The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 145

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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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Tesagh barely managed to ask.

“Why on earth would you need that? No, and after completing the inspection, you thought I would have it with me…?”

“Yes, I thought you would. Isn’t that right? I didn’t think you would enter a foreign imperial palace empty-handed.”

As she said this, Elisha mouthed the words.

‘Like the self-defense dagger I brought in on the day of the Founding Festival.’

Regardless of how accurately she had guessed, Tesagh was wondering whether this was praise or an insult when he ended up laughing at her next words.

“You’re a cautious person, aren’t you? You would have judged it better to prepare with magical tools rather than bring troops to negotiations and create discord.”

It seemed to be praise after all.

But this wasn’t a situation where he could just keep laughing.

He couldn’t understand why Elisha needed the interrogation magical tool cigarettes in the first place, and more importantly…

‘I don’t want to make her recall the kidnapping situation again.’

After deliberating, Tesagh soon made his decision.

“Let’s go.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s go. If you’re in a situation where you want to hear the truth from someone, I’ll help whether I smoke cigarettes or break that person’s arm.”

“You sound quite serious about that.”

“Of course it would sound that way. Because I am serious.”

For some reason, those words seemed amusing to her. Elisha laughed softly.

“Yes, then let’s go together. I actually got permission to bring His Grace the Duke along. You’re also a related party.”

“Related party?”

Then Elisha strode ahead.

The place she arrived at was the prison.

Ailren was standing in front of it.

“It must have been a difficult decision for security reasons, but thank you for granting permission, Count Ailren.”

“Not at all. Since we promised cooperation, it’s natural for us to show goodwill as well.”

As he said this, Ailren gazed at Tesagh for a moment.

Tesagh frowned.

‘It’s probably a temporary prison anyway.’

There was no way that principled man would expose the location of the real imperial palace prison to a foreign duke.

The reason he had sent Elisha alone was probably because Ailren had been going through transfer procedures in the meantime.

Watching Elisha, who probably didn’t know this fact, smile and greet him left a bitter taste in his mouth.

‘More than that, me being a related party means…’

When Tesagh saw the inside, he understood what Elisha meant.

The people in the prison were.

“Ha.”

Duie and Rosaline.

*

A little while ago.

Having requested a private meeting with Ailren through a telegram in advance, I quickly asked as soon as we were alone.

“You said Duie was handed over and is currently detained in the imperial palace prison, Count Ailren.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Would it be possible for me to meet with that person briefly?”

A troubled expression crossed Ailren’s face.

“…Of course, I know I have no right to stop you if you, as the victim, wish it, but he’s a dangerous individual. He targeted you, and more importantly.”

Ailren, who had swallowed a sigh, said in a low voice.

“He’s currently in a state of delirium, making normal interrogation difficult.”

“Delirium?”

“Yes. The imperial palace mages are attempting hypnotic magic, but the results have been minimal so far.”

Delirium, and hypnotic magic.

As I pondered this, I recalled another person who was supposed to be interrogated with hypnotic magic.

“What happened to the attendant? I mean, the attendant who gave you the hourglass.”

“Hypnotic magic was used but had no effect, and he maintains his original statement that he doesn’t remember anything.”

‘Something’s strange.’

As I listened to the interrogation results Ailren was telling me, I felt something was off.

“So… hypnotic magic didn’t work on Duie and Rosaline who are in a state of delirium. But hypnotic magic worked on the attendant but had no effect?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

What was the difference between them?

As I thought about it, I recalled what the kidnapper had said.

“I don’t remember… but after talking with that man, I felt really good, like I was dreaming…”

Could it be?

“That ‘delirium.’ Could it be that it’s not due to psychological shock, but because they’re under a spell?”

“But no spell formations were found on them…”

Ailren seemed to realize something as he spoke.

“A mage without spell formations.”

He was recalling Tesagh’s words.

I stepped closer to the pale-faced Ailren and said.

“They’re already under a strong spell, so hypnotic magic didn’t work.”

Emma had said so.

Mental magic is very high-level magic, so to tamper with memories, most use indirect methods.

Either hypnosis, or…

“Maybe they’re in the middle of dreaming. Hypnosis can’t work on someone who’s already dreaming, right?”

Using dreams, that is.

I heard that those who kidnapped me were sentenced to long terms of hard labor through summary judgment because their crimes were so clear.

But what if hypnotic magic had been used on them?

‘The same result as the attendant would have come out. They could talk about the circumstances but said they didn’t remember.’

Moreover, if the ‘man’ the kidnapper mentioned was also Eivor.

And if it’s true that he also influenced Duie and Rosaline.

‘…It was me.’

Whoosh, goosebumps rose all over my body.

‘I was Eivor’s target!’

Of course, in Rosaline’s case, I don’t know from when Eivor extended his reach.

Her malice was something that continued from my previous life.

But there was a suspected timeframe.

‘That was probably.’

From when I intervened in Ailren’s mana poisoning, who is now clenching his teeth so hard his jaw is trembling.

‘He must have been annoyed by me interfering with his work.’

But what’s strange is that Crodil, who controls him, didn’t show any particular signs of this.

Crodil’s hostility toward me is because I prevented Lina’s downfall at the Founding Festival.

‘So is Eivor trying to handle this on his own before reporting to Crodil?’

「Leave this place immediately.」

Recalling the voice I heard when appraising the second ruby tablet fragment, I took a deep breath.

Once I calmed down, my mind raced quickly.

‘Let me think. If he wanted to eliminate me, the easiest way would be to just attack me while I’m sleeping, right? But he didn’t do that.’

They’re all indirect methods of controlling others.

‘There’s a reason. A reason why Eivor can’t directly touch me.’

I wouldn’t be able to know that reason right now.

Just like I couldn’t tell whether the voice coming from the ruby tablet was a warning or had some other meaning.

So, what I need to do now is.

‘I need to catch a clue.’

And.

‘I need to catch him!’

Eivor’s existence had been bothering and irritating me ever since the incident with Ailren and Lina.

But now that I knew his target was me.

‘I should try everything I can do, shouldn’t I?’

I clenched my fist tightly and looked at Ailren.

The situation wasn’t bad when you looked at it. The Empire and the Duchy had agreed to cooperate.

But there was a lack of mutual trust. In that case?

‘I need to show them. The evidence for my claim.’

And that Tesagh’s words were correct.

Having finished my thoughts, I immediately spoke.

“How about we verify it right now? By interrogating Duie and Rosaline together.”

“…I also think Elisha’s words make sense. But the method to interrogate them in their confused state is…”

“Fortunately, there is one. A method that’s already been verified. But that method requires His Grace the Duke.”

I smiled slightly and looked up at Ailren.

“Would it be alright if you joined the interrogation process?”

*

So now.

“…Hoo.”

In the interrogation room were Tesagh and Duie.

Tesagh put down the lit red cigarette and crossed his arms.

He seemed to be waiting for the smoke to spread.

“…”

Meanwhile, Ailren’s expression was strange.

Whether he didn’t trust the magical device, or couldn’t believe that I, not Tesagh, had secretly brought in the cigarette.

Or maybe he was displeased by the thick smoke beyond the window – it was an unreadable expression.

‘Or it could be because of what I said earlier.’

“Count Airen. Duie Delphia ‘also’ showed symptoms of mana addiction.”

Those were the words I had said before going to get Tesagh.

I had emphasized the word ‘also.’

So if it was revealed that Duie’s mastermind was Eivor.

‘It would mean that the culprit who caused Ailren’s mana addiction was also Eivor.’

I had spoken indirectly, but Ailren would have understood.

Furthermore, it was also words that hinted at some kind of relationship between Eivor and Crodil, so there was enough reason for his mind to be complicated.

It was when silence was settling over the interrogation room.

“Name.”

Tesagh’s flat voice was heard.

Then, surprisingly.

“…Duie Delphia.”

The mouth of Duie, who had supposedly been in a confused state all along, opened.

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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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