Chapter 180

“Leonor has become an ally!”

If this were a game, a message like that would’ve popped up. Unfortunately, since this is reality, nothing dramatically changed. The only difference was that our conversations became a bit more casual.

“Your idea of seeking revenge on Isabella is good, but what’s the concrete plan? Do you have anything in mind?”

As long as it wasn’t just dragging things out like this, anything would do. Even if we didn’t adopt her plan, it could still serve as a reference.

Being Isabella’s biological daughter, she might know weaknesses of Isabella that we haven’t figured out yet. If there’s something like that… it could be pretty useful.

“Nope.”

“…….”

Nope. Yeah, of course, nothing that convenient would happen to me.

“Wait, shouldn’t you and Leopold have some kind of plan? It’s only been less than a week since I vowed revenge, but you two have been her rivals for a long time. I was counting on that.”

Leonor seemed even more baffled than I was.

“Well, we do have a plan… but it’s hard to explain.”

With a sigh, I explained the plan Leopold and I had been discussing. About Isabella being a witch, infiltrating the Imperial Palace during the Emperor’s funeral to gather evidence, and how we’d only act aggressively once Ludwig’s forces arrived.

“Wait, wait. That woman’s a witch? Like, not metaphorically, but an actual witch? The kind from Church records?”

Hearing about her own mother’s true nature, Leonor couldn’t hide her shock.

“Yep. A dark magic user who controls demonic creatures. Isabella Benes is a witch. In fact, the minions I fought were parasitic insect-like monsters.”

“She didn’t seem human, but I never thought she wasn’t even human… Then, what am I? The daughter of a witch. Does that mean I’m not human either…?”

Leonor clutched her head and sighed. Her slumped shoulders trembled like a wet cat.

“No, you’re still human, so don’t despair. Being a witch isn’t a hereditary trait.”

To a witch, children aren’t successors but assets. High-quality materials to be sacrificed when the time comes. They’d rather use their children to extend their own lives than pass on their legacy.

In short, a witch’s child is just an innocent human. Whether that comforts Leonor or not is another story.

“……So, you and Leopold plan to reveal this truth?”

Leonor’s voice had grown heavier. Seems like it didn’t comfort her.

“Probably? If we find solid evidence that Isabella is a witch, we can crush her before the election even starts, with the Church’s help.”

Even though two Archbishops support Ernst, once Isabella’s true nature is exposed, they’ll likely lead the charge into the Imperial Palace. If they don’t, they’d risk being accused of colluding with a witch and facing a religious trial.

“…Figures. Leopold can’t be trusted.”

Leonor clicked her tongue and muttered.

“Wait, why?”

I mean, it’s not wrong, but… was there anything in our conversation so far that warranted blaming Leopold? Doesn’t seem like it.

“Because if the truth about Isabella being a witch becomes public, I won’t be safe either. Do you think people will just leave the ‘witch’s daughter’ alone? Even if, as you say, there’s no real connection, more people will label me as a potential witch just like my mother rather than think rationally. Petitions to interrogate and execute me will flood in.”

…Come to think of it, she’s right. Leonor’s pointing out something I completely overlooked.

Definitely, even in modern times, people are quick to stigmatize the families of criminals. In a world like this, it’d be even worse.

My bad. When I came up with the plan to expose Isabella as a witch, I didn’t consider Leonor’s situation. I only worried about Leopold possibly targeting her later, not the public’s stigma.

Did Lacey and Leopold already anticipate this?

Lacey, maybe. She probably doesn’t know that Leonor and I are on decent terms. I don’t think I’ve ever talked about Leonor in front of her.

But Leopold’s a different story. If he knew and didn’t tell me….

No, it’s too early to speculate. Leopold was also pretty shocked when he heard about Isabella’s true nature, so he might’ve just forgotten in the chaos. He didn’t even think about Leonor until Ernst caused trouble.

Plus, there’s that oath he made.

“Leopold swore on Elpinel’s name that he’d guarantee your safety if you renounce your claim to the throne.”

“Ha, guarantee my safety? That’s so like Leopold. Smoothly talking about locking me up in a convent.”

Leonor let out a cold smirk, as if it was obvious.

…Is that what he meant? Maybe Leopold just wants to reunite with his mother…? Otherwise, he wouldn’t go that far to deceive me.

“Whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

“If only I could get revenge… it would be worth it, I guess.”

“…I don’t think you need to go that far. Leopold would know exactly how I’d turn out if you did, and unless he wants to completely cut ties with me…”

Objectively speaking, it was likely Leonor’s bias.

Unless Leopold had completely lost his mind to vengeance, he wouldn’t make such a decision.

“…Right. I’ll have to believe that.”

She let out a bitter smile and flopped down onto the bed.

“So, we have no choice but to rely on those ‘infiltration agents,’ huh? Doesn’t sound too promising.”

“I’m a bit uneasy too, but they’re supposed to be experts in this field, so it’s better than me sneaking in myself.”

It didn’t sound very convincing, and Leonor’s expression showed she wasn’t impressed.

“Well, if we’re talking about experts, that woman is also an expert at covering her tracks. She’s been playing the role of empress for nearly twenty years without a hitch. She even kept her witch identity hidden from her own children. Do you really think someone like her would leave obvious weaknesses in her base?”

It was a reasonable doubt, and both I and Leopold felt the same.

We just don’t have any other options.

“I know that too, but there’s no other way, is there? It’s just how it is. If we try to force our way, those bug knights will be a problem.”

“Then why not target the limbs instead of the head? If we dig into the nobles connected to her, we might not find evidence of her being a witch, but we could uncover clues about other misdeeds. I know a few of the people who attended her ‘banquets.'”

“Hmm. If it were that easy, wouldn’t she have been exposed already? Still, it’s worth a shot.”

It’s likely to end with just cutting off a tail, but even a severed tail would still be a member of the Third Prince’s faction.

Even if we don’t achieve a major victory, we could at least damage their reputation.

I’ll have to talk to Leopold about it.

—

As I expected, Asha readily agreed to hide Leonor for a while.

Whether it was because of our friendship or the amount of the reward Leonor whispered… I decided not to think too deeply about it for the sake of our bond.

“So, what’s the plan for the funeral? Are you going to hide and watch?”

“That would’ve been the original plan, but… even I don’t think I can push myself like that now that I know her true identity. …Marty would understand.”

Leonor expressed her intention to wait quietly in Asha’s workshop.

Until Isabella’s true identity is revealed, and the moment comes to fight her.

…And that moment came sooner than expected.

======[Ordos]======

The capital of Aishan, Ordos, was quieter than before.

Most of the army, including Ser Khan Orhan, had left to conquer the grasslands, leaving only the minimum forces to guard the capital.

The same was true for the main palace inside the inner city.

A young man with his chin resting on his hand sat slouched on the throne, gazing boredly at the empty hall.

Dressed in a red robe, with one eye covered by a patch, the young man’s remaining eye gleamed with a snake-like venom. A long scar, like a claw mark, ran beneath the patch.

His appearance clearly reflected his stubborn and irritable personality.

“Sitting in this seat… is more uncomfortable than I thought. How did Father manage to sit here all the time?”

“Lord Amin, I apologize, but if others see you like this, it could lead to unpleasant rumors. Ser Khan would be displeased…”

Amin, Orhan’s third son.

The boy who had lost an eye to Ha-shal-leur years ago had now grown into a mature young man.

The arrogant sight of Amin sitting on the throne, reserved only for Orhan, made the guard sweat as he offered advice, but Amin casually swung his legs, unfazed.

“So what? That great father of mine is probably enjoying a festival somewhere far to the east. Anyway, Jargal. Have you heard the news? About that ghost woman.”

“Are you referring to Princess Ha-shal-leur? My ears are not sharp enough to catch rumors from the Empire, but…”

Amin’s expression twisted slightly as a throbbing pain shot through his scarred eye.

Even after all these years, the pain from that day never faded.

“Princess? That ghost-possessed woman? Anyway, I heard she’s doing quite well in the Empire. The rumors are buzzing. They’re treating her like a hero over there.”

Amin’s single eye burned coldly.

“…I can’t just sit back and watch that.”

His low mutter was filled with a mix of fear and hatred.