CH 124

“Leave it to me.”

Limapheus, who was alone with the Emperor, said that with his head bowed.

“Can you really do it?”

“Yes, I can.”

The Emperor, who was familiar with all the circumstances surrounding the arson incident, smoothed his beard.

Duke Kailos and Fleur Delmond were the main culprits in the arson. It could never be taken lightly. He also had to set an example through this work. What kind of end will you face if you harm this Empire?

The Emperor looked out of the window. The blue sky surrounded the Empire as if to protect it. The peace that came after being restored. Today, the Emperor, who was looking at the peace of the Empire, looked at Limapheus.

“You won’t have much time to spare.”

The Emperor smiled with satisfaction toward Limapheus, who appeared ready to become the next Emperor.

“Thank you.”

Limapheus’s blue eyes were hardened with determination. After Limapheus left his seat, the Emperor, who was left alone in the audience room, welcomed the Empress Dowager.

“You’re here, Mother.”

“Greetings to the Emperor.”

The Empress Dowager smiled and stood side by side next to the Emperor. The two were looking at the Empire through a transparent window.

“I think it’s the time.”

The Emperor, who was looking at the same place as the Empress Dowager, said. The look the Empress Dowager saw from her son and Limapheus just now. Those eyes were familiar. It was the look he had built in front of his father, the former Emperor, 30 years ago. A sign of the determination that comes out when all the hearts are ready. The Crown Prince was becoming an emperor and an example.

“What do you mean?”

“Time for me to hand over the throne.”

“Is this already the time?”

The Empress Dowager smiled graciously at the fleeting years. Thirty-two years have passed since the Emperor ascended the throne.

“Your Majesty, leave the next generation to them. It’s time for you to spend your time.”

The Empress Dowager’s tone and eyes melted the warmth toward her son, not the Emperor.

“If you are not busy, let’s have a cup of tea together.”

The Emperor smiled while checking the time and guided the Empress Dowager. He walked to the banquet hall after Limapheus had arranged everything.

* * *

“It was the most fitting end for the Viscount Montene.”

Fleur’s mask fell to the floor completely at Cersinia’s remarks.

“How dare you witch still hold your head up.”

Fleur’s expression changed instantly as if the person itself had changed. It wasn’t a human face. The face with the bizarre ridicule was almost like a monster, no, a devil.

The hall was as silent as cold water. Everyone looked at Fleur, who spoke rudely in front of the Grand Duke without knowing the subject, with a startled look. Meanwhile, Duke Kailos was nervous that his name might be mentioned by Fleur’s mouth.

“That’s your true face.”

“A witch is being praised as a savior? The world is going crazy.”

Fleur murmured whether there was nothing more to see.

Ben stood in front of Cersinia, pushing Fleur just in case anything happened.

“It’s okay.”

Without hesitation, she slipped off his back and stood before Fleur again.

“Is that all you want to say? That’s boring.”

“Puhahaha!”

When Cersinia provoked again, Fleur burst into laughter as if it were funny. Then she pushed her face toward Cersinia.

“You’re a witch. You want everyone to die, right?”

Cersinia looked silently into Fleur’s eyes. Her brown eyes were lifeless. The only thing burning intensely in that gaze was madness. That made her horrified. She didn’t feel like she was dealing with a person. It felt like she was facing some evil being.

“So, did you try to frame me with arson?”

The sound of arson and frame caused a commotion around. Fleur smiled and crossed her arms with strange giggles as if scratching the blackboard with her fingernails.

“Who believes the witch’s word?”

The eyes with the same color passed from Cersinia’s head to toe.

“How can the blood of a lowly witch go away even if you dress up like that?”

At that moment. When Ben, who was angry, was about to run to her, Cersinia first pulled out the sword that was hanging from Ben’s waist.

“You’re a criminal, but you talk a lot.”

The sword she was holding was pointed at the nape of Fleur’s neck. The people gathered at the banquet hall breathed in unison. The unfolding scene was unbelievable even when they witnessed it with their own eyes. They blame each other enough to point a sword. But, no one could intervene. Because Ben was growling wildly as if he would never let the surroundings to intervene with them.

“Your father couldn’t escape a crippled life by making such a light mouth.”

Fleur’s face was grimly distorted as Cersinia smirked and laughed.

“You, witch…”

“Do you want me to tell you something? Your father cried out in the blazing flames. He cried and begged for help in the burning pain. What about when he’s rushing to kill me? It was so funny and insignificant. You should have seen it too.”

It was a tone full of sarcasm.

“This bitch, this bitch dare!”

When Fleur ran over with a red hot face, unable to hold back her anger, Cersinia muttered softly. 

“But what should I do? You’re not going to have a different life from him. I’m going to reveal to everyone that you are the one who committed the arson.”

Cersinia certainly didn’t intend to go this far. She was just trying to provoke Fleur and get even a little information that came out by mistake. She certainly did…

‘She keeps messing with me.’

Cersinia still can’t forget Ben’s hurt face when he blamed himself for Roena and Duke Kailos. The expression of May and Verne running toward her, who got out of the fire. Even the Empire that was burning as if it had entered hell.

To think of setting flames to the Empire simply only to frame her. The life and death, and the great damage, were not in Fleur’s mind in the first place. It was obvious that Fleur had just grown hatred by blaming others for her petty life, indulging herself in self-pity.

Cersinia lowered the sword, holding back her boiling anger. The signal hasn’t dropped yet. Now was not the time. She had to persevere in order to complete the plan without a single mistake.

And finally, Eric, Limapheus’s aide, who was hiding behind the pillar in the distance, sent a signal. It meant that everything was ready.

“The perpetrators of this imperial arson were the work of Fleur Delmond and Duke Kailos!”

Cersinia’s loud voice echoed through the hall. The gathered nobles looked at Fleur and Kailos alternately in great surprise.

“No! Everyone is being deceived by the witch!”

Fleur responded.

“Here comes the Crown Prince!”

And the sound of announcing the arrival of the Crown Prince took over the hall.  The noisy banquet hall became quiet. The tightly closed banquet hall door opened on both sides, revealing the appearance of Limapheus.

“Capture the sinners!”

Limapheus, who appeared, ordered without hesitation. The knights of the imperial palace who followed moved in unison to capture Fleur and Kailos.

The palace knights who followed moved in unison to capture Fleur and Kailos.

“Huh, what is this…”

“It must be true!”

The nobles were stunned and moved as far away from the criminals.

“Can’t you let go of this!”

Kailos, caught by the knights, was dragged in a rage. A rope tied Kailos’s hands together.

“This is a setup! I have never done anything like that!”

Fleur, who had been captured in the same way, was standing next to Kailos, who was struggling.

“This is the witch’s trick! Don’t be fooled by the witch’s words!”

“Kailos Heilos and Fleur Delmond, the two sinners who committed the arson on December 22, year 443 of the Empire, bow down.”

Limapheus ordered, ignoring Fleur’s words. Two sinners were sitting on their knees in the middle of the banquet hall. In front of them was Limapheus with an expressionless face, and the nobles left the middle of the banquet hall empty and surrounded the outskirts.

“Your Highness, it’s not me!”

“Bring it on.”

A knight led a man in when Limaphues ordered him, resolutely dispelling the excuses of the sinners. It was the witness that Cersinia handed over to Limapheus today. Kailos’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw the man coming in.

Cring.

Limapheus dropped the coin in front of Kailos. The high-ranking servants use a seal with the pattern of Duke Kailos on it.

“It’s something that the witness had.”

“He’s someone I don’t know.”

“Really? You tell me.”

Limapheus’s eyes turned to Akat. Akat lay his trembling body on the floor and opened his mouth.

“I-I worked for Duke Kailos to carry out the letter about arson between Duke Kailos and Lady Fleur.”

“What is that brat lying about now!”

Kailos shouted with a red-hot face.

“Then would you say you don’t know this letter?”

Fleur and Kailos’s eyes shook quickly at the letter word. Limapheu took out the letter he had kept in his arms and read it out.

“I will set the Empire on fire and frame the witch. She’s suffering from sleepwalking, so I will use it. I believe you will help me.”

Limapheus also opened up the rest of the letters.

“I will set off the signal and move the waiting minions. Mistakes are not tolerated. The letters have different handwriting.”

The nobles were shocked at the terrible content and took another step back from the sinners.

“This is a setup! I never exchanged a letter or written anything like that!”

Blood vessels stood up close to the red-hot Kailos’s neck. He couldn’t stand this insult. He can’t believe he’s kneeling in a place where all the nobles are gathered.  His whole body trembled with the greatest shame and humiliation of his life.

Cersinia, who was in the crowd, stepped forward and opened her mouth.

“Fleur Delmond has been watching over me by planting a spy named Roena in the Grand Duchy.”