The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 49

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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 49】

 

Rianel didn’t bother to deny Norman’s words.

 

Saying “no” to someone who had already formed a strong conviction and reached a conclusion would only have the effect of strong denial.

 

Moreover.

 

‘Norman didn’t depend on me.’

 

The Princess longed for the Former Empress who had shown her affection, and Asil craved the master who had been his spiritual pillar.

 

In contrast, the emotion Norman harbored toward Rianel was reverence.

 

He was someone who, even if Rianel disappeared again, would grieve but not collapse.

 

In that sense, there was less burden in revealing her identity.

 

“You said you recognized me?”

 

However, she was curious.

 

Asil had watched Rianel for months before barely showing suspicion, yet Norman claimed to have recognized her in just a few minutes.

 

“Yes.”

 

“How…”

 

“How could I not recognize someone who possesses a presence like the sun that bestows mercy upon all things in the world? Even a blind person can feel the warmth of sunlight. Anyone with eyes would recognize Her Majesty the Empress’s benevolence.”

 

Rianel was dumbfounded.

 

“Your words and actions don’t match. Didn’t you leave the Special Tax Bureau as soon as I died?”

 

“I’ve long passed the age of sixty. I’ve reached an age where it’s easy to lose one’s way on a night without a guide. When the sun that illuminated the earth and showed the way had departed, how could I remain in that place? I had to follow even the faint traces of starlight.”

 

He took out a gold coin from his chest and carefully kissed it.

 

“Look. Isn’t it truly beautiful?”

 

“…Gold coins have many germs. That’s inappropriate behavior.”

 

“Love is something one originally accepts risks for.”

 

Rianel’s gaze turned cold.

 

At the same time, she recalled a forgotten fact.

 

‘Right, he was originally like this.’

 

Norman’s personality wasn’t ordinary either.

 

To be precise, he was someone obsessed with money and gold.

 

‘It was because of such obsession that he could save a failing bank.’

 

“What was the reason for putting down the gold you loved so much and living in seclusion for nearly three years? Were you confined by the Vice President?”

 

“No. I was brainwashed.”

 

Norman answered with surprising composure.

 

“I didn’t know at first. My consciousness would disappear intermittently, and I couldn’t remember actions I had just taken, so I thought I was finally going senile. But gradually those symptoms worsened, and later my judgment itself became clouded.”

 

The cause was drugs mixed in the ‘tea.’

 

“Tea came with every meal. Lucy said it was medicine. What would the butler or I know? We’re illiterate when it comes to medical arts.”

 

It would have been good if there was someone who directly witnessed the crime, but Norman was in a brainwashed state and Lucy and Dudban took turns controlling him.

 

Now that those two were dead, there was no way to confirm exactly how the brainwashing was carried out.

 

“But how did you break free from the brainwashing?”

 

“I’m not sure myself, but surely when the sun came, the night lifted, didn’t it?”

 

“I don’t like illogical flattery.”

 

He smiled awkwardly and changed the subject.

 

“You’re right. Well… I suspect the brainwashing itself was unstable.”

 

Norman provided plausible reasoning.

 

“Lucy never left my side for even a moment. She prevented my son and servants from approaching. Looking at that, I think it was a structure that would easily break if external stimuli or mental shock were applied.”

 

Certainly. If that were the case, excessively controlling the surroundings would make sense.

 

Norman placed an incongruous glass bottle on the dining table, and Rianel picked it up to examine it.

 

“Is this the bottle that contained the problematic drug?”

 

“Yes. Lucy used to put it in the tea drop by drop.”

 

The surface of the precisely cut bottle smoothly reflected light.

 

Inside was a transparent liquid filled halfway, which gently swayed whenever Rianel tilted her wrist.

 

At first glance, it resembled a perfume bottle. However, the angel statue carved on top of the bottle’s cap was surprisingly familiar.

 

‘There was the same bottle in Vanessa’s room.’

 

To be precise, it was Rianel’s room that Vanessa was occupying.

 

Curious, Rianel opened the bottle’s cap.

 

The moment the fragrance trapped inside the bottle spread out.

 

“Ugh.”

 

Rianel felt nauseous and swayed. Her vision became hazy and a familiar headache came.

 

“Your Majesty?”

 

Rianel hurriedly put down the bottle and examined her hand. Red rashes were spreading from the fingers that had gripped the bottle’s mouth.

 

‘As expected.’

 

It was an all too familiar reaction.

 

However, it wasn’t familiar to Norman, who was startled and supported Rianel.

 

“What… what was in that bottle to cause this?”

 

“It’s probably Sacred Flower.”

 

Judging by the quick reaction, it seemed to be a concentrated solution.

 

Meanwhile, the rash was spreading up along her hand and elbow.

 

“Why does this new body have the same allergy? No, that’s not what’s important! First, a doctor! No, there’s no doctor. First, at least the butler-!”

 

Norman frantically opened the door.

 

Then the noisy sounds from beyond the door came rushing in.

 

“What I’m saying is, what reason is there to send everyone out and leave only two people?”

 

It was Til.

 

“What could the two of them possibly have to talk about…”

 

Then when the door opened wide, the Tax Bureau people all turned to look this way.

 

The moment they saw Rianel standing with Norman’s support.

 

Wilbrin screamed.

 

“What on earth did you feed Team Leader?!”

 

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

 

Rianel realized a fresh truth.

 

‘These people really didn’t visit Torban in the hospital.’

 

* * *

 

“Reacting to Sacred Flower, how demonic.”

 

“Ersen!”

 

“The main component of the drug that brainwashed your father is Sacred Flower.”

 

“…Of course I meant the Sacred Flower was wrong. The name Sacred Flower is wasted on it.”

 

Ersen switched positions at a speed slightly slower than light.

 

Norman bowed his head in horror.

 

“I’m sorry. He’s a precious son I got in my old age, so he’s ill-mannered.”

 

But no one present took issue with Ersen’s rudeness.

 

They had already sufficiently confirmed his personality in their previous meeting.

 

‘He’s also young.’

 

Duke Vincenheim, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, examined Rianel’s condition rather than scolding Norman’s son.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Even Asil was present at this gathering.

 

Almost the same members who had visited Norman’s mansion last time had gathered.

 

Thanks to this, there were also good points.

 

While Norman and the Tax Bureau people were flustered, the Duke quickly called a doctor to calm Rianel’s allergic reaction.

 

“Yes.”

 

“But Team Leader, did you have allergies? That’s interesting. With your body, I’d think your immune system would just cancel it out, saying ‘causing physical reactions only in special situations is irrational.'”

 

“Allergies are antibodies created in the body that react to specific substances. It has nothing to do with intelligence.”

 

Wilbrin was amazed.

 

It was hard to believe this was the same person who had nearly collapsed from fever just moments ago, she was so rational.

 

“By the way, how did you come into contact with the Sacred Flower?”

 

“There was concentrated solution in the bottle.”

 

“Oh my, Team Leader, step back. You’re trying to touch it with your hands again while talking.”

 

“I’m not a child. I’m not inexperienced enough to approach poison knowingly.”

 

“Then who was it that immediately opened the lid saying they wanted to check the components?”

 

“….”

 

Rianel closed her mouth, and Wilbrin took the bottle to examine it.

 

Then she discovered liquid on the edges and rubbed it with her fingertips, even sniffing the smell.

 

“It seems to have no special effect on people without allergies. Judging by how touching or smelling it seems fine.”

 

“And if you eat it, you get brainwashed?”

 

Til asked.

 

“Probably?”

 

Wilbrin shrugged.

 

This was also just speculation.

 

Then Mel muttered.

 

“But don’t people also call this ‘Wish Herb’?”

 

“Well, that’s right?”

 

Because people with something they desire donate money to the Temple and receive Sacred Flower.

 

“I’m just saying this just in case. The way it grants those wishes, could it possibly be….”

 

“No way, surely not.”

 

“I just got goosebumps!”

 

Til was disgusted, and Wilbrin rubbed her arms where she had gotten goosebumps.

 

Asil, who had been silent until then, interjected.

 

“But why do you keep looking at that bottle?”

 

He was maintaining close distance to the table so he could snatch the bottle if necessary.

 

“I was thinking.”

 

“About what….”

 

“About Prince Rupert Vincenheim.”

 

Why that person all of a sudden?

 

Everyone was puzzled by the unexpected name, and when quick-witted Wilbrin muttered “Team Leader, don’t tell me.”

 

“Prince Rupert also seems to have been brainwashed.”

 

Finally, the bombshell dropped.

 

* * *

 

“I object.”

 

Mel said.

 

“From now on, could you please give us a warning before saying things like that?”

 

It really was bad for the heart.

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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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