episode_0036

The thick dust scattered with a single gesture from Isabelle.

“It’s because of you.”

Isabelle’s eyes, glaring at Ludwig, were suddenly turning red.

“Because of you, I killed Kyle.”

The situation began to escalate to the point where I could not control it.

Isabelle laughed with a messed up face.

The moment he met Isabelle’s black, dead eyes, Ludwig lost all strength in his legs and collapsed to the floor.

“Ugh… Ah… ”

The scent of blood was faint.

My eyeballs felt like they were going to fall out due to the rising intraocular pressure, and a piercing tinnitus sound rang in my brain as if my eardrums had burst.

Ludwig’s eyes were filled with fear.

Even though I had been trained as a spy for the principality since childhood, this was my first time experiencing violence outside of the standards.

Isabel’s gaze was so vicious that it could have torn Ludvik to death at any moment.

If the gaze had a physical form, Ludwig’s heart would have been pierced by Isabel’s gaze.

“Why did you do that?”

Could it be that he realized that he was a spy for the principality?

No, that can’t be true.

There’s absolutely no way that would happen.

“Why did you do that?”

Then why?

Is Isabel showing such deep murderous intent towards herself?

“I’m asking.”

The divine power surrounding Isabel’s right hand stirred.

The will of the world, encompassing all things, bloomed at her fingertips.

As if paint had been dropped on water, the space began to turn pure white.

Ludwig sighed at the extreme of cognitive dissonance unfolding before his eyes.

If this continues, I will definitely die.

A powerful warning sound rang in his head.

It was then.

“Ludwig?”

From afar, a priest who spotted Ludvik tilted his head.

Ah, you’re alive.

With that in mind, I raised my head and made eye contact with Isabelle, who had already arrived at my feet.

A sinister glow appeared in Isabelle’s eyes as she looked down at Ludwig.

Holy shit.

At that moment, Ludwig was muttering absentmindedly.

Wow!

Once again.

A heavy hitting sound echoed in the air.

****

Ludwig died.

At that news, the Vatican was turned upside down.

“I think an explanation is needed.”

The Pope glared at Isabelle.

The surrounding priests, bishops, and knights of the empire glared at her.

It was as if he was looking at a vicious criminal.

“No matter how much Justia’s mighty bird is dropped, isn’t this a clear threat to the divine power? There must be a good reason, Lady Isabel.”

The Pope thought in a cold, subdued voice.

Nevertheless, Isabel’s face did not waver at all.

“I only punished him because there was a good reason.”

“Do you think this is a situation where a joke would work?”

“I guess what I said seemed like a joke.”

“If it’s not a joke, would you mind seeing your actions as a declaration of war by the Empire?”

The faces of the imperial knights who were watching the situation turned pale.

However, Isabel just laughed regardless.

“Do whatever you want. But is it okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Black Fog.”

black fog.

The eerie name poured out.

Isabelle narrowed her eyes playfully.

“You can’t purify, right?”

Then the Pope burst into laughter.

Then he suddenly stopped laughing.

His straight face showed clear hostility.

“Are you sure?”

When the Pope asked for the basis, Isabel raised her index finger and pointed to the sky.

“God’s name.”

“… God’s name?”

“Yes, I received divine command.”

Divine name.

God’s command.

It is fundamentally different from an oracle that conveys its meaning through a human being.

Because divine destiny is one of the most powerful means for a god bound by causality to intervene in the fate of the earth.

That means.

“… … Saint.”

Apostle of God.

There is no other way to explain it.

You can purify the black fog.

When I first heard the story, I couldn’t believe it.

So far, no one in the Vatican has been able to clear the black fog.

Even the Pope himself.

It is known in the world that only the Pope can purify the black fog, but this is also not true.

There was simply a tacit agreement between the Vatican and the imperial family out of fear of the fall of the priesthood.

However, the data delivered by the imperial family was clear.

It’s still vivid.

The scene where the black fog that had been collected and stored at the imperial court for research purposes was melting away due to the divine miracle that bloomed at her fingertips.

If this is truly the second coming of the saint.

Not only would it not be enough to correct the priesthood, it would not be impossible to re-establish a truly sacred empire on this earth.

The Pope’s eyes fluttered like waves.

More evidence is needed.

There is more solid evidence that she is a saint…

“I can see the future.”

The Pope’s eyes widened.

“… … Please tell me in detail.”

“A week later, the black fog will begin to encroach in earnest. Starting with the Eastern Territory, the territory of the Holy See, monsters will overflow and disease will arrive.”

“There have been no signs of encroachment yet.”

“Ha, I told you, right? I can see the future.”

Isabel continued speaking with a short sigh.

“The encroachment of Dongbu-ryeong is only the beginning. Starting with the Eastern Territory, the Northern Territory and the Western Territory will also go into emergency sequentially. The southern territory will be quiet for a while, but…”

“… … ”

“The empire will fall into chaos at the onset of disaster. When deep fear begins to sprout in the hearts of so many people, the Vatican steps in. Showcasing the miracle of God that can purify the black fog.”

“Huh, huh… ”

“Many people trembling with fear will gather at the temple, and astronomical donations will pour into the temple every day. The entire people of the empire will be bound by one faith, and that bond will be indescribably strong.”

It’s absolutely absurd.

However, Isabel is the only wife of Count Justia.

There is no reason to risk one’s life for the truth that will be revealed in a few days.

A feeling of anticipation rose in the Pope’s heart.

A desire that could not be hidden shone in his eyes.

The Pope swallowed deeply and looked around.

A total of eight people.

Even though the number of people included myself and Isabel, there were too many listening ears.

The Pope swallowed his voice and continued.

“… … You will have to stay here for a while.”

“Good, I was planning on doing that anyway.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“But there is a condition.”

Isabelle smiled brightly.

And then he slowly released his lips.

“I need a holy solvent.”

“Holy Solvent?”

“Okay, if you find out what I say is true, hand over the Holy Solvent to me.”

“For what reason is the Holy Solvent used?”

“Well. Isn’t this also God’s will?”

The Pope tilted his head and then smiled softly.

“I promise. If the saint’s second coming is certain, it’s something like that divine dissolver.”

“It’s nice because it’s cool.”

The smile on Isabelle’s lips deepened.

As I thought that I had become one step closer to Kyle, dark emotions stirred within me.

Isabel slowly stood up.

At that moment, a forgotten fact hit her head.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Isabelle gazed clearly into the Pope’s gaze.

“Investigate Ludwig.”

“Hmm?”

“You incompetent people may not have known, but Ludwig is a spy for the principality. Investigate thoroughly and punish everyone involved with him severely.”

Isabelle finally added.

“God willing.”

****

Squeak—

The Empress slowly poured herbal tea into an empty teacup.

At that time, the familiar voice of a maid rang from beyond the door.

“Mother Empress, Winfred, Duke of Belzer Winfred has requested an audience.”

“Come on in.”

Squeak—

Duke Winfred entered with a graceful gait through the open door.

He was truly a model example of an upright nobleman, without any lapses in his appearance.

The Empress opened her lips with a grave expression.

“Everyone except Belzer Winfred should go out.”

At a single word from the Empress, the waiting maids bowed their heads and left.

Only the Empress and the Duke remained in the empty drawing room.

“See the sun of the empire.”

“ Greetings are done. You must be tired from all the work, so I’m sorry for calling you. Please sit here.”

The duke sat down with his characteristic expression on his face.

The Empress waved her hand kindly and encouraged him to lift the car.

“… ”

“… ”

A breathtaking silence fell.

Only the sound of tea cups hitting each other echoed irregularly in the frozen drawing room.

How many minutes passed like that?

The Empress, who was watching the Duke, spoke quietly.

“You must be wondering what the business is.”

The Duke remained silent.

The Empress continued speaking in a sweet voice.

“Kyle Winfred.”

Kyle Winfred.

At the familiar sound, the Duke holding the teacup frowned.

“You probably heard the story. That child has a particularly close relationship with the princess these days.”

“The boy was stupid and did not understand what he was saying.”

A look of displeasure was clearly evident on the duke’s face.

The Empress tapped the nightstand a couple of times with her fingertips.

It’s one of her habits to measure up to her opponents.

“Would you like to hear the story?”

The Duke slowly nodded to the Empress’s suggestion.

There was a strange curiosity in the duke’s expression.

The Empress continued her story in a soft voice.

“There was a girl. He was smarter than anyone, more sensitive than anyone, and humbler than anyone else. That’s all. The beauty was as if it had been created by God, and it was like seeing an angel descending from heaven.”

“… … ”

“Rudine Eckhart. Even though he was born as a woman, his temperament, strength, and natural talent were more outstanding than any other man in the imperial family.”

“Isn’t it the glory of the imperial family?”

“Although he is my child born out of love, the potential that blooms as the days go by is amazing, as if he was blessed by God. He was truly a child worthy of the sun of the empire.”

The duke listened to the empress in silence.

The Empress continued her story in a subdued voice.

“The child who was like that changed one day.”

“… ”

“He became bolder and more cunning, and his hands were so cruel that he began to eliminate anyone who stood in his way without hesitation.”

As the Empress lowered her head slightly, the silver hair unique to the royal family gently curved.

Her eyes, revealed through her flowing hair, were gloomily shining.

“Yes, as if I were someone else.”

The temperature in the living room began to drop by the minute.

“Your son, Kyle Winfred.”

“… ”

“At some point, he started to become particularly obsessed with that child. So I watched. What did you see in Kyle Winfred that made that cunning kid have such an obsession that borders on madness?”

The expression disappeared from the duke’s face.

The Empress continued speaking, still smiling.

“Then we met. A commoner woman who claims to be Kyle Winfred’s biological mother.”

A sad electric current surged from the gaze we met.

The Empress laughed.

And with a straight face.

“Kyle Winfred.”

Her mouth twitched in a creepy way.

“He wasn’t your son.”