Chapter 219

Chapter 6 Assassination Attempt

The moment those words were spoken, the entire hall was in shock.

“What…”

“Her Majesty the Queen…”

“How could the demon…”

“How can you say such things…”

“She’s just like Sister Teresa, a hero of the royal city… why…”

People were visibly shaken and incredulous.

They couldn’t believe that Her Majesty would say something like this, but it came from the Empress herself… the Empress wouldn’t lie like this.

So they were left confused and at a loss.

But I heard clearly that Victoria had not said anything like that; the Empress was deliberately framing her. Although the method was crude, the reaction around her showed that it was effective.

Today’s funeral ceremony, those seated in this church must be influential figures in the royal city. Besides nobles, some of them were even representatives of disaster victims. If someone wanted to spread rumors, this would be the perfect place.

Moreover, the Empress’s words clearly had an element of stirring up conflict between the Queen and the Church.

She wanted to completely ruin Victoria’s reputation.

Because of Teresa, Victoria currently had a high public opinion. If she could seize this opportunity to do more for the city, she would surely become a beloved queen. The Empress didn’t want to see this happen… or perhaps someone else didn’t want to see this happen.

That’s why this scene played out today. What was originally going smoothly turned chaotic when the Empress intervened… Victoria was now in a difficult position, no matter how she explained later, some people would still spread rumors, which could quickly spread throughout the city… or even further.

I understood these things in an instant.

At the same time, Victoria’s uncle stepped forward and interjected, “Victoria, you! How could you slander a hero of the royal city… you’re too rash! You, ah, what can I say!”

He sighed deeply, his face wrinkling as if his eyebrows and eyes were twisting together, looking pained yet helpless.

I coldly watched their performance, clearing my throat slightly.

“I didn’t hear Victoria mention the word ‘demon.’”

After saying that, I stepped forward, standing in front of the Empress, holding my helmet and lifting my head, looking through the narrow gap, staring intently at her wide-eyed facade.

“Or maybe, Aunt Empress, you know something?”

“What do I know!” The Empress instinctively took a step back, shouting with wide eyes, “All I know is that Miss Silvija is a hero, and I respect her very much. But today’s incident truly pains me! I hope you can clarify things from the perspective of a hero! Why won’t you let us bid farewell to Sister Teresa! Why!”

After this statement, unfriendly murmurs began to spread.

“Her Majesty… might be trying to suppress the Church’s influence in the royal city…”

“…but that’s unacceptable…”

I immediately looked up and tried to find who said this by following the sound, wanting to see who had identified the speaker.

But there were too many people in the church, and my view was obstructed, so I couldn’t pinpoint the person.

Nonetheless, the atmosphere was already stirred up.

“Teresa… is a hero… I once received her kindness…”

“Young and reckless…”

“No matter what… we can’t defame a believer of the divine… we’ll be punished by heaven… we’ll all be punished…”

My eyes narrowed slightly.

Margaret on the opposite side remained silent, her eyes flickering as if she was thinking of a countermeasure.

The voices grew louder, and amidst the commotion, Victoria spoke.

“Mother…”

Her tone remained calm and collected.

“Is this your final desperate attempt?”

…

What does Victoria mean…

“I don’t want to see a hero defamed so recklessly! Victoria… you are the Queen of Eisenberg, and you are also my daughter. You can’t do this! This will bring shame upon me, upon the whole city!”

“No one is defaming a hero,” Margaret couldn’t help but say softly, “Your Highness, please be quiet. Let’s clarify our words. Your current behavior is truly unbecoming.”

The Empress ignored her.

She seemed to have gone mad, her voice rising as she shouted, “This can’t be allowed! Victoria, you can’t do this! Sister Teresa is a hero, our hero—”

“Teresa is not a demon!”

Her uncle joined in the shouting.

“She is our hero!”

Someone in the crowd immediately responded, “Teresa… is a hero!”

“She is our hero!”

“Teresa is our hero!”

“Hero! Hero! Hero—!”

The shouts increased, growing like waves, drowning out everything else, and the entire church descended into chaos.

“Please be quiet, this is a misunderstanding!”

Margaret’s words were lost in the din.

Ahead, the Empress raised her right arm, angrily urging the crowd, but a barely noticeable smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

I saw Victoria draw her sword from her waist.

In the next moment, a sharp whistle accompanied by a clamor of gasps echoed from behind.

Not good…

My heart sank, and I turned around instantly, trying to see what was happening behind me— but due to the speed of my movement, the ill-fitting helmet on my head failed to turn in time, tilting to one side and blocking my vision, plunging everything into darkness.

Frustrated, I disregarded any etiquette and reached up to unfasten the helmet, quickly removing it. As black hair cascaded down, the sound of metal clashing rang in my ears.

Clang—

In my peripheral vision, a man in black clothing thrust a dagger dripping with poison toward Victoria’s unprotected knee.

Poisoned…

Victoria swung her sword to block the attack, and the man suddenly extended his left hand, gripping another poisoned dagger and stabbing at the same spot again.

It happened in an instant.

Reacting quickly, I kicked the man’s arm with all my strength.

Crack.

“Ahhh—”

The man’s forearm was broken by my kick, contorting into a grotesque shape. The dagger flew out, sliding to the feet of someone in the crowd to the left.

The screams erupted only then.

“Oh my God!”

“There’s an assassin attacking Her Majesty!”

“Quick, catch him!”

“Ahhhh—!”

The assassin screamed in agony, pain causing tears and snot to flow uncontrollably. His legs gave way, and he nearly fell to his knees, but Victoria grabbed his collar with one hand, threw away the sword he was holding, and pointed her finger, emitting a whistling sound, hitting him several times on his shoulders and thighs.

Pfft—Pfft—Pfft—

A terrible wind force exploded holes in the man’s flesh, his bloodshot eyes widening, veins bulging on his neck, and a faint moan escaping his throat before his head slumped, and he passed out.