The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 20.2

“Your Majesty, Sir Alfron, who served as your guard at your bedroom yesterday, will have his pay cut off and we will move him somewhere else…”

Ilya, who had stayed up all night, leaned against the back of the office chair and closed his eyes. Seeing Illya drooping, Nazz frowned as it seemed to stiffen up to the back of my normal neck.

“Sir, are you listening to me?” he asked.

“Sorry,” Ilya stood up and apologized. “I must have drank too much yesterday.”

“My Majesty…”

When Nazz hesitated, Ilya stared blankly at him and asked, “What? Is it about Evelyn?”

“Yesterday, Countess Glenn really stirred things up. She gave her some tea…” Nazz trailed off.

“Was there poison in it?” Ilya asked.

“No, but… According to Knight Belina, it’s tea women drink when they’re on birth control.”

Ilya stopped robbing his temples.

“Continue.”

Nazz flinched at the harsh voice.

“She appointed Lady Evelyn’s maid to the main building.”

“What important matters came up that she had to bring the maid Evelyn brought from her hometown? I’ll have to ask the maid in charge about this.”

The door opened without a knock and a woman stuck her head in. It was Rene, who had been away for a few days to investigate Mandrake.

“My Majesty, I’m back.”

Rene smiled and entered the office.

“Ah, Rene. Well done.”

“Miss Rene, you must be tired.”

Rene, who was seated, said in a serious voice, “Your Majesty, do you know what’s going on outside? It’s like they’re moving an entire mansion!” Ilya and Nazz frowned at her unexpected remark. Ilya shook his head to tell her to continue speaking.

“Your Majesty, do you know the Grand Duchess’s room?” Rene asked. “The room with a nice terrace at the end of the 3rd floor.”

“I haven’t been there, but I know,” Ilya replied, “I also know that every spring she stays there for months. It looks like she’ll still stay despite my presence.”

When Ilya directed with his eyes, Nazz got up and walked to the window. His eyes looking outside seemed to pop out. As Rene said, it looked like there was a war going on outside. The endless wagons made him speechless, but it was even more spectacular to see the servants and maids of the Grand Castle carrying all kinds of luxury goods. Nazz fumed, returned to his seat and sat down.

“Your Majesty, are you going to let Countess Glenn stay here?” he asked.

Finally, our leader… Rene looked at Nazz with a look filled with admiration. Rene added, “Your Majesty, before you attack Maduse, you have to clean up the Grand Dukedom first. Selice is Your Majesty’s most powerful enemy.”

“She’s right, my lord,” said Nazz, “If you leave the castle like this and leave for the Maduse expedition, there will be a coup.”

Ilya recalled the past. Fifteen years ago, an explosion of unknown cause occurred at the Great Mosque, two days away from the Grand Dukedom. His father, the previous Grand Duke, was helplessly in love, and Nasir and Ilya were still young boys.

During that time, Selice appeared like a comet. Selice, the only enemy of the Grand Duke, pitched tents at the site at her own expense. People visiting this place were always given a hot meal and medicine. People of all ages and nationalities did not matter. Everyone joined in praising Selice.

“A saint appeared at the Grand Dukedom of Ajauntice.”

“How do you bring down a noble saint? I have a lot to repay this woman, both privately and publicly.” Ilya grinned. Rene smiled broadly and picked up the leather pocket that had been placed next to her.

“Your Majesty,” she said, “this is just the thing to drive out Selice.”

“What is it?” Ilya enquired.

“Mandrake.” Rene pulled out three Mandrakes from her leather pocket. Seeing the man-like roots, Nazz shivered.

“You say you will die if you pull this out?” asked Ilya. “How did you pull it out?”

“My spirit pulled it out. You know, the cute eagle that hangs out with the young master every day?” Rene pulled out a map from her leather pocket and spread it out on the table. “I’ve been trying to find a few places where I can grow it. Did you know that Mandrake is an herb originally grown in Tatar?”

Ilya nodded. “It’s a plant that only grows in cold regions,” he said, “so if you want to grow it in the Empire, the only place to do it is in the Grand Dukedom.”

“Yes, and besides, they say that it only grows on land that contains blood.”

Rene’s fingers pointed to two places on the map in turn. Wait a minute… Nazz’s face turned pale.

“Th-these aren’t the places I think they are, are they?” he asked, stuttering.

“You’re exactly right, Nazz,” replied Rene. “It’s obvious where the most blood is splattered. The problem is that both have the worst accessibility.”

Nazz groaned frivolously.

“How are we supposed to get in there? It’s impossible!”

“It’s not impossible, it’s just really difficult. So Nazz, keep quiet.”

Nazz shut his mouth at Ilya’s criticism. Ilya turned to Rene. The most important question still remained.

“But how is this a plot to bring down Countess Glenn?”

“Your Majesty, is it possible to access this place if there are no cooperating forces within the Grand Dukedom? No matter how distinguished the Marquis of Maduse is… it’s impossible.”

Ilya felt like he had been hit in the head with a hard blow. Why hadn’t he thought of this before?

“So, the link between the Marquis of Maduse and Countess Glenn is this damn herb?” he asked.

Rene nodded. A corner of Ilya’s lips went up slowly.

“It doesn’t matter if it isn’t. If you tie it up with the Marquis of Maduse and frame him, that’s all there is to it. This could be our trump card.”

Ilya stood up from his seat, as if he had found the answer.