish me.”

“…”

Lasilia stared at Decan, who lowered his head. She was extremely polite in her tone and manner, but that was all.

‘He doesn’t seem to think she did anything wrong.’

The strange sensation she felt before the water from the fountain gushes was not for nothing.

‘You said your order was poor. So does that mean he is a shaman…? There were still shamans in the empire.’

There must be a reason why a shaman suddenly appeared in front of her.

“First, let’s hear who you are. It seems like you know Lord Sigress.”

“I am Decan Horsed, the third shadow who protects the current emperor of the empire.”

“Are you saying he’s a shadow knight? For that matter, I don’t think I’ve ever seen your face before.”

“The mission assigned to me is outside the imperial palace. You will never see my face inside the palace.”

“Then what about today?”

“I’m sorry for reporting you. Your order has failed. Punish me.”

“What was the spell for?”

After a brief pause, Decan raised his head and met his eyes.

“It was to find out if there were any traces of Her Majesty’s recent use of witchcraft.”

“…”

Lasilia desperately suppressed her embarrassment.

‘It means that you knew that Duke Piellion had called a shaman. He was trying to determine if it was because she was the Empress… That means even the Emperor knows.’

The Emperor had already found out that the Empress had a secret. She wanted to see if she used witchcraft there. It was only a matter of time before secrecy and witchcraft were linked.

‘The mark was being erased… If they find out she called a shaman to try to get it back, it’s all over.’

She clenched her teeth so that Lasilia could not hear. The Emperor was not a fool. On the outside, he was acting as if he would take out his liver just to get in touch, but behind the scenes, he was digging into the Empress’s identity one by one. No matter how pitiful he looked like a dog with a leash tied to a stake, she was not upset. He could have killed her at any time with just one word. Lasilia slowly exhaled her breath and asked her question that could have killed her.

“So, did you find any traces?”