TWFLLYM Ch 107

The Baroness' Identity (2)

[Roserikta] "You can come out now."

Inside the bedroom, she pulled the country mouse from the folds of her skirt.

[Mouse] "Squeak! It's big, big!"

[Roserikta] "Indeed. It's a lavish room."

However, no signs of newly added items appeared. While the furniture and bedding looked expensive, nothing was new.

[Roserikta] "The room sits silent, like a place left empty for a long time. Don't you agree?"

[Mouse] "Squeak. Right, right."

The room felt far too still for a space occupied by a living person until moments ago. Even the book lying open on the side table looked like a decoration rather than something recently read.

After hearing Elona's words, the situation felt even stranger. If the Baroness had no interest in building power within the palace, her previous behavior made no sense. She had used an unborn child to assert her position. If her goal was to become Empress, she should have been building a political foundation.

[Roserikta] "Mmm....... Let's find the black powder first. That is our priority."

[Mouse] "Got it, got it. I'll sniff hard, hard!"

[Roserikta] "Thank you. I appreciate it."

The country mouse's tiny nose twitched as it searched every corner. Roserikta moved her hands and eyes diligently, looking for anything that could hold the powder.

[Roserikta] "I don't see anything obvious."

She examined the vanity, thinking a container for powder could easily be hidden as makeup, but she found nothing. The country mouse had no luck either.

[Mouse] "Nothing, nothing. No smell, no!"

[Roserikta] "Is it not hidden in this room?"

She straightened her back and tilted her head. She slowly scanned the room once more.

Rosie. When your thoughts are blocked, follow your instincts. A witch's intuition is accurate. Sometimes, it's even terrifying.

Her grandmother had taught her this. A great witch knows how to use her senses.

Roserikta focused on the feelings the room provided. Something felt wrong from the moment she entered. What was the reason?

The silence. It looked unused, as if no one ever intended to stay here. Following that strange feeling, her gaze stopped at the book on the table.

[Roserikta] "That book."

It didn't look well-read, but the fact that it sat open meant someone had looked at the contents.

[Roserikta] "What was she looking at?"

She approached the table. The book was a bizarre biological encyclopedia filled with illustrations.

[Roserikta] "Why this......?"

She saw delicate drawings of animals. One specifically caught her eye.

[Roserikta] "The Servel Tiger. A massive predator residing in the Epaber Mountains. The top predator among existing carnivores."

As she read the text, a grim premonition stirred within her.

[Roserikta] "She wouldn't look at this for no reason...... right?"

She muttered to herself and then spotted something.

[Roserikta] "......Wait."

The drawing of the Servel Tiger stood out for a reason. Traces of black marks decorated the image.

[Mouse] "Squeak! A smell! I smell it!"

The country mouse shouted.

[Mouse] "Right here!"

The mouse's tiny paw pointed directly at the drawing of the Servel Tiger.

---

Roar!

At the eastern side of the palace, the horn sounded at the jousting arena, announcing the upcoming duel.

[Arad] "Your Highness. Are you comfortable? It has been a long time since you wore armor."

[Kalart] "I'm not. I only wish to finish this and return."

Even the blunt Arad understood what "returning" meant. He chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck.

[Arad] "Still, it is a relief the Emperor settled things this way, even if you had to pull your armor out of storage."

[Kalart] "Eaton has it harder than I, trying to wear armor with his arm."

[Arad] "Eh, the Captain has natural strength. Besides, the duel will end in an instant."

[Kalart] "Tell Eaton this. The moment I draw my sword, he is to fall."

[Arad] "Wait, is that allowed? So many people are watching."

[Kalart] "I don't care."

His lips pressed into a hard line.

[Kalart] "I have already made many concessions. I'm even participating in this useless event."

[Arad] "Uh, well, yes......."

In Arad's view, both father and son shared a total lack of the virtue known as "compromise." He felt relieved that the fate of the Empire wasn't the reason for their fight.

They should just have a joint wedding. Then there would be no reason for this messy conflict.

Fortunately, Arad had grown more observant lately and knew he should keep such thoughts to himself.

According to Lady Elona—the love of his life—it was wise never to mention anything related to Roserikta to Kalart. Recalling the cold stares he had received in the past, he knew she was right.

[Arad] "Please win, Your Highness. Though your victory is certain."

While Arad spoke, the arena filled with people. Word had spread, drawing not only palace residents but also nearby nobles.

[Kalart] "I don't know when this will ever end."

Annoyed by the growing crowd, Kalart stood up and walked into the center of the arena. He lowered his visor, baring only his eyes, and addressed the Emperor.

[Kalart] "This is a waste of time. Begin."

Belto I, who was about to enjoy a round of drinks, widened his eyes.

[Belto I] "What? Already?"

[Kalart] "I'm a busy man."

[Belto I] "Ah, well, that is true but......."

Belto I turned to the Baroness sitting beside him.

[Belto I] "My dove, my Neira. We are about to start the duel. Is that your wish as well?"

[Neira] "Of course, Your Majesty. I have waited for this moment since before I arrived at Trifolium."

[Belto I] "Mmm? You welcome it that much? That sounds strange, but if you say so, I'm pleased."

Belto I raised his wine glass.

[Belto I] "Then, let the duel between the Emperor and the Crown Prince begin. Soon, imperial history will record this as the most romantic duel. Now, as the knight to represent me, I choose a member of the Royal Gu—"

[Neira] "Your Majesty."

She placed her hand on Belto I's arm. His brow furrowed.

[Belto I] "Neira. I'm speaking."

[Neira] "Did you not say my wedding date is at stake in this duel?"

[Belto I] "I did."

[Neira] "Then let me choose the opponent who will represent you. I believe I have that right."

[Belto I] "Neira."

He shook his head.

[Belto I] "Regrettably, this is my duel for your sake. Therefore, choosing the proxy is my responsibility. You only need to watch—"

[Neira] "Your Majesty."

She interrupted him for the second time. He felt a strange surge of anger.

[Belto I] "Don't interrupt me a third time. I will punish you, regardless of who you are."

[Neira] "I heard the Royal Guard consists of the Crown Prince's most loyal subjects. They say the moment the Prince draws his sword, they will fall on their own. Is that not unfair to me? I don't want my wedding stolen."

[Belto I] "Ha, dear me."

He pressed a hand to his forehead.

Kalart, listening in, found the situation absurd.

How does she know exactly what Arad and I just discussed?

[Neira] "I want this duel to be fair and just. Does Your Majesty desire a duel that is impure and tainted?"

With her framing it that way, the Emperor had no response.

[Belto I] "Then it can't be helped. Son, did you hear? Neira will choose my proxy."

Kalart didn't blame Belto I's weak character. He knew the man was exactly like this.

[Kalart] "Is the Baroness prepared to choose an opponent fairly and justly?"

[Belto I] "Don't be sarcastic. It will be better than the Royal Guard, who are all your subordinates. It will be more entertaining for the crowd as well."

Kalart spoke with irritation.

[Kalart] "Are you turning your son into a spectacle?"

[Belto I] "Since so many people have gathered, should we not enjoy ourselves? My dove, choose the opponent."

He smiled kindly.

[Belto I] "However, as you said, you must choose fairly and justly."

[Neira] "Since no one in the Royal Guard will fight their hardest for me, I shall appoint my own knight as proxy."

[Belto I] "That makes sense. Whom do you wish for?"

[Neira] "Your Majesty doesn't know. I have only one knight."

She stood up. She turned toward the back and clapped her hands twice.

[Neira] "Appear here."

Sssss.

Kalart noticed a sharp, spicy scent in the wind. It was similar to pepper, yet strangely different.

[Noble] "Good heavens!"

[Knight] "Gasp!"

Shock and groans filled the arena. Following the Baroness' gesture, a massive creature walked into the center of the field. A Servel Tiger with a pitch-black body revealed its threatening, giant fangs.

The Baroness spun around and stared at Kalart. A deep smile stretched across her unfamiliar face.

[Neira] "Now, try to face this, Your Highness."

---

[Roserikta] "She wouldn't put pepper on a book for no reason."

It wasn't pepper anyway. This was.......

[Roserikta] "Is it some kind of magic powder? Like Axaca powder, something that allows the use of magic. No, does that even make sense? Grandmother made the Axaca powder because I can see magic, but can't use it."

If that were true, it meant the Baroness' body was in the same state as hers.

[Roserikta] "That makes even less sense. The Baroness isn't a witch. I didn't feel a hint of lunar energy from her."

She couldn't figure out what was happening.

[Roserikta] "A black witch's black agent can't be a witch. Because a black witch can't absorb the lunar energy a witch possesses."

This led to the conclusion that the Baroness was not a black agent.

[Roserikta] "One who is not a black agent but uses magic through powder. What does that mean......?"

[Mouse] "Squeak, squeak. I don't know, don't know."

The country mouse didn't understand her words, but it mimicked her serious expression.

[Roserikta] "A black witch, but only half of one. Just like me, the witch of Versaryl. That is......."

Her eyes suddenly widened.

[Roserikta] "I have it! It means the dark magic energy is incomplete. Just like my lunar energy."

[Mouse] "Incomplete, incomplete."

There had to be a reason.

[Roserikta] "Wait. Dark magic manifests based on absorbed life force. For it to be incomplete means there is a problem with the absorption of life force. That is......."

She understood now.

[Roserikta] "It means the vessel holding the absorbed life force is imperfect."

The black witch suffered a massive injury at Count Gibero's castle. It was a wound that looked fatal. Roserikta had assumed the witch would die soon.

[Roserikta] "Such an injury couldn't heal in just one month. The black witch must have been absorbing life force everywhere to recover her body, unable to even hide the corpses properly. The Forest Clan pursued her. So the black witch......."

Did she take the Baroness' body? To replace her own broken one?

[Roserikta] "That's it."

Among dark magic, spells to swap bodies existed. Roserikta's efforts to increase her knowledge of dark magic finally paid off.

[Roserikta] "That is why I couldn't recognize her. I couldn't feel the lunar energy, and the Prince's curse didn't react."

She caught her breath to stay calm.

[Roserikta] "Then...... what is her goal in coming to the palace?"

[Mouse] "What is it, what is it?"

Whatever it was, it involved that Servel Tiger.

[Roserikta] "I have a bad feeling."

She stared intensely at the drawing of the Servel Tiger. The beast in the picture felt as if it were alive and moving. A moment later.......

[Roserikta] "Huh?"

It vanished. Only blank white paper remained where the Servel Tiger had been.

[Roserikta] "Good heavens!"

She cried out, her mouth hanging open.

[Roserikta] "She used a release spell!"

That meant the black witch had unleashed the Servel Tiger somewhere within the palace.