Richard looked like he was trying to endure us, so I had to quickly release this poor magician.
A simple tea party was held. I sipped the bitter tea Richard made and began the story with the image of Countess Elvira that I had seen with her.
Wisdom Eye Thien Ly
before last night's meeting.
“Speaking of which, I saw something strange yesterday.”
I explained the illusion to Richard, and he replied.
“The fact that Wisdom Eye suddenly showed you something could mean that it is necessary information for you.”
According to Richard's explanation, it is like that.
“What good does it do me if the Countess has an injured back?”
"That's impossible to know. But even if the clues haven't appeared right away, there's definitely a reason."
Cesar added.
“Everything in life is not a coincidence…”
“It's inevitable.”
I quickly answered his words and nodded. Richard looked at me intently and then opened his mouth.
“Practice
Wisdom Eye Thien Ly
more is good.”
Richard suggested it to me again. Last practice
Wisdom Eye
It was extremely difficult, this time will be the same.
“Ugh……”
I weakly bowed my head. But who knows, this could be a turning point. I slowly looked at Cesar's face. He smiled brightly.
“I will try.”
My confident face was tinged with confusion five hours later.
“I, I can't anymore……”
I wiped the sweat that was running down my forehead. For five hours, I tried to stay in control
Wisdom Eye Thien Ly
without having time to eat properly.
“So what did you see?”
Richard asked me.
“Nothing.”
"Nothing?"
"Just saw the image I saw before. The injured Countess is lying down for treatment……. That's all."
“Hmm.”
Richard thought for a moment then told me.
“Even when you were young, this wasn't normal. You could say it was
Curtain
was erected.”
"Purdah?"
“
Curtain
is a term used among mages, but it is essentially a magical barrier. It can be seen that someone took action first to prevent you from being able to investigate the matter of the Countess using that barrier.”
“So, what to do now?”
“The enemy's construction
Curtain
shows that that person is very careful and has real power."
“Be careful……”
“This is just my theory, but perhaps the Countess being so seriously injured was an act to amplify the Black Magic.”
“Dark Magic Amplification?”
“Because pure human pain is the best ingredient to strengthen Black Magic.”
“How, how is that possible……”
Hearing those terrible words, I shivered. Even though Countess Elvira is the Queen's confidant and my follower, isn't that an excessive action.
Even though it's only fleeting, it passes
Wisdom Eye
, I could clearly feel her pain. No matter what, isn't causing such pain to humans a cruel act?
“What matters is who did it.”
“Richard, is there any way to distinguish Black Magic users?”
However, he frowned, remained silent for a moment and then shook his head.
"It's very difficult, unless you catch them in person while practicing Black Magic. Because Black Magicians are people who touch taboos, they act very secretly."
"I got it."
That means it's impossible to reveal the identity of the Dark Magician with mere speculation or sketchy circumstantial evidence.
Then I have to interpret the situation from a different perspective.
“How many people can use a whip to hit Countess Elvira on the back?”
Countess Elvira. The Elvira family only gained attention after the Countess relied on Queen Cornelia's power, but was not originally a very large family.
However, currently Queen Cornelia's power is very strong in this Empire, so the Countess's power has also increased accordingly.
“The Countess is the Queen's power.”
However, I slowly shook my head.
"Of course, the most suspicious person is still Queen Cornelia. She is also the figure most closely related to the political situation. But that alone is not enough. Perhaps the lady's husband. Or we cannot ignore the possibility that she has joined hands with a force other than the Queen. To deceive the Queen."
One of the possibilities is Count Elvira, her husband. I know he is a force supporting the Second Prince, but I don't know if he is close enough to the Queen to sacrifice his wife.
Count Elvira used a whip to whip his wife's back to restrain the Great Prince who was only in vain. I don't know why, but that assumption seems too forced.
“Queen Cornelia……”
Richard slowly nodded.
“If the Queen is the culprit of all these incidents, then this will be a very difficult battle.”
“For now, I can't be sure.”
But there are too many suspicious points to conclude that Queen Cornelia is the culprit. For example…….
“……What about Mercedes' death?”
Mercedes died because of the crime she committed. Hasn't the fact that she killed the Princes been clearly revealed? There was no place for Queen Cornelia to interfere in that case.
"However, her death also has many suspicious aspects. Furthermore, based on her incomplete memories and completely changed personality, it can be speculated that Black Magic is involved."
"But there is no direct evidence left. The bottle of poison Mercedes said she received has disappeared, the witness herself was quickly executed, and in fact, because she was mentally unstable, the claim that she received the bottle of poison from someone is unbelievable."
“She was accused of attempted murder and impersonating a member of the Royal Family, so it was difficult to avoid death.”
However, there are still too many questions surrounding Mercedes' death.
“I also think Queen Cornelia is the most suspicious.”
“If so then……”
But I shook my head. Even though it's just speculation, if everything was caused by the Queen then everything would make sense. But if that is true…….
“But……”
“But?”
I raised my hand to rub my face a few times and licked my dry lips.
“How can we drag a country's Queen through the mud?”
That's like fighting a rock with an egg. Furthermore, if we attack shallowly without any countermeasures or means, the one who will be counterattacked and hurt will be us. That is an unquestionable truth.
But the more I thought, the more I couldn't suppress my boiling anger.
“If, if. If Queen Cornelia is really the one behind it all, then the one who cursed Cesar……”
Thinking of Cornelia doing that, I really couldn't bear it. As long as she exists, Cesar will never be free from the curse. I gritted my teeth. But sadly, I currently don't have any means to pull the Queen down.
“To bring down Cornelia, a decisive blow is needed.”
“A decisive blow……”
“It must be a big blow, one that can take down even the Queen.”
I clenched my fist and swallowed. A method that can bring down that fearsome Queen. But no matter how I think about it, I can't imagine what it will be at the moment.
“Perhaps, if you can find solid evidence that she uses Black Magic……. Maybe organize a Religious Tribunal.”
“Court……Religion?”
“People in this Empire are quite religious.”
I know that too. It was what is commonly called a witch hunt that I witnessed as a child, and all related powers belonged to the Holy See.
"But to open a Religious Court, it is necessary to convene a committee and need solid evidence of religious blasphemy, or apostasy, that is, heresy. It is not an easy path."
“Without that, it would be impossible to pull someone in her position down.”
But it's also something that must be done. I bowed my head heavily to the floor, then suddenly remembered something and asked Richard.
"Richard. If, if. Suppose Cornelia is the one who cast this curse. If we capture her, will it be possible to lift the curse on Cesar?"
“If we capture the culprit and determine the exact nature of the Black Magic cast on His Highness Prince Cesar…… then perhaps……”
Richard nodded vigorously at me instead of continuing. I also nodded.
That's enough. Having the confirmation that Cesar's curse could be lifted was a great gain from this conversation.
“I will definitely do it.”
I am determined to clarify all of these events and lift Cesar's curse.