21
“No-!”
At the same time as Leopold’s scream, a deafening roar shook the room.
The door was blown apart, and the force of the explosion sent both the Marquis and Marchioness of Hagen crashing to the floor.
The dagger clattered across the floor, immediately catching Leopold’s attention.
“Fortunately, we’re not too late.”
Knights quickly stormed into the previously darkened room.
And there was a single shadow standing guard by the doorway.
Leopold looked up at the man with a halo behind him. With a neat and dignified bearing, Magnus gestured to the knights.
“Leopold, Leopold! Help your father!”
“Mmgh-!”
The knights restrained the Marquis of Hagen. Vanessa tried to bite her tongue, but her jaw was forcibly pried open, and her mouth was instantly gagged with cloth.
“This room……”
“Ugh, this must be the true headquarters.”
Everyone who possessed divine power looked as though they might retch. The horrifying aura filling the room clashed with their power, churning their insides.
“Everyone, step aside.”
The inquisitor drove the halberd with which she had smashed through the door into the floor. Then, she infused it with divine power and purified the room.
Following Magnus’s orders, the knights dispersed to apprehend any accomplices who might be hiding elsewhere in the house. The Marquis and Marchioness of Hagen were also dragged out, and the commotion in the room gradually subsided.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, it seems we have apprehended them all.”
“Good work. Go outside and wait for a while.”
“Yes!”
Magnus remained by the doorway until the knights had finished saluting and left.
Now, only Magnus, Leopold, and the inquisitor remained here.
“What is that?”
The inquisitor pointed at Leopold with a deeply furrowed brow.
An unpleasant smell emanated from the man sprawled on the floor.
“Leopold Hagen. The sole son of Hagen.”
“I shall eradicate him.”
The moment the inquisitor heard Magnus’s explanation, she spoke firmly.
“He is the seed of heresy. He must be killed and eliminated immediately.”
She pulled the halberd from the floor. As its heavy weight rose, stone dust scattered from the ground.
Magnus calmly watched her tremendous strength before answering.
“That cannot be done.”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince. I possess the authority to execute without restriction.”
That was true. However, respect for the divine authority extended only as far as it did not conflict with royal authority.
When the priest who had seen the servant’s memories trembled with fear and emphasized the seriousness of the situation, Magnus had increased the number of personnel more than he had originally intended. In the process, he had also permitted the temple’s intervention.
That was as far as Magnus could allow.
“Sir Urhel.”
Not even the slightest trace of emotion could be seen on Magnus’s face. With a cold expression, he pointed at Leopold.
“Can you not see that this man’s body is in tatters?”
“I can.”
“Then do you have no compassion befitting one who follows God?”
“I am sufficiently merciful. To those who are within God’s embrace. But this man is different.”
“That is not for you to decide.”
“Your Highness!”
“How dare you raise your voice in front of me.”
Urhel faltered. She was a holy knight and an inquisitor, but she did not possess a position that could rival the Crown Prince.
Acknowledging her mistake, she clenched her teeth and bowed her head. At that moment, Urhel’s momentum had already been overwhelmed by Magnus.
“I apologize.”
“In my view, Sir Leopold is currently in critical condition, and I cannot execute a royal knight in front of me without first uncovering the truth.”
“But I am worried……”
“The royal family duly punishes criminals according to the weight of their crimes. Therefore, wait for the royal family’s judgment.”
Urhel acquiesced and quietly stepped back. After her braided red hair disappeared from view, Magnus took a torch from his guard and approached Leopold.
The liquid that had been used to draw the magic circle had corroded the floor as it clashed with the divine power.
A single man lay in a wretched state in the middle of the ruined room.
“Leopold Hagen.”
The curse that had bound Leopold had not only infused him with sorcery but had also kept his life going.
Now that it had disappeared, even his breathing was faint. His slow heartbeat sounded to his ears like a loud noise that made them ring.
Leopold lifted his heavy eyelids with all his strength. And he clearly faced the man who had approached him.
“My, to come all the way to such a humble place, cough… I, I’m glad you came.”
A neat sheen ran over his jet-black hair, untouched even by the shadow. His red eyes, briefly catching the light, were equally calm and unwavering.
The steady gravity surrounding the man holding the torch as he quietly looked down at Leopold enveloped him.
His utterly composed appearance even resembled a sacred statue of a noble god of victory.
‘Eliza chose that man.’
Magnus thought his face had twisted.
However, it was closer to a desperate smile.
‘Then…… you’ll be safe.’
Leopold thought he had naturally pulled the corners of his mouth upward, but Magnus could clearly see each of his facial muscles slowly twitching.
Magnus tried to say something more. But Leopold’s consciousness faded before his lips could open.
“My.”
Leopold’s eyes gently closed, and he already looked like a corpse drenched in blood. Magnus, who had been looking at him with a strange gaze, murmured softly.
“You and Lady Waluer are both truly unfortunate.”
Only then did a slight sigh seep into his voice.
***
“……Miss? Miss! Are you awake?”
The morning of change began with Nancy’s tearful face.
Eliza slowly moved her stiff eyelids. As her consciousness gradually returned, her blurred vision came into focus.
Then came the familiar sensations. Every time her breath passed through her throat, it stung, and even the touch of the blanket against her skin hurt.
Her lips were parched, and she had no strength in her fingertips or toes.
A blazing fever that melted the entire world into a delirious haze.
Eliza closed her eyes again and sank into the heat.
And when she opened her eyes again, everything was over.
“You were really quite ill this time. I was so worried.”
“Mm, I’m fine. I’ll get better eventually anyway.”
“Miss……”
Nancy, upset, moistened Eliza’s lips with a damp cloth. Then she helped her sit up.
“I want to change my clothes……”
“Oh, yes. Are you all right with taking a bath?”
“Not yet. I feel like I’d collapse if I got into hot water.”
“You can’t!”
Eliza, sitting against the headboard of the bed, let out a laugh.
However, merely tensing her abdomen slightly was too exhausting for her, and she ended up coughing again.
“You’re still having difficulty moving around, so it would be better to change your clothes here. Please wait a little.”
“All right.”
Eliza steadied her shallow breathing and searched through her muddled thoughts.
‘So…… how many days has it been?’
What happened to Hagen? The Crown Prince? The evidence?
She tried to retrace everything as much as possible with her throbbing head, but her memories were only hazy from a certain point onward.
Dazed, Eliza remained silent until Nancy returned, wiped the sweat from her body with a soft towel, and dressed her.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Mm.”
“Still, I think it would be better if you ate something. You couldn’t eat properly while you were unconscious. I’ll bring you some rice gruel.”
As Nancy was about to leave, Eliza blinked and suddenly spoke as though she had remembered something.
“Wait, Nancy. Could you bring me a newspaper on your way back?”
“Yes?! A newspaper?”
Nancy’s reaction was strange. Her shoulders jolted in surprise, and her eyes rolled around as though something was wrong.
“W-Wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t read it right now? You’re ill, and looking at the letters might make you dizzy……”
It was obvious that she did not want to give Eliza the newspaper, so there was no reason to doubt it. Eliza gave a hollow laugh and asked again.
“It’s not that there are no newspapers, is it?”
“That’s not it……”
“Then bring them immediately. I’ll eat after I read the newspapers.”
“Miss……”
“Don’t even think about hiding the dates. I’m going to read every newspaper that was published while I was unconscious.”
“I wasn’t thinking that! I just, well……”
Eliza’s lips pressed tightly together. Nancy, who had been nervously stamping her feet, eventually gave up in the face of her resolute attitude.
“Phew, all right. I’ll bring them.”
Nancy left the room and returned a short while later with the newspapers arranged on a tray. Then, after wondering where to put them, she asked Eliza.
“Shall I put them on the desk?”
“Yes. Could you help me get up?”
“You’re going to read them right now? The smell of ink isn’t good for a patient…… No, all right.”
As Eliza repeatedly shot her a pointed look, Nancy had no choice but to do as she wished.
“Thank you. Bring the rice gruel when I signal you.”
“Yes, Miss. ……Stay strong.”
After hesitating, Nancy quickly blurted it out and bowed her head. Eliza watched her hurry out of the room.
‘Nancy isn’t one to say something so presumptuous.’
There must be a reason in these newspapers for her to be worried.
Eliza calmly went through the newspapers.
It was not difficult to find the reason just by spreading the newspapers out and skimming through them.
The Crown Prince’s unprecedented movements had been splashed across the front page in bold headlines.
