Chapter 132 - It’s about Ruby

“As I mentioned earlier, I cannot simply indulge in the same ceremonies as I did in the past. As someone who has been baptized, borrowing the power of the devil is unforgivable… That’s why I was really surprised. Cardinal Valentino chose to turn a blind eye to this heretical ceremony.”

“What do you mean…?”

“He promised that if we hold the ceremony just this once, His Holiness will support Princess Arien from now on. I couldn’t refuse his offer. If His Holiness approves, then Arien will have nothing to worry about in the future… But as I said before, it’s difficult to send someone far away in one breath without an appropriate sacrifice for the ceremony.”

“…”

“A corresponding offering was needed. As in, it’ll take another person to make that sacrifice. I told him that it was difficult to find someone suitable for that sacrifice, but he said he had taken care of that as well. I don’t know why, but he said it actually would make his job easier…”

As a cold feeling spread through my throat, my mind went blank.

The image of Enzo I saw on the way here, the cheerful image of him waving goodbye to me, kept spinning around in my head.

“What on earth have you done…?”

“A while ago, the Gonfalonier was there.”

“…”

“I gave him the sacrificial tea… I’m sorry. I’m disgusted with myself too. I’ve already accepted that I’ll burn in hell someday. I’m truly sorry to you, who knew nothing about this.”

Sacrificial tea.

And the dance she performed.

Ah, Enzo, Enzo… My brother, Enzo….

“Do you think he approves? Do you really believe that the Pope knows about this?”

The queen did not answer.

How could Cardinal Valentino, a mere follower, be enough to make her convinced?

Something must have happened to the Pope.

Probably since Enzo arrived here, and it must have been very recent, not yet known to the outside world…

Otherwise, Cesare would not have been able to carry out such mad acts beyond imagination.

The black smoke that engulfed me like the vines of hell grew thicker. I felt like I was being sucked in somewhere. Struggling and screaming was useless. If this damn thing was sacred, or even magical, there would have been a way out.

Unexpectedly hearing about pagan witchcraft from a heretic, what kind of twist is this!

Had that crazy b*stard started to worship demons along with his obsession with the scriptures?

“Please… don’t do this. If this is revealed, not only you, but also Arien …”

“I’m truly sorry. I don’t think we’ll ever meet again, but I’ll live a lifetime repenting.”

Tears were streaming down her bright lemon-colored eyes.

Are you really crying right now!?

Why are you crying, you foolish queen!

What about me, my husband and my baby dragon?

What about my children??

I didn’t even realize that I was screaming. My head was spinning wildly and I felt like I was falling into a whirlpool. The landscape in front of me was also rotating like a whirlpool in time and space, becoming blurry. What I felt before everything turned into complete darkness was a burning pain that started from my wrist.

Something that had been silently watching over the wearer until now was melting like it was struggling against a force as evil as its own… No, it wasn’t melting. During the endless descent of tumbling downwards, I only felt the eerie sensation of something flowing up my wrist as if along my blood vessels. Finally, with a thud, the swirling darkness stopped, accompanied by a shock that made me wonder whether it was the earth or myself that shook.

Slowly, very slowly, my senses returned to my body.

And when I regained my vision, the first thing that caught my eye was the devil’s dark blue irises.

“Welcome back, little sister.”

* * *

“Why isn’t she here!”

Leah, who was sitting alone and making a flower crown, suddenly began to pout, whether because she wasn’t doing it well, or because she was getting bored.

“It’s clear that she has ruined your habits. Have some manners, you little thing!”

“It’s okay. She’s probably a little late.”

Ellenia, who was exquisitely dressed, looked strangely childish today, whether because of the contrast with the surrounding scenery or because of the dazzling eyes of Ivan.

Ivan thought it was a good idea to slip away as an excuse for his little sister when his colleagues were dying from overwork.

Sometimes, even siblings can be useful.

“They sure are having a long conversation. But, my lady.”

“Yes?”

“Does he often come around here?”

“…Do you mean Gonfalonier? No, this is his first visit since the party.”

“Is that so?”

It was a bit unexpected, but Ivan still had an uneasy look.

Everyone thought that Rudbeckia got along with him, and he did seem surprisingly modest and cheerful, so there was no reason to dislike him, but the fact that this man was strutting around the Queen was very unsettling.

It was understandable, given the rumours were so chaotic.

Ellenia, who briefly glanced at Ivan’s expression, looked across the brightly-lit greenhouse garden.

Their eyes fell on Ellenia’s childhood friend and the Gonfalonier who stood beside her, admiring the fountain, chatting amiably.

“I don’t know when those two became so close. Then again, he is a friendly soul.”

Ivan wasn’t interested in when Enzo and Freya had become so amiable.

He didn’t even have a desire to interfere.

It didn’t matter who he met or what he did, as long as he didn’t throw any indecent rumours at Ellenia’s way.

“Oh, right. Did you say that there was something you wanted to discuss with me earlier?”

“Oh, yes… It’s about Ruby, actually.”

“Oh my, what’s happened now? Just out of curiosity, it wouldn’t happen to be connected with her brother?”

“No, not at all. Please calm down. He has nothing to do with it. Besides, it’s been a long time since it happened.”

“Well, sorry. You said it’s been quite some time?”

“It’s a well-known incident. However, Frey has told me some things separately, so I wanted to discuss it with you before telling my brother or anyone else.”

“Judging by your expression, that guy is definitely up to something crazy again. What on earth is happening?”

Rather than the fact that there wasn’t a day where he wasn’t bothered by his friend’s questionable personality, Ivan, who was more excited about being chosen by his beloved Lady, asked quickly.

The next moment–

“Princess Arien!”

Leah, who was fussing over something, whether it was the crown or a bundle of flowers, suddenly cried out.

As a result, everyone gathered in the greenhouse garden turned to look towards the entrance where the princess appeared.

“…Princess?”

Arien, who had approached them, abruptly stopped and froze in place. She appeared uneasy at first glance.

Her face turned as pale as if she had seen a ghost.

In her large, blue-green eyes, tears pooled, and an indescribable fear flickered in them.

Among the silent crowd, Ivan was the first to act. He immediately approached and knelt before the princess, looking at her with a serious expression.

“Your Highness, are you okay?”

“….”

“Where is the Duchess?”

Silence.

Ellenia turned to the side with the escort knights who had brought Arien to the garden.

The knights seemed to have been at a loss since their arrival. In other words, things were alright when they arrived.

Suddenly, Ivan felt a chilly unease and rushed to Arien’s side.

“Your Highness, please calm down. What on earth has happened?”

Arien still didn’t respond to the pouring questions.

Enzo and Freya, who had been looking back and forth between them until they became nervous, slowly approached with tense expressions.

“What happened?”

“Your Highness, please, tell us what’s going on. Where is Ruby?”

“Why are you like this, Your Highness? Why are you crying?”

After being bombarded with questions, Arien finally spoke, her lips trembling.

Her feeble voice flowed out, riddled with irregularities.

“Ma-Mama… Mama…”

“Yes, Your Highness. What is it?”

“Mama has…D-Duchess… Uhhhnn!”

Ellenia and Ivan were momentarily stunned, speechless.

At that very moment, something happened.

“Huh? What’s happening to you?”

At the sound of the word “Huh?”, Ivan reflexively looked towards Freya.

Then, he realized that the person Freya was talking to with her frightened eyes was the Gonfalonier.

And…

Why did he look so dizzy?

In an instant, he appeared paler than Arien.

Furthermore, his eyes widened, turning a dark red, blood filling up inside them…