The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 122
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
Igmeyer set up the trap to catch Mikael in an extremely mercenary fashion.
While Amber focused on Mikael’s motives and schemes, Igmeyer was different. He didn’t care what Mikael wanted or why he was causing these troubles.
What mattered to him was taking Mikael’s life. A dead man’s tongue would no longer wag.
However, he couldn’t simply barge into the bedroom and decapitate him.
It wasn’t about political reasons.
Igmeyer had already imprisoned the prince and locked up the servants in the dungeon thanks to Mikael, so there was no one to report his actions even if he acted like a brute.
But his concern was… Amber.
He didn’t want to show her his violent side.
Although there was no problem with a swordsman wielding his blade to take a life, even someone like him wanted to look good in the eyes of his loved one and not shock her.
“Last night, a gate opened above Yolkie Forest. Nidhogg is starting to wail again.”
Since Loki’s imprisonment, the dinner atmosphere had become somewhat grim.
Still, Mikael attended the banquet with an indifferent face, seemingly unaware of how bizarre that was.
Even though the prince had been locked up, Mikael’s calm demeanor was unsettling.
“Is that so? That’s worrying.”
“Since you’re here, how about coming along? It would be helpful if you could heal any injured knights.”
“Given how much I’ve eaten, this is a chance to repay my debt. I’ll be glad to assist.”
Mikael smiled with his narrow eyes. Igmeyer didn’t smile but raised his glass with a nonchalant attitude, showing no malice.
“Then we’ll set off tomorrow.”
“Yes, understood.”
Mikael made the sign of the cross, and Igmeyer drank the rest of his wine in one gulp.
Despite the smiles, it was merely a facade, a useless moment.
* * *
Mikael’s reason for accepting Igmeyer’s proposal was simple.
To avoid suspicion.
If he followed Igmeyer, Iona would have the chance to kill the Grand Duchess.
He had anticipated that Iona would have difficulty moving because of the Grand Duchess, so this was a highly satisfactory situation.
“Don’t forget. You need to kill the Grand Duchess within a few days. Only then will you be able to continue living here.”
“Yes…”
On the way back to his bedroom, Mikael once again injected divine power into Iona, envisioning himself mounted on the back of the enormous evil dragon as he prayed to God.
He prayed for everything to go as planned.
Even if, by the slightest chance, he was to die, he hoped that everything would proceed correctly.
“Look at this book, Iona.”
At Mikael’s command, Iona lifted her dazed eyes and stared at the book.
“If I do not return, come into the bedroom and take this book out. There is a secret compartment in this drawer. After killing the Grand Duchess, read this passage in front of the Grand Duke.”
“Great tree, death between branches, howling wyrm, grasping hand, walking soul turned backward, burning body. The one who spreads broken wings.”
“Yes, that’s right. Then, control the evil dragon to go to the capital and incite it to destroy everything. That’s your task.”
Iona was someone who would not arouse suspicion. She was truly a woman of no significance.
So, it was easy to set such a trap.
‘It’s best if I don’t die, but…’
No matter what happens, this will ensure peace of mind.
Iona watched with her cloudy eyes as Mikael hid the book again.
The drawer was a personal piece of furniture Mikael had brought from the capital, and only he knew how to open the secret compartment.
Now, both of them knew.
“Be sure to keep the perfume I gave you.”
“Yes.”
“Be careful when you use it. You must block your nose while applying it. The best would be to put this poison into the Grand Duchess’s perfume bottle. Do you understand?”
Mikael repeatedly stressed to Iona that she must block her nose when applying it.
The moment of application was crucial for the vaporizing poison. It deeply penetrates the lungs of those who inhale it.
Thus, both the person applying the perfume and anyone nearby would die.
So, if she was to use this poison, Iona had to block her nose.
* * *
“Hmmm, hmm, the lily is in full bloom, blooming brightly again today.”
A short while later, Iona hummed to herself as she made her way to her bedroom. During this time, she was deep in thought, pondering alone for a long time.
The chaos in her mind, a mix of her own intentions and brainwashing, led to a conclusion that only someone truly mad would come to.
‘Yes! I’ll bring that book. And then kill her. By spraying the perfume on the book… And then…!’
But the book wasn’t very nice-looking.
It was old and plain, with nothing special on the cover. Not appealing at all.
‘The Madam wouldn’t like that.’
So, let’s decorate it with flowers.
Pick the most beautiful mushrooms in the world and gather leaves untouched by insects.
Iona hummed as she staggered along.
In her mind, a book adorned with flowers floated around, looking more beautiful.
