"Lady Rohanson...."
Mrs. Toten called me with a choked voice. I feel like crying too, Mrs. Toten.
A villainess always has an ending waiting for her—going to prison and then being executed. That's why she has no idea how hard I worked, even casting a wide net with Gabriel, just to avoid the execution ending.
I treated the heroine Kanna incredibly well too, practically offering her my liver and gallbladder. Since Gabriel had fallen completely for me, I let my guard down, reassured and narrow-minded.
Right, villainesses don't go to prison just for tormenting the heroine. They get arrested for treason too....
But getting suddenly framed and arrested on my debutante day is too much, isn't it? All my past efforts running frantically to avoid the execution ending felt utterly futile.
What's the point of getting on Gabriel's good side when I was framed the moment he stepped away? By the way, Gabriel's secret of birth hasn't been revealed yet—I wonder if he'll suddenly change too, saying he killed his own brother?
"Sir Mujeta, the testimony states that the weapon that stabbed His Highness the Crown Prince is identical to the dagger Lady Rohanson brought in. Their Highnesses the Imperial Grandsons also witnessed it from right beside."
Sir Mujeta, the Crown Prince's guard knight, glared at me with bloodshot eyes as if he would kill me. It's not the same sword! The sword I brought in has no blade...!
But the Crown Prince hadn't drawn the sword, so there was no way to prove it. The only ones who could testify that it had no blade were Gabriel, the knights who inspected my belongings before entering the banquet hall, and Mrs. Toten. But Gabriel showed no sign of returning, perhaps still in the middle of treatment.
"Lady Rohanson, is that true?"
"It is true that I brought a sword. But the dagger I gifted to His Highness was a decorative one with no blade, so it must be a different sword that merely looks similar."
"Then are you saying someone prepared an identical sword just to frame Lady Rohanson? Why don't you just claim that stain on your clothes is wine, not blood?"
Yes. That's actually the truth.... Even I wouldn't believe it. When it comes to false charges, the culprit predicted what I would gift and prepared two identical swords.
But I wasn't even the one who prepared it. Originally, the Count brought the dagger, saying it would be perfect as a gift for the Crown Prince. Since the Count procured the sword, I didn't suspect much, but seeing how things turned out, the source was suspicious. Didn't the culprit prepare two swords and quietly slip one to the Count to frame me?
While putting me in this predicament, the Count played innocent the whole time. I didn't expect anything from the start. Didn't I say the Count seemed like someone who would abandon his daughter and run if something happened? Those words were exactly right.
"Well. The knight who inspected my belongings before entering will testify."
"A knight? Just to ask, that knight wouldn't happen to belong to the Pharos Knight Order, would he? I'm concerned he might give false testimony to protect the lady his superior, Sir Gabriel, admires."
What to do with this. Since he called Gabriel the Commander, he must belong to the Pharos Knight Order.
"How truly coincidental. Why is it that everyone who could testify just happens to be people connected to the lady."
I could feel Sir Mujeta's eyes, already infuriated, spinning even more. One wrong move and he seemed ready to implicate Gabriel too.
Mrs. Toten seemed about to defend me, so I signaled with my eyes to stop her. He was already applying strict standards even to Gabriel who had exceptional credibility, sharpening his blade—if my chaperone Mrs. Toten opened her mouth, she'd likely be accused of being an accomplice.
"Sir Mujeta, the important thing is that regardless of whether there's a blade or not, I had already gifted the sword to His Highness. Since it already left my hands, how could I possibly stab His Highness?"
So I pointed out that the premise was wrong from the start. Even if the weapon was the sword I really brought, that couldn't prove I was the culprit.
"Even so, far from apologizing for daring to bring in a sword that could become a weapon, you respond with such insolence...!"
"Sir Mujeta, it would be best for you to calm your excitement."
When Sir Mujeta shouted in anger, someone interjected, pouring cold water on the situation.
"Bishop Malik.... Had you not returned?"
What? Who? Bishop Malik? Surely not the bishop I'd only heard rumors about, the exorcist?
But Gabriel clearly said Bishop Malik had returned to the Temple, so why has he come back!
"I sensed an ominous energy and hurriedly returned. I never dreamed such a gruesome scene would be waiting."
A kind voice lamented as it prayed. Over neatly arranged priestly robes, a white veil was draped, hiding the face. How did he sense an ominous energy! If this goes wrong, not only could I be framed as the Crown Prince's murderer, but I might also be accused of being an evil spirit, facing both execution and torture at once.
"It is deeply unfortunate to meet under such circumstances. I am Malik, a servant of God."
"I am Evangelin Rohanson."
Since Bishop Malik greeted me, I introduced myself in return. Being an exorcist, I vaguely imagined someone sharp and stern, but perhaps because of the veil, the Bishop Malik I actually saw was very much like a nun. I could understand why Raphaela described Bishop Malik as merciful to the faithful. But he'd probably show me no mercy.
"This is the Crown Prince's murder that occurred in the Imperial Palace. It is not something for Bishop Malik to interfere in, so I ask that you not meddle unnecessarily."
I don't know what bad history exists between them, but Sir Mujeta showed considerable hostility toward Bishop Malik. Bishop Malik extended his fingers toward the sky. His hand was covered in scars, as if he'd been burned.
"Interfere, you say? Does Sir Mujeta think human strength could hang His Highness from the ceiling?"
The finger changed direction again, pointing to the floor.
"This is...."
I'd been so distracted by the body hanging from the ceiling that I hadn't noticed, but there was some kind of pattern drawn on the floor. Avoiding the red traces and stepping back, the pattern revealed its complete form.
"Something wicked is intertwined here, so surely I may now interfere."
What was drawn on the floor was definitely a summoning circle. No, my summoning circle! Who took it without permission again!
"Isn't that right, my lady?"
Bishop Malik asked for my opinion as if seeking agreement.
Wicked—the Bishop's words are too harsh. The spirits would be hurt hearing that. But considering spirits aren't well known in this world, it made sense that supernatural phenomena would be treated as wicked.
The fact that my summoning circle was drawn here meant spirits were involved in the sudden lights going out and the Crown Prince being murdered. No wonder they called it wicked. If they're going to use spirits like that, give them to me!
But didn't Gabriel say that since my spirit affinity was rock bottom, the summoning circle would be nullified if I was nearby? Why did the summoning circle work now? Don't tell me my affinity is developing a little? I got excited thinking I might be able to summon spirits too, then immediately sank down. In a situation where my neck could be on the line for one wrong move, what good would developing spirit affinity do now!
"Surely you'll need help. Therefore, Lady Rohanson's custody should be...."
"That cannot be. She's a suspect in His Highness the Crown Prince's murder, and you want to hand her over to the Temple? Even if that person is a demon or evil spirit, the Imperial Palace will carry out the punishment."
Sir Mujeta glared at Bishop Malik with bloodshot eyes. But I'm not a demon or evil spirit.... I'm just a villainess trying to repent.... And I'm not the culprit either....
"It seems you're directing your blade even more sharply at me."
"Yes, you observed correctly. Didn't your Temple consider His Highness a thorn in your side? Rather, you might be raising glasses in celebration of His Highness's death behind the scenes—why would I trust you?"
It seems there was quite serious conflict between the Imperial Palace and the Temple.
This power struggle is intense. Don't fight over me.... I didn't want to say this in such a situation. If anything, I hoped Sir Mujeta would win. Being tortured by an exorcist seemed worse than dying quickly.
My wish came through, as Bishop Malik yielded. Perhaps because the murdered person was the Crown Prince, Sir Mujeta's opinion carried more weight.
"Then escort Evangelin Rohanson to prison!"
"Yes!"
At Sir Mujeta's shout, the Imperial Palace knights surrounded me in perfect order.
Ah.... They were fighting over my custody, weren't they? Tears suddenly welled up. Gabriel made such a dramatic entrance just a while ago, so why is he nowhere to be seen now? Isn't this moment more urgent by importance?
"Lady Rohanson!"
Instead of Gabriel, Mrs. Toten blocked my path as if to protect me. Watching Sir Mujeta and Bishop Malik, I grabbed her arm to calm her and made a request as if to say it was fine.
"Mrs. Toten. Please take care of my maid. I'll be fine, so please take Hena out pretending she's your maid."
I was a noble and not yet confirmed as the culprit, so I probably wouldn't be summarily executed. But Hena was different. They might take out their frustration on Hena. Thankfully, she came in the same carriage as Mrs. Toten when coming to the Imperial Palace. If Mrs. Toten said she was her maid, Hena could return safely.
"Please don't try to defend me either, Madam. Since you have Rider, it's best to keep yourself as safe as possible."
If she got caught by Bishop Malik, she might end up getting Mellek exorcised too as a package deal.
"And you too."
Finally, my eyes met the handsome blond servant. When I told him likewise to stay quiet, his angelic expression crumpled. My gaze lingered on the choker around his neck.
"Stay put until I call for you, Pudding."
I don't know why he's infiltrated as an Imperial Palace servant, but the handsome blond boy was indeed Pudding. Wearing the necklace I embroidered so proudly, how could I not recognize him.
"When will you call for me?"
Pudding retorted with a thoroughly sulky face. Well, when would be good....
"When I start craving jelly?"