Ch.180So, What Do We Do Now?

“Leonore has become a companion!”

If this were a game, perhaps such a message would have appeared.

Unfortunately, since this was reality, nothing particularly dramatic changed.

Perhaps all that changed was that our way of speaking to each other became a bit more comfortable.

“The idea of getting revenge on Isabella is good, but what exactly do you plan to do? Do you have any specific plans?”

As long as it wasn’t just dragging on like now, I didn’t care what we did.

Even if I didn’t adopt her plan… it would at least be a reference point.

As Isabella’s biological daughter, she might know weaknesses of Isabella that we haven’t been able to figure out.

If such things exist… we could put them to good use.

“I don’t have any.”

“…”

She doesn’t have any.

Right. There’s no way such a convenient thing would happen to me.

“No, shouldn’t you and Leopold be the ones with some kind of strategy? She’s been your longtime political enemy, while I’ve only been determined to get revenge for less than a week. I was counting on you.”

The princess seemed even more dumbfounded than I was.

“Well, we do have a plan… but how should I put this…”

Sighing, I explained to Leonore the plan that Leopold and I had been discussing.

That Isabella’s true identity was a witch, that we planned to infiltrate the imperial palace on the day of the Emperor’s funeral to secure evidence, and that we wouldn’t take active measures until Ludwig’s forces arrived.

“Wait, wait a minute. That woman was a witch? Not like, a figure of speech, but an actual witch? Like the ones in church archives?”

Upon hearing about her mother’s true nature from someone else, Leonore couldn’t hide her shock.

“That’s right. Evil god worshippers who handle dark mana and control monsters. Isabella Benes is a witch. In fact, her subordinates who fought me were insect monsters that parasitized humans.”

“I knew she wasn’t like a normal person, but to think she wasn’t even human… Then what am I? The daughter of a witch. Does that mean I’m not human either…?”

Leonore clutched her forehead and lamented.

Her slumped shoulders trembled like a rain-soaked cat.

“No, you’re definitely human, so you don’t need to be so discouraged. Being a witch isn’t exactly a trait passed down through bloodlines.”

To a witch, children aren’t successors but possessions, like property. Quality materials to be consumed as sacrifices when the time comes.

Rather than bearing children to continue their lineage, they use their children to extend their own lifespans.

In other words, a witch’s child is just an innocent human.

I’m not sure if this will comfort Leonore, though.

“…So, you and Leopold plan to make this public?”

Leonore’s voice had sunk considerably.

…It seems my words weren’t much comfort after all.

“Probably? If we can find definitive evidence that Isabella is a witch, we could take her down with the Church’s help even before the election begins.”

Though two archbishops support Ernst, the moment Isabella’s identity is revealed, they’ll likely be the first to storm the imperial palace.

If they don’t, they might face religious trials for their connection to a witch.

“…As expected. Leopold can’t be trusted.”

Leonore clicked her tongue and muttered.

“Why suddenly?”

Well, it’s not wrong, but…

Was there anything in our conversation so far that warranted criticizing Leopold?

I don’t think there was.

“Because if the truth that Isabella is a witch becomes public knowledge, I won’t be safe either. Would people really leave the ‘daughter of a witch’ alone? Even if there’s actually no connection as you say… there would be far more people who would label me as becoming a witch like my mother, rather than thinking rationally. Petitions demanding my interrogation and execution would pour in.”

…Come to think of it, that’s true.

Leonore’s point accurately identified something I had overlooked.

Certainly, even modern people tend to stigmatize criminals’ families.

In this world, it would be worse, not better.

It was my miscalculation.

When we made the plan to reveal the fact that she was a witch, I hadn’t considered Leonore’s situation.

Later, I only worried about Leopold potentially harming Leonore, but I never considered the stigma from the public.

Did Lacy, did Leopold already anticipate this?

Let’s say Lacy did.

She probably doesn’t even know that Leonore and I have a decent relationship.

I don’t think I’ve ever talked about Leonore in front of Lacy.

But Leopold is a different story.

If he knew this and didn’t tell me…

No, it’s too early for such speculation.

Leopold was also quite shocked when he heard about Isabella’s identity, so he might have forgotten in the confusion.

Until Ernst caused trouble, he probably wasn’t even thinking about matters concerning Leonore.

Plus, there’s what he swore earlier.

“Leopold said he would guarantee your safety if you gave up your succession rights. He swore in the name of Elpinel.”

“Ha, he’ll guarantee my safety? That’s so like Leopold. He’s just sugarcoating his intention to lock me up in a convent.”

Leonore let out a cold sneer, as if it was obvious.

…Is that what it meant?

Doesn’t Leopold actually want to see his mother again…?

Otherwise, he wouldn’t try to deceive me like that.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. If I can get revenge that way… it’s worth enduring.”

“…I don’t think you need to endure that much. Leopold must know how I would react, and unless he’s willing to completely break ties with me…”

Objectively speaking, it was likely Leonore’s prejudice.

Unless Leopold had completely lost his mind to vengeance, he wouldn’t make such a decision.

“…Right. I’ll have to believe that.”

She let out a bitter smile and flopped down on the bed.

“So in the end, we have to rely on those ‘infiltration agents’? I don’t think it will go well.”

“I’m a bit worried too, but they’re supposed to be experts in this field, so it seemed better than me infiltrating directly.”

It didn’t sound particularly convincing, as Leonore looked quite skeptical.

“Well, if we’re talking about experts, that woman is also an expert at hiding her tracks. Look how she’s been playing the role of empress without issues for nearly twenty years. And she even kept her witch identity hidden from her own children. Would such a woman leave weaknesses exposed in her own territory?”

It was a reasonable doubt, and both Leopold and I felt similarly.

We just had no alternatives.

“I know what you mean, but we don’t really have other options. We have no choice. If we try to use force, those insect knights are the problem.”

“Then rather than targeting the head, why not go for the limbs first? If we dig into the nobles connected to that woman, we might not find evidence about witchcraft, but at least some clues about other misdeeds. I know some of the people who participated in the ‘banquet.'”

“I’m not sure. If it were that easy to catch them, wouldn’t they have been exposed already? But it’s worth trying.”

There was a high chance it would end with just cutting off the tail, but that tail would still be a member of the 3rd Prince’s faction.

Even if we don’t achieve great results, we could at least damage their reputation.

I should talk to Leopold about this.

—-

As I expected, Asha readily agreed to my request to hide Leonore for a while.

Whether it was due to her friendship with me or the amount of reward money Leonore whispered to her… for the sake of our friendship, I decided not to dwell on it.

“So, what are you planning to do during the funeral? Are you going to watch from hiding?”

“I would have done that originally… but even I’m not going to take such a risk now that I know that woman’s identity. …Matti would understand.”

Leonore expressed her intention to wait quietly in Asha’s workshop.

Until Isabella’s identity is revealed and the time comes to fight her.

…And that moment came sooner than expected.

======[Ordos]======

The capital of Clan Aishan, Ordos, had become less crowded than before.

Most of the legions, including Ser Khan Orhan, had left to conquer the steppes, and only the minimum forces needed to protect the capital remained in Ordos.

The inner palace was the same.

A young man resting his chin on his hand, sitting askew on the throne, looked down at the empty main hall with a bored expression.

A young man in a red robe with one eye covered by an eye patch.

His remaining eye contained a viper-like venom, and below the eye patch was a long scar like a fingernail scratch.

His appearance clearly revealed his harsh and neurotic personality.

“Now that I’m actually sitting here… it’s more uncomfortable than I thought. Father really sat in this place well.”

“Lord Amin, I apologize, but if others were to see you like this, it would cause unfavorable rumors. Ser Khan would be angry…”

Orhan’s third son, Amin.

The boy who had lost an eye to Haschal years ago had now grown into a mature young man.

While the guard warrior broke out in a cold sweat and advised him about sitting on the throne permitted only to Orhan, Amin nonchalantly swung his legs, as if it didn’t matter.

“Who cares? That great father of mine is probably enjoying a festival somewhere far to the east. More importantly, Jargal. Have you heard the news? About that ghost woman.”

“Do you mean Lady Haschal? Due to my poor hearing, I don’t know the rumors from the Empire…”

Amin’s expression twisted slightly as if the hollowed eye socket was causing pain.

Even after several years, the pain from that time wouldn’t fade.

“Lady? For that ghost-possessed woman? Anyway, from what I hear, she seems to be doing very well in the Empire. There are many rumors. They treat her like a hero there?”

Amin’s single eye burned coldly.

“…I can’t just stand by and watch this.”

His quiet murmur was filled with a mixture of fear and hatred.