I Sought Out the Tragedy's Scheming Mastermind

“Listen to your mother. We’re going to hold the revelation ceremony again soon. You must say that you have received divine power, whether you are capable of it or not.”

“I-I don’t want to lie.”

“Really? Then do you want to be stoned to death with your mother?”

“M-Mother…” Mary held onto Hera’s arm as if pleading with her.

But Hera pulled her arm away and spoke coldly.

“It doesn’t matter, as we’ll be kicked out of the royal family if you don’t show your abilities. You’re of Owen descent, yet powerless.”

Mary trembled at Hera’s harsh voice.

“Do you think the nobles will leave us alone? I’m sure you’ll accuse me of giving birth to you with a man other than the emperor, but do you want your mother to go through that?”

Hera recited firmly as Mary could not say anything and just licked her lips.

“If you want to see your mother die, do as you please.”

“I-I’ll do it!”

Mary eventually agreed, turning pale, and Hera relaxed her expression as if nothing had happened.

Soon, a gentle smile came across Hera’s lips.

She kissed Mary on the cheek and whispered sweetly.

“These people will make you the emperor.”

Hera’s eyes gleamed. Her insidious smile was even more menacing than the devil.

She was more desperate for power than her daughter’s feelings.

It was rather strange to call them a mother and daughter, but Kallius was silent.

He just watched the two with an expressionless face.

* * *

“I’m innocent!”

The noble begged in a shrill voice with his limbs tied.

Knights shielded in armor stood on either side of the noble, their spears pointed at his neck, waiting for Hera’s disposal.

Perhaps he had already been tortured once since the noble’s clothes had been long since torn to pieces.

Hera looked down at him with a detached expression.

Verkley was sitting next to Hera, but no one was conscious of him.

Everyone was only waiting for Hera’s disposition.

Hera tapped her fingers against the armrest of her seat.

Verkley stared at the empty spot beside the noble who was carelessly accused of being the culprit.

Then, the ring on Verkley’s finger flashed in the light.

A blue energy was swirling in the ring, although others may not see it.

Verkley gently glanced at the ring and just watched.

He remembered going to the place where the ceremony was held but nothing after that.

But looking at the ring, it was clear that he had taken Mary’s power.

‘Was I too conceited in thinking I could control my power with Eliana by my side?’

Verkley frowned at the thought of losing his mind again without realizing it.

When he awoke, he was in his bedroom.

Maybe she nursed him all night since there was a wet towel on his forehead, and Eliana was lying face down, holding his hand.

He didn’t know what was bothering him, but she held his hand tightly.

He slipped his hand out of her grasp, feeling it numb.

In addition, there was a new scar on Eliana’s wrist.

Traces of being tied up.

However, Verkley was playing a blind man, so he couldn’t ask why she was hurt.

Looking at her wound filled him with anger.

He didn’t know why he was angry, but he spent a lot of time trying to cool down.

Eliana said he got caught amid the explosion and collapsed, resulting in Rube and her taking him to his bedroom.

Then, she explained the uproar of bombs that exploded here and there.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve lost my memory like that. It wasn’t long after I made my deal with Mach.’

That was a long time ago.

Verkley remembered seeing Mary visit him before losing his memory.

He can’t remember anything from then either, but Mary has been afraid of him ever since.

Maybe he did something to Mary during that lost time.

What’s surprising is that Mary didn’t say anything to Hera.

It was something that passed so quietly.

No, maybe the whole thing was just in his imagination.

He may have just been blinded by anger.

“Execute him.”

“Empress Dowager!” 

With Hera’s cold command, the noble was dragged away by the knights.

The nobles standing in line had terrible expressions.

There were already three nobles who had been sentenced to death.

At this point, treason was an excuse, and she used it to kill those she disliked.

Even the evidence was too perfect. It felt like a pre-planned trap.

It was literally out of the blue for the nobles. It wouldn’t have been unfair if she really tried to plot treason.

All the dead were executed for pleading innocence.

Marquis Forte tried to suppress his sweaty hand.

He could no longer allow the nobles to be disposed of according to Hera’s preference.

When the poor Marquis Forte was about to protest, Verkley spoke.

“Mother.” 

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“That’s about enough.”

“…!” 

The nobles held their breath at Verkley’s interference.

Everyone was in shock because he usually wasn’t one to complain about Hera’s decisions.

Hera had a wry smile and asked Verkley calmly,

“What is about enough, Your Majesty?”

“I’ve already seen enough examples. I don’t think anyone is willing to harm the princess anymore.”

“We haven’t found the culprit yet.” Hera protested in a rather disgruntled voice.

He dares to interfere with her decisions.

But Verkley reasoned softly, without showing any signs of agitation.

“Well, let’s see. Perhaps you’re dragging this along because you can’t pull the strings you want?”

“Your Majesty!” Hera screeched at Verkley’s provocation.

The nobles were terrified by the sudden change in Verkley’s attitude.

Eliana, who was standing still behind Verkley, also stared at him in surprise.

Among them, Verkley was the only one who was not surprised.

Verkley continued with indifference. 

“If that is not the case, stop here.”

“But—!”

“Mother.” Verkley cut Hera off.

As Hera flinched, Verkley uttered something in a slow voice.

“Do you really want me to delve into this?”

“What do you mean…”

“How is Mary doing?” Verkley asked softly.

Hera’s face hardened.

Mary had been living under the excuse of being mentally and physically weak since the ceremony.

Hera’s boisterous behavior also delayed the ceremony.

In the meantime, this was a show to humiliate the nobles who did not satisfy her.

Killing two birds with one stone.

She hoped that this would naturally deter attention from Mary.

But then he suddenly asked about Mary’s well-being.

Hera observed Verkley’s complexion with an ominous feeling.

Unusually, she felt strange from the moment he stopped her.

‘Just in case, I didn’t even mention Mary’s circumstances to Eliana.’

Hera schooled her expression.

It seemed that Verkley knew something.

Hera backed off, fearing that Mary’s circumstances would be revealed if she messed with his temper.

“You’re right, Your Majesty. I’ll call it a day. Thank you for caring about Mary.”

“It is natural as an older brother. Yes, the ceremony was ruined, and the revelation ceremony failed, so let’s proceed again.”

As Verkley persistently mentioned Mary, Hera refused with a grin.

“I’d love to, but I’m afraid Mary’s been showing signs of anxiety. Why don’t we proceed lightly considering the situation? At the Temple of Hosios.”

The mention of the Temple of Hosios made the nobles buzz.

A gentle smile crept onto Verkley’s lips.

Hera’s intentions were clearly visible, but Verkley pretended to be oblivious.

“Do as you please.”

“I am deeply moved by your consideration, Your Majesty.”

With Verkley’s permission, the atmosphere became calm again.

Eliana looked between the two.

In the novel, Mary’s inability was immediately discovered and made fun of.

But now it’s been delayed due to an untimely accident.

Looking at Hera and Verkley’s dynamics, Mary’s ability disappeared, the same as in the original plot.

However, she intended to do something suspicious when mentioning the Temple of Hosios.

In the novel, after Mary’s ability was not expressed, Grand Duke Crombell came to the capital.

It was to fight for succession in the name of not knowing when the childless and blind emperor would die.

It was also due to Mary, who had the highest right of succession, not having any power.

With the appearance of Crombell, the battle for the throne began in earnest.

It was also from then on that Verkley’s movement began.

Crombell saw Verkley’s power and submitted to empower him.

With Mary’s position narrowing, Combell siding with Verkley was the worst move for Hera.

But now, there is no reason for Grand Duke Crombell to come to the capital.

In other words, there was no way for Verkley to contact him.

As she was organizing her thoughts compared to the novel, the meeting became heated with the story about a saintess.

“A saintess has appeared in Gaudi.”

“They say she has the power to heal the sick. Everyone is eager to see the saintess. There are already many processions going on.”

“They’re protecting her at the Gaudium Temple in the north.”

“How about calling the capital to confirm?”

The nobles talked about the saintess.

Gaudi was a territory in the north, and Crombell was in charge.

Eliana could easily see the other intentions hidden in their remarks.

Hera kept her mouth shut and looked at Verkley.

Verkley addressed the noisy nobles.