Chapter 83………………………….
It wasn’t in Angelus’s nature to kindly tell her maid where she was going.
Yankeller let out a long sigh and clicked his tongue.
“Seriously, they make me fuss about every little thing.”
Unlike usual, Yankeller was openly showing his irritation.
His aide priest’s mouth went completely dry, as if this whole mess were his fault.
“Let’s go. For now, the only choice is to placate the nobles and send them back.”
As he walked down the temple corridor, Yankeller thought to himself.
What excuse should I give them to smooth things over?
The angry nobles shouted at him, and he responded with a deeper, gentler smile.
The angel with two faces.
That sharp, irritable figure from the office earlier had vanished completely.
Watching him switch expressions so fluidly as he handled the nobles, the aide priest could only shake his head in disbelief.
At that very moment, while the nobles were causing an uproar demanding to see the Saintess—
Angelus was in a carriage with Hugo, headed toward the villa.
“There were a lot of nobles gathered at the temple.”
“Yes, they’re the ones who booked consultations.”
“Then why don’t you meet them? There was no need to leave this early.”
Angelus gave a short, derisive snort.
“They’re the ones who abandoned me and went crawling to Naz. Let them wait. They deserve at least that much punishment, don’t you think?”
Hugo just gave a single nod, without answering.
“They say His Majesty has decided to hold another banquet.”
That was the news Angelus had been longing to hear.
“Really? When?”
A radiant smile blossomed on her beautiful face.
“They say he’ll invite the citizens who suffered from the fire. So likely after the burned-out shops have been cleared.”
Her glowing expression instantly turned cold.
“Was that the only excuse he could come up with to hold another banquet?”
At her muttering complaint, Hugo’s eyes filled with hostility.
“To invite worthless commoners to the Imperial banquet… do you really think that makes sense? That would mean I’d have to dance in front of those creatures.”
“…My lady.”
Judging her words to be disrespectful toward her lord, Hugo gave a low warning.
“Why are you so sensitive about it?”
“What you just said…”
“That’s not what I meant. Not in the way you’re thinking. Can’t you tell it was just something I blurted out because I was upset?”
Angelus shot him a sharp glare, then turned her head away to stare out the window.
The sunset was spreading deep red across the horizon.
What an insufferable man.
“His Majesty has arrived.”
The heavy doors opened slowly, and the Emperor appeared.
He was wrapped in a thick fur coat, the sort only worn in the depths of winter.
Dressed in season-appropriate attire, Angelus actually felt embarrassed at how overdressed he was.
“So young, Saintess. Aren’t you cold, wearing such light clothing?”
That exaggerated sensitivity to the cold—
It was one of the symptoms of poison addiction.
“Yes, it is cold, Your Majesty. It seems I dressed wrongly today.”
Angelus gave a bewitching smile as she handed him the warm tea she had prepared in advance.
“There’s nothing like tea to chase away the chill. I made sure to prepare it beforehand.”
The Emperor downed the strong, poison-laced tea in one gulp.
“Excellent. Nothing compares to this.”
As the heat spread rapidly through his body, the Emperor let out a groan-like sigh of pleasure.
Watching him sink into a languid haze, Angelus cautiously opened her mouth.
“Your Majesty, you look more gaunt than when I saw you at the banquet. Has something been troubling you?”
The Emperor clenched his teeth with a grinding sound, eyes still closed.
“The fire in the square.”
“The fire? But no one was killed or injured—what problem could it pose?”
“Exactly. Nothing should be wrong, yet the nobles are in an uproar just because a few old shops burned down.”
“I see. Just hearing about it gives me a headache. It must be so hard on you, Your Majesty.”
“It is a torment. They harass me every day, demanding the culprit be caught.”
“I only hope the culprit is caught soon, so Your Majesty’s worries may be eased.”
Pleased by her honeyed, nasal-tinged voice, the Emperor’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.
“But Your Majesty, I’ve heard something strange.”
The Emperor cracked one eye open and looked at her.
Seeing his interest, Angelus hurried on.
“It was about the very first shop where the fire broke out. I heard someone was nearby when the explosion happened.”
The Emperor straightened up from his reclined position.
“On the day of a banquet, aren’t all the square’s shops closed?”
“Yes. Which is why there were no casualties.”
“Exactly. Then what’s strange about that?”
“The sudden explosion, Your Majesty. People have been puzzled by it ever since.”
“And you say someone was there?”
“Yes. Of all the shops, why would there be a person right where the fire began?”
A faint glimmer lit up the Emperor’s cloudy eyes.
“Explain in detail.”
Though the room held only the Emperor and Angelus, lit by hundreds of flickering candles, she leaned closer as if sharing a dangerous secret.
“Your Majesty, I only heard this secondhand, so I hesitate to say… but seeing how troubled you are—”
“Quickly, tell me.”
As she faltered, impatience flashed across his face.
“At the very time the first fire started, someone was seen standing in front of that shop.”
“Who was it?”
Angelus covered her mouth with her hand, feigning difficulty.
“Your Majesty, there’s no proof this person caused the explosion.”
“All the evidence may have burned away. But just being there at that time is reason enough for suspicion.”
“Ah… I suppose that’s true.”
Pretending to be surprised, she nodded slowly.
The Emperor’s gaze glittered with vicious cunning.
A scapegoat had practically dropped into his lap—perfect not only to pacify the nobles but perhaps even to deal with the bothersome New Empire Alliance.
“Did you hear who it was?”
“I did, but… I don’t know if I should say, since it’s uncertain…”
“Whether they’re guilty or not, we’ll find out after they’re caught. Speak the name.”
Angelus darted her eyes about as if weighing the decision, then finally spoke.
“A baron’s daughter of no significance…”
She didn’t even finish before the Emperor’s eyes bulged.
“What? A baron? You mean a noble did such a thing? The insolence—!”
“The baron’s daughter, Your Majesty.”
“Daughter?”
Angelus sighed softly, as though regretful.
“Her name is Everett Gronji. The daughter of a poor barony with neither land nor wealth. Someone claims to have seen her at the scene that day.”
The Emperor slammed his fist against the floor with a thundering crack.
“She must belong to some faction plotting rebellion. Otherwise, how could a mere baron’s daughter manage such a deed?”
The moment the word baron’s daughter was mentioned, his mind began racing.
Whether Everett was guilty or not didn’t matter.
She was simply a convenient tool—for both the fire incident and the increasingly irksome New Empire Alliance.
A crooked smile tugged at his lips.
“I see… Somehow, I also found it strange to think she could’ve done it alone.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Everyone else only ever asks things of you, but only I give you such a great gift.”
Angelus tilted her head slightly, smiling coyly.
“What are you thanking me for, Your Majesty? Am I not family now?”
“Family? Yes, yes, practically family. Once you marry Kyle, you’ll be family indeed.”
The Emperor’s crude, cackling laugh echoed on for some time.
“But alas, Saintess… the next banquet may have to include the commoners.”
Angelus shook her head softly, her smile alluring.
“Of course Your Majesty must embrace your people. And to announce Grand Duke Kyle’s marriage in their presence—that will go down in history.”
Her flattery slipped into his ears as smoothly as his own tongue.
He laughed heartily and rose to his feet.
“Already leaving, Your Majesty?”
“The culprit may flee. We must catch and imprison them swiftly.”
Her eyes curved in a satisfied arc.
“As always, Your Majesty’s insight leaves me in awe.”
Outside the door, plainclothes knights hurried toward the Emperor.
He pointed to one of them and spoke in a low voice.
“I’ll return to the palace. You—go to Baron Gronji’s estate and seize his daughter.”
The Imperial Knights served directly under the Emperor, obeying only his commands.
But even so—ordering them to seize a noblewoman without due process?
Stunned by the sudden command, the knight only blinked.
The Emperor, eyes bloodshot from poison tea, glared at him and repeated:
“Does an Emperor’s order require explanation?”
“N-no, Your Majesty. I’ll depart immediately.”
The Emperor smirked faintly, picturing the nobles’ shocked faces the next morning.
“Is anyone home?”
It was late at night, when no one should be calling.
The front door boomed under heavy knocks, followed by a man’s deep voice.
Daisy, pulling a shawl around her shoulders, went to the entry.
“Who’s there?”
“Please, just open the door for a moment. I have something to tell you.”
“And who are you, demanding at this hour that we open our door?”
Nervousness made Daisy’s voice tremble.
BANG! BANG!
Instead of answering, the man pounded harder, threateningly.
“Daisy, who is it?”
Daisy ran quickly to Everett, who was coming down the stairs.
“My lady, go back upstairs. He won’t say who he is, just keeps demanding we open the door. He seems dangerous.”
