The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 119
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
“Is there any evidence?”
“There are both evidence and witnesses. So, High Priest, you should withdraw from this matter. No matter how distinguished you are, interference in Northern affairs will not be tolerated.”
But that’s not true. Iona wasn’t involved in any schemes.
Loki wanted to say so, but his voice kept faltering.
As he clenched and unclenched his fists, hoping that the High Priest would come to his defense, he soon fell into shock.
“Ah, it seems you’ve been found out in the end, Your Highness. Didn’t I tell you to be more cautious?”
“What…what are you saying?”
Loki gaped in disbelief.
“If additional testimony is needed, I can provide it.”
“What nonsense is this!”
Loki, finally exploding, stood up abruptly.
To this, Mikael made a slow sign of the cross and whispered softly.
“Everyone knows that Your Highness has feelings for the Grand Duchess that you shouldn’t. Isn’t this the reason you’ve created such a situation to drive a wedge between the two? Unfortunate events keep happening one after another. I’ll speak to His Majesty on your behalf.”
Leaving the dazed Loki behind, Mikael licked his lips with a cunning grin.
Everything was prepared. All that remained was to make the final move.
Mikael forced himself to suppress his smirk.
That dove brooch originally belonged to the prince.
Stealing the prince’s possessions, which weren’t properly taken care of, was all too easy, and Mikael had already had the brooch from the palace.
The plan to bring the youngest prince to the North was also a result of his machinations.
Since he and Loki were similar in build, it was a deliberate choice.
Madame Etoile didn’t know his true identity, so no matter how much she was tortured, she wouldn’t reveal the truth. Loki would end up bearing all the blame.
‘Even if they suspect I’ve orchestrated something, without justification, they can’t do anything.’
All evidence pointed to Loki.
Physical evidence, psychological evidence, circumstantial evidence. Loki was entangled in all of them.
Moreover, everyone knew that Loki had inappropriate feelings for the Grand Duchess. His behavior made it impossible to overlook.
‘Now that things have turned out this way, they will probably try to expel me from the castle soon.’
Before that happens, he needs to wrap things up.
Finally, finally…!
Mikael quickened his pace with a sense of elation.
Being God’s apostle is such a lonely position!
There were so many tasks to accomplish in order to bring God’s will into this world.
For example, sealing Iona’s mouth and dragging her into his bedroom in the deep, early morning hours when she was wandering outside, unable to sleep due to her distress.
Of course, it wasn’t for the purpose of doing anything filthy.
* * *
News of the prince being trapped in his bedroom spread quickly through the castle like a rabbit with its tail on fire.
Iona was greatly distressed by the rumor that the prince had brought her in to drive a wedge between the Grand Duke and Duchess. It didn’t seem like the prince was the client from that time.
Because when Iona had seen the prince from a distance, his height and build were similar, but his overall aura was completely different.
Should she speak up or stay silent?
Was Madame Etoile captured or not?
Why wasn’t the Madam, Amber, saying anything to her?
Could she stay like this?
‘Is it that I am being forgiven? Because I really haven’t done anything.’
Aside from claiming to be pregnant as Madame Etoile instructed on the first day, she hadn’t done anything truly wrong.
She had told a few lies, but……
“You’re awake.”
Iona, who had been frowning in thought, winced in discomfort. Then, she suddenly opened her eyes on the sofa to see the High Priest before her.
“This place….”
It was an unfamiliar space.
Tense, Iona hesitated and stepped back from the smiling High Priest.
“Oh dear, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Do you have a headache?”
“Yes, a little.”
“Come here. I’ll heal you with my divine power.”
Even though Iona didn’t have the same cognitive abilities as an ordinary person, she understood what fear was.
Ah, that is a snake swallowing a frog whole.
Iona trembled with fear.
She had lived her entire life as a victim. She had been conditioned from birth, so naturally, she could not resist.
All Iona could do was resist and refuse to go, despite being summoned.
And to her, Mikael released a divine power as nebulous as mist.
“I have something for you to do.”
“S-Something for me to do?”
The divine power, drifting through the air, enveloped Iona’s entire body. It was designed to disrupt her ability to think clearly, and since it was colorless and odorless, she had no way of detecting it.
Mikael, seeing that Iona had been thoroughly soaked in divine power, took a perfume bottle from his robe.
“This is a vaporizing poison. Either spray it when you’re near or put it into the Grand Duchess’s perfume bottle. It doesn’t matter which.”
