episode_0183

Episode 183

The place I headed to was Carmel’s room.

As I opened the door and entered, Carmel greeted me with a relaxed attitude.

“Welcome, Sarah. There seems to be some commotion. Hehe, do you need my help again?”

I walked right in front of Carmel without saying a word. Carmel looked at my face and said in confusion.

“Did you… cry? What, what? What’s going on?”

Carmel’s hands came up to my shoulder level and stopped. He seemed to be debating whether he should cover his shoulders or whether it would be okay.

“I’m going to head to the Marquis de Sésènes’ mansion from now on. Originally, I was going to go with Reelia… but they took the lead and attacked Reelia.”

“That saint…?”

From Carmel’s perspective, it doesn’t really matter what happens to Reelia. But I can fully understand why I ended up like this.

The hand that was about to come up to my shoulder slowly goes down. I guess I felt that I wasn’t in a state that really needed comfort.

“Yes. You can’t take many knights with you. Because there are no charges yet. So, I would like to ask my mother for a favor. Please help me…”

I ended up making a sealing contract with Escarade. I still don’t know if he and the shamans of the Sessen family are on the same side, but there is a possibility that he will be completely incapacitated if he is not careful.

When that happens, someone who can take Lielia’s place and protect me.

For now, the only thing that came to mind was Carmel. Since you probably know the curse better than anyone else, you will have many ways to deal with it. Just like he subdued Ktisha.

“Help…?”

Carmel’s eyes widen. The corner of my mouth keeps twitching. He seems quite happy that I am coming out in a low-key manner. It seemed as if he was suppressing great joy.

“Hehe, hehe… You seem quite desperate, Sarah. If it’s a request from my cute daughter, I should grant it… but isn’t my attitude toward asking for it too stiff? You have to show sincerity by at least kneeling.”

I gave a shiver and glared at Carmel and slowly bent my knees. When Carmel realized that I was really about to kneel, she caught me in a panic.

“No, just kidding! Just kidding…!”

“You can kneel as much as you want. I will never forgive them. No matter what it takes…”

When I think of Leelia’s pain, I feel like a fire is burning inside me again. Carmel, seeing that look in my eyes, said something unexpected.

“I understand, I understand! You can go together!”

I was rather taken aback by Carmel’s words.

Will you help me? just?

I thought they would impose a debt like last time or give me some kind of penalty. Or to be humiliated like I did to Carmel… To some extent, I was prepared for it all.

But I never thought they would say they would help without such conditions. I quickly accepted Carmel’s words before she changed her mind.

“Really? Thank you, mom!”

Carmel looked at my brightly smiling face and then made a sad face. Do you even feel like you suffered a loss in hindsight? I won’t back down just because of that.

“Heung…”

Carmel’s face, her cheeks turning red for no reason, didn’t seem that unpleasant.

* * *

The queen and princess’s visit proceeded in the way that they were invited to dinner by the marquis.

Not only are there not many guards, but you can no longer enter from the entrance. The moment I enter the mansion, only myself and Carmel are responsible for my safety.

Well, even if the Marquis of Sesennes was really in the same league as them and even planned to start a rebellion, he wouldn’t do it right away.

The situation is completely different from Laurentia. Because this is Lurie, not Sancène. If trouble is caused when the princess and queen are visiting at the same time, it is just a justification for subjugation.

But that doesn’t mean you can be at ease. The thing you need to be most careful of is curses. You must avoid being in a state where your will is taken away by witchcraft. I had no choice but to rely on my magical power and Carmel’s abilities.

Juliana was there to greet me at the front door of the mansion. Juliana’s appearance is somehow different from that of Juliana in the chairman’s office. Should I say that I am intimidated?

Carmel’s visit was originally unplanned. He was probably taken aback by the sudden visit of the queen.

Carmel and I followed her into the mansion.

At the entrance, the Marquis de Séncenes welcomed us for the second time. He was a very ordinary-looking man. He was of average height, and his overall appearance was not very noble. If I had to be honest, he seemed kind.

“Welcome, princess and queen. Welcome to our Marquis of Sessenes.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Marquis.”

It was a splendid mansion for a marquis, but he didn’t seem to have much interest in luxury. There is no particularly suspicious smell. However, I have no intention of letting down my guard.

The hall was already ready for the banquet. It was not much different from a royal banquet. The four of us each sat down.

“But it was a sudden visit. Julianna invited you? I was so surprised when I heard that the princess and queen were coming. Haha.”

Juliana looked anxious at the Marquis’s joking words. Even as the Marquis spoke Juliana’s name, he did not even look at her.

I was concerned about the relationship between the two, but that wasn’t what was important to me right now. I got straight to the point.

“Marquis of Seancenes. You’ve been meeting people who use witchcraft recently, right?”

The Marquis’ hand, which was tearing off the chicken’s wings, stops. But he answered without losing his smile.

“Did Juliana say that? Oh my, it’s a shame, but my wife has delusions. It seems like that’s why I ended up causing trouble to the princess.”

“A delusion?”

“Yes. Right, Juliana?”

Only then did Marquis James turn his attention to Juliana. He was just smiling normally. But for some reason, Juliana seemed to be feeling intense pressure.

‘curse? No, it doesn’t look like that at all…’

If there was some kind of magic on Juliana, I could see it with my eyes. However, there was no sign of Mana at all.

Juliana was unable to answer readily and looked closely. As a faint sigh escaped the Marquis’ mouth, Juliana rolled her eyes fearfully.

“Why aren’t you answering, Juliana?”

“Do not answer, Juliana.”

The couple looked at me at the same time. James the Marquis of Sesennes said with a kind smile.

“You seem to have misunderstood something, princess. I’m not pushing my wife. Just trying to confirm the facts. You’ll understand when you hear it directly from Juliana’s lips. Come on, Julianna. Let me explain it to the princess.”

Julianna kept her mouth shut and looked back and forth between me and James. Juliana’s lively appearance that was seen in the director’s office and in the studio was nowhere to be seen.

“Come on.”

Just a gentle tone of voice. But Juliana flinched, feeling as if she was being harshly threatened.

I think I know the relationship between the two. This is a relationship of dominating and being dominated. At least within this mansion, Marquis James had thorough control over Julianna. Not with strong words, violence, or magic, but with quiet words.

It seemed to be the cumulative result over a long period of time. On the surface, it appears that this ordinary man has no means of overpowering Juliana, who has a brilliant career.

The reason he was able to exert influence on Juliana was probably because he was excellent at handling emotions. To put it simply, it is gaslighting.

“Stop it, Marquis.”

“Yes? What do you mean? I’m just giving Julianna a chance to explain.”

“Please keep your bullshit in moderation.”

“What…”

“It would be best if you don’t make me more angry than this. It is you who must answer here. Who are they and for what purpose are they meeting you? Answer me, James Marquis of Sesennes.”

He was still smiling gently. But he couldn’t completely hide his eyes. He spoke with eyes that showed a hint of hostility like flickering flames.

“I think it would be difficult to just have a friendly meal. But princess, do you have any evidence to interrogate me like that? You’re not saying that just because of Juliana’s delusions, right?”

It’s not like he’s being mentally manipulated, but the fact that he’s saying things like this makes it seem like the Marquis of Cesennes is one of them. If so, there was no need to hesitate to use strong measures.

“There will be plenty of evidence in this mansion. From now on, I will have the knights search this place like crazy. If you are truly innocent… I apologize in the name of the royal family.”

The Marquis de Séncenes’ gentle smile cracked slightly. He shouted with sharp eyes.

“Are you trying to find fault with me like that? Neither I nor the other families will remain silent!”

Just as the atmosphere was about to become heated, a calm word broke the flow.

“There is evidence.”

The owner of that voice was Carmel. While me, the Marquis, and Juliana were having a heated battle, they had just finished a light meal and were wiping their mouths with a napkin.

“There, there, and there too.”

Carmel pointed to the jars placed in each corner of the hall. After listening to it, I thought the arrangement was a little strange. There was almost no decoration anywhere else in the mansion. Besides, no matter how decorative it is, putting it on every corner is too much, right?

“The six-pointed star has the power to increase the power of the curse. Look at the floor. Carpets are also laid diagonally. Those jars must contain cursed items. Am I wrong, Marquis?”

“Ugh… Ugh…”

Before I knew it, the Marquis had turned pale.