~Chapter 112~
In the most beautiful and luxurious palace in the imperial palace, the Empress’s quarters, Narcissa was lounging on a sofa.
In front of her stood the Empress’s informant, hands clasped nervously.
“How’s that spy I planted in the Blumhardt mansion doing?”
Last time, Patrizia’s spy had been caught, so Narcissa thought hers would be exposed too—but luckily, she hadn’t heard anything like that.
“…Well, since she’s just a lowly maid, it looks like carrying out missions isn’t that easy for her.”
A bead of sweat rolled down the informant’s face.
“Didn’t you say she was quick-handed?”
Narcissa’s eyebrow arched sharply.
“There are too many watchful eyes around… She already got warned once for acting suspicious, so now she’s being extra careful.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Narcissa rubbed her chin, thinking for a moment.
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
Excuses.
In the end, it just meant she was fast but too cowardly to actually do the job.
If that was the case, then she should just give the maid a task that suited her.
Right now, it was too difficult to plant another bold spy.
‘The security at the Blumhardts’ keeps getting tighter every day…’
Having the maid look for that jewelry box Patrizia’s maid mentioned would be safer—less chance of being caught.
She was quick-handed, so even a coward should be able to handle that much.
‘And if that jewelry box is real, I won’t just get rid of that girl. I can drag the whole Blumhardt family and the Crown Prince down with her.’
Narcissa’s lips curled slightly.
“So right now, she’s basically just like a normal maid, huh?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
The informant answered in a crawling voice.
“I paid you a lot of money, you know.”
Narcissa pressed him subtly.
If the jewelry box didn’t exist, then all the money spent on that maid would’ve gone to waste.
“Your Highness! Even if she gets suspected, I’ll push her to put poison in!”
The informant immediately dropped to his knees.
How pathetic—bowing so easily just over some money.
“That won’t be necessary. Just give her another task instead.”
“Another task?”
“Tell her to check out a jewelry box that the Blumhardt fiance has.”
“A jewelry box?”
“Yes, one with an owl engraved right in the center.”
“…Wait, isn’t that the Goldscheider family crest?”
The informant’s eyes widened.
“That’s right. That jewelry box belongs to the Goldscheiders.”
“Should I tell her to steal it and bring it back?”
“No. Just figure out where it is.”
“Just the location?”
“Yes. Then, when the Imperial Knights show up, all she has to do is hand it over to them.”
“That way, both the Blumhardt family and the Crown Prince will be taken down at once.”
Whether they knew the truth or not, it would still look like they’d been hiding a traitor’s daughter.
“Now leave.”
Narcissa waved her hand.
“Yes, yes! Your Highness!”
The informant bowed and quickly left.
“Carmen.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The maid standing quietly behind Narcissa stepped forward.
“For the upcoming hunting festival, cast black magic to increase the aggression of some of the animals.”
“Is that really necessary, when we already have the jewelry box?”
“Carmen, there are always variables. We need a backup in case we can’t find the jewelry box.”
To be thorough, she had to set multiple traps.
“Then I’ll get it ready.”
“Focus mainly on the Duke’s fiance. We can deal with the Duke separately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Up until now, Narcissa had only used black magic on monsters, careful not to take risks.
But to finish things quickly and precisely, she was ready to take some chances.
‘I didn’t kill the Empress early just to wait this long.’
Recently, she’d been growing impatient, frustrated that she still hadn’t seized control of the world.
Even patience had its limits.
“Just a little longer… Soon everything I want will finally be mine.”
Florian would become the next Emperor, and she would rule as Regent.
Then she could use black magic openly and be worshipped by everyone.
Just imagining it sent chills of excitement down her spine.
“Your Highness, until then, I will loyally serve you.”
“Good, Carmen.”
Ah, how long she had waited for this.
The ones born into power could never understand this feeling.
***
A few days later, an invitation to the imperial hunting festival arrived at the Blumhardt estate.
When Johann received it from Samuel, he scowled.
Both his name and Leah’s were written on it.
‘…What trick is this?’
The Emperor had acknowledged Leah as Johann’s fiance and a member of the Blumhardt family, but Johann hadn’t expected her to be invited to an official event.
The Emperor wasn’t the type to do something the Empress would hate.
So Johann had assumed only his name would be on the invitation.
“They put my name on the invitation too?”
He immediately went to Leah.
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t expect to be invited either.”
Leah looked just as puzzled.
“The Emperor doesn’t do things the Empress hates. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Since Princess Patrizia got involved with me and ended up exiled to a convent, I thought the Empress would avoid me… so why?”
If they ran into each other at the hunting festival, people would definitely whisper.
‘It’s not just me—the Empress herself would definitely find that annoying and humiliating.’
Nobody liked being the subject of gossip.
“…Ah. Maybe that’s exactly why I was invited.”
Leah muttered, touching her chin.
“On purpose?”
“Yes. So the Empress can humiliate me in front of everyone, or do whatever she wants.”
She might just want revenge for the embarrassment Patrizia caused in society—even if it was misdirected at Leah.
“With the Empress, that’s definitely possible.”
Johann frowned deeply.
“Or… she might even use monster poison or black magic during the hunt. She’s stayed quiet in past years, but this time could be different.”
“That’s possible.”
“So Leah, for your own safety, it’s better if you don’t go.”
“No, that’s exactly why I have to go.”
“If the Empress really uses black magic, it could be dangerous.”
His face was full of worry.
“Don’t worry. I won’t just sit back and take it.”
How could she fear and run from the enemy who destroyed her family?
“Dorothea and I are planning to research a way to neutralize black magic.”
“Neutralize black magic?”
“Every type of magic has a weakness. Black magic must have a fatal flaw too.”
“…I see.”
Johann nodded slightly.
“If the Empress really uses it that day, Dorothea and I could test our research.”
In fact, that would be the perfect chance.
“…Even if I tell you not to go, you won’t listen, will you.”
Johann sighed.
“I’ll protect myself, no matter what.”
Leah looked at him with determined eyes.
“I’ll protect you too.”
Johann gently held her shoulder, his warm gaze giving her strength.
“Johann, can I ask you a favor?”
“What is it?”
“If I keep going to the Magic Tower often, the Empress will get suspicious.”
“That’s true.”
“So… could I research with Dorothea in the annex instead?”
“Of course.”
Johann gave a charming smile.
“There might still be spies around, so I’ll set up a lab in the most hidden spot of the annex.”
“Thank you.”
Leah smiled back.
“Johann, what exactly is this hunting festival?”
“It’s hosted by the imperial family every year, on the last day of September.”
“Do women participate too?”
If she wanted to confirm the Empress’s black magic, it’d be best to enter the hunting grounds herself.
“Yes, but in a different area.”
“Different?”
“The men’s area has bears. The women’s area only has small animals.”
Hunting bears? Just the thought gave her chills.
“After the hunt, they pick one winner from each group.”
“How do they choose the winner?”
“Not by the number of animals, but by size and type.”
“So catching big animals is better.”
“Exactly. That’s why men go after bears, and women usually aim for deer.”
“Catching a deer is one thing, but a bear sounds impossible.”
“It’s tough, but every year, the men desperately try to find one.”
Johann chuckled softly.
“Does the Empress join the hunt too?”
“No, she just sits in the tent and watches.”
He shook his head.
“The Crown Princess, though, loves hunting. She participates every year.”
Since she was from the North, hunting must’ve been something she grew up with.
“You’re not used to hunting, so you don’t need to take part.”
“No, I want to join too.”
“…Do you even know how to shoot a bow?”
Johann looked startled.
