Capitulo 62
Episode 62
Tatiana, who was arrested on the spot, was kneeling on the ground with Allison and Lily.
After hearing the news belatedly, the duke and his wife rushed to the emperor’s quarters.
What have you done to my daughter!
The tower’s token, Freya, screamed and tried to run to Tatiana at once.
Madam!
Duke Pioneer, who was trying to stop her, was red as if he was about to explode.
He too looked like he was about to collapse with anger and sadness at any moment.
The Duke stared at Tatiana, whose face had turned white with tightly closed lips.
If something happens to Karina, I can’t let it go, Grand Duchess.
Audibly, the words he spat out while grinding his teeth showed his willingness to end the war in the territory.
An invisible emperor intervened between them.
Leave this to me and leave for a while.
At Aster’s words, the duke nodded slightly and took Freya away.
He looked at Tatiana all the way, but she didn’t even make eye contact.
Aster turned and looked at Tatiana, who was kneeling in front of him with a cold face.
Tatiana Gloucester.
Since ascending the throne, she had never once exploited her powers.
As much as possible, he had been acting as the emperor desired by the nobles.
But this time he felt that his patience was limited.
He could not forgive Tatiana for daring to do such a thing in his presence.
Aster drew his sword silently and brought it to Tatiana’s neck. He could hear the nobles around him holding their breath.
You will have to give a convincing explanation, Grand Duchess.
Tatiana shivered at Aster’s eyes looking at her.
She was so cold that she couldn’t even feel like a human.
But she did not do this without any intention.
She raised her eyes and opened her mouth shamelessly.
I am not guilty of anything. Well, it was just Karina hugging Raymond and falling into the river.
Just listening to her words, it seemed like Karina and Raymond had a special relationship.
It was an absurd excuse.
In this room you would think that Raymond and Karina had a good relationship.
Are you calling that an excuse now?
Aster thought Tatiana was playing a joke on him.
She turned to her maid, who was very friendly with Karina.
What did you see?
Lily gulped and opened her mouth.
The princess suddenly stumbled and headed for the river. I tried to hold her hand, but failed. Then suddenly Sir Raymond appeared and rushed to rescue the princess. However, it seems he was too late and embraced the princess and they fell into the river.
There were differences between Tatiana’s testimony and Lily’s. Tatiana spoke as if Karina had jumped into Raymond’s arms.
But Lily testified as if Raymond had intervened to save Karina.
Clever maid.
It was a story that seemed similar, but could be interpreted with a completely different meaning.
Aster asked Allison, who was leaning next to him.
You?
She had no great expectations since he was the Prince of Gloucester’s chief physician anyway.
But his words exceeded Aster’s expectations.
What I saw was that the princess suddenly seemed to be controlled by magic all around her.
Magic? Are you a magician?
I’m not a magician. But I have studied magic before, so I can sense its signals.
Aster remembered Raymond’s magic at Allison’s words.
What method he used, but if Raymond unleashed magic in the Golden Forest and used that magic to mind control Karina, there was a good chance.
«If that was the case, there was no way he would have jumped to protect the princess.»
There were many strange things about this case.
However, the magic power at the incident site disappeared in an instant, so there was nothing to investigate.
He should have found it quickly.
Aster tried to stifle the speculation that boiled up in his impatience.
At times like this, he had to be calmer.
The Grand Duchess will be held in the princess’s tent until she appears. The other two witnesses are also detained and no one may assemble without my order.
Come on, wait. This is not fair!
Tatiana screamed and resisted.
Why are you trying to restrain me like this? Princess Pioneer did it because she was crazy about men!
Aster’s sword moved with her movements. Tatiana’s face hardened from the coldness of the lurid metal touching her white neck.
Can you take responsibility for those words, Grand Duchess? What you said in front of the emperor. Don’t think your neck will remain untouched if it turns out to be untrue.
I, I…
Tatiana gasped. Wilhelm, who was watching them, blocked them both.
Put away your sword, Your Majesty.
Wilhelm said as he pushed Aster’s sword with its scabbard.
At his provocation, Aster gave strength to his hand. With the sound of scraping metal, Wilhelm’s body was slowly pushed back.
«Is this the emperor’s power?»
Wilhelm had never fought with a sword directly with Aster.
Aster always roamed the borderlands instead of the center, and when he returned, he had already ascended to the throne.
Wilhelm was attending the academy when the emperor ruthlessly suppressed the rebellion to keep the throne.
He despised Aster’s power. He just thought it was overblown.
More so, than he thought.
He thought he could be like him or maybe even more.
At that moment, Aster strengthened his body and pushed Wilhelm.
The sword Wilhelm was holding flew out and a sharp blade stuck in his neck.
Wilhelm Hunt, who is your master, is it the Grand Duchess or the Prince of Gloucester who is not here?
If he was the Archduke’s vassal, he should have taken the sword at once.
But Wilhelm said nothing, biting his lip.
The emperor’s life fluttered as if he was going to cut his throat at any moment.
Your Majesty, it is not urgent now.
Daniel, who had not seen him, came out. However, he shut his mouth at Aster’s gaze.
He couldn’t even imagine what would happen if he touched him now. In an immediate situation.
Your Majesty.
A deep voice suppressed the tension.
Andrew, running on his horse, jumped out of the saddle and ran towards the barracks.
Without hesitation, he knelt down in front of Aster.
Forgive me for my vassal’s disloyalty.
Andrew was royalty.
The imperial family had the privilege of not bowing to the emperor.
It was the respect and pride they received for being of the same lineage.
Andrew had left his pack and seemed to cover up the situation.
Aster kicked his tongue and picked up the sword.
Since my brother is so apologetic, I’ll let him handle his special case.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Wilhelm tried to step forward as if in rebellion. This time Daniel grabbed his arm.
If we go any further, not only you but also the Archduke will be in trouble. Stop now.
Wilhelm bowed his head at his words.
He realized there was nothing more he could do.
Seeing Wilhelm who finally understood his place, Aster opened his mouth.
It should never happen again. Take the Grand Duchess away.
Yes.
Tatiana was dragged away.
She was terrified by the appearance of Aster she had just seen and had no strength to resist.
Your Majesty!
The knights who had gone on the search operation ran towards Aster.
I found traces of going downstream. However, there are many demons around, so it would be unreasonable to go further downstream.
Hearing the knight’s report, Aster let out a long sigh. Daniel, who was listening beside him, asked carefully.
Is the princess going to be all right?
I can guarantee her well-being one hundred percent.
The necklace Aster gave Karina before the hunting contest was the royal treasure.
Even among the seasonal stones, they would have cast protection magic the moment they sensed a danger with an artifact made of the highest quality products with very high purity.
If mana stones store mana, seasonal stones generate mana themselves.
In particular, the higher the purity, the longer it created magic.
Originally it was something that could be used permanently, but it was different in the Golden Forest.
«If the amount absorbed by the forest is greater than the amount produced, the protection magic will disappear.»
From half a day to a day.
Before that, I had to find Karina.
We split into groups of 5, one senior knight in each group, and continued the search. If you are attacked by a beast, fire a signal immediately.
Yes.
He organized and sent out a search party and explained his plans for the future to the duke and his wife.
After exchanging the situation with Duke Pioneer, it was almost dawn.
But he could not find any clues.
Aster was nervous.
To minimize the damage, he went out to catch the beast himself, but there was a limit.
Then Andrew appeared in his quarters.