“It’s most likely the Celsior ducal family, which is the starting point of all this.”

The duke answered in a low voice like a sigh. She was able to hear detailed explanations from them about what had happened while she was away.

From the accident at the magic tower, Celsior’s moves that gradually tightened around their necks were definitely not ordinary.

‘But why us exactly…… Could it be that the lady planned this?’

Because she tried to create an inappropriate scandal with me but ended up being the victim instead, so she’s resentful and angry without any conscience?

‘No, the scale is too big for the lady to plan. She might have been the trigger, but Duke Celsior must have been the one who really led this.’

Her insides boiled with anger.

Treason was unconditionally punishable by death without question. Not only did they lock up innocent people here, but they were trying to kill them all together.

Deborah, tightly holding her hand, asked in an anxious voice.

“What do we do now?”

“For now, there’s still a chance. Later, we’ll all be called out to an emergency court meeting, and we’ll have a chance to speak before His Majesty the emperor.”

“When we assert our innocence and get out of prison, we’ll need to prepare for immediate counterattack.”

Lord Diart, continuing the duke’s words, flashed his eyes fiercely blue.

“If it’s a court meeting, Linus will also attend, so we won’t be completely without allies.”

Dain also added his words. She could feel everyone grinding their teeth.

In this state, it might not be too difficult to resolve their grievances before the emperor.

A few hours later.

They were dragged by knights with both hands bound and led to the meeting hall.

Inside, the emperor, empress, crown prince, and ministers were seated.

She glared at Duke Celsior sitting in a seat close to the head table.

“Is it true that the Diart ducal family joined hands with heretics and prepared rebellion?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

When the emperor asked in a heavy voice, the duke stepped forward and denied it.

“We have been wronged from the beginning. Deborah had no reason to harm Lady Celsior at all, yet the Celsior ducal family drove her as if she were guilty based on just one fellow mage’s testimony.”

He continued speaking in a calm and trustworthy voice that focused people’s attention.

“Unable to withstand the pressure from that, we had no choice but to open our mansion doors, and not only did they trample our family as they pleased, but they also pinned crimes on us that didn’t even exist.”

As soon as the duke finished speaking, Duke Celsior shot up from his seat and pointed at them.

“Your Majesty, do not be deceived by Duke Diart’s silver tongue!”

He trembled as if looking at something utterly shameless and shot back.

“How shameless, Duke! Do you know how many heretical objects came out of the Diart residence? And they were all carefully hidden in secret places so they couldn’t be easily found!”

“But you found them quite well. Anyone would think I laid them out begging to be discovered.”

The duke retorted with a sneer. However, the truly shameless Duke Celsior didn’t bat an eye.

“Hmph, I’m skilled at this kind of work because I’ve built merit by arresting heretics before!”

Thinking it would be disadvantageous if only the duke continued to face Celsior alone, she opened her mouth toward the emperor to carry out her mission.

“Your Majesty, we are truly innocent. In the first place, my aunt, the Duchess of Diart, passed away due to a mage possessed by a demon, so how could we conspire with heretics to plot rebellion?”

She bowed her head respectfully and expressed their grievances.

“If Your Majesty investigates directly, strange points will surely emerge. Please don’t only trust the Celsior ducal family’s side, and recognize our innocence.”

“How dare! I conducted the investigation under His Majesty the emperor’s orders, yet Diart not only suspects me but also makes His Majesty look foolish! After doing this, can you truly say you’re not traitors?!”

Duke Celsior thundered like lightning and interpreted her words in an exaggerated manner.

As expected, a duke is a duke, so he’s not easy to deal with. He was a much more difficult person than his daughter.

“When did I dare to suspect His Majesty the emperor? I raised doubts about you, Duke, but you consider yourself and His Majesty as one and got angry. Rather, wouldn’t your side be worse for harboring presumptuous thoughts?”

However, when she calmly counterattacked without backing down, Duke Celsior’s face crumpled like paper.

“Ha! A young lady who doesn’t know her place and is making a scene!”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not a young lady but a young count. That should be enough to participate in this place, right? Especially since I’ve been unjustly arrested as a traitor.”

“You, you……!”

The empress stopped him just before he was about to rage from being refuted point by point by someone young enough to be his daughter.

“Enough.”

The empress, raising her hand and speaking with a dignified voice, continued.

“Duke Celsior, restrain yourself. You’re showing too much excitement.”

“Ahem! I apologize, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Duke Celsior, instantly coming to his senses, bowed his head and stepped back.

The sight of him looking quite cunning—was it because she currently hated him?

“It seems Diart doesn’t trust the evidence I found, so how about calling witnesses to hear their testimony?”

“Do so.”

The emperor easily accepted Duke Celsior’s request.

What kind of witness.

Aren’t they hiring actors from somewhere to stage a self-directed play? Acting like they met and conspired when we’ve never even seen them?

While she was having such worries, she was soon shocked to see the person entering as a witness.

The ducal family was also shocked, looking like they’d been hit in the back of the head upon seeing her.

“No, how……”

“Why are you……”

The person Duke Celsior presented as a witness was none other than Emma.

Emma, the head maid of the Diart ducal family.

They watched in a daze as she avoided their gaze and walked toward the emperor.

“I swear to tell only the truth without a single lie before His Majesty the emperor and Her Majesty the empress.”

After Emma finished her trembling oath, Duke Celsior interrogated her.

“Yes, good. I understand you’ve worked at the Diart ducal family for over thirty years. Then you must have known the internal affairs well.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Did the Diart ducal family believe in heresy?”

Say no, Emma. You know it’s not true!

She prayed earnestly, but in the end, Emma betrayed their expectations.

“The master, unable to accept the madam’s death, once tried to borrow the power of demons to resurrect the madam. From that time, he subtly showed signs of becoming a heretic.”

The duke naturally looked as if he was hearing Emma’s testimony for the first time in his life.

When she was dumbfounded and lost for words, Deborah, staring blankly at Emma, rushed toward her and shouted.

“Emma! Why are you lying?! When did our dad do that! Why are you lying?!”

Knights hurriedly grabbed her. Emma never looked at them until the end.

Not even Deborah, whom she had raised like a daughter after the duchess passed away.

“Diart’s head maid voluntarily confessed these facts even before a full interrogation took place.”

Duke Celsior, gesturing for Emma to be taken away, spoke with a bitter smile of victory.

“Your Majesty! I have revealed Diart’s crimes with evidence and witnesses. Yet they only show struggles to bewitch and escape from those gathered here with their mere silver tongues!”

“Certainly, looking at it this way, the weight leans toward Duke Celsior’s side.”

The emperor, nodding, solemnly declared toward them.

“Imprison the Diart ducal family and Count Sharofe for attempted murder of Lady Celsior and treason.”

“……!”

In the end, she failed to reveal the false accusations before the emperor, so she desperately looked for someone to help and made eye contact with the crown prince.

‘Your Highness, please help me!’

The crown prince, receiving her desperate gaze, flinched, then moved his lips as if to say something but stopped.

No, hey, you bastard! If you’re a male lead, shouldn’t you help me?!

There were still mountains of things she wanted to say, but she was dragged away by knights and thrown back into the underground dungeon.

And she failed a mission for the first time.

— Ding!

【You have failed the mission!

Penalties will now be applied.

Penalty: Actions will be restricted until the death sentence is executed, and male lead conquest will be temporarily suspended.】

D*mn it. She squeezed her eyes shut.

Of all times, she failed a mission when the penalty was strongest.

Her future looked nothing but dark.

Am I really going to die like this……?

***

The next day, news of the Diart ducal family and Shailyn spread throughout the empire.

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

And Carl, the only one who wasn’t caught, cursed as he read the newspaper.