Chapter 25

* * *

“I- I need to leave this place soon…”

Baron Hermish, who was on crutches, was frantically packing up.

His face was full of fear.

Within a few days, he had lost remarkable weight, white strands appeared in his light blue hair, and his innocent-looking eyes became nervous and he was just tired of everything.

The Hermish, who fell from the high window of the Imperial Palace, had his knees bent in a completely bizarre manner.

At first, the doctor said his leg could never be saved, but perhaps due to luck, there was the possibility he could recover and would not need an amputation.

Hermish suffered from the afterimage of the odd-eye; it was glaring at him the whole time he was sick in the hospital room.

“How slow! Pack the bags! I don’t want to be here for even one second longer.”

Hermish hurriedly shouted at his party.

There was a crowd watching from a distance.

“Hmm.”

It was Deborah and her maids.

Deborah muttered as she looked at Hermish’s form, slowly fanning her face with her peacock feather fan.

“It’s very hasty. He was talking like he was going to stay one more month…”

She met Hermish in the garden a few days ago and had a conversation with him.

Hermish explained to Deborah that he came here for the spice trade, and made it clear that he would be staying for a month.

But why was he leaving so quickly?

‘…And it was true that he injured his leg.’

Deborah’s eyes narrowed.

She was, in fact, aware of the secret and immoral love affair between Hermish and the youngest daughter of the Marquis Meilin.

Deborah was often the first to find out about the top-secret information of the social world. Because there were a lot of people looking for her even when she stayed still.

Besides, wasn’t it related to one of the (then) ten nobles, the Marquis of Meilin?

Of course, she couldn’t help but to keep an eye on it. 

Even after the Marquis of Meilin was executed for treason.

Naturally, she heard rumors that his youngest daughter committed suicide while pregnant in Grinarita.

Although the youngest daughter didn’t know anything about the treason, Deborah felt uncomfortable that the line of the Marquis of Maillin was left behind.

‘It’s really good. It’s neat that she committed suicide.’

So, was the suicide of Marquis’s youngest daughter some kind of luck for her?

Conversely, it would have been a great misfortune for Hermish.

Somehow, Hermish, who visited Aktoum this time, even seemed refreshed and delighted. Like the gloom from the death of a loved one was wiped away.

‘I thought that his love was unexpectedly deep… Maybe not?’

Wasn’t that kind of suspicious?

Deborah approached Hermish immediately and asked for a brief private talk.

Hermish was reluctant, but in the end had no choice but to agree. A brief private meeting was held at Deborah’s house.

“Baron Tevelon, why are you already returning to the Western Continent?”

“…It’s a simple change of heart.”

Deborah’s eyes quickly turned cold.

“Don’t lie to me, Baron Tevelon, otherwise your family in Aktoum will be hurt.”

“!”

“Tell me the truth. What’s the reason you’re leaving like you’re running away?”

Deborah was a woman who could do enough to harm his family. Hermish was well aware of this fact.

In addition, Tevelon had close business ties with the Duke of Douglas.

If he deceived her and she discovered it, Tevelon would fall into the abyss. Because his family was intertwined with hers.

In the end, Hermish succumbed to Deborah’s threat and told her everything.

What happened in the reception room that day?

“She’s a woman who doesn’t even react to poison… She’s no other than a truly terrible monster.”

Deborah frowned, feeling displeased with Berylia.

“How did such a woman come to Aktoum?”

“…It was a terrifying experience. I want to leave Aktoum as soon as possible, Madam Deborah.”

The eyes of Deborah, who had been thinking for a moment, shone meanly.

“…So, Baron Hermish, you’re saying the Queen ruthlessly pushed you out of the window?”

“Of course, I poisoned the Crown Prince’s cup…”

“No.”

Deborah cut off his explanation and unfolded her peacock-feathered fan. Then she rubbed gently against his face and said,

“There was no evidence or witnesses in the poisoning attempt, so it was as if nothing had ever happened.”

“!”

“But the victim with a broken leg is still alive here, right?”

Who would believe it if the queen said it was in retaliation to Hermish’s attempt to poison her?

No one would believe the words of a woman who was suspected to marry with the ambition of devouring Aktoum.

Deborah furrowed her eyebrows and happily burst out laughing.

“I will reveal to the world that Queen Spinel’s notoriety is true…! The High Priest will have no choice but to oppose the marriage!”

“…Madam Deborah.”

Hermish felt suspicious and called her with an awkward face.

Because he only wanted to leave Aktoum as soon as possible.

But Deborah leaned towards him and slyly teased with her tongue.

“Think of the baby who died in your wife’s womb without even seeing the light of day. Is it right to step back like that?”

“!”

Hermish’s face instantly lit up with wrath and vengeance. He had been cut off from reason.

As she pulled his jaw with her fingertips, Deborah made eye contact and whispered,

“First, the Queen, and then the Crown Prince.”

“……”

“I’ll help you get your revenge.”

* * *

‘That stupid bastard fell into my hands, perfect to be taken advantage of.’

Deborah was walking, unable to hide her bright smile.

Had God not been on her side, would this have happened?

Deborah had a clearer sense of victory than ever before.

It was an attempted murder to drop a foreign nobleman who was a guest of the crown prince from a window, and it was potentially a cause of great diplomatic friction.

The high priest would not let it pass either.

‘Rather than get married, it looks like she would be kicked back to Spinel with a lot of international reparations.’

When she thought of the face of the queen who was only going to be humiliated and chased away to Spinel, her smile grew wider.

Deborah continued to smile softly and entered the flower garden.

Under the bright moonlight, a flower-like young man with lovely blond hair was waiting for Deborah, his beauty shining.

Marquis Kalen, who was looking around, found Deborah first.

“…Madam Deborah!”

Kalen’s face brightened like a dog that saw its owner.

During this very stressful period, Deborah looked for Kalen almost every day.

Nevertheless, Marquis Kalen consistently welcomed her.

No, on the contrary, he had been embracing her with his innocent eyes shining more lovingly day by day.

“Madam, you look for me again today. Meeting every day is like a dream.”

Deborah lifted the chin of Marquis Kalen, who was in her arms, and smiled while admiring his pretty face.

This alone relieved her stress.

Then Marquis Kalen spoke up, breaking Deborah’s moment.

“Madam Deborah, really… Wouldn’t it be great if I am your husband instead of Duke Douglas?”

Kalen had been saying this a lot lately. Confessing his love, he longed for a position as his husband.

Of course, from Deborah’s point of view, it just sounded like bullshit.

She was not even satisfied with the Duke of Douglas, so would she have any intention of marrying a marquis?

Still, this naive young man firmly believed that Deborah ‘loves’ him and that they would paint their future together.

‘He’s cute but I’m tired… It would be great if he just keeps his mouth shut.’

Deborah smiled slightly sweetly.

“I want you too.”

And she tried to kiss him.

Gently avoiding Deborah’s lips, the Marquis Kalen said to her with mournful eyes.

“Does the madam love me too? …Please answer me today.”

“…….”

Deborah couldn’t hide from his slightly disillusioned eyes for a moment.

She rarely liked talking about these kinds of useless things. But today was a day when physical pleasure was essential.

Wouldn’t it be frustrating if she made Marquis Kalen cry by showing her temper, and his stamina dies?

She changed her expression, smiled softly and uttered,

“Of course I love you.”

“…Madam…….”

Marquis Kalen, moved deeply to tears, hastily kissed her.

It seemed to be a fierce and passionate love affair today.

And there was someone hiding in the bushes and watching the love affair between the young man and the madam.

It was Lucia who came into the garden in search of Berylia’s earrings.

“……”

Lucia’s eyes twinkled and shone.

* * *

The day of the high priest’s visit finally dawned.

I sat in front of the mirror and looked at myself quietly.

The maid’s sincere decoration was natural, without even a hint of awkwardness.

‘I’m really nervous because it’s the day.’

I took a deep breath slowly.

‘Today’s results… Everything in the future will be decided.’

Would I be able to stay in Aktoum all the time?

Would I be able to protect the ones I love from war…?

And,

Even my relationship with my lifelong natural enemy, Rixus.

“……”

I gently touched my empty neck that was without any accessories.

I was lost in thought for a while, then I heard Seryl’s voice from behind.

“Wow! I’m so nervous!”

Seryl shook her pink hair, puffed up like cotton candy, and made a fuss.

Then Laura, who was sitting next to her, slowly opened her mouth.

“Seryl, you’re making me more nervous.”

Laura wore a silk dress that matched her rosy hair and gold eyes.

Somehow, I felt she was more decorated than I was.

“…Seryl, please be quiet. My heart is pounding.”

Maribel said that in a timid voice and blinked her sky-blue eyes.

Seryl stood in front of me and asked in a bright tone.

“Your Majesty, are you okay…?”

The eyes of the three maids turned to me in a blink of an eye.

I looked at them and smiled slowly.

Before I knew it, I became attached to them. I didn’t want to part.

‘…So today, I will not lose.’

“It doesn’t matter since you guys shared my tension.”

I opened the oak chest and put on the artifact necklace that Rixus gave me.

Then, finally, I headed to the place where the high priest was located.