Chapter 33. The Bait
Ever since the Harios Temple incorporated the Saint Mallick Order into the Holy Knights, the temple had become a subject of scrutiny.
It had been a very long time since the demons who formed the root of the imperial family had once fought a war against the temple’s priests.
Since its incorporation into the empire at the founding of Elliadon, the temple had quietly enjoyed the empire’s prosperity.
There had been minor rebellions within the empire, but never had the temple been at the forefront of them. It seemed the temple had long forgotten the past and joined the empire’s rule peacefully.
But suddenly, they had taken in a suspicious group like the Saint Mallick Order.
What did it mean? Were they now, after all this time, breaking off their long-standing alliance? It had to be watched carefully.
“These lunatics. Are they trying to scam the Marquis into giving up the Empress’s secret? And even if he tells them—what then? What are they planning to do with it?”
No matter how you looked at it, their intentions were too suspicious and offensive.
The Empress’s secret could be something enormous—or, conversely, it could be nothing. Either way, the mere fact that the temple was trying to dig it up was infuriating.
“Depending on what the secret is, they might use it differently. But it doesn’t change the fact that they intend to scheme against the imperial family.”
“Exactly. That’s why it pisses me off.”
Riyan twitched his fingers as if he were holding a sword.
“Should I go cut off someone’s head, Your Majesty? The Marquis or the High Priest?”
Reskal raised an eyebrow at that thought.
“…Not yet. We don’t have a justification.”
“Why not? They’re obviously making a move against the imperial family with such sinister intentions.”
Serven cautiously interjected.
“No, not obviously. They think they’re being discreet. We only noticed because Dekan was watching.”
Dekan was the vice-commander of the Silver Shield and the third Shadow Knight. Unlike the other two Shadow Knights who had become symbols of the imperial guard, Dekan had become a literal shadow due to the nature of his role.
“Ha, damn it. So we have to wait until they actually make a move?”
“For now. Even if the imperial family raises an issue over the temple summoning the Marquis, that alone isn’t enough to punish them. Nobles visiting temples isn’t a crime.”
That was true.
Riyan ground his teeth.
“We should never have let the Marquis go. We should’ve tortured him until he talked. If we knew what the secret was, it’d be much easier to deal with.”
Serven shook his head vigorously.
“No, I mean, I don’t trust the Marquis either, but… still, torture? How would we clean that up afterward?”
“Damn it, damn it.”
Riyan stomped his heel into the marble floor.
“Then what should we do, Your Majesty?”
“…I don’t know.”
Reskal’s neck tensed with pulsing veins as he said this.
“If we leave them be, the Empress’s secret will eventually come out. We can act then.”
It was a cold and rational judgment. But Reskal’s expression suggested there was more to it.
“And?”
“If the secret comes out, the Empress will be upset. I don’t like that.”
“Ah…”
“Mmm…”
Riyan and Serven were momentarily at a loss for words.
“But… if the Empress’s secret is related to her missing time or memory from the past four years, then Your Majesty should know. In fact, no one needs to know more than you.”
“I know that. But I still don’t want to do something that will make her upset with me. Nobody likes having their secrets dragged out.”
In other words, the Empress was hiding something, and Reskal didn’t want her to be angry with him for finding out through someone else.
He already sounded like a doting husband.
After an awkward pause, Riyan spoke up again.
“Then… we have to silence the Marquis. If I rush alone, I can intercept him before he reaches the temple.”
But Serven voiced concern.
“Even if you stop him today, that’s it. Unless we ban nobles from entering the temple, it won’t mean anything.”
And even if such a ban was issued, it wouldn’t stop the Harios Temple from contacting Marquis Pashard. They couldn’t prevent all nobles from contacting all priests.
After thinking for a while, Serven said this:
“Why not tell the Empress, Your Majesty?”
“The Empress?”
“Yes. If the Marquis is bluffing, then there’s no issue. But if there really is such a secret, Her Majesty needs to handle it herself.”
Even if the attack was aimed at the imperial family, it was the Empress who’d be targeted. She had to know.
“You should make a deal. Her Majesty tells you the secret, and in return, you deal with the problem.”
That way, they wouldn’t need to extract the secret through a third party, and the temple wouldn’t get further entangled.
“A deal, huh… fine.”
It wouldn’t be ideal for a couple to speak of “deals,” but Reskal was different.
He was using those deals to slowly get closer to the Empress.
“I should go now. It might become important.”
The last sentence sounded like an excuse to go see the Empress.
Before breakfast was even over, the Emperor returned.
Rasilia had just picked up a grilled quail egg when she rose to greet him.
“You’re back. Have you eaten?”
“No, not yet.”
He was staring at the food, so she added that without thinking, but the answer was unexpected.
“You must be hungry.”
“…A little.”
What kind of emperor doesn’t even eat properly?
While he starved, she was eating luxurious food far beyond her old life as a prophet.
The fork in her hand suddenly felt awkward. Rasilia sighed lightly and asked,
“Would you like some now?”
There was already plenty of food prepared—he could eat this.
The Emperor strode past the table and came up beside her.
“I’ll eat. Give me some.”
And with that, he leaned in and popped the quail egg she was about to eat into his mouth.
“…That’s not what I was offering.”
“I thought it was.”
No way.
Rasilia knew all too well that the Emperor could lie shamelessly whenever it suited him, so she didn’t even get mad.
“If you’re going to eat, please sit properly.”
“I’m fine eating like this.”
“No. It’s not fine.”
“…”
The Emperor looked oddly sullen. Rasilia looked away, pretending not to notice.
“Then how about this?”
Reskal stabbed another quail egg with her fork.
“If I tell you something interesting, you give me this in return.”
“What kind of story would I need to pay for?”
“It’s not something you’ll regret hearing. Trust me.”
“…”
Rasilia studied his face closely.
She had learned how to read that face over time. He wasn’t lying.
Besides, the price he demanded was always absurdly small. Even if he was lying, she had nothing to lose—just one less quail egg.
“Go ahead. What is it?”
Before answering, Reskal gently brushed her hair.
But it wasn’t the touch that flustered her—it was the words that came from his mouth.
“They say the Marchioness of Pashard knows your secret.”
“…What?”
“The temple took the bait. They might try to use that secret to demand something soon.”
“…”
His hand stroked her hair gently, but Rasilia was too busy processing what she’d just heard to feel it.
How could she do something that stupid? She should know she wouldn’t survive if the secret was exposed.
Reskal placed the fork back in Rasilia’s hand.
“Judging by your face, that story was worth the price.”
“…”
When she looked at him as if asking, So what now?, Reskal wrapped his hand around hers.
“You promised to feed me.”
She never had. She just said she’d give it to him.
Rasilia pushed his hand away.
“Don’t twist my words. My hearing is perfectly fine.”
Reskal curled his lip and stared at her, then bent down and placed the fork she was holding into his own mouth.
She hadn’t fed him, but the scene looked as if she had.
After chewing and swallowing, Reskal spoke.
“I wasn’t twisting anything. That’s what I meant from the start.”
“…”
“Then let me say it clearly this time. If I take care of this temple nuisance for you, will you feed me then?”
Rasilia knew Reskal was sharp and intelligent, no matter how absurd he acted at times.
He had realized there was a secret. He wouldn’t let it go.
The temple’s involvement meant things were more complicated than she could currently guess.
The Saint Mallick Order revered mages who fought against demons, and the Harios Temple had made them Holy Knights.
If the temple got ahold of the Empress’s secret, who knew what could happen?
Most terrifying of all was how the Emperor would react if he found out she was a fake.
Would he draw his sword without hesitation and stab her in the chest?
“We’ll see. I doubt it will come to that.”
Rasilia leaned back slightly, putting some distance between them.
“I don’t know what the secret is, Your Majesty. If the temple tries to use it against me, how can they? I don’t even remember anything.”
Those golden eyes narrowed.
“…So you don’t need my help?”
“If I remember what the secret is, I’ll ask then. Oh, but since the Marchioness knows, I’ll just ask her directly.”
“She’s on her way to the temple. She may already be there.”
“Even so, I need to know what it is too. If not today, I’ll ask her to come tomorrow.”
Rasilia set her fork down on the table.
She only hoped the small clinking sound didn’t reveal her unease.
“How do I summon the Marchioness?”
Rasilia asked, and Reskal’s gaze briefly shifted.
Was she truly unaware of such a simple thing? Or was she pretending not to know?
“Normally, you ask the secretary to send a letter. If it’s urgent, you send someone directly. I’ll have the secretary go to House Pashard.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Rasilia stood up.
“I’ve finished eating, so I’ll return now.”
Reskal quickly grabbed her hand.
“I missed breakfast, so let’s have lunch together.”
“…If you wish.”
The Blue Moon had passed, yet the Emperor didn’t seem to have changed much. That was strange.
But right now, there was something more urgent.
She had to stop the Marchioness from reaching the temple.
There was no way to do that from inside the Empress’s palace—but somehow, it felt like she could.
“Then, at lunch.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As she left the dining hall, Rasilia’s steps gradually quickened.
