Chapter 100. Retribution

The next day, Camilla couldn’t help but be shocked upon hearing the news.

“Isabelle was there?”

Brix nodded at her bewildered question.

“Yes. The Duke almost died at Isabelle’s hands. Fortunately, we stopped her.”

“My goodness.”

She was speechless upon hearing the situation. She never expected Isabelle to show up there.

Camilla had long known that Isabelle had spies within Blanche Castle. She had allowed it to keep the Duke in check.

But she never imagined Isabelle would go there to kill him herself. Isabelle usually handled things through others.

“What is the Duke’s condition?”

“He’s still alive. We’re keeping him alive until his sentence is carried out.”

At Brix’s cold words, Camilla sighed in relief.

It was fortunate. The Duke was not someone who should die so easily. He couldn’t be allowed to die peacefully without knowing what he had lost.

The Duke’s end had to be as miserable as the life he had led, treating others’ lives like flies. His own life should be just as insignificant.

According to Brix, the Duke had clearly overused his abilities after implanting the Maved Stone. Even young Black Shadows would lose their lives if they overused their abilities with the counterfeit stones.

There was no way an old Duke could withstand it.

It was like having a ticking time bomb inside his body. She hadn’t expected the Duke to use his abilities in such a short time, but it saved them the trouble.

“So, what happened to Isabelle? Was she arrested for attempted murder since she was caught at the scene?”

“No. For now, the Duke’s case is more urgent, and the Duchess seemed mentally unstable, so we sent her back to the Alive family.”

That meant they couldn’t handle Isabelle’s case immediately and had postponed the investigation.

In a situation where a rebellion might have occurred, Isabelle’s attempted murder was relatively less important. It would likely be recorded as a minor note in this major incident.

What puzzled Camilla more was Brix’s earlier statement. She tilted her head and asked,

“But what do you mean by mentally unstable? Are you saying Isabelle has gone mad?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but her condition seemed unusual.”

Brix frowned, recalling the moment. She had been laughing and crying, insisting on killing the Duke herself despite his near-death state.

The knights nearby had been reluctant to take her into custody, finding her presence ominous.

Aster, who was standing nearby, answered instead.

“…It’s probably because of Paris.”

“Paris?”

“Yes. According to the guards, Paris is suffering from severe memory impairment due to the side effects of illegal drugs.”

“It’s no wonder she went mad, seeing her cherished son turn into an idiot.”

Brix finally understood Isabelle’s behavior and clicked his tongue.

Karma seemed to be catching up with them.

Paris, who killed his father, had become a fool, and Isabelle, seeing her foolish son, had gone mad.

For someone like Isabelle, who had always been successful, Paris’s downfall must have been unbearable.

‘Is this what they call retribution?’

Camilla felt neither pity for Paris nor sympathy for Isabelle. They had always made the worst choices and lived parasitically off others.

Thinking about it, the Duke had no less disgrace. To be strangled by Isabelle in his most pathetic state must have been humiliating.

Being attacked by someone he had always looked down upon was a disgrace. Even his current state, alive but not truly living, was quite humiliating.

At that moment, Brix spoke.

“His Majesty wishes to entrust the handling of this matter to Duke Francis.”

“To my father?”

Camilla asked in surprise. It was puzzling that the imperial family, who would react most sensitively to this rebellion, would readily entrust the matter to them.

“Yes. The family most affected by this incident and the one who made the greatest contribution. His Majesty wants Francis to settle the matter and relieve his grudge.”

The imperial family had already learned that the Francis carriage accident was due to Duke Blanche’s experiment. Everything, including Camilla’s abilities being sealed as a result, was known.

“Is that really okay?”

Camilla asked in a trembling voice. She had informed Brix of the Duke’s whereabouts to handle the matter officially.

If she had intended to end it as personal revenge, she would have killed him quietly.

But the Duke’s crimes were too heinous and widespread to be dealt with through her personal revenge.

Too many children had been sacrificed for his experiments. She wasn’t the only one who had lost loved ones because of Samuel Blanche.

Thinking of them, she couldn’t kill the Duke out of personal feelings. Hence, she had entrusted the punishment to the imperial family.

In a way, she had already exacted her rightful revenge on Samuel Blanche. She had destroyed the Maved Stone he had longed for and ruined the Blanche family before his eyes.

She had torn down everything Samuel Blanche had achieved in his lifetime. She thought it was enough to see the Blanche family’s honor tarnished and its disgrace witnessed.

But now the imperial family was giving her this opportunity. It was an opportunity Camilla couldn’t afford to miss. Brix smiled with satisfaction and said,

“Of course. I heard Duke Francis has already agreed.”

“I see.”

Now she understood why her father had left for the emperor’s summons this morning.

“The imperial family wants to use this incident as an example. To show that even a great noble’s head can fall if they rebel.”

Indeed, who would have thought that a great noble would try to recreate the ancient Maved Stone? And using his family’s secret techniques for personal gain.

This incident might lead to restrictions on each family’s secret techniques. And Francis planned to inform the imperial family of their thoughts on this matter soon.

It was calculated that they would be granted an audience with the emperor as the primary informant of this incident.

At that moment, Brix continued.

“His Majesty also wants to honor the unjust death of Duchess Francis.”

“Oh.”

Camilla let out a faint groan at the mention of her mother. She was glad that her mother’s unjust death could finally be revealed.

How long she had waited for this day. Aster held her hand and gently comforted her. His touch, as if understanding her feelings, made her smile.

Camilla smiled brightly and replied,

“Please convey my thanks. My father will be pleased as well.”

As the conversation was about to conclude on a warm note, Brix, as if he had saved the most important words for last, spoke up.

“Since your curiosity must be satisfied, I should reveal the real purpose of my visit today.”

“Do you still have more to say? I thought I heard everything…”

She asked with a puzzled face, and Brix pulled something out from his pocket. It was a letter with the imperial seal.

“This is…”

Unlike official documents, the envelope was light and blue. It was the color used when the emperor quietly summoned someone.

Brix glanced at Camilla and Aster and spoke softly.

“His Majesty has secretly invited both of you.”

* * *

A black carriage without an emblem hurriedly moved somewhere within the imperial palace. Since it wasn’t an official invitation from the emperor, the family crest was omitted.

‘What could he be thinking?’

It wasn’t to call the representatives of the victims, nor to summon the heroes of this event.

A private audience with the emperor wasn’t something that was easily granted. Yet, the emperor had sent Brix to summon her and Aster separately.

It was clear he wanted to confirm something secretly.

‘Maybe he wants to confirm whether Aster is related to this incident.’

It was an unexpected event involving an ancient relic that almost changed the throne. If she hadn’t interfered with Samuel Blanche, it might have succeeded.

From the emperor’s perspective, it was natural to suspect Aster.

Aster was an illegitimate child but still Duke Blanche’s son. With Paris revealed not to be the legitimate heir, Aster had suddenly become the sole heir.

For someone with a bright future ahead to betray his father and reveal the rebellion charges was unbelievable to the emperor.

They were escorted to the waiting room by the chamberlain. Before the audience with the emperor, she spoke to Aster.

“If His Majesty tries to suspect you, I’ll stand in the way.”

She believed that as a victim of this incident, her words couldn’t be ignored, even by the emperor. She held Aster’s hand resolutely.

“So don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

But it seemed she was the only one worried.

“I’m not worried.”

Aster replied calmly, pressing his forehead against hers. His face showed no sign of concern, and he whispered sweetly.

“Camilla, why would I worry when you’re by my side?”

“Oh.”

“Just having you by my side is enough comfort for me.”

Seeing his smiling face, she lost her words. She knew his words, though partly in jest, were sincere, making her face flush.

‘He’s not just a fool who knows only Camilla Francis. Even in this situation, really.’

Aster had always been blindly devoted to her. And she liked Aster’s loyal affection.

They were so close they might kiss at any moment.

“Ahem.”

The chamberlain cleared his throat and invited them inside. She stepped back in surprise, and Aster, without a word, pulled her hand.

“Shall we go?”

It seemed she was the only one nervous. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she followed Aster into the audience chamber.