CH 76

It had been several days since Evan left for the Aplen Temple. Recently, there’s someone who referred to this place as not just a world within the pages of a book, but another world altogether. Look at this. In the end, isn’t the story unfolding just like the original content?

Evan was chosen as the blessed recipient, a position that only one person can receive each year, and ended up at the Aplen Temple.

‘Of course, there are diplomatic matters as well.’

Although Riett didn’t hear the details, she vaguely heard it from His Majesty. That’s why Evan must go, no matter what.

It was an important position, and from His Majesty’s perspective, Evan was selected as someone who wouldn’t make mistakes even in such a situation.

‘No, if it’s a mistake, he will take the action to call it a mistake.’

Even the holy maiden, the female protagonist, will be captivated.

Riett also admitted that Evan’s charming exterior was enough to captivate even the holy maiden. And the female protagonist had never encountered such an affectionate man before.

‘What happened after that?’

Riett recalled the vague details from the book.

Ah, right.

The female protagonist, Marys, who fell head over heels for Evan, cannot forget him and decided to come to the Truto Empire.

And as the holy maiden stays in the Truto Empire, the main story begins.

Even though it was supposed to be the main plot, it mostly consisted of subtle conflicts between characters without major incidents. Even those conflicts progressed without significant twists.

‘Why did I read such a book?’

Upon reflection, she wondered why she, who liked thriller novels, read such a book. As time passed here, the memories of her past life gradually faded.

‘This is not the time to think about that.’

Riett quickly collected her thoughts and looked at the stack of documents piled up on her desk.

‘I’m leaving for the Parman region in two days.’

All pending tasks had to be completed by then.

Tax reform was on hold until she returned from searching for the Spirit Stone.

‘I wonder how long it will take to come back.’

Just the one-way distance would take a week from here… So, generously estimating, it would take a month?

Finding the Spirit Stone quickly would allow her to return sooner, but it wouldn’t be easy to find it in the vast, snowy wilderness.

‘The more I think about it, the less I understand.’

Why did His Majesty send her on this mission? Why now, when the task she has taken in the capital is also crucial and urgent?

Tax reform was a long-awaited project for the Truto Empire.

‘And now is the time to make it happen.’

As Riett was pondering Emperor’s strange decision, she heard hurried footsteps from outside.

Thump, thump. The purpose of the forceful footsteps was her office. Without waiting for permission to enter, the door swung open.

“Duchess Marren!”

The person who appeared, sweating profusely, was her aide, Bern.

Momentarily relieved that it was Bern who opened the door, Bern then cleared his throat and said,

“The Emperor requests your presence.”

* * *

From Bern’s uneasy appearance, Riett had a sense that something bad had happened. When asked what it was, Bern repeatedly said it would be better for her to talk directly to the Emperor with a gloomy expression.

When Riett reached the Emperor’s office, she saw the Emperor pacing aimlessly in the corridor, looking lost. It was the first time the Emperor had come out to the corridor in front of the office like this. Riett tried to approach quietly, but he turned and feigned recognition.

“Duchess Marren.”

Riett was about to greet him, but the Emperor waved his hand as if annoyed.

“Skip the greetings.”

“I heard you called urgently.”

“Come inside first.”

Riett firmly resolved herself and followed him into the office. The Emperor sat down heavily in his seat.

“Duchess Marren.”

“Please speak.”

“I trust you.”

At the sudden remark, Riett’s eyes widened for a moment.

“The nobles of the conservative faction are spreading rumors that you were involved in the smuggling of goods with the Haren Empire and that you guided the princess within the palace.”

The Emperor remained silent, but he quietly handed a bundle of suspicious papers over the table. Riett received the bundle and started reading one by one.

“This is…….”

“A petition calling for your impeachment.”

Not only did the conservative faction nobles collect these petitions, but the Emperor himself already knew about it.

The conservative faction nobles had often orchestrated such events from behind to bring Riett, who was leading the tax reform, down. However, their claims had no basis and only resulted in a few scratches and futile struggles. So there was no need to urgently summon her for such a minor matter.

“Read the petition at the back.”

‘The petition at the back…?’

Riett brought the petition at the back and started reading. The content of the petition on the back was completely different from the reasons they had claimed for impeachment so far.

Riett slammed the paper on the table with a loud thud.

“This is ridiculous! How can they accuse me of leaking the location of the Spirit Stone!”

That’s right.

The petition on the back stated that Riett had leaked the location of the Spirit Stone to the Haren Empire, not using the smuggling of goods with the Haren Empire and the princess as a pretext.

“Keep reading.”

The Emperor gestured, and Riett reluctantly continued reading the petition, suppressing her boiling anger.

[It was a national secret that the Spirit Stone was buried in the Parman snowfields, known only to the Spirit Master Perante.]

No way. Riett continued reading the petition with trembling pupils.

[However, Riett Marren, who was investigating under the exploration order from the Emperor, learned the location of the Spirit Stone and leaked that information to the Haren Empire.]

…As a result, the Haren Empire sent an exploration team before the Truto Empire, according to the petition.

Finally, the petition urged for the strict punishment of Riett Marren, who leaked such national secrets.

“Haah…”

It felt like an unprecedented headache struck her brain.

The serious expression on Riett’s face, which the Emperor had never seen before, didn’t sit well with him.

“Duchess Marren.”

“…Is it true that the location of the Spirit Stone has been leaked to the Haren Empire?”

Riett’s voice came out firm and resolute.

“That’s right. We’ve also confirmed that Haren Empire has already sent an exploration team to Parman.”

“But where did the leak of the Spirit Stone’s location come from?”

Although it felt chilling, she needed to understand the current situation. If the Spirit Stone was taken away, it would be a significant loss for the Truto Empire, regardless of her predicament.

“At the moment, we don’t know.”

“Other than Your Majesty and myself, the only person who knows the location of the Spirit Stone is Perante, right? Were there any other members of the exploration team who knew?”

“I haven’t told anyone yet.”

That meant the only people who knew the location of the Spirit Stone were herself, Perante, and the Emperor. 

There was one question that arose from this.

“Why do they claim that the information was intercepted by the Haren Empire?”

It could be information that Haren Empire discovered independently.

“It’s because of Perante’s testimony.”

Riett’s eyebrows shot up.

“Perante testified…?”

The Emperor nodded.

“Perante claimed that the Haren Empire, which does not possess a Spirit Mage, could never have discovered it on their own. In reality, it is very difficult to determine the location of the Spirit Stone without a Spirit Mage.”

If Perante’s words were true, then it was likely that someone from the Truto Empire leaked the information to the Haren Empire. Furthermore, the only people who knew the information were herself, Perante, and the Emperor, and the Emperor and Perante couldn’t have shared it with another country…

‘I guess I’ll naturally become the scapegoat entangled in the spy scandal.’

A sardonic smile spread across Riett’s face.

“Duchess Marren, no, Riett.”

For the first time, the Emperor called Riett by her name. There was a hint of concern in the Emperor’s eyes as he looked at Riett.

‘But still, what’s comforting is that His Majesty doesn’t suspect me.’

While it was fortunate not to be suspected, the Emperor’s concern made Riett feel uneasy. He wanted to succeed. He wanted to make the empire strong, surpassing everyone else. The crack in the tower he had painstakingly built until now had appeared.

“For the time being, go to the northern region of Parman.”

Riett raised her head and looked at the Emperor. Her crimson eyes trembled slightly.

“Your Majesty…”

His intention wasn’t to go and search for the Spirit Stone. While the northern region of Parman was known to have the Spirit Stone, it was also a place where exiled nobles and aristocrats went to escape their crimes.

“Don’t take it as a grievance… I had to make an unavoidable decision.”

“Why are you giving me such an order?”

“This time, we can’t ignore the voice of impeachment. It might lead to a trial.”

Riett understood the Emperor’s words rationally, but emotionally, she couldn’t easily accept the Emperor’s decision. She felt a surge of injustice welling up inside her. She wanted to vent her frustration.

“Why do I have to go into exile?”

Bang!

Unaware of her rudeness, Riett slammed down the armrest of her chair. If she didn’t do something like this, she might find herself challenging the Emperor. She wanted to ask what she had done so wrong.

Or perhaps her dream of changing the empire was too grand, and she had wished for something impossible.

Her vision became hazy. It felt like the ground was endlessly sinking as if she had fallen into a swamp.

“Don’t think it’s the end, Riett.”

She faintly heard the Emperor’s voice comforting her.

‘Can I ever come back here again?’

Even if she were to return, she wondered if she could uproot these deeply embedded rotten roots. Without realizing it, Riett bit her lip hard.

“When it becomes quiet here, I will call for you again.”

To the point where she didn’t even notice the blood seeping out.