Chapter 76. Rumors
2023.11.15.
Herdin pulled a book related to black magic from the bookshelf where magical tomes were stored.
For a long time, only the rustling sound of turning pages filled the quiet room before Herdin let out a sigh, closed the book, and pulled out another one.
But the new book also lacked the information he wanted.
'Your Majesty the Empress had a magic circle drawn on that document. And you said that beneath it, there was black magic connecting to the second condition of the Divine Beast's Contract...'
The information about the document Blair had delivered didn't seem closely related to the Empress's Palace fire incident, but he decided to look into it for now.
'Why was Her Majesty investigating that?'
He was curious about what could be so important that Esmeralda would keep it a secret even from him.
However, nowhere in the black magic texts he possessed could he find any content related to the Divine Beast's Contract.
'Black magic texts are designated as forbidden books across the entire continent, making them difficult to obtain.'
Still, if he used the Delmark name, the process would be complicated and take some time, but it wouldn't be impossible.
Herdin stopped searching for materials at that point and came out of his private study.
Just then, through the window behind his desk, he spotted Agnes and Blair walking from the garden.
After the kidnapping incident, Blair continued her life no differently than usual. Except that she was no longer allowed to go out.
This was contrary to Herdin's expectation that she would be confused and unstable after suddenly regaining her memories.
But for some reason, her current appearance made him feel even more uneasy.
That was why he had called Agnes for one final check on her condition.
Finally, the two disappeared from view as they entered the mansion. Just as Herdin was about to turn around and take his seat, a knock was heard.
"Your Excellency, may I come in?"
It was Ruth, who had gone out to assess the situation.
"What's the atmosphere like outside?"
"The rumors have spread just as Your Excellency predicted. People are saying the Madam was nearly kidnapped."
Setting aside the fact that the entire Delmark knight order had mobilized that day, the incident had escalated because of the fire at the villa where Blair had been kidnapped, making it difficult to quietly cover up.
In situations like this, rather than stepping forward to explain, the best strategy was to remain quiet until the rumors died down.
And above all, he greatly wanted to make Katrina—who would be watching for their reaction after the plan's failure—even more anxious.
An impatient opponent was bound to show an opening.
"If we don't feed them, they'll quiet down on their own. Any news from the kidnappers?"
"No, not yet."
"They might have noticed and cut their losses. But tell them to keep watching for the time being. What those bastards are aiming for could be to make it look like they've cut ties."
"Understood."
"And there's something else I'd like you to look into, separate from the kidnapping incident."
Ruth pulled a pocketbook from his inner pocket.
"Your command."
"Investigate everything about the power of noble houses, forbidden contracts, and the black magic related to them. No matter how trivial."
At that, Ruth flinched.
Black magic was forbidden across the entire continent due to its dangerous nature. It was strictly punished to the extent that being revealed as a black mage permitted immediate execution.
Merely looking into it carried the risk of severe punishment.
"May I ask the reason?"
"It's something Her Majesty was investigating, keeping it a secret even from me. I can't know the details either since the documents burned."
"Hmm, it seems like it will take some time... But I'll look into it as quickly as possible."
Just as he finished his conversation with Ruth, a cautious knock was heard.
"Herdin, it's me. Could we talk for a moment?"
It was Blair's voice. She must have returned after seeing Agnes out.
When Herdin nodded, Ruth opened the office door for her.
"Hello, Madam. How are you feeling?"
"Thanks to you, I'm much better. Thank you for your concern, Sir Ruth."
When Blair smiled softly at Ruth, Herdin's eyes grew cold as he watched the two.
"Then please take your time to talk."
Ruth didn't notice Herdin's gaze, but finished his greetings at an appropriate point and left the office.
Only then did Herdin notice the letter in Blair's hand as she approached him briskly.
Recognizing it as a party invitation from another noble house, Herdin looked at her with questioning eyes.
"Why did you bring that?"
"I took it from Mason earlier when he was about to throw it away. I heard you told him to decline all banquet invitations."
After the rumor spread that Blair had been kidnapped, invitations from various noble houses came flying in.
Even before that incident, there were many who wanted to invite Blair and Herdin, but after the incident, their intentions had shifted slightly.
Of course, there would be those who invited them with pure intentions to build friendships, but among them, there were certainly those who wanted to confirm whether the rumor was true.
That was why he had instructed Mason to decline all banquet invitations for the time being. He had no intention of throwing Blair out as gossip fodder for high society.
But her thoughts seemed different.
"Staying silent about the rumors is good, but I think showing a calm demeanor at times like this can also be a good strategy."
"In other words, you want to attend the banquet?"
When Herdin stood up and sat on the edge of the desk while asking, Blair nodded.
"This incident happened because of me, so I want to take responsibility."
Her eyes were remarkably resolute.
"Let me do this, Herdin."
Looking at her, Herdin smirked.
His wife was more responsible, fearless, and still as stubborn as she appeared. He didn't dislike that side of her.
'She's been cooped up in the mansion for nearly a week, so she must be feeling stifled. Getting some fresh air wouldn't be bad.'
He took the banquet invitation from Blair's hand, opened it, then returned it to her and spoke.
"Please do as you wish, Madam."
* * *
The male guild member, who had been dozing off as usual in the languid weather, saw the sunset cast outside the window, yawned widely, and stretched his body.
It was time to slowly prepare for the full-fledged arrival of customers and guild members.
As he was stretching his stiff body, the bell on the door rang with a clear chime.
"Welcome!"
The man, who had reflexively offered a greeting, frowned when he saw a woman in a robe, but quickly became polite upon recognizing her as the priestess who had visited before.
"Ah, you've come."
"Is there anything to report?"
Miea skipped the greetings and asked that right away. The man found it a bit off-putting, but her commission fee was quite substantial, so he could overlook that much.
"Ah, yes. Please wait a moment."
The man went behind the store counter and pulled out a piece of paper from between the densely packed pocketbook.
"Last week, Countess Lorelain visited the Duke's residence."
"...The Lorelain Count's family?"
"They're one of the vassal families of the Delmark Duke's house, and the Countess is famous as a psychological counselor among noble ladies."
Miea recalled the name Lorelain, which she had heard among noble ladies at some point.
Living as a priestess, one would hear nobles' rumors whether one wanted to or not.
Noble ladies frequented the temple, and there were occasions when she was called to noble houses—mostly to treat noble young masters who had been injured while playing roughly—like when she was summoned to the Delmark Duke's house a few days ago.
Come to think of it, she seemed to have heard that name a few times before.
"Seeing that the Countess Lorelain visits that house every week, it could be assumed that there's something wrong with the Duchess's mental or physical state."
The man added his speculation to the information he had gathered. Miea also nodded slightly in agreement with that reasoning.
"And the next morning at dawn, the Duchess suddenly took a carriage to the Imperial Palace. I couldn't enter the Imperial Palace, so I couldn't follow her in..."
"The Imperial Palace..."
"On her way back to the Duke's residence that day, she was kidnapped. Well, this is already widespread rumor, so you've probably heard it."
It was a story Miea already knew.
Because the person who went to the Duke's residence to treat Blair that day was none other than herself.
"Since then, she hasn't come out of the Duke's residence. It could be that she's being cautious because of the kidnapping incident, or she could be conscious of the rumors."
"...I see."
"If you have any more questions or need any other information, please feel free to let me know."
Miea withheld her answer for a moment and fell into thought.
'Who is the mastermind behind the Duchess's kidnapping?'
The long-standing grudge between the Imperial family and the Delmark Duke's house, originating from the Empress's Palace incident ten years ago.
Blair, the sole witness to that incident, who had lost her memories. And the counselor who visited her every week.
Then suddenly visiting the Imperial Palace in the dead of night, and the Duchess being kidnapped immediately after...
But why didn't the Duke's house announce the mastermind behind the kidnapping and punish them? To establish the family's prestige, it would be better to show what happens when someone messes with Delmark.
Of course, it could be that they simply haven't found the mastermind yet, but another possibility arose in Miea's mind.
'It could be that they can't afford to announce it rashly because the opponent could also harm Delmark.'
The information she had just heard and the existing information repeatedly assembled and disassembled in her mind before Miea finally reached a clear conclusion.
'Actually, it doesn't necessarily have to be the truth.'
It just needs to be plausible enough.
What she wanted wasn't the truth, but a small spark to drive a wedge between the Imperial family and Delmark.
And if Blair became the sacrifice to that spark, thereby severing that connection, it would be even better.
Having finally formulated a new plan, Miea opened her mouth.
"Keep watching the Duchess's movements, and this time I'll add a new commission to that."
"What is it?"
At that moment, Miea's lips were briefly visible beneath her hood.
"Please spread a rumor."
Her lips, speaking softly, curved in a satisfied arc.