Benjamin looked at the Emperor cautiously. It was a volatile situation. While no one dared speak freely, only Cesare remained lighthearted.

‘This actually works out well.’

This incident would be a good opportunity to imprint the Madrian name in the people’s minds once again. It would show people who suppressed the rebellion, who was the more fearsome presence.

It was about placing the Madrian name above the imperial family.

Cesare spoke smoothly.

“It was a jest, Your Majesty. If not me, who would work for the imperial family? Madrian will step forward to resolve this rebellion and bring back the ringleader’s head.”

The Emperor laughed coldly.

He wasn’t unaware of this man’s intentions. But the problem was that there truly was no one but Madrian. He didn’t want to waste the army he had been building for Lorenzo on such a trivial matter.

“……I’m truly grateful that you say so. There’s no one as trustworthy as you.”

“I’m grateful for your trust.”

Cesare bowed his head.

After the meeting ended, the Emperor left the council chamber with an angry expression. Benjamin followed behind him as if his tail was on fire.

A suffocating silence persisted until their presence faded away.

“Ha.”

Someone let out a sharp sigh.

“Viscount Bochetti has truly lost his mind. How could he fund such an endeavor from that withering land of his?”

“Who knows. Viscount Bochetti might have another purse. By the way, Your Grace, how do you plan to resolve this matter?”

“Am I the one doing the work?”

Cesare shrugged his shoulders.

He spoke arrogantly as if he were the Emperor himself.

“I merely give orders. The work is done by my subordinates. That’s what I pay them for. My subordinates will devise ways to defeat them, and my subordinates will behead them. I only need to give the orders, don’t I?”

**

Meanwhile, Marian.

Bochetti had stirred up trouble at just the right time.

But what agitated Marian more than that news was different. Because of that news, Marian went out with Abel as soon as the evening sunset fell. The two, covered in magical shadows, appeared in the town together. Marian and Abel headed straight to the Giverny main branch without hesitation.

“Albrecht.”

Abel greeted his subordinate, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, with a nod.

“I cannot express how happy I am to see you in good health, Master.”

Albrecht bowed his head.

“How is the situation in the north?”

“……It awaits only your return, Master.”

Abel nodded briefly. The north was important, but that wasn’t why they came today. Abel glanced at Marian and took her hand. He gave orders in a cold voice.

“Tell us the details about that incident.”

“It was indiscriminate slaughter. So far, three have died, and the only commonality is that they were maids named Ellie. Their workplaces, residences, and hometowns were all different. The people they associated with were also different. We’ve confirmed that all were done by the same person.”

“……Is the culprit being tracked down?”

Marian asked in a subdued voice. Her fingers clutching her garment trembled. She felt as if the black line hidden inside her choker was strangling her neck. Albrecht shook his head.

“Right now, it’s buried under the fighting tournament, and no one is paying attention. Moreover, the imperial family is pushing the case back due to Bochetti’s rebellion. Additionally, Count Yulian is stepping in to cover up this case.”

Marian’s face stiffened palely.

Count Yulian. Just that name was enough to guess what this was about. Marian bit her lip firmly. The identity of Ellie was a fictional persona she created to meet Cesare, who was then enchanted by Marian’s magic and was chasing the illusion called Ellie.

And someone who resented that had appeared.

‘Vanessa Yulian……’

If Marian had impersonated another name, maids with that name would have died, and if Marian had played the role of a tavern wench, they would have died. This was a form of venting anger.

“……There’s concern about additional casualties, but since word has spread that the count’s daughter is carrying the duke’s child, everyone wants to avoid getting involved.”

Marian gritted her teeth. Abel watched her and then opened his lips.

“We can use this. Track down the culprit and silence him.”

There was no expression left on Abel’s face as he gave the order.

“Find a silver-haired, green-eyed woman’s corpse and arrange for it to be discovered alongside the dead man.”

“……If you could be more specific, the task would be easier.”

“We’re trying to erase the identity of a silver-haired, green-eyed maid named Ellie. Since he’s a scoundrel going around killing people, it doesn’t matter what end he meets. Since eyes can’t be hidden, find a silver-haired woman’s corpse and for the eyes……”

Abel glanced at Marian and veiled his words. He seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. She appeared tough but revealed a soft inner self. Marian would be thinking that innocent Ellies had died because of her.

Abel tightened his grip on Marian’s hand.

She raised her head. While Marian was lost in thought, Abel had proposed a plan to handle the situation on her behalf. It was not different from what she was thinking. It was also a way to prevent additional murders.

Wouldn’t Vanessa stop if she learned that a silver-haired, green-eyed maid named Ellie had died?

‘……If it’s just venting anger, she might continue committing murders.’

The Vanessa that Marian knew was more than capable of that. She was a woman who felt pain from a small thorn in her finger but felt nothing about the deaths of others. In some ways, Vanessa terribly resembled Cesare.

Marian clenched her fist.

Nothing can be stopped by just standing still.

“We need to connect Vanessa Yulian to this incident and blow it up big. We need to secure all the people Vanessa Yulian hired and everyone connected to them.”

“Is Her Highness the Princess planning to denounce Vanessa Yulian?”

Marian nodded. Right now, it would be difficult to attract people’s attention. They needed to blow this up big enough that it couldn’t be covered up by the imperial family after Cesare Madrian disappeared.

“It should start with the press. The right time will come. After the Madrian ducal family disappears, the Emperor will go berserk. He’ll devour Madrian’s assets and insist on going to war right away.”

Marian knew the Emperor’s temperament well. He was never one to miss an opportunity that came his way. Marian bit her lip firmly before releasing it.

“When the empire’s atmosphere is at its most turbulent, that will be the right time.”

“I understand what you mean.”

When war is imminent, people become sensitive about human lives. If this incident starts to emerge during such a time, no one will be able to suppress it.

‘Damn Vanessa Yulian.’

Marian chewed on the curse.

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!’

Why hadn’t she anticipated this would happen?

Abel dispatched his subordinates. Only Marian and Abel remained in Giverny’s spacious office.

“Marian.”

“……Ah.”

Marian blinked. Somehow, only she and Abel remained in the office. She turned her head toward him.

“It’s not your fault.”

Abel said distinctly.

“You can’t know everything that happens in this world. Nor can you prevent it.”

That was the way of the world. Unless Marian was God, that is. Marian laughed palely. She would be the closest being to God in this world. Much closer than those who believed in God. She had met God directly and received what could be called revelations from Them.

So shouldn’t she be much better than others? Seeing what others couldn’t see, anticipating and staying ahead of every situation.

Marian’s pupils trembled.

Abel’s firmness provided comfort to Marian. Before, she had feared Abel’s betrayal. But she learned that he was preparing to return to the north. Abel would settle here and live as a person of Federico.

And according to Marian’s thinking, he would become Emperor.

It seemed Abel could do it. It seemed he could lead Federico forward again. Being such a solid person, even if Marian occasionally relied on him, it wouldn’t show.

Marian rested her head on Abel’s chest.

“……I know, I do.”

Marian told a lie.

“I know it’s not my fault. It’s just disgusting. I can’t believe how someone could go that far.”

Abel kissed her hair. Marian gazed with serene eyes as she assembled a new plan. Cesare had been tasked with suppressing Bochetti’s rebellion.

This had been a fifty-fifty probability, but now that it had turned out this way, she planned to feed Benjamin false information that Bochetti and Cesare had joined hands.

If Benjamin learned of this, the Empress would surely find out. Once the Empress knew, the Emperor would be next to know. They wouldn’t miss this golden opportunity to deal with Madrian. The imperial family would put Benjamin forward to arrest Cesare Madrian and Bochetti.

Cesare and Bochetti’s executions would be confirmed without delay.

‘Cesare must die.’

When weighed on the scales, Cesare’s death would save many other lives. That’s what power is. While Cesare lived, there would be those who would use him to create chaos.

But what about Bochetti?

The lord of Bochetti had justice and cause.

The justice of preventing more territory residents from starving to death with empty stomachs. The aspiration and fear of stopping the war to prevent the deaths of the empire’s people. That wasn’t wrong.

‘Viscount Bochetti shouldn’t die.’

He wasn’t evil but good.