The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 138
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 138
* * *
I let out a groan and stretched with a shudder.
I thought of the poison self-harm act when the tea the Imperial Consort served came out individually in cups.
“Since it was served in teacups, and the Imperial Consort personally chose separate teacups for each guest, it would be easy to tamper with them.”
“That would be the case.”
I thought at least someone would try to pull something.
“The most likely candidate is Elizabeth. Isn’t it strange that she left her seat empty for too long?”
“That may be true, but isn’t it difficult to be certain she prepared poison based on that alone?”
“I don’t need certainty. If there’s even the slightest anxiety, I should prepare for it.”
The social circle I experienced was a den of beasts. If you let your guard down, you’re the one who gets hurt. In the social circle, the person who gets hurt is the one at fault.
‘So even if there’s the slightest opportunity, I shouldn’t let it slide.’
“Among the people at the Imperial Consort’s tea party, those who might hold a grudge against me would be the Imperial Consort herself, Elizabeth, or Marquis Nodelli, right? Whoever becomes the culprit among the three would benefit me.”
“If the Imperial Consort became the culprit, Duke Marche would have had no choice but to give up Valois Territory to help the Imperial Consort, and if Marquis Nodelli or Elizabeth were the culprit, there would have been disruption in securing the water source.”
Having Trigon, the Chief Court Mage, on my side was truly a great help.
Since he was the administrator of the barrier, he could cover for me so I wouldn’t get caught by the barrier even if I used divine power in the Imperial Palace.
After I collapsed, I used divine power to put ‘some kind of mark’ on my teacup in case the party became chaotic and the teacups got mixed up.
To do that, I had to avoid others’ eyes, so I made butterflies appear in the Imperial Consort’s garden to divert their attention.
‘On top of that, he was an investigator, so he even fabricated the existence of poison that wasn’t there!’
It wasn’t difficult to identify the drug Elizabeth had. If it was poison that wouldn’t be caught in the Imperial Palace contraband inspection, it could only be a curse medium.
I laughed “hehe” and jumped off the bed. The butler let out a deep sigh.
“Ever since joining hands with Young Lady, my heart has been shrinking year by year. Do you know that?”
“But we’re also prospering year by year. By the way, what about Elizabeth?”
“She was imprisoned by Marquis Nodelli’s accusation. Princess Ingrid was greatly enraged.”
Hearing his words, my eyes sparkled brightly.
‘The person I most wanted to become the culprit won the lottery.’
The butler furrowed his brow as if he couldn’t understand at all.
“What on earth was Marquis Nodelli’s reason for accusing his own daughter…”
“Audrey was the one managing the tea.”
“Audrey?”
“She’s the Imperial Consort’s lady-in-waiting. She’s having an affair with Marquis Nodelli.”
The butler’s face contorted with disgust.
“You mean he sacrificed his own daughter for his mistress? Have I ever seen such a crazy bastard…!”
I snapped my fingers and pointed at the butler with my index finger.
“That’s it!”
“What?”
“Princess Ingrid would never forgive this if she found out, right?”
“Of course… Don’t tell me you were aiming for this too?”
No matter how foolish Marquis Nodelli was, he was still the Family Head of a great noble house.
He wouldn’t have exposed his own child and turned his family into ruins just because he was blinded by love.
He might have known that Elizabeth had poison. Since a search would be troublesome for both sides, he might have struck first to show off to his mistress.
“But people will all say the same thing as the captain.”
“That he’s a shameless man who sold out even his own child because he was crazy about his mistress.”
“Bingo.”
I sat back down on the bed and swung my legs back and forth.
“The Social Circle is simply put, a place where the ladies of the house conduct diplomacy.”
“That’s correct.”
“And selling out your child because of an affair is what the ladies despise most. Who would defend Nodelli House?”
“On top of that, Marquis Nodelli thoroughly investigated his subordinate nobles like hunting for lice over the incident where the Young Ladies overturned teacups at Young Lady’s party…”
We looked at each other and wickedly raised the corners of our mouths.
“Now we just need to sit back and watch how Nodelli House falls.”
“The problem is how to expose his affair, isn’t it?”
“That’s what I’m saying…”
When I lowered my voice and whispered, the captain nodded.
* * *
“I knew it was you.”
Audrey embraced Marquis Nodelli and kissed him all over his cheeks.
“But what if the Empress Dowager comes out furious?”
“What can I do? It’s true that Elizabeth had poison in her hands. Damn Wise, I kept him alive because his brain was useful, but he dared to give poison to my daughter?”
“What are you going to do about that man?”
“I sent soldiers to his residence to wring his neck, but he had already fled.”
When Marquis Nodelli grumbled, Audrey moaned “Hmm…” and nodded.
“He’s quick with information. His Imperial Majesty ordered everyone to keep quiet about the poisoning incident as soon as the Young Lady collapsed, so how did he find out…? Does he have someone in the Imperial Palace?”
“That’s true…”
Audrey wrapped her arms around Marquis Nodelli’s arm and whispered.
“If someone has such quick information, it means he has connections everywhere. It would be a waste to discard him now.”
“But because of that bastard…”
“That’s exactly why you can’t throw him away. You need to keep him in your grasp so you can wring his neck or cut off his limbs later. Of course, after using him as much as you can.”
Marquis Nodelli grinned and lightly pinched Audrey’s cheek.
“You little darling. You’re so wise that I’m completely smitten and can’t escape.”
“Just words?”
“Of course not. If I could, I’d divorce my wife right now. If it weren’t for that damn Diamond Mine, I would have long ago…”
That’s when it happened. Someone’s footsteps could be heard from afar.
Audrey quickly moved away from him, and Marquis Nodelli’s adjutant appeared.
The adjutant looked at the marquis and Audrey’s disheveled clothes and bowed his head as if accustomed to the sight.
“The nobles have gathered in the throne room.”
“Is it because of Elizabeth?”
“Yes, it is.”
Tsk, Marquis Nodelli clicked his tongue, patted Audrey’s waist, and began walking.
The throne room.
The Emperor held his head with one hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
Marquis Nodelli cleared his throat and spoke as if making excuses.
“Elizabeth couldn’t have known. She’s only nine years old. She was just trying to play a prank because she was upset.”
“A prank? Did you just say it was a prank?”
Isaac, who was with Duke Dubbled, frowned and stomped the ground. Henri blocked him with one arm and said.
“Looking at the results alone, my younger sister is hovering between life and death because of Lady Nodelli’s prank. But how exactly did the Young Lady make my sister consume poison?”
“That’s…”
“How can you be certain that the Young Lady put in the poison alone? Couldn’t the marquis, the princess, or perhaps the Imperial Consort have helped her?”
Marquis Nodelli flinched.
‘That cunning bastard…!’
He was saying that if they didn’t abandon Elizabeth, someone would bite and hang on.
Dubbled’s second son, more cunning than a snake, never missed an opportunity.
‘At this rate, I might get entangled too.’
“So what are you suggesting! The national law states that crimes committed by minors under 12 cannot be judged.”
“However, cases involving violations of imperial authority and divine authority are considered exceptions.”
Henri narrowed his eyes and added.
“—This is also clearly stated in the Imperial Code.”
“What…!”
“Bringing evil drugs into the Imperial Palace constitutes treason. Attempting to poison my younger sister, who is the Child of Fate, goes against the Pope’s will. Elizabeth Nodelli cannot escape capital punishment.”
The Empress Dowager, who had been restlessly watching the situation, shouted “Now see here, Duke’s son!” and the eldest son, Johan, stepped forward.
“Should the shrine step in?”
“Are you threatening an old woman!”
“Wasn’t it clearly specified in the oath that Empress Dowager witnessed when we adopted Leblaine? 【Should problems arise with Leblaine, Dubbled will receive the shrine’s ‘assistance.’】 That’s what it says.”
Since it was a clause that the Empress Dowager had stubbornly insisted on including, she had nothing to say.
Henri Dubbled said.
“We have three conditions. First, investigation of both the party host and all invited guests. If necessary, please proceed with detention investigations. Second, please have His Majesty’s personal physician treat my younger sister.”
“What’s the third?”
“If it’s certain that Elizabeth Nodelli acted alone, please allow us to compete with our family’s honor at stake, following the precedent of Count Esla’s house and Marquis Schuheil’s house from year 31.”
“…!”
The throne room froze.
After the previous Marquis Schuheil died by Count Esla’s sword, his son had ascended to the position of Family Head and competed with Count Esla.
Five members of each family’s bloodline stepped forward and competed in the Emperor’s presence, and the defeated Count Esla was beheaded.
‘Th-this is impossible!’
Over there, Duke Dubbled and the Three Young Masters, plus Javelin Arieju – all five blood relatives were aura users.
“Your Majesty!”
If it came to a fight, they would surely face death.
The Emperor looked at Duke Dubbled with an unpleasant expression.
“Must we go this far?”
“I once asked you not to corner me. Today I have stepped to the line. Please bestow your imperial grace so I do not cross it.”
Duke Dubbled’s eyes glowed bright blue.
“If I cross the line, even I cannot be certain how far I will go.”
‘Insolent bastard.’
The Emperor clicked his tongue silently. But since his beloved daughter was poisoned in the Imperial Palace, he had nothing to say even if his eyes rolled back.
‘Of all things, she’s the Child of Fate, so rather than let the shrine use this excuse to encroach on imperial authority…’
The Emperor reluctantly nodded his head.
Marquis Nodelli turned deathly pale.
The nobles gathered in the Imperial Court exchanged glances with each other.
‘In this situation, Marquis Nodelli has only one option.’
‘He’ll try to somehow connect the Imperial Consort to this incident.’
‘That way Duke Marche will step forward directly to resolve the situation. Even Dubbled would have no choice but to retreat if the Imperial Palace and Duke Marche cooperate.’
‘But the Emperor would rather welcome Empress Yvonne getting involved. With the Imperial Consort’s influence overflowing the imperial throne, if the Empress Palace’s authority hits rock bottom from this incident, he could use that gap to reverse the Inner Palace’s atmosphere.’
Which side should they attach themselves to?
The nobles quickly read the situation.
At that moment, the Empress Palace.
With a crash! the items on the table scattered across the floor.
“Please calm down, Your Imperial Consort.”
“Do I look like I can calm down?! What is Father doing at a time like this!”
“…”
The Imperial Consort looked at Head Maid Teresa, who silently furrowed her brow.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? What is Father doing?”
“…”
“Teresa!”
“He is meeting with Marquis Nodelli.”
“What? Why is he meeting with the one who made this mess!”
The Imperial Consort bit her lips tightly.
She knew her father had secretly formed close ties with Marquis Nodelli. But to be meeting with him even when Nodelli had bared his claws at her – why on earth?
“Unless he’s been caught with some weakness, why would he…”
Just then.
A young maid hurried into the bedroom with quick steps.
“Your Imperial Consort!!”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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