After conversing with Madame Toten, Gabriel returned not to the temple but to the Imperial Palace. He had gone to meet with Evangelin, but after their first meeting, he was repeatedly turned away.
While searching for the whereabouts of the maid wearing a scarf, he received a report that she was by Tenebrei's side.
He kept watch near Tenebrei, but conversely, rumors spread that Gabriel was suspicious of Jeremiah. For a rumor that suddenly emerged, it spread with suspicious speed, making it clear that someone had deliberately lit the fuse. The rumor reached the ears of the person involved, and Jeremiah, greatly shocked, took to her bed.
Some believed the rumor and cursed Jeremiah, while others claimed that Gabriel had been bewitched by Lady Rohanson and could no longer distinguish right from wrong.
Whichever direction it took, the fact that the rumor held great influence could not be ignored.
Then the Emperor broke his silence. The Emperor gathered his loyal subjects and convened a meeting.
"Vile rumors have been circulating within the castle lately."
"Is it not because of Sir Gabriel?"
Since Bishop Malik was present at the gathering, no one had the nerve to insult the temple by associating it with Gabriel. The Emperor's head throbbed at the mere mention of Gabriel's name, and he pressed his brow firmly as he continued.
"This is not something for which Sir Gabriel should be blamed."
"Your Majesty, how can you say he should not be blamed when he dares to suspect a member of the Imperial family?"
"A witness has come forward."
"A witness?"
"A servant reported seeing Jeremiah collecting the sword that Evangelin Rohanson had lost."
"Your Majesty! Does that testimony carry any credibility? It is merely a servant's testimony."
"Silence."
Though the opposition was fierce, when the Emperor gestured for silence, everyone shut their mouths. The Emperor seemed to genuinely believe the testimony, and even if he did not, if the Emperor said so, they had no choice but to accept it.
Those attending the meeting exchanged glances. So was Jeremiah truly the culprit? That gentle princess who seemed incapable of even stepping on a single insect... Above all, Jeremiah was the princess who had monopolized the late Crown Prince's affection.
"And another testimony has also emerged."
At the Emperor's words, someone whispered, "I thought as much."
"It is testimony that Jeremiah and Tenebrei exchanged necklaces and attended the banquet. This comes from the testimony of both their wet nurses, so it is not without credibility."
"They exchanged necklaces?"
"Yes."
The Emperor appeared deeply weary as he continued pressing his brow. In place of the Emperor who lacked the energy to speak further, Bishop Malik continued the explanation.
"Princess Tenebrei disguised herself as Jeremiah and devised a scheme. So that even if the crime was discovered, the innocent Jeremiah would bear the blame instead."
"How could that be..."
"Those present here know that I returned to the banquet hall late. I did so because I sensed an ominous energy, and I went back to the banquet hall as Lady Rachel guided me. And I sensed the same sinister energy from Princess Tenebrei."
No one asked why he had not spoken of this at the time and only now revealed it. The Emperor had stepped forward, and with the temple's involvement, there was no opening to object.
"All citizens of the Empire would have heard of the ominous twins. I foolishly could not trust the tradition and spared the two pitiful children, but the price has returned as my son's death."
Thus the Emperor proclaimed:
"Tenebrei has dabbled in sorcery and slain her own father. Her sin cannot be sufficiently atoned for even with death. Since I was the one who spared her, the right to kill her also belongs to me. From this moment, Tenebrei is not an imperial descendant but a criminal who murdered the Crown Prince. Bring the criminal before me."