Chapter 49
The sight of the Marquis Cyrka looking around caught her eye, but Isilis calmly passed it over. There was nowhere for him to escape.
âItâs too easy.â
Seeing Marquis Cyrka indirectly acknowledging his guilt made her laugh out loud.
ââ¦Was I beaten by such a person? This isilis Larchen.â
Aireâs work continued to take its toll. Black magic and Ignardoâs magic appeared again. Ever since the day she was kidnapped, she thought she had hunted out all the impure elements though turned out that was not the case.
âMarquis. Do you remember?â
âWhat do you mean?â
âThe day you and I first met.â
âI remember.â
âThat day, after treating the marquis, I passed out. Someone put a drug in the tea I was drinking.â
ââ¦.â
âWhen I came to my senses, someone had kidnapped me, and there I thought I might die for the first time in my life. Because of this.â
She reached out and grabbed Marquis Cyrkaâs top. The Marquisâ top, as he was dressed in light clothing, was ripped open and his shoulders were exposed. There was a reason for ordering him to be brought in without giving him time to prepare.
On his exposed shoulder, snake and sword patterns were wriggling black.
âSince when?â
Pillaire had no answer to her question.
He couldnât even figure it out. At some point, his love for Isilis turned into a shady obsession, and in addition to the change in his feelings, there was a force that approached him.
It wasnât that he had dabbled in black magic from the beginning.
It was because his achievement in swordsmanship became faster, and his fatherâs gaze toward him began to change. The number of people following him began to increase, and he even gained the honor of being a sword master.
He became an aide to the Empress and earned the title of the best knight in the country. It was still insignificant compared to the prestige of a Marquis, but he also accumulated merit on the battlefield.
â¦That was Marquis Pillaire Cryka, a name he made himself.
At least, Pillaire thought so.
ââ¦I donât know either, but I have never done anything to be ashamed of.â
âHave you never done anything embarrassing?â
âIt is. Your Majesty.â
Isilis put down the tea she was drinking, seeing Marquis Cryka, who confidently raised his head and spoke. As the teacup landed on the saucer with a âclankâ sound, the wizardsâ eyes were drawn. It was the first time she had made a noise over a teacup. That was how shaken Isilis was.
âTell me, then, what did you do? Harming the imperial familyâ¦â
âI have never harmed the imperial family, Your Majesty.â
âWhat?â
âHow can you call a member of the royal family who is not born with magical powers a member of the royal family? They donât have the magical power that forms the basis of the country.â
Isilisâ breath stopped at his words. Even though she knew a lot of people who thought that way, he was the first to spit those words in her face. In such a situation where no one ever openly said to her, âThe Princess is not an imperial family.â
âThe imperial family who cannot become an heir is only half. Wouldnât it be better for the country and for this Larchen to just give up and get married and establish a new successor?â
âItâs me who decides it!â
Hearing her raised voice, everyone fell to their knees. Only Pillaire Cyrka held his head high and looked straight at her.
âWhy does Your Majesty decide that? Larchen does not belong to Your Majesty.â
âItâs a country maintained by my magical power, but I canât decide that?â
âThe magic power of the imperial family deserves to be respected, but it is not a country that cannot survive without the imperial family. You got it wrong, Your Majesty.â
ââ¦There must be many people who think the same as you.â
âIs it just me? Thatâs a given. Even while Your Majesty is doing thisâ¦â
âThatâs good.â
As Isilis answered, Marquis Cyrka, who felt something strange, hesitated.
His words were also something she had been thinking about. She felt skeptical the more she did something for her country. While she was obviously doing the job of protecting Larchen, why was she so empty? Who would know her hard work�
There was no one.
This person, who was closest to her, was even thinking like that.
At that moment, she took off the barrier of the imperial palace. The same was true of the barrier against the capital, which continued to eat away at her magical energy. Isilis soon opened her mouth as she felt the magic she had harvested fill up.
âThen, you guys take care of defending the borders and defending the Empire. I will withdraw.â
âYour Majestyâ¦!â
The wizards and attendants who were listening to her bowed their heads. Isilis, who was watching Marquis Cyrrka with a dazed expression, affirmed.
âAs of today, the barrier in the Capital is off. In addition, I also recovered the magic that was scattered in each territory that was parasitic to my magic. Marquis Cyrka is a leader of the noble faction. His thoughts are not to be his own, so they must have come from the heads of nobles. Let the whole empire know. Even without magical powers, the imperial family is the imperial family. However, I canât protect those who disrespect the imperial family and donât acknowledge the authority of the imperial family, so I hope the nobles take care of themselves.â
While trying to stop her, who stood up, Marquis Cyrka was pushed back by her magic.
âMarquis, you donât know what I was sacrificing for this country. I want you to feel it once.â
When she came out of the room that smelled of roses, she felt relieved. What was eating her own magic was cut off. The country would fall into chaos, but she did not regret it. If she didnât do this, her child would never be able to rise to the Empressâ throne.
âYour Majestyâ¦!â
In the distance, she saw Duke Verus and nobles running.
âWhat is it?â
âThe barrier of the Capitalâ¦! The Capital!â
âAh, I did it.â
Everyone looked at Isilis with blank faces at her remarks that were so calm.
âWhat is going on?â
âReturn it back to normal right now!â
âThis canât be! How can this be!â
Hearing the noblesâ clamoring, Isilis raised her hand.
âI had a private meeting with Marquis Cyrka a little while ago.â
All the nobles held their breath.
âYou can learn more about the story by watching the video stone. I thought about it, though it seems like you guys demanded my sacrifice too naturally.â
âYour Majestyâ!â
âSo, Iâm also going to take a week off.â
âWhat are you sayingâ¦â
âShouldnât you feel that gratitude keenly since you donât know how to be grateful while living by relying on my magic power?â
No one was able to stop Isilis, who turned around after speaking so.
She sneered in her mind as she watched the nobles running to Marquis Cyrka, who came out after her while some wizards followed her. She had planned to seclude herself with the wizards for a week or so. However, the response was a double-edged sword.
She knew it, too, so she didnât want to use it, but she couldnât help it. This was the best way to put her child, the Princess, as the heir. Besides, it was also a way for her to organize the impure elements around her at once.
âMarquis! What the hell have you done?!â
The nobles who saw the video stone played by the wizards rushed at Marquis Cyrka.
âLaying hands on the Princess? She has no magic power, but she is of the Imperial Family!â
âMagic power can be manifested later, donât you know that?â
Allure, the chief wizard, uttered as he walked slowly. At the same time, gazes were focused on him.
âI didnât know you were so arrogant towards Her Majesty. Are you saying that in your right mind?â
âDid I say anything I couldnât!â
Marquis Cyrka cried out in anger.
âActually, what are the imperial family doing in this country! Just sitting in a good seat and ruling the country. Bloodlines or nothing!â
âOh, my god⦠are you crazy?â
âIâm a noble and Iâve seen a lot of arrogant people, but this is the first time Iâve seen someone so crazy.â
The aged nobles shook their heads at Marquis Cyrka. On the contrary, the nobles, who were still young, listened to Marquis Cyrkaâs words.
Seeing sympathy, Duke Verus said.
âAll of these things you enjoy can be enjoyed thanks to Her Majestyâs magical power.â
âMagic, magic! Even without magic powers, Larchen can run just fine! Arenât you ashamed to live by relying on one person? Why do we need the Imperial Family? They are the ones pouring magic into the country! Itâs just..â
With a âcrashâ sound, Marquis Cyrka fell to the floor. His father, the Margrave, opened his mouth with a trembling body.
ââ¦Itâs my sin that I took care of this crazy person as my son.â
The nobles groaned at the margraveâs deep bow. When the old man came forward, no one could speak.
âIsnât that right, father?! If you need the Imperial Familyâs magic, just draw itâ¦!â
âThis mouth!â
âI canât listen to it anymore.â
Allure waved his hand. After casting a binding magic on Marquis Cyrka, he looked at the Margrave and said.
âDoes the Margrave agree with the Marquis?â
A voice like frost broke out.
âGood.â
âGood. Do any of you agree with what the Marquis just said?â
Everyone averted their gaze at Allureâs cool gaze.
âDisrespect for Her Majesty is treason against the Larchen Empire. From this time onwards, Marquis Cyrka will be detained, and we will do anything to find out who is behind it.â
âHeâs a son of a noble!â
âNo noble can be superior to Her Majesty. You havenât forgotten what happened before, Margrave?â
ââ¦I havenât forgotten.â
âI thought you forgot again.â
As Allure lightly beckoned, Marquis Cyrka came forward again. Even though he tried to ignite his aura, his aura was destroyed by Allure.
âItâs hypothetical to use the aura, but you should have seen who the other person was. Youâre just a sword master!â
âUwaarghh!â
Marquis Cyrka screamed as he clenched his fists. The magical powers that bound him began to gnaw away at his aura.
âNoâ¦!â
âThose who have spoken disrespectfully to Her Majesty are subject to summary execution.â
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