episode_0166

“So, are you asking me to at least get to the bottom of the rumor?”

“Would you really ask the princess to do something like that? I know for sure that a princess’s true worth lies not in her wisdom but in her strength.”

No, I’m confident in both… .

Leopold: Aren’t you looking at me with too prejudiced eyes?

I think they think of me as some kind of powerful gorilla.

“What I would like to ask the princess to do is to be my escort. The fact that the Empress went to such extremes… Now, I can no longer feel completely safe about my life.”

Well, if that’s the case, it’s something I don’t want.

Although a lot of things have changed, preventing Leopold’s assassination was the main story of the original.

Even if he prevented the assassination, he could not ascend to the throne… .

That part has already changed significantly from the original, so it will be up to me.

“The Prince’s bodyguard… all right. Please take care of me for the time being.”

“Please take care of me, Princess Aishangior.”

Leopold took the hand he held out and smiled.

… Since this has already come to an end, should I tell Leopold that Isabella is a witch?

There is no evidence, but it would at least raise awareness more than now.

—-

I spoke to Leopold appropriately.

The bug knights I encountered the day I fought Claire. Also, Lacey’s story that the only beings who can control such monsters are witches.

Leopold was silent for a while.

He just slumped down in his chair with a blank expression and repeated noises that I couldn’t tell whether it was exclamation or groaning.

“This is truly a shocking story… . The reason the Sigmillus family was extinct was the same, but Isabella was a witch… Is that true?”

“First of all, these are only vague suspicions, and there is no solid physical evidence. But wouldn’t it be even more strange if this level of suspicion were gathered and it wasn’t true?”

I don’t know how persuasive my words were.

At least, Leopold seemed to believe this.

I can see you holding your face and sighing deeply.

“A witch becomes the hostess of the empire. How did the descendants of Carolus the Great end up in this situation? .”

“Surprisingly, it seems like you were concerned about the authority of Carolus the Great? Contrary to the content of the speech he gave at Einfeld.”

“That’s it… What could I have said to encourage the soldiers in that situation? I could have said more if I could raise my morale, which was at its lowest point… . But it wasn’t sincere. How can someone born into the imperial family deny the great deeds of their ancestors?”

“I see. I understand.”

Does Leopold even know?

The fact that he can tell as many lies as he wants according to his needs is the biggest reason why I don’t completely trust him.

I too am a human being full of lies and deception… As such, I couldn’t help but feel even more anxious about him.

A liar knows better than anyone else the dangers of being a liar.

“Witch, witch… . So, was that also the woman’s doing? .”

Leopold, still not taking his hands off his face, muttered in a tone that sounded like he was chewing.

“What?”

“… … It’s about my mother. Even if her mother hadn’t died suddenly, how would Isabella have become empress of the empire?”

Leopold lifted his head slightly.

The eyes we met were shining brightly.

An old resentment lingered in his eyes.

“Do you think it was Isabella’s doing?”

“That’s right. My mother’s death was a strange event in many ways. He was someone who never suffered from any minor illness, but one day he suddenly passed away in his sleep… . At first everyone suspected poisoning, but the courtiers could not find a single sign of poisoning. Then, is there any other answer than the witch’s curse?”

“If it was a witch’s curse, wouldn’t the priests have noticed?”

The witch’s power is also likely to come from demonic energy, so I think the priests would have been able to sense it.

However, Leopold shook his head resolutely.

“It’s impossible. If the curse was in full effect, the curse would have finished its work by the time my mother passed away, so how would I be able to detect this?”

“… If so, it would be the best ability to assassinate someone.”

The power to kill a person from a distance, in just one night.

If it doesn’t even leave a trace… It’s a wonder that Leopold is still alive today.

“Should I say it’s fortunate… It’s not a power that’s that easy to use. In the first place, a curse that causes death so instantly is a curse so powerful that most people cannot even attempt it. Even whether it exists or not is debated… It was literally a curse that only appeared in old stories. There was no opinion that my mother’s death was due to a curse, but that was why it was dismissed as nonsense.”

Perhaps because his throat burned as he spoke, Leopold took a sip of the wine in his office.

Without even asking me if I wanted to drink it.

No, I understand.

Because the last time I drank wine, I had a serious accident.

Even if you had asked me if I wanted a drink, I would have said no.

“In addition, even if it were possible to use it, you would have to prepare in advance for a very long time, and the moment you cast the curse, there would be a huge aftereffect. So much so that the church noticed it right away. If Isabella had been living in the imperial palace since then, she wouldn’t have even thought of placing a curse. If you did something like that within the imperial palace, you would be discovered right away.”

“About the curse, a little… I think you know too much.”

At this level, I would believe that he was a curse expert and not a prince.

“Well, it was a death that I couldn’t understand at all. Isn’t it natural for a child to do everything he can to find out the truth?”

Leopold answered without hesitation.

Surely, there must have been enough motivation to find out about the curse.

Although his status was not high, if he was a prince, it would not have been that difficult to find related information.

“Hmm… is that so. So, what do you plan to do now? You have become convinced that Isabella is a witch and your mother’s enemy.”

Leopold rested his chin, closed his eyes, and was silent for a long time.

I waited patiently for his answer.

“… … In my opinion, there are three options. The most reasonable way, the fastest way, and the most dangerous way.”

Three things each?

“Tell me.”

Leopold spread three fingers and began to fold them one by one.

“The most reasonable way is to wait for the right time. Until the electors’ vote is over and I ascend to the throne. After that, they will be able to condemn Isabella as many times as they want, so it would not be difficult to add the charge of witchcraft to her charges. It will be much easier to send him to execution.”

Rather than revealing that she is a witch and causing her downfall, we will first bring her down and then reveal that she is a witch.

“Winning the succession vote is the problem… It is quite possible, as the electors who know me well will not believe the rumor that I assassinated Matthias. The people’s suspicions will be resolved once they prove that it was Isabella’s actions after ascending to the throne.”

Certainly, it doesn’t seem like people like Ludwig would be swayed by such slander.

“The only element of anxiety is that it takes a long time, so we don’t know what will happen to Isabella or Ernst in the meantime.”

“That’s a bit unsettling.”

Leopold nodded and folded his second finger.

“The fastest way is to gather all the power that can be gathered and attack the imperial palace. If you march all the way to Isabella’s residence and cut off the witch’s head, then surely you won’t find any evidence after that? the problem is… The question is whether it is possible to break through even if you concentrate all your efforts. In the eyes of others, it will be seen as an attempt to usurp the throne by force, so everyone in the imperial palace, except my troops, will undoubtedly block it.”

“If we’re unlucky, it could end in our side’s annihilation.”

“Actually, there is a high possibility of that happening. Although the princess is strong… There is also the Marquis Wallenstein in the imperial palace.”

Empire’s Best Bubble?

I’m not sure if the old man who will be working today or tomorrow will be as strong as his reputation… .

I can’t be sure since I’ve never met him.

“The last way, the most dangerous way… I guess I should leave it to the princess.”

“Are you talking about me?”

Leopold nodded.

“In the next ten days, my father’s funeral will be held at the Aix-la-Chapelle Cathedral. Perhaps Matthias’ funeral will also be held that day. All the royal family, including me, Empress Isabella, as well as most high-ranking nobles will have to attend the funeral… That day will be the day when the imperial palace’s power is at its weakest.”

I know roughly what you mean.

You’re asking me to infiltrate the imperial palace that day.

“With the princess’s abilities, perhaps she could even approach Isabella’s bedroom… . To be honest, I’m not sure, but it’s the most certain method if it succeeds. As long as we find evidence that Isabella is a witch, we will immediately inform the church, make it public, and then we can borrow my troops and the church’s power to subdue her. No one can stop it. However, if the princess is discovered… .”

Leopold blurted out his words.

Does this mean that it may become something that cannot be put into words?

“As you said, it is the most dangerous method.”

My life will end there, and Leopold will also be involved.

… You could cut me off to avoid getting involved.

“That’s right. Therefore, I will respect the princess’s wishes regarding whether or not to implement this policy.”

It is unclear whether it will succeed or not, and if it fails, a terrible end awaits.

The choice was left to me.