Chapter 71

Ever since Carriel ran away.

Supposedly embarked on a pilgrimage to a holy site.

But in truth, Silphia’s daily routine as his exclusive maid barely changed.

With the Brendiar family being one that employs minimal staff, once she started her tasks, there was no end to them.

The wages were better than most other estates and families.

And the work wasn’t overly strenuous either.

When maids and servants of noble or prestigious families complained the most about their jobs, it was usually about having to constantly read their masters’ moods.

Even this wasn’t too difficult or problematic for Silphia, except perhaps when dealing with the rather strict Steward.

Most of all, many people applied to work as maids or servants out of respect and admiration for the family, but due to the head of the house and lady of the house’s firm stance against unnecessary expenses, the Brendiar family only kept the bare minimum staff necessary to maintain appearances.

Between gardeners, household guards, and security personnel, half were supplied by the Royal Court anyway.

If not for this arrangement, the mansion might have seemed hollow compared to its grand size.

“Keep your eyes peeled. Always be observant.”

The Steward had considered hiring a new nursemaid for Miss Hermine, but Hermine herself decided everyone should take on these duties alongside their own.

Since breastfeeding aside, Sylphia’s role had become redundant, she ended up being assigned to care for the younger Master instead.

…The child liked her. She’d been taking care of him for quite some time.

However, there was one thing she absolutely couldn’t do: feed the baby milk.

So whenever the child cried from hunger, Silphia would soothe him while seeking out Hermine.

“That’s right. Good…”

Holding the baby close as he suckled, she still appeared deathly pale.

She who used to radiate vitality and holiness now looked drained, almost absent-mindedly neglecting even her own health.

“Silphia… Where did Carriel go? Why hasn’t he sent word to his mother yet?”

“Pardon?”

“Ah…”

Her gaze drifted off dreamily before snapping back, suddenly somber.

“Yes… This is… reality.”

Repeating words to herself like a mantra, she held the baby close and muttered a short prayer, drawing the sign of sanctity in the air.

“This isn’t the time… to linger like this.”

“Miss Hermine?”

“I suppose I’m afraid. Even though I know if I set off somewhere, I could uncover all the truths… I just don’t have the courage. All of this is my fault. My fault. It’s because of my inadequacies, my shortcomings.”

Though Ruelde had warned Silphia not to reveal what she knew, Hermine seemed to already have an inkling of things, looking utterly exhausted.

Despite once appearing radiant and divine, she now resembled nothing more than a mother deer grieving for her lost fawn.

She seemed to be barely holding herself together.

“…”

Could there truly be no path where everyone finds happiness?

Watching Hermine gently rock the baby to sleep, Silphia silently sighed within herself, showing no outward emotion.

====

“Cough! Cough!”

Physically fine but mentally burdened, Georgy hadn’t left his bed for days due to an inexplicable feverish feeling, leaving him utterly miserable.

‘Damn it.’

Still, everything that needed conveying had been conveyed.

The golden beast he encountered again—

That wicked existence in the form of a young girl—

Greeted him as if expecting his return.

[Finally came, huh? If you’d listened properly to my goodwill, things might’ve gone smoothly. This is your last chance to turn back. Are you really okay with this?]

Its attitude, making retreat or advance seem inevitable,

Yet she had no choice but to move forward.

Back then, Georgy asked directly,

Almost interrogating with anger and resentment.

“You. You’re the one who spouted nonsense about Carriel being cursed by the Demon King, right?”

“Me? What curse?”

The Demon King tilted her head innocently, shamelessly sucking her fingers like a child, feigning ignorance.

“…If you don’t know, who does?”

“Maybe I saved the kid, but cursing him? Not my doing. Besides, it wasn’t me who put him in that state. That’s entirely on y’all. Y’all! Who are you blaming? Dragging my dead soul into this? Have you all completely lost it?”

“Dare you…”

“Dare? Oh wow, are you crazy? Why? Are you gonna blame me when you grow old and die later? Everything breathing getting sick and dying is also my fault, right? Countries falling apart, rain and snow—it’s all me, except during my lifetime. After I’m gone, sure, blame away.”

Laughing mockingly, it scolded, “Stop blaming others!”

“Believe me or not, that’s your choice. But based on the tiny memories I have as a fragment of gold, let me drop a hint: the ancient spirits who built this nation were involved somehow. Why else would they drag me into it? The kid was in such bad shape they had no choice.”

“What… does that mean? Ancient spirits?”

“Don’t worry about it! Anyway, here’s a little favor for you. Someone’s political malice and someone else’s deliberate intentions are hiding behind all this. Very subtle, hard to detect, but if they intended to push Carriel around… I’d say they succeeded pretty well.”

“How am I supposed to believe that?”

“You must’ve caught onto something by now since I brought it up, right? Surely you went digging around after this, didn’t you? Or did you just obediently accept whatever they handed you without question?”

“…”

Of course not.

He had investigated thoroughly. The deeper he dug, the more connections surfaced.

Especially…

The political scheme led by Earl Eschina aimed at taming newly risen nobles.

Carriel was exposed to it, becoming a target. Knowing full well it was poison, knowing full well it was manipulation, he swallowed every bit of it, chewing and digesting all the malice forced upon him.

Now, using this as a basis, the Emperor and Imperial Princess began subduing opposing factions among the nobility one by one.

It was a situation born out of everyone’s weaknesses and flaws at the time.

The problem was that since the leading figure appeared to be Prince Alesius, immediate action couldn’t be taken.

The scheme was orchestrated by core members of the noble faction led by the House of Eschina.

But the ones actually carrying out the oppression were the heirs and children.

Because so many were implicated, pinpointing specific individuals for punishment became impossible.

This meant inevitably implicating Alesius as well.

“And…”

“Do you get it now? But there’s one more thing you should consider. This isn’t the end. I’ll stake my name on it. Did I give away too much?”

“…”

Bitter words, but unavoidable to swallow.

After all, the Golden Demon King, the Demon King of Wisdom, had always been like this.

Crushing lies, conspiracies, and resistance with overwhelming truths.

An unprecedented evil that burdens others with despair and frustration under the guise of “truth.”

Only unyielding wills like Ruelde’s, armed with clear goals and purposes, could stand against it with unwavering swords.

Whispering promises of healing to parents of terminally ill children.

Offering glimpses of ultimate knowledge to those who thirst for wisdom.

Demanding submission in exchange.

Showing paths to extend life spans to those desperate for survival.

Handing treasures and teaching ways to multiply and protect them to those greedy for wealth.

Instilling independence and self-reliance in slaves, awakening rebellion.

Whispering desires of kingship and dominion to blue-blooded elites.

Providing blueprints, plans, designs for everything.

She possesses all the answers to this world.

To those seeking meaning in life.

Dreamers chasing impossible dreams.

Idealists.

Truth-seekers.

Wanderers lost without direction.

Even those trapped in mazes.

For those desperate enough to pray to gods for salvation…

How detestable and hateful a presence she must be.

Living in her own isolated realm.

Even leading the largest invasion force in Demon King history, she divided and diluted it, treating humanity’s unity as mere entertainment.

What makes her so different?

Why is she so absurd compared to other Demon Kings?

“Enough chatter. Let’s go see. Or do you want to back out right now? Might be more beneficial, but probably too late for that.”

Smiling faintly, swaying her back cheerfully, she turned around and skipped ahead like dancing.

“From now on, I won’t tell you anything. You’ll have to observe and judge for yourself.”

Thus,

Georgy found himself peeking into a room where Melinos lay half-dead on a bed.

Even Elhermina, looking frail, stood nearby muttering quietly like a grown-up.

“Is it my turn now?”

As Elhermina exited the room, Gold entered seamlessly.

Soon,

she began revealing cruel realities to Melinos.

And the content,

even without elaborate explanations,

carried unbearable weight and implications.

“Cough!”

Returning to reality once more, she barely managed to suppress coughing up blood and losing consciousness.

‘Why has it come to this…’

And now,

she had to relay what she saw and heard to everyone waiting.

It felt as if she had suddenly become a herald of destruction and despair,

and her heart began rotting accordingly.

====

“No way, the sword really talked to you?”

“Oh, forget it. So, what did it say?”

“It told me to buzz off.”

“…You’re exaggerating a bit too much.”

“No, I’m serious!”

Leo, whose turn it was, grabbed the sword conveniently.

Luciri, who happened to touch it casually afterward,

While Leo started making strange noises, Luciri seemed disinterested, half-heartedly listening with one ear.

“Well, we’ve waited long enough.”

“Yeah.”

Carriel gave Louilin a look. Want to try first?

“I’m not interested in stuff like that.”

“But if you pulled that out and sold it, you could live comfortably without working for the rest of your life.”

“Would it even come out if you grab it with that mindset?”

Still somewhat tempted, Louilin grabbed the sword embedded deep into the stone and strained but…

“…No way. Pfft!”

Stepping back two paces, Louilin made way for Carriel to approach the sword.

Placing a simple flower near the sword, adding it to the countless others already surrounding it.

Taking a deep breath, Carriel exhaled slowly.

Then slowly extended his hand toward the hilt, darkened by rust and layered with sand-like grime.

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