Volume 5, Chapter 13 – A Turn of Events, for Better or Worse

Like dropping a barrel of dynamite into a lake, Boris’s words set off a chain reaction, and the nobles quickly followed his lead.

“How can we let Her Majesty the Queen be responsible for this expense! My father also approved the establishment of the orphanages back then, so as the one who inherited my father’s house, I should also bear a portion.”

“Me as well.”

Yisi shook her head with an almost imperceptible movement.

They don’t really want to pay the money, they’re just unwilling to leave a bad impression on the Queen at a time like this… she thought.

Refina agreed in a whisper. “Precisely. If Lord Boris hadn’t taken the lead, the nobles would have just remained silent.”

After a round of scrambling debate, all the nobles expressed that they would contribute money to support the continued operation of the orphanages. Soon, the next agenda item was set to begin.

—It should have been.

Edith spoke up, cutting in before the next topic could be introduced.

“Your Majesty, there is a matter I wish to ask about.”

Given the status of the Pescia family, Edith’s statement made all the nobles fall silent, their gazes uniformly fixed on her. The same was true for Andrea. Perhaps because she was looking at someone her own age, the majesty in Andrea’s eyes lessened slightly.

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“Please speak, Lord Loiswell.”

“Regarding the matter of Count Hillary leading numerous southern nobles in rebellion, how does Your Majesty intend to handle it? Although the upcoming Festival of Original Sin and the autumn harvest will halt the war for a time, it will be unavoidable once spring arrives. The sooner we prepare, the better we can respond to the ever-changing tides of war. Although the Pescia Territory cannot dispatch more troops due to the northern war, we are still willing to lend the royal family a hand.”

It sounded like she was supporting the Queen, but it was actually the standard rhetoric of a neutral party, announcing to everyone else that her hands were tied and she couldn’t send more troops.

Upon hearing the subject of war, a waver of emotion was clearly visible in Andrea’s golden eyes.

“To discuss matters of slaughter during the period of the Festival of Original Sin is disrespectful to the Royal Ancestor. I will discuss the war with you, my lords, during the winter.”

Without giving her a moment’s rest, Edith pressed on with a sharp gaze.

“But I’m afraid Count Hillary will not grant the royal family more time. If they attack the Vladimir Territory during the harvest season, once it falls, the rebel army will have a clear path straight to the Royal Capital. I hope Her Majesty the Queen can provide a more clear and concrete plan.”

“Loiswell Edith Pescia, watch your words.”

Boris warned Edith, but she had a personality that would never back down. This was even more true after learning of the Queen’s desire to avoid war. She continued relentlessly, her gaze sweeping over the nobles present.

“The Queen’s will determines the will of the nation. If the Queen is timid in battle, the people and the soldiers will stagnate. But if Her Majesty the Queen can show a firm attitude, the soldiers will know their swords are being swung for their king, and the citizens will understand that their land will not be defiled by others. I believe all of you here should also understand this point.”

In place of Andrea, a noble answered Edith.

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“But the army has not yet finished its expansion and training. We have less than a hundred thousand usable soldiers. It would not be a wise decision to rashly engage the rebel army.”

“Then mobilize the private soldiers from the noble territories and all available forces. Yesterday, I sent people to investigate the commoners’ reaction to the rebellion. Public support for quelling the rebellion is high right now. If we do not mobilize the nobles and commoners at this time and wait to recruit soldiers during the war, it will be too late. All Her Majesty the Queen needs to do now is formally declare Count Hillary a traitor, and countless people will flock to the royal family’s banner to serve.”

Edith’s words made all the nobles lower their heads and remain silent.

This was the biggest problem the Blood Clan currently faced.

Andrea had not publicly declared Count Hillary’s actions as rebellion.

Without answering Edith immediately, Andrea bit her lip lightly, her brow furrowed.

“…I have my own ideas.”

If it were an ordinary noble, they would have backed down by now. Yisi had that premonition, but Edith was not the type to be fooled by an ambiguous statement.

Edith snorted coldly. “And the result is that you were almost bitten by a dog last night?”

—!

Instantly, the entire noble council erupted.

Regarding the assassination, all the nobles had heard were rumors, so they only dared to discuss it when the Queen was not present. Now that Edith had brought it up to her face, everyone broke into a flurry of discussion.

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Deliberately bypassing Andrea, Edith threw the hot potato to Boris, who was absolutely incapable of lying—lying would violate his own stance and principles.

“Captain Boris, as the captain of the Royal Guard, I hope to get an explanation from you.”

“…”

Boris did not answer, merely remaining silent. But such an action was equivalent to a tacit admission that Andrea had indeed been assassinated.

The nobles were in an uproar.

If someone didn’t get the situation under control, Andrea would be pushed into the eye of the storm. Although Yisi didn’t know why Andrea wouldn’t declare Count Hillary a traitor, she was sure she had her reasons or difficulties.

I’m sorry, Pepe is causing you trouble , Yisi apologized to Andrea in her heart.

“To send assassins after the royal family… Your Majesty, I am willing to fight for you!”

“This is a blatant provocation against the royal family! I will never forgive traitors for living in this world!”

“Your Majesty, please declare Hillary a traitor at once.”

“I have long wanted to fight those rebels. My father is even prepared to dispatch troops at any time!”

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The uproar continued for about a minute before Andrea, who had been frowning deeply, finally relaxed her brow.

“That is enough.” The nobles gradually quieted down. Andrea glanced at Yisi, giving her an apologetic look, then slowly turned her gaze back to the nobles. “I was indeed attacked by assassins last night, but those people were not sent by Count Hillary, and I was not harmed in any way. Furthermore, I wish to make special mention of one person before you all.”

A chill ran down Yisi’s spine. She had a bad feeling. Coupled with the apologetic look Andrea had just given her, the sense of foreboding in her heart deepened, to the point that alarm bells began to ring in her mind, warning her to get out of there immediately.

“Thanks to this person, those amateur assassins were all captured. As the one who saw through the assassins’ plot and gifted me the Crimson-Gold rank monster, the Hydra, I must express my gratitude to her before all of you.

In addition, her bloodline is similar to that of the royal family. Even after obtaining my blood, she did not become my thrall. As you all should know, any pureblood who comes into close contact with royal blood becomes a royal thrall. Among purebloods, only royals do not interfere with one another. Therefore, I suspect she may be a member of the royal family who was lost among the common folk in the past. Thus, for the time being, in accordance with the law, she will be granted the title of Duchess.

After her bloodline has been confirmed, we will decide on a further course of action.”

As if time had frozen, the entire noble council fell terrifyingly silent.

Andrea’s words were so shocking that even Edith was stunned for a moment. Andrea took the opportunity to lock her gaze on Yisi. She rose from the conference table, walked gracefully to Yisi’s side, and then took Yisi’s hand, leading her to the head of the conference table.

“The person I am speaking of is Yisi—no, it should be Yisi Fred Alvier.”

Translator Note

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