Queen of Revenge - Chapter 41

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 41
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Marquis Perein had three children.
The eldest son was his heir to the title, the second son served as Vice Commander of the Black Eagle Knights, and his youngest daughter had married the only son of Count Robert, with whom the family shared a close bond.
The Marquis held particularly high expectations for his eldest son.
Simon Perein, who had returned home last year after years of studying abroad, possessed the keen intellect of a scholar. That was Iolet’s first impression upon meeting him.
“You’ve had quite the journey. I never expected you to come in person.”
“I apologize for the sudden visit.”
Simon was smaller in stature than his younger brother, who was a warrior.
His facial features were far more delicate than his brother’s, and he wore thin-framed spectacles. Overall, he exuded an air of sensitivity and intellectual refinement—a beautiful man in his own right.
“Originally, I was to travel alongside the inspector appointed by His Majesty the King, but the Royal Family has been in turmoil, so I departed ahead of schedule out of necessity. Our House also faces circumstances that can no longer be delayed. I trust you understand.”
That circumstance, of course, referred to the life or death of his younger brother.
“Of course. The Marquis must be deeply concerned.”
When Lucian heard that his elder brother had arrived, he lowered his gaze heavily. His expression was one of resignation, as though he had anticipated this.
“Father will find some way to bring me back to the Capital. He cannot abandon Crown Princess Catherine. But I never expected him to send you.”
“Lucian is both the pride of our House and a cherished family member to me and our sister. If Lucian can no longer serve as a knight, then I shall take him back to the Capital.”
The matter was stated plainly, without embellishment. Simon, who had not touched his tea, straightened his posture and waited for Iolet’s response.
She had naturally assumed the House of Perein would be thrown into upheaval. After all, she had deliberately chosen Lucian with precisely that secondary effect in mind.
The House of Perein was a noble family renowned across generations for integrity and virtue, keeping their distance from the accumulation of wealth.
Though their lineage was ancient, they had never actively involved themselves in politics.
It was twenty-five years ago that House Perein secured a seat on the Royal Council.
On the day the King brought a commoner woman of unknown origin to make her Queen, nearly every noble, including the Royal Council itself, vehemently opposed it.
House Perein alone stood with the King.
It was only natural that Marquis Perein, having earned the King’s favor through this act, became Crown Princess Catherine’s greatest supporter.
Moreover, his second son was destined to assume the position of Commander of the Black Eagle Knights, becoming the Crown Princess’s steadfast right hand.
So it was entirely reasonable that the Marquis would be furious now that his second son had become a mere guard to a princess of no consequence.
But what of it?
It was the King himself who had sent Lucian to the Border.
Iolet dropped her pretense entirely.
“Lucian has not yet recovered enough to undertake the long journey back to the Capital. His leg is broken. Once he regains sufficient strength to prepare himself, I shall send him back whenever he wishes.”
At those words, Lucian, who had been hiding perfectly well behind the partition, let out a scoff. Simon, naturally, did not believe her either.
“I know my younger brother well. If his limbs are intact and his mind functions properly, Lucian would never fail to return to where he belongs. It is difficult to coerce someone like Lucian.”
“That’s true.”
“Yes, but the fact that he has remained at the Border for two and a half months now suggests this is Lucian’s own choice.”
“….”
“If my brother made such a choice, there must be a reason for it. And frankly, I’m quite curious about the Princess who managed to captivate such a fastidious young man. —However.”
Simon pushed his spectacles up with his index finger. His gaze, assessing Iolet, was as direct as it could be without crossing into outright rudeness.
“I cannot respect my brother’s choice. The very survival of our House depends on this matter.”
“The survival of your House?”
Iolet tilted her head.
“The Perein Marquis Family is hardly a house so impoverished that it would fret over the future. Has something happened within the Royal Family?”
If the other party was being direct, there was no reason for me to be otherwise.
As Iolet set down her teacup to signal her attentiveness, Simon slowly opened his mouth.
“Do you know of House Leon?”
“I do. They’re a family with territories in the southern Tolian Plain.”
“Indeed. Though we have little contact now, my father maintained some acquaintance with them.”
“And?”
“Count Leon presented a specialty product from his territory to His Majesty the King—and poison was found in the tea.”
Iolet’s lips parted silently.
This was certainly something I had not anticipated.
Simon continued his account in an even tone.
“His Majesty nearly drank the tea. Just before my departure, the entire Royal Palace was thrown into upheaval over this matter.”
“…I see.”
Iolet’s eyelashes trembled faintly.
“Is Mother unharmed?”
“She did not so much as bring the cup to her lips, so fortunately she is safe. However, had the butler who brought the tea not sensed something amiss and raised the alarm, it would surely have been a catastrophe.”
“Such a thing occurred. Indeed…”
Iolet lifted her teacup and moistened her lips.
“What became of the butler?”
“He consumed only a small amount, and I’m told his constitution is naturally robust, so his life should not be in danger. He is currently under the care of the Royal Physician. His position is somewhat ambiguous, but in any case, he shares the King’s blood.”
Though she had not mentioned his name outright, she had as good as revealed who that perceptive butler was.
Iolet barely suppressed the spreading smile.
‘Ahil, you darling thing.’
So it was not mere fortune that had allowed him to survive sixteen years in the Royal Palace.
To expose the matter so swiftly, and at such a perfectly opportune moment.
“Certainly a grave matter has occurred. Yet I fail to see how it concerns the survival of House Perein.”
“There has been contention within the Royal Council surrounding Count Leon’s trial.”
The Royal Council was an advisory body to the King, composed of elder nobles.
Nine members were selected from among the highest-ranking nobility in Elovis, each receiving the King’s final approval, and the council deliberated on matters of state importance and contributed to the enactment of kingdom law.
Simultaneously, the Royal Council served as a mediator within the Nobility Society. One of its principal authorities was the power to judge nobles.
“Since he presented such an unseemly gift to Mother, he surely deserves trial. It seems there should be no disagreement among the elders regarding the trial itself.”
“Precisely so. His Majesty the King was so enraged that no matter how venerable the elders are, they have no grounds to shield Count Leon.”
“The Count will find it difficult to preserve his life. But why would that become a misfortune for House Perein?”
Iolet’s fingertip, which had been tapping against the teacup, stilled. With the question came the answer.
Iolet smiled faintly.
“Was Count Leon a person my Elder Sister recommended?”
“He was. A candidate she recommended to fill a vacancy in the Royal Council.”
“I see.”
Then it mattered little whether Count Leon had actually orchestrated some conspiracy.
What mattered was why Catherine had sought to seat Count Leon as an elder of the Royal Council—something that had never occurred in my previous life.
‘The Royal Council currently has eight elder members. Originally there were nine, but last year Count Terlion, who maintained neutrality, was expelled on charges of embezzlement, leaving a vacancy.’
Among the remaining eight, five support Catherine, while the other three remain neutral.
Though they call themselves neutral, they cast opposing votes against every proposal Catherine presents, so it was fair to say they stood in direct opposition to the Crown Princess.
However, the neutral faction’s influence was negligible.
The Royal Council traditionally operates on the principle of majority rule.
One must secure at least five of the eight seats to dominate the council, and Catherine had already achieved that goal.
‘Montfer, Deloras, Lorang, and House Perein are Catherine’s ardent supporters. And last year, House of Valer implicitly aligned itself with Catherine.’
By securing Duke Benedix Valer last year, Catherine had claimed five seats on the Royal Council.
Five against three.
A stable arrangement.
Then came a shift in the position of the Perein Marquis Family.
The second son of House Perein became the Guard Knight for Princess Iolet. That knight, who accompanied her all the way to the border, has yet to return to the Capital.
He defied the Crown Princess’s orders.
“….”
Iolet cast a glance toward the partition where Lucian was concealed.
‘Catherine suspects Lucian. For not killing me.’
It was something I had already foreseen.
If I hadn’t anticipated this effect when designating Lucian Perein as my guard, I would be lying.
If Lucian Perein’s betrayal represented the stance of the entire Perein Marquis Family, then Catherine faced a crisis that could cost her one seat on the Royal Council.
‘Four against four is useless. So even if Perein betrays me, I planned to newly recommend Count Leon to maintain control of the Royal Council. Then even without Perein, I would hold five of nine seats.’
And then this disaster struck.
Not only was Count Leon expelled, but the Crown Princess herself who recommended him fell out of favor with the Late King.
So there was no way Perein, the root cause of all these troubles, could appear favorable in Catherine’s eyes.
Moreover, the Perein Marquis Family and Count Leon had been acquainted in the past?
What if the Perein Marquis Family deliberately bribed Count Leon?
“So right now the Perein Marquis Family is facing the risk of being falsely accused of using Count Leon to frame the Crown Princess for regicide, is that correct?”
“Precisely.”
Suspicion had no choice but to snowball in such circumstances.
House Perein had been struck by sudden calamity overnight.
Their second son suddenly abandoned the family without warning, leaving them bewildered, and now they faced the suspicion of their lord, risking the false accusation of conspiring in regicide against the King.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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