BXBX NOVEL Chapter 53 – Preparation
Chapter 53 – Preparation
A harsh curse escaped Isabel’s lips.
‘…Crazy.’
Such vulgar language in front of a Duke of the Empire.
It was astonishing, yet not surprising.
Isabel was just being herself as usual.
“What did you just say…?”
The Duke stood still, blinking foolishly.
Such a reaction was beyond his imagination, as the shock dyed the Duke’s blue pupils.
A chilling silence fell instantly.
Those who had been observing the situation, the knights guarding the Duke, and even the Pope standing beside Isabel, all looked at Isabel with bewildered expressions.
“Lady Isabel, be mindful of your words.”
The Duke fixed his gaze on Isabel.
But Isabel didn’t falter in the slightest.
In fact, she didn’t even seem to have any emotions left.
She continued to glare at the Duke with her sharp gaze.
Or more precisely, she glared at the scroll clenched in the Duke’s right hand.
“Could it be that you are deaf?”
Isabel’s firm response caused the Duke’s face to slowly, very slowly, grow cold.
“Will you be able to handle this later?”
“Handle this later?”
Isabel chuckled as if mocking, then uttered unbelievable words.
“Divine Mandate.”
Divine Mandate, literally the command of God.
Naturally, its priority far outweighed the imperial decree.
“As a loyal child of God, I have no choice but to obey my father’s command, don’t I?”
The Duke’s eyes narrowed slightly.
It was as if he was trying to gauge Isabel’s sincerity.
“…Is it truly a Divine Mandate?”
“Yes, so it’s best for you to set aside your trivial thoughts for a moment if you wish to avoid divine punishment.”
A sardonic laugh escaped involuntarily.
To think that such nonsensical words could be considered a Divine Mandate…
‘…Is she crazy?’
I had momentarily forgotten.
The fact that the the God who created this world, or more precisely, the God abducted my soul, is not in their right mind.
“…”
The Duke’s gaze piercing through Isabel narrowed.
And with a sigh mixed with resignation, he spoke.
“I need proof.”
“The fact that I am alive and well is proof in itself.”
“While that may be true, the Imperial Family needs evidence that is convincing to them, not me.”
The Duke spoke gently, as if coaxing a child, and then suggested another option in a softer tone.
Isabel stared directly at the duke, then closed her eyes and smiled.
“Why don’t you suggest a method?”
There are various methods to determine the truth.
If necessary, one could use a truth serum, or involve Geass.
If not, one could utilize artifacts.
‘What is she thinking?’
Isabel didn’t evade the Duke’s request.
On the contrary, she was confident.
As if there were no problem with any demand.
“Suggest…”
The Duke’s harsh tone softened.
With a gentle smile, he proposed another option in a mild tone.
“Let’s discuss the method in a quieter place, more privately.”
“What qualifications do you have to make such a demand?”
“No need to worry. I am here as a representative of the Imperial Family.”
“Is that so?”
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll stay here for a few days and convey the situation to the Imperial Family.”
“If you insist, though, I’m not sure if there are enough rooms available.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
The Duke’s tone remained consistently polite, while Isabel’s remained consistently cold.
The only ones present to witness the tense conversation were the priests, the knights of the family, and me.
I couldn’t help but ask the Duke beside me.
“What about Luna?”
Then, Isabel let out a bitter laugh.
And in a voice dripping with coldness, she dismissed my question.
“As I said, Kyle.”
Sadness seeped into Isabel’s voice.
And with a disappointed look, she stared at me.
“It’s best to set aside trivial thoughts for now.”
Her eyes, looking at me, were shattered into pieces, glistening with intense pain.
* * *
The next morning.
“…”
Step by step —
I was walking down the corridor as usual.
‘Are they going to block all visits now?’
I had just gone to visit Luna to check on her condition as usual.
But as soon as the priest guarding the interrogation room saw me, he grimaced and promptly announced that visits from outsiders, except for the Duke, were prohibited for the time being.
“Haa.”
My plans were disrupted.
Originally, as soon as the Duke arrived, I intended to leave this place with Luna, but..
‘I hadn’t expected Isabel to intervene like that.’
I knew trouble was brewing soon, but I never imagined that she would resort to invoking the Divine Mandate.
‘No, it actually worked out better.’
With the theft of the Holy Blood, there would be little benefit if the Duke returned to the mansion early.
No, to say it precisely, Isabel helped me in a way.
If Isabel hadn’t acted impulsively, I would have been helplessly dragged to the imperial palace.
I’m aware that Isabel’s intentions, which tied me to the Papal See, are far from pure, but I can’t deny that Isabel’s antics were helpful this time.
‘That’s one thing, but…’
Isabel Yustia, and Luna Winfred.
With both women gathered in one place, now is the best condition to advance the progress rate.
[ Scenario Progress: 81% ]
While Isabel and the Duke were engaged in their conversation, the progress rate rose once again.
Only by 1%, but it had increased nonetheless.
In the midst of this complicated situation, such opportunities didn’t come by easily.
Let’s stall for time as much as possible here.
With that determination in mind, as I was about to turn back with slow steps —
“Young Master Kyle.”
Once again, I ran into someone.
This time, it was an unknown knight from the family.
Why are there so many people looking for me?
Most likely, it was the Duke’s doing. Under the pretext of escorting me, he wanted to keep me close.
I felt a moment of discomfort.
“Let’s talk later.”
I replied coldly and passed him by.
Or, at least, I tried to.
“Lady Luna has asked for a favor.”
If only those words weren’t spoken.
“Tell me more.”
“I don’t know the exact details. She inquired about your well-being for a while, then gave me this basket to deliver it to you without anyone knowing.”
I slowly lowered my head.
What the man handed me was a basket containing a bundle of papers of unknown origin.
‘What’s this?’
Unable to discern from the outside, I carefully sifted through the contents.
Then it dawned on me.
This wasn’t just a bundle of papers; it was an envelope containing letters crumpled in Luna’s handwriting.
‘No way, is this all…?’
A shiver ran down my spine—
For a moment, a chilling sensation overcame me.
“I’ll be going now.”
The man delivered the message and left without hesitation.
I slowly returned to my room, closed the door, and carefully examined the contents of the letter.
The contents were absurd.
“…Madness.”
Endless repentance, as if performing a ritual of confession.
At the same time, a repertoire of repeating things about wanting to see me.
Promises to show me a different side of herself once we leave this place.
Or to leave that damned mansion altogether and venture beyond the Empire’s borders to the eastern part of the continent.
Various delusions and fantasies unfolded, bordering on ridiculous.
The content was so cringeworthy that it was difficult to write without being absorbed in the dawn sentiment.
I’ll be coming soon, so please wait a bit.
I miss you.
It’s an unreasonable desire, but… could I possibly reply?
I sighed heavily after quickly reading through the last letter with blurred vision, then tossed it into the basket.
“I feel dizzy.”
Could I possibly reply?
As much as I wanted to ignore it, there was one problem.
‘If I act impulsively here, it could be problematic.’
In the midst of Isabel and Rudine, who have gone completely mad, if Luna, who had finally calmed down, were to go mad as well, it would be irreparable.
Of course, it’s unlikely that ignoring the letters would drive her mad, but considering the progress rate was so close to 100%, I became more cautious about trivial matters.
“Hmm…”
The weight of the scale was tightly balanced.
There’s no problem with responding.
As long as I can bear the momentary irritation.
But what kind of response could I give to such cringeworthy content?
Forcing out a response would only be as painful as the content itself.
“Ha.”
Exhaling deeply, I looked out the window.
Flutter—
A dove flew through the sky, revealing itself between the clouds.
Its white feathers reflected the sunlight among them.
And it’s deep, unknowable azure eyes.
It was a familiar sight.
“A carrier pigeon?”
I reached out cautiously.
The dove, now inside the room, landed precisely on my finger.
I carefully untied the letter attached to its foot.
“…”
With a serious expression, I unfolded the letter with golden embossing.
And I read its contents.
“The imperial palace is…”
Slowly, very slowly.
“…Gathering troops?”
The following contents were unsettling.
And the handwriting was familiar.
“The sender, Merlin Trivia…”
A sigh escaped from the gap in my lips.
****
Pour—
Steam rose from the empty teacup.
Isabel filled the cup, then slowly took a sip.
“…”
It was hot.
But that peculiar warmth felt quite pleasant.
Sip by sip.
Lost in a daze, she kept sipping from the cup, when someone began to approach her.
“Lady Isabel.”
The Pope calmly sat down opposite Isabel.
Seeing him, Isabel wrinkled her brows as if in disgust.
“What’s the matter now?”
Her voice was as cold as ice.
The Pope, seemingly unperturbed, brought up the matter with a familiar, nonchalant face.
“Please accept this.”
He handed her a rather thick stack of documents.
“It’s the estate documents for the Bihakan territory on the eastern continent that you requested last time.”
For a moment, Isabel’s eyes widened.
The Pope, observing her reaction, let out a short sigh.
“I’ve already paid all the expenses.”
“…Thank you.”
“I agree with expanding our operational area to the eastern continent as well. However, I don’t understand. Was such a large mansion necessary? Especially in such a remote place where no one comes.”
A remote place.
At the Pope’s words, Isabel’s eyebrows twitched.
“Well.”
Isabel smirked.
Then, she murmured as if muttering to herself with a deadpan expression.
“Because here… no one will be able to find us.”
The Pope didn’t bother to ask further.
He just looked at the Saintess with a puzzled expression.
And a moment later, he muttered with a confused face.
“…Us?”