Chapter 126

Cade was planning to overthrow the temple in support of the high priest.

In order for Abella to live here in Timur, the most important thing was to end the political battle in the temple and have them admit their past mistakes.

Cade wanted to live with Abella.

Lyla’s handmaiden came to Cade, who was having a discussion with his aides and the high priest.

Cade sent the others away and summoned Lyla according to the handmaiden’s words that said she wanted to meet the Emperor.

“Lady Lyla. You said you wanted to see me?”

Cade asked sternly.

“… Emperor. I would like to offer you one suggestion.”

Leila licked her chapped lips. She didn’t get enough sleep, so her bloodshot eyes and scruffy face seemed unlike a beloved Mistress. Cade’s aides looked back at her with eyes of anticipation about Lyla’s invitation for an audience.

Why was she having useless expectations?

Cade clicked his tongue and nodded his head towards Lyla.

Lyla, who had not yet sat down, trembled at the insult.

However, in front of Cade, Lyla was no different from a mouse in front of the cat. With a word from Cade, Lyla could lose her life.

“I will give Arsene a drug that erases his memories once again.”

Cade paused. As he looked at Lyla, his eyes gleamed indifferently.

“A drug that erases memories? Like before?”

Cade laughed.

“If that was perfect, Arsene would have left Abella already. Lady Lyla, you already lost this.”

Cade relaxed his body and sat back on the chair.

“If that was possible, you would have already succeeded without going roundabout so far. Was it true that Arsene really lost his memory? Was it? Then why didn’t you have Arsene? Why is Arsene still circling around Abella?”

Lyla staggered and pointed at the table.

Cade shuddered coldly.

“So I came up with several hypotheses. I wondered what Arsene was thinking. Arsene lost Abella. And he thought that it shouldn’t be like this. This is how he cleverly realized that he could neither destroy Abella nor have her.”

“Your Majesty……”

“So what do you think Arsene would do? He decided to pretend he lost his memory. Imitating others and acting like a normal person.”

Cade smiled.

She had often felt that Arsene was imitating Cade’s behavior. However, pretending not to know was to find out what Arsene was up to. However, when Lyla brought out the story about the drug to lose one’s memories, Cade was able to derive the causal relationship.

“Lady Lyla. You are more naive than I thought. In my past life, I thought that there was no one more evil than Lady. I guess this means that Lady also has innocence?”

“Then… are you planning to kill Arsene?” Lyla asked vehemently.

“It is not for Lady Lyla to know what I am thinking. Lady only needs to do her job well.”

“I would rather you send Arsene and me to another country. If you expel me…”

Cade sighed slowly.

He was unfamiliar with Lyla, who tried her best to save Arsene.

What was Lyla like in the previous life? She was the one who helped drive Abella to her death. Lyla instigated Amerigo to press Abella and drive her to the very end, choosing death.

Then she was desperately clinging to Cade.

Ah.

Lyla noticed it too. How vain was death. Watching Abella die, and watching Arsene collapse. Lyla also had something to fear.

Cade smiled broadly.

“Unfortunately, Arsene is the only Duke Sirius. He couldn’t even leave a successor, so I can’t help him.”

“Then……”

“I’m going to devour Sirius. What do you think, Lady Lyla?”

Cade asked slowly. Cade’s plan was to bring down Sirius and drag Arsene into the mud. No detailed plans had been made yet. It was because he was too full to pay attention to Abella now.

Lyla held her breath and nodded her head.

She couldn’t prove her worth this time, so there was no guarantee that Cade would meet her next time. Besides, Cade often went back without even seeing her when he went to Lyla’s palace.

The opportunity was now.

What should Lyla propose to save her and Arsene as well?

“…I will destroy Sirius. Instead, just give me Arsene.”

“What a tragic love.”

Cade laughed.

“This time, you will have to succeed, unlike before. It’s better not to rely too much on magical powers.”

“……I will keep that in mind.”

Lyla shook her head. It was a complete declaration of defeat.

*

It had been a week since Arsene’s proposal to the temple arrived in Amerigo. Abella had recovered her health quite a bit in the meantime. She had come to the point where she no longer made people worry.

“Miss Abella.”

Louisa called Abella with an awkward face. As she went down to the first floor, she had received a letter from the butler sent for Abella. But everywhere she looked, it had an ominous aura. Gold leaf in a white envelope.

Plus, it was from the temple.

Abella raised her eyebrows and received the letter.

“Thank you, Louisa.”

In the marriage proposal that came in Arsene’s name, the brand of the temple was stamped on it.

Thud-

Abella’s heart tumbled to the edge of hell. The letter discussed their engagement and ordered the marriage of Abella and Arsene.

Judging from the fact that the name of the high priest was written on it, these were shackles.

Abella could not refuse the temple’s orders.

Arsene had pinpointed her weakness. She was born on the day of Skellus, and it was thanks to the protection of the temple that she lived until now.

If the temple didn’t protect Abella, she might have been devoured by the curse and gone crazy.

So Abella couldn’t go against the temple.

Her throat was parched.

Abella set down the proposal letter with a pale face. Louisa, who was looking at her, opened her mouth that had been shut.

“I haven’t been here in a while, Miss Abella.”

“That’s right.” Abella answered in a hoarse voice.

“But you had been in Timur for a long time. Timur is a conservative group, but they were particularly harsh on Miss Abella.”

“……Is that so?”

“Yes. I agree with Enoch. Miss Abella, if you wish, please go to Clemington. This is a place where only monsters who won’t stop killing people live. It is full of beasts whose eyes twinkle in the fog.”

In fact, from Louisa’s point of view, she should be displeased with Abella, whom Enoch liked. However, after watching her for several days, Abella was a very pitiful person. Rather, she wanted to protect Abella.

As Enoch said, if Abella went to Clemington, she would have a slightly better life than she had now. Louisa thought it was better for Abella to go to Clemington, regardless of Enoch.

“But, my roots are in Timur.”

“What…”

“I mean, I can’t break my promise to Carlo, Louisa.”

“If it’s a promise…”

“I have decided to protect Simon until he takes over the mansion and becomes a great head.”

“But……!”

“I don’t know if I can find someone to replace me…”

Abella shook her head.

“I cannot betray Carlo. He is my only younger brother.”

Besides, he was a child who always stood by Abella’s side, as no one approached her.

Noble children of the same age were talking about the curse passing on Carlo, but Carlo didn’t budge. Like the current Simon did, he spoke with his fern-like hands outstretched.

‘I will protect Abella. Don’t worry!’

Oftentimes, Carlo also struggled with the coercion of the adults, but he did his best to protect Abella. Even at that young age.

The smile on his face as he looked back at Abella still remained in her heart.

If it wasn’t for Carlo, she couldn’t leave. Abella’s lips drew a curve. “Thank you for the suggestion though, Louisa.”

Louisa touched her forehead. “Are you going to get married?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“I wish you won’t. This is my personal wish. And this.” Louisa put the file folder down on her desk.

“This is a request for reimbursement to Count Gilmus. Please check and tell us what you need to correct.”

“Thank you for your effort.”

Abella went through the papers. Her job was her job, and Amerigo was  Amerigo.

Abella continued to drive the rats out for Amerigo.

After driving out the big rat named Count Gilmus, the next one was Chloe. Just having Chloe change her last name would suffice. Even with that, she wouldn’t be able to exercise her right to Amerigo.

After confirming the contents, Abella stamped the seal of the head at the end.

She was still the temporary head of Amerigo.