CH 96

After receiving the high priest’s blessing and leaving the parlor, Charelize was dazed. Thinking for a long time, she came to her senses and visited the Grand Duchy Innovestin. It was because she was determined to make more solid preparations so that Lari’s death wouldn’t be in vain.

While she was waiting with the guidance of Albert, the butler, Grand Duke Innovestin entered.

“I see the Grand Duke Innovestin.”

“Long time no see. May Goddess Resina’s blessing reach you.”

“…May you be protected. I’d like to have a conversation slowly, but I can’t afford that right now… So would you forgive me for getting to the point?”

“It’s okay. I have ears to hear, so I understand enough to get a rough idea. Don’t worry.”

“If so… You know what the rumors are going around right now.”

“Are you okay?”

Charelize was puzzled by Grand Duke Innovestin’s worried attitude as he nodded.

“The rumor that I ordered to serve Lillian a poisoned tea. His Majesty was so confident that he ordered the imperial knight to capture me… Don’t you believe in that, Grand Duke?”

“If it’s a rumor, I’m sick and tired of it. I tend to skip it if I haven’t seen or heard it myself.”

Grand Duke Innovestin replied with a faint smile. At first glance, it seemed bittersweet.

“I’m glad we can move the story quickly, Grand Duke.”

“Please speak.”

“Do you remember the last time you said you’d repay me in the name of Innovestin?”

“I’ve been… waiting for the day to pay back the favor. Being in debt has always bothered me. I should be held accountable for the words I uttered once… Say anything. As long as it doesn’t break the law, I’ll gladly do it.”

Charelize put down the teacup she was holding in her hand. About half of the tea was left in her cup. It made a fine wave.

“I need you to be a witness. To prove that I have nothing to do with that incident and I’m not guilty…”

“That means…”

“I would like Your Excellency to give me a little help so Lillian never climbs again.”

* * *

Three days have passed. Charelize officially received a letter from Harbert IV and attended the trial. This time, since she had come on her own, not being dragged by the imperial knights, Charelize sat in the witness seat.

Harbert IV was distraught at the sight but had no justification to say anything. Instead, he ordered Anasha, who was being held in Helsen Prison, to be brought in.

“Is it true that you received the order from the little duchess?”

No direct injuries were seen on Anasha’s body.

“…Yes.”

However, it was clear that her bright eyes were empty. Tears welled up in her unfocused gaze as she ran into Charelize. Anasha turned her head down.

“Charelize Elze Roxana von Marsetta.”

“Yes.”

“Is it really true that you ordered the daughter of Count Luer to kill Princess Lillian?”

When she heard Harbert IV’s words, Charelize burst into laughter.

“How dare you not answer my questions! If you admit it now—”

“Your Majesty, this time—”

When Duke Marsetta, who was in the trial, tried to speak for her, Charelize raised her hand as if it was unnecessary.

“The princess of Luang Kingdom, Marchioness Schubertine… She’s my mother’s close friend. My mother enjoyed Lipecha tea during her lifetime. It’s the only tea leaves in her storage box. Beyond that, we received supplies in a mutually beneficial contract, taking advantage of each other’s relationship.”

“So?”

“In a way, it’s the business of Duke Marsetta, and it could develop into a diplomatic issue… Among all other things, why would I have done it using Lipecha tea? Even more, taking that risk?”

Harbert IV’s face hardened in an instant. Seeing it, Charelize continued to draw lines.

“And… Queen Ceska is also the half-sister of His Majesty the former Emperor. If the poison had been found in Lipecha tea, her position within the Luang Kingdom would be narrower. Still, aside from that, there was no reason to do that… Have you ever thought it was too sloppy?”

Queen Ceska of the Luang Kingdom was unable to produce a successor. This was the biggest reason why the second daughter of Marquis Schubertine was appointed as the crown princess. Queen Ceska, who lived quietly as if she didn’t exist, would rather be disadvantaged as her position could be narrowed by doing that.

The nobles persuaded by Charelize were all whispering and agonizing over which side to support.

“And…”

“…What else?” Hearing that she still had something left to say, Harbert IV touched his forehead.

“There’s someone I’d like to bring in before that.”

“Who is it? I didn’t hear anything beforehand.”

“If I make the slightest mistake, my neck could fly off right away, so how can I reveal that so hastily? I beg for your mercy… Your Majesty is a fair person… I believe you will understand that I had no choice but to be careful, as you even sent imperial knights to capture me, your nephew.”

“Wasn’t it worthwhile… to send the imperial knights? Statement of Lady Luer—”

“I have a question for those gathered here, Your Majesty.”

“A question?”

When asked by Harbert IV, Charelize looked at the nobles.

“Has anyone thought it was strange? When Lady Luer was taken away, she said the little duchess wouldn’t do such a thing… But after being imprisoned in Helsen Prison… her words changed. It was as if she was being threatened by someone.”

As Charelize said the words being threatened by someone, she looked at Harbert IV again. Knowing that her words were aimed at him from anyone’s point of view, Harbert IV gritted his teeth.

“It’s not polite to keep them standing outside, so would you allow me to let them come inside?”

“…It was unprecedented, but it’s also a request from my lovely nephew, so I will make an exception this time.”

At the beckoning of Harbert IV, the servant standing next to him opened the door.

“Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Grand Duke Innovestin came in and greeted him first. Although he bowed first, it was far from the expression of ‘loyalty.’ That being said, his behavior wasn’t rude enough to be pointed out. In a word, it was ambiguous. That made Harbert IV even more offended.

“Your witness… is the Grand Duke?”

“Your Excellency, aside from the poisoning case, you just need to reveal Lillian’s crime.”

“…I’ve looked carefully at the fact that the exclusive’s maid of my mother often meets with Princess Lillian’s exclusive maid. Princess Lillian fed my mother, who missed her daughter, a potion, some sort of hallucinogen, through her exclusive maid.”

“Hallucinogen?”

“Yes. After drinking it, my mother mistook Princess Lillian for her daughter. It seems that Princess Lillian was aiming for that. I will never forgive her for dragging my mother, putting the little Duchess in danger, and using my sister more than anything else to deceive my mother.”

Harbert IV got a headache from Lillian’s unimaginable stupidity.

Although the grand duke didn’t mention it directly, it referred to the tea party when his mother endangered the little duchess. The predecessor Grand Duchess Innovestin mistook Lillian for her daughter and threw the brooch at Charelize. As a result, Charelize had a scar around her eye.

“That’s why Madam Riet called her as Princess Penelope…”

“How… can she do something like that… It’s really scary.”

Those who were present at that scene brought out there were a few suspicious things.

“Princess Penelope is a member of the imperial family with the right to succeed to the throne. That’s why Lillian has committed the crime of impersonating the imperial family.”

“Impersonating… the imperial family…?”

Charelize easily escaped the trap dug by Harbert IV and turned the attention of the nobles to the other side.

“Also, Lilian’s exclusive maid sold the information about Duke Marsetta to Lebanon. She’s under Lillian’s responsibility. Other than that, she tried to kill me a few times. Even this time, she drank poison herself to do that.”

“…Lillian does her own play, is that what you are trying to say?”

“If I really wanted to kill her, I would have used a different method… All people who know me well are present here.”

Charelize pointed to vassals of Duke Marsetta and others she had known for years.

“If the little Duchess did that… T-there are too many loopholes.”

“Baria Rono de Eile requests for the investigation to be stopped.”

“I agree with Count Eile.”

At the instigation of a noble, everyone hurriedly added their words.

“Your Majesty tried to kill an innocent person again, and it could have been a disaster.”

Until now, no one dared to mention the bloody tragedy of Crown Princess Elizabeth in the official meeting because they feared Harbert IV. But Charelize broke it at once. In addition, saying she was innocent was the same as saying he had betrayed the heavenly principles.

“Do you know what you’re talking about! As if it’s not enough for you to mention the dead criminal… And now innocent?” Harbert IV shouted, holding the back of his neck.

“Calm down. I didn’t say it without thinking.”

“Calm down…? You… Now…” He pointed at Charelize as if he was dumbfounded, unable to speak properly.

“Recently… I learned that Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Elizabeth, died unjustly.”

Ah…

“I would like to take this opportunity to restore the honor of Crown Princess Elizabeth, Your Majesty.”

One word from Charelize turned the atmosphere into cold. Charelize, who created such an atmosphere, had a very calm expression.

“I heard that Katerias can cure Liref, one of the mental disorders.”

“Katerias…?”

“Among those who serve the crown princess… there was a person suffering from Liref, and the crown princess was trying to save her. If it’s completely proven through the meeting that she intended to use it as the medicine… It’s also natural to restore her honor. No… isn’t that the right thing to do?”

“Natural… restore…”

Harbert IV pondered and lengthened his words. He was very perplexed, and it was visible that he was troubled.

“Your Majesty is the one who caused the bloody tragedy… For the sake of fairness, the doctors who prove it’s not a drug wouldn’t be coming from the imperial doctor. I hope that the result will not damage Your Majesty’s reputation.”

“Not from the imperial doctor? Are you saying that we should proceed only with the professors of the Eralpier Academy?”

“Your Majesty hasn’t forgotten that I graduated from Rosielt Academy, right?”