“Is it rare for emotions to show change?”
“Yes, it is.”
In their dead-end situation, Lucia and Ellie found Astria.
They believed only she could change Sena’s mind.
“He cares even for a stranger he doesn’t know. If that’s the case with family, it’s even more so. Trying to get help from someone with a head full of flowers is itself a mistake.”
“Then… what should we do?”
According to the information, the Church had already been consumed by the Cruyff faction. There was no way to break through.
Astria looked at Lucia with a sense of disdain.
“There is nothing Sena can do in this game. You should have bowed to me from the beginning.”
In other words, it meant that the empire would step in. If Cruyff was indeed trying to summon a Great Demon, it was a significant act of treason against the nation.
“I have summoned the Imperial Knights.”
“…!”
“Whether it’s a Great Demon or whatever, those who disturb my land will be dealt with by me personally.”
If they used the power of the empire, they could surely overcome this crisis. The empress was called the strongest of all time. However, Ellie was only anxious.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty.”
Ellie, sweating, spoke.
“The arrival of the Holy Knights will be faster than that of the Imperial Knights.”
The problem was the troops. Cruyff, having consolidated the Church’s forces, would try to block Astria with full strength.
And currently, most of the Church’s troops were deployed forward. This was because they were searching for Sena, as foretold by the prophecy.
Naturally, the Church would be faster than the Imperial Knights, who were probably rushing hard by now.
“…Sena holds the key. If Cruyff is doing this for Sena, there’s a good chance he will back down if Sena takes action.”
Ellie thought there was no other way than persuading Sena.
It was the most practical and effective approach.
However, Astria thought differently.
She no longer wanted to face that furball.
Because her suppressed desire would move.
But…
“Cruyff is doing this for Sena?”
Astria didn’t know that Cruyff was trying to extend Sena’s lifespan.
Ellie realized with a jolt that, contrary to her assumptions, she was completely unaware that Sena had kept that secret from her.
“That’s…”
Ellie exchanged uneasy glances with Lucia.
“…Never mind. It doesn’t matter what it is. Anyway, don’t worry about this matter any further. I’ll handle it. You only need to send that furball to where it wants to go. That will be your job done.”
It was a clear dismissal. No matter how powerful Astria was, she couldn’t hold out alone against the Church’s Holy Knights, who could potentially bring down an entire kingdom. Lucia urgently stood up.
“Your Majesty, please persuade Sena directly. As servants of Lady Justitia, we have our limits.”
“I said I won’t see that furball again. It’s noisy.”
“Your Majesty! This is not the time for this. The Holy Knights will soon arrive. There is a high chance that Cruyff will eliminate you first!”
“Miss Lucia, do you know how I came to this position?”
At Astria’s unexpected question, Lucia fell silent.
Astria smiled faintly.
“I have never spared those who defied me.”
In other words, she was willing to crush anyone who opposed her, be it the Church or anyone else.
Naturally, that was impossible.
“This time it’s different…!”
“No, it’s not different.”
Astria rested her chin on her hand leisurely.
“If the Holy Knights are a single kingdom, the Imperial Knights protecting my late father could have crushed three or four kingdoms.”
Lucia didn’t know.
Astria was a person who had made the impossible possible and ascended to the throne.
When Lucia was at a loss for words, Astria wiped the smile from her face.
“This tea, which we drink like water in the palace, seems quite expensive here. Empty it all and leave.”
As Lucia, frozen to the core, watched Astria leave the reception room.
“…There’s something hidden on the third floor of this mansion, in the farthest room, by Marquis Rockefeller. There, you’ll understand the danger of Cruyff.”
Astria, with a look of disdain at Ellie’s earnest advice, dismissed it as unworthy of her attention.
Danger?
Children are inevitably influenced by their parents. Sena was more harmless than any human she had seen.
If that’s the kind of parent involved, there’s nothing to worry about. Even if they turn evil, it’s merely a dog trying to imitate a wolf.
**
“Is this the place?”
Astria stood with a bored expression in front of a door—the room Ellie had mentioned.
‘Well, I have nothing else to do.’
It wasn’t that she had accepted Ellie’s advice.
She was simply here to pass the time out of boredom.
Click.
The door didn’t open. Was Marquis Rockefeller hiding something here?
Her contemplation was brief. Astria took a step back from the door and, with a bit of mana, kicked the doorknob.
Crack!
With the doorknob broken, the door slowly opened. Astria entered with a blank expression.
She sensed a disturbing atmosphere. Turning her head, she was met with a shocking scene.
“…I haven’t even had lunch yet.”
Astria made her way to the bed with an indifferent attitude. There, she found it.
Clack, clack.
A girl with a muzzle. Her limbs were bound, and her eyes were devoid of whites. She contorted her joints grotesquely in an attempt to escape.
She was almost unrecognizable as human. Astria easily associated her with something she had seen before.
The demon worshipers she had encountered looked exactly like this.
“Is she the daughter?”
The girl was not in her right mind. Even if Astria didn’t know she was a demon worshiper, the luxuriousness of her confinement was clear.
The surroundings were spotless. The girl’s clothes were brand new. The binding cloth was thick, indicating a consideration to avoid injury.
There were signs of careful maintenance. It would be unnecessary to go this far if they weren’t family.
“So that’s why you accepted my suggestion so easily.”
Even if Rockefeller was an enemy of Astria, she had no grounds to complain. It was odd that someone in such a position would accept her suggestion so easily.
She even suspected it might be Duke Granz’s scheme. That suspicion remained but had faded somewhat.
“So, he must have hoped I’d leave quickly since he’s hiding such a tremendous secret.”
Marquis Rockefeller would have wanted Astria to leave quickly. The moment this was discovered, he would face excommunication.
No need to go as far as the Church. The Rockefeller family was already considered an eyesore. The current empress would likely have anticipated that she would eliminate the family if given the chance.
“And this is Cruyff’s work?”
The archbishop who ruled this region was Cruyff. To think he had the capability to transform a normal human into such a state.
Astria saw through everything via this girl. But one thing bothered her.
How did turning this girl into a demon worshiper serve Sena?
Several possibilities crossed her mind but remained submerged. Nothing could be known at this stage.
However, her role here was clear.
“This is truly audacious.”
Astria smirked and reached into the air. Soon, her Holy Sword was in her hand.
“Just once. I’ll play according to your wishes.”
What kind of reaction would the father, who had gone to such lengths to protect his daughter, have if she were to die?
Though uncertain, he would undoubtedly struggle in every way possible. With that pretext, he would have his title removed, and his power would be consolidated under the Empress’s name.
Even if he reduced his forces, he was still a marquis. Before that, he was a duke.
The Imperial Knights. There was enough time until the Teutonic Knights arrived.
Such a commotion would inevitably become known, even if one closed their eyes and covered their ears.
Sena would have to make a choice, whether she wanted it or not.
To prevent a war, he would have to reveal his father’s secrets to the Holy Knights… or—
Or he would side with the Holy Knights and condone their killing in order to save his father.
Or, he could pretend not to know and escape disgracefully.
“Either way, it will be entertaining.”
Just as Astria was about to thrust her sword into the girl’s neck without hesitation—
“After taking everything.”
The sound of footsteps grew closer.
She straightened her posture and slowly turned her head.
Marquis Rockefeller, in a black suit, appeared.
“Are you now trying to take my daughter as well?”
“Perfect timing.”
Astria was pleased that the annoying process had been reduced.
“I was planning to come here anyway.”
“You haven’t changed.”
Teolrant smiled subtly.
“Your cruel nature.”
“Are you still talking after showing me this scene?”
“I understand you’re not particularly devoted to Justitia.”
To the comment of whether it was necessary to go that far, Astria responded simply.
“Do you pray to God before killing cockroaches?”
“…Do you know why I didn’t stand by you until the end? It’s because of this.”
“Interesting. Continue.”
Astria walked up to Teolrant and faced him directly.
“The late Emperor was a good man. At least, from the perspective of a subject. I respected him. I didn’t know much about his family matters.”
A brief memory passed through Astria’s mind.
“Father treated me very well. Is that the reason? Because a good person died?”
“Yes. Yet, you killed him. You don’t understand what’s precious. Therefore, you don’t understand the feelings of someone who loses something precious.”
Teolrant bypassed Astria and tenderly stroked his transformed daughter.
“You’re sure I killed him. Everyone must think my mother killed father.”
“I saw it at the funeral. Not a single tear was shed. A girl of 11 who lost her father. That was when I realized it wasn’t your mother who killed the late Emperor.”
“Yes. I killed him.”
Astria raised her sword, saying in annoyance.
“Is that the end of your will? Teolrant Rockefeller?”
Astria’s eyes were deeply sunken.
The memories of the past resurfaced, making her feel quite unpleasant.
“If you kill me.”
It seemed his final words were not yet finished.
“You’ll never find Sena Birkender, whom you love so much?”
“…What?”
“He will soon die. Writhing in terrible pain. My revenge is almost complete.”
Astria couldn’t have imagined it.
The choice was hers.
Whether to incinerate everything that obstructed her as she had done before, or to stop ignoring and protect what was precious.
