33. Fall.

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was three days later that Lera arrived in Kora, the capital of the Habsburg Grand Kingdom.

Perhaps because the number of people was relatively small, the speed was quite fast.

 

Aran had come out to greet her.

 

 

“It’s been a while, Lera Nu-nim.”

“Aran….”

 

 

Her face was complicated.

Well, it’s understandable, since she suddenly had to get married.

 

 

Aran soothed her and led her inside.

 

 

“Welcome, Lera.”

 

 

Iliana was the first to greet her.

 

“O-Onni….”

 

Lera’s eyes turned red for no reason.

Just thinking about Huana’s tyranny made her grind her teeth even now.

 

 

 

 

“Your Highness, His Imperial Majesty wishes to see a child soon.”

“….”

 

 

What stopped the emotion of the family reunion (?) was the maid Huana had sent along.

 

“If possible, through Lera Jeonha….”

“You shut up.”

“…Yes, Mama.”

 

 

She conveyed Huana’s wishes, but only received a rebuke from Iliana.

 

 

“I’ve prepared a room for now, so please rest.”

“Okay… thank you.”

 

Lera, who was mentally exhausted, walked away listlessly.

The maids followed behind her.

 

 

 

“To think she’d actually send her… I don’t know what that Huana is thinking.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

 

 

Aran roughly guessed.

He sensed the aura of a Baemguneul from Lera and the maid.

 

 

‘Sending her after turning her into a Baemguneul… she must be thinking of some kind of experiment. She’s probably trying to get the information I wanted through the experiment.’

 

 

Will a b-Baemguneul bitten by an a-Baemguneul be able to defy the owner of the a-Baemguneul?

Aran asked Lord Yuri Yuri directly to resolve the question.

 

 

The answer was, ‘It depends on the situation.’

 

Huana probably sent Lera to get that answer as well.

 

 

‘Nothing changes. Rather, it’s even better for me if I know this and she goes on a rampage.’

 

 

The scenario was complete.

It changed from moment to moment, but in the end, Huana’s downfall was a predetermined course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

While living with Lera, Aran deliberately did things that would allow him to obtain information.

For example, making somewhat unreasonable requests to Lera.

 

 

 

‘Is defiance possible…?’

 

 

The maid Huana had attached diligently accumulated those things.

 

Lera had granted some requests and refused others.

And what that meant was, ‘Refusal is possible.’

In other words,

Just because Huana, Aran’s Baemguneul, bit her, it doesn’t mean that Baemguneul has an obligation to follow Aran.

 

 

‘Good. I’ve done my part to this extent.’

 

 

The maid carefully folded the report containing all the details, took a string, and tied it together.

Then, she cut her palm with a knife and sprinkled it on top.

 

 

Then, a bat the size of the report was born from the blood, picked up the documents, and flew somewhere.

 

 

“….”

 

 

The maid quietly stared at her palm.

 

 

Until recently, she was just an ordinary human, but she ended up becoming a monster like this because she got caught by Huana.

 

 

“Hoo….”

 

A sigh came out involuntarily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Why are you sighing like that?”

“!!”

 

 

 

 

A familiar voice coming from behind.

The maid turned around abruptly.

 

 

There was Aran, who had already entered.

 

 

“Looks like you sent something. Can I know what it is?”

“Yo-Your Highness… I didn’t do anything….”

 

She hurriedly turned her hand behind her back.

However, the blood that flowed from her palm fell to the floor, so she couldn’t hide the wound.

 

“Hmm. I know that method too, but there hasn’t been a situation to use it until now. Because no one knows I’m a Baemguneul.”

 

To be exact, there was no one who knew while being far away. Except for Yuri Yuri.

 

 

“Wh-What are you… Haha….”

 

 

Aran approached her.

The maid trembled.

 

 

Of course, she was no match for Aran at all.

An instinctive fear arose.

 

 

 

When Aran grabbed her wrist, she was startled.

Then, she looked up at him with uneasy, trembling eyes.

 

 

Of course, it was very rude to make eye contact with Aran, the Grand King and Persian royal.

But she lost her composure enough to forget that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Haa…”

 

 

Aran roughly threw down the half-fainted maid and stood up.

He felt sorry for her, who was panting and gasping for breath, but the current Aran was not the kind of person who cared about such things.

 

 

“Well, shall we go eat Huana now?”

 

 

Lera had come, and the information would have gone through the maid.

Then what would Huana do?

 

 

When she says that the Baemguneul she made doesn’t listen to Aran, she would probably…

 

 

“Fill the entire Imperial Palace with Baemguneul. And she’ll rise up to oppose me.”

 

 

Not just Baemguneul.

She would probably have no choice but to use the Absolute Ring on Cornelia, so on the surface, it would seem like she had even obtained Cornelia.

 

If that happens, wouldn’t she think it’s worth trying to fight Aran once?

 

 

 

But that was just a futile dream.

 

“Wait for me, Huana. This time, it’s completely over.”

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

Padakpadakpadak.

 

 

“?”

 

 

The place where Huana was holed up.

A black bat arrived through the window.

 

 

“It’s here.”

 

 

She closed the book she was reading and approached the window.

The bat handed her the reports and disappeared with a swoosh.

 

 

She headed to the sofa and read the reports.

The amount was quite large, so it seemed like it would take a lot of time to read it properly.

 

 

But the conclusion itself was simple.

It was the answer she wanted.

 

 

“Hehe.”

 

 

She let out a laugh.

It couldn’t be helped.

 

 

“Uhu huhu….”

 

 

Before she knew it, she had thrown away the reports.

 

 

“Ahahahahaha!”

 

 

A witch’s laugh that could be found in legends!

She burst out laughing.

 

 

 

The Baemguneul she made doesn’t follow Aran.

Then, if she mass-produces Baemguneul and eliminates Aran, everything will be over.

 

What if she’s outnumbered and struggling?

Then at that time…

 

 

“I just need to break his mind.”

 

 

Her eyes glowed red.

 

 

 

The truth she knows.

And Aran’s weakness.

 

 

He’s looking for the soup.

He’s desperately looking for it even now.

Searching all over the Grand Kingdom and North Srodia.

 

But the soup is in her possession.

 

In. That. Case.

 

 

It’s possible. To face Aran.

And if Narcisse, who said he would visit soon, helps her…!

 

 

“I won. I won!!”

 

 

Huana couldn’t contain her joy and jumped around.

 

 

How long had she longed for this day?

How much had she hated having to accept the dirty and filthy thing countless times?

 

 

That was now coming to an end.

 

 

 

 

 

She immediately summoned Soguk Soje, Soup Octa Rizeria.

 

 

-Your Majesty~ The late Emperor has visited.

 

 

No, she was going to summon her.

If Cornelia hadn’t come.

 

 

“…Mother?”

 

She was puzzled, but soon nodded, thinking that it was possible.

 

 

“Where is she?”

-She’s in the reception room.

“I’ll go there. Please tell her to wait a little.”

-Yes, Your Majesty.

 

 

It was probably about Lera.

Huana moved while thinking about how she should say it.

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When she arrived at the reception room, Cornelia was there in simple attire.

She stood up from her seat as Huana approached.

 

 

“Huana.”

 

 

A low murmur.

It contained various emotions, causing Huana to flinch for a moment.

 

 

But who was she?

It was Huana, who boasted a ghost-like poker face.

 

She sat on the opposite side with only a faint smile.

 

 

“What’s wrong, Mother? You should have said something before coming.”

“What happened? About Lera.”

“That’s….”

 

 

Cornelia immediately got to the point.

Usually, she would start with a long introduction….

 

That was probably proof of how angry she was.

 

 

Huana stared at her for a moment before opening her lips.

 

 

“It’s nothing. That was the only way to protect Lera. And I couldn’t just leave the strange atmosphere flowing between the two countries, contrary to my intentions.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to talk directly? Lera could be given a separate residence.”

“Is that as easy as it sounds? The people who already believe that war will break out won’t believe me. And Lera is a princess. You know? Even if she stays still, the people around her won’t leave her alone. It’s unfortunate, but if Lera is there, the country’s power won’t come together. I had no choice.”

 

 

Her words were eloquent.

But Cornelia wasn’t one to be fooled by such words.

In the first place, that was a ‘formal’ justification that she had already grasped when she was in the Grand Kingdom.

 

 

“I didn’t come all the way here to hear formal justifications. What is your real intention, Huana?”

“I just told you. More than that… is your health getting better now?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

 

Huana shrugged at the sharp words.

 

“Are you getting rid of her in advance because she might threaten your position?”

“….”

 

 

She didn’t answer.

 

 

“Or are you worried that Ayla or some other nobles might instigate Lera to covet your position?”

 

 

She didn’t answer this time either.

 

 

Cornelia sighed deeply.

 

 

“Hoo… Huana. You know better than anyone that those children would never do that. Ayla is crazy about magic, and Lera is just a kid who carves sculptures. Nothing will be a threat to you….”

“Well, I don’t know about Lera, but I don’t think that’s the case for Ayla.”

“…What?”

“Mother, don’t you know?”

 

Huana leaned forward and brought her face closer.

 

 

“Ayla is already in cahoots with Aran.”

“Th-That… what does that mean?”

“They slept together. Like Onni. She’ll probably try to push me out soon, right?”

“I-I can’t believe it.”

 

Cornelia wavered.

 

Ayla slept with Aran?!

Then does that mean that three members of the Persian Imperial Family have slept with Aran!

 

 

“Ayla is already full of thoughts of pushing me out. She might even come secretly and kill me. Of course, I won’t be able to resist at all.”

 

 

She added that the reason she was holed up was because of that.

 

 

After hearing that, Cornelia was confused.

What was the truth,

And who should she believe?

 

 

“…Then why did you send Lera to Aran?”

“For safety. I don’t know what that crazy bitch who’s obsessed with Aran will do.”

“…Is that true?”

“It’s true, Mother. Why would I lie to you, Mother?”

“….”

 

 

To be honest, she wavered.

Huana’s words shook Cornelia’s heart.

 

 

Wasn’t it her daughter’s words?

 

 

 

 

 

But in the end, after a fairly long deliberation, Cornelia shook her head.