Chapter 123. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth2021.04.06.
Since you said you only keep track of fashion trends today, you won’t be buying a lot of dresses, right? I was stupid for thinking…
“I buy all the clothes I’ve ever seen.”
Even this time it was ‘all four limbs’ instead of ‘here to there’!
“Then, I will repair it with new measurements and send it to the imperial castle.”
“Like that.”
Duke Donovan, who spent a huge amount of money with a grave face, turned to us.
“Then I’ll see you next time.”
“Your ball. Let’s meet again next time.”
After taking a step, the duke suddenly stopped and looked back.
“Perhaps we will see each other soon.”
“yes?”
“Then I’ll just leave.”
Duke Donovan left, leaving behind an unknown story. I turned my head to see Oscar’s face, his cheeks still burning red.
“Oscar. Your face is red.”
“ah. Is that so?”
Oscar put the back of his hand on my cheek and bowed his head.
“Because it was the first time my mother complimented me…”
Oscar’s true intentions somehow made me feel sad. I knew better than anyone how rigorous training and education Oscar, who was raised as the heir until I was born, had to endure. The affectionate uncle becomes a strict teacher, and the mother who wants to be loved is blunt and indifferent. Although he never revealed it, Oscar still respected and loved Duke Donovan. On the other hand, I was slightly envious of Oscar, who has a mother who can both hope for and be disappointed with.
‘Really very slightly.’
***
It was one day during a guild executive meeting. The door to the conference room was thrown open without knocking.
“I’m in trouble, the submaster!”
The person who came out of nowhere was Casey’s henchman, Dean.
“what’s the matter?”
“Wizards flocked to the guild.”
“what?”
Everyone except me was startled. I watched the situation quietly with the mindset of ‘It’s finally here’.
“We are putting all the blame on the guild, saying that fake Veneno is being released on the market. It is a failed experiment, a side effect of magic, and the damage is enormous, so the guild is threatening to pay compensation!”
Having foreseen this situation earlier, I have investigated the reason behind this incident. As a result of Casey and I investigating at the same time, there was an 80% chance that Veron Arthur Devlica was behind it. What we can’t be completely sure about is that it was distributed to Ermano in a very sophisticated and covert way.
“This is a fake Veneno. And this is real.”
Dean placed two Venenos on the conference table. It was difficult to tell them apart because they looked the same. The Evil Guild was the only distributor of Veneno in Ermano. So, of course, they were suspicious of the Evil Guild over the distribution of fake Veneno. It was also a serious matter that would fall to the ground after barely raising its reputation as the best guild of Ermano.
‘But I can’t prove the source of Veneno.’
It was entirely according to my abilities that the real Veneno came out. As the emperor, I didn’t even consider revealing my identity.
“Mabel. Wouldn’t it be better to investigate the source of this case and inform the wizards? I think it’s fine if you get rid of the guild’s suspicions.”
Oscar’s opinion was the most feasible thing for now. But I already knew that all my efforts would be in vain.
“It’s no use, Oscar. Even if it turns out that Devlin was behind this incident, the arrow will still point to our guild unless there is clear evidence.”
“why?”
“Because people are always looking for someone to blame.”
Even if the truth comes out. Mages, in particular, won’t admit their mistakes as they are proud people.
“Then what should I do, girl?”
Casey touched Veneno with a serious face. It was as if he couldn’t come up with a suitable solution. I looked around the guild officers and smiled.
“What should I do? You have to break it down.”
“What?”
“Veron.”
There was no way to stop the fake Veneno from unraveling. But revenge was possible. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
“Casey. Can I get fake Veneno seeds?”
“It is not difficult to find. But what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to release it on Devlin as well.”
“…!”
Casey’s eyes widened to the point where they couldn’t get any bigger. I laughed evilly, grabbed the fake Veneno, and squeezed my hand tightly.
“Try it once.”
The fake Veneno crumbled in his hand. As if crushing Veron, I crushed the fake Veneno with all my heart.
***
North of Schiphol, Devlin’s largest producer of Veneno. Since designating the production of magical materials as a major national industry, all farms have been under the jurisdiction of Emperor Veron Arthur Devlica.
“hey! Hurry!”
“I wish I had two bodies!”
As harvest time approached, Veneno Farm was very busy. Even if it wasn’t so, everyone was in a sensitive state as the overall yield of magic materials decreased in the aftermath of the recent drought that blew across the continent.
“Severe punishment will be given if the harvest is not met!”
“Move carefully so as not to damage the magic candle!”
The workers in the farm, where various goseongs are rampant, were diligently engaged in harvesting. Then, suddenly, a worker tilted his head looking at the Veneno piled up in the cart.
“huh? Was there a lot of sheep?”
For some reason, it seemed that the number of Venenos on the cart had increased when he bent down to harvest and swung his scythe once, then looked up again.
“It must be an illusion.”
Besides, there was a lot of quantity, so there was no reason not to like it. So did the other workers. I was shocked at the yield that was higher than I had worked, but thinking that good is good, I hummed a song and immersed myself in my work. Veneno, thus refined, soon spread all over Devlin. Some were exported abroad under the trade of the Hwangseong Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Blue came.
***
Like a farmer waiting for seeds to sprout after planting them, Veron held his breath and waited for that day. The moment when everything comes to fruition and eventually the whole world comes into my hands. Only then will you be able to writhe in joy. The wait now was only fertilizer for that day. The door to Veron’s dark bedroom opened, and his aide bowed his head at the drape-draped bed.
“your majesty. Fake Venenos are circulating in the market.”
“…so it was.”
The aide trembled at the voice that was lower than usual and deep. It was a voice that seemed to pierce the heart.
“What are you talking about?”
“That girl’s ability. I was uninspired, but now I think I know.”
“I’m sorry, but may I ask?”
A rough breath leaked out of the curtain at the aide’s question.
“It is widely known that it has healing powers. In addition, hasn’t the ability of large-scale defensive magic been shown to the public?”
“That’s right. During a swordsmanship competition, I used defensive magic to prepare for an attack and performed a healing miracle to inspire the loyalty of my people.”
That alone was great enough. It was enough to make some people say behind their backs that it was not normal to pass the throne on to a baby.
“That’s not all. I wonder if the only thing I learned from this incident is that the girl has the ability to grow plants. They grew Veneno, distributed it in their own country, and even released fake Veneno in this country, so there’s no need to look for evidence.”
“It’s a word that has enough potential.”
The aide exclaimed in admiration and bowed his head. Veron brushed his chin with his bony hand.
“There, I saw it clearly with my own eyes. That girl made a divine spear and attacked me.”
How could I have known that a young woman would have the courage to pierce the heart without hesitation without fear.
“Because of that, I can’t get out of bed like this, so how can I repay this grace?”
It was difficult to recover from an attack that was directly hit by pure divine power. On the contrary, the condition was getting worse. kuk kuk kuk. Baron laughed.
“It is a change of plan. Wouldn’t that power be a waste to just kill and get rid of it?”
A power that disappears when you die. Veron coveted that power.
“I’m going to take that bratty bitch and kneel before me. And I will take that power.”
all. without leaving. The aide knelt to his master in awe.
“Everything will be as you wish, Your Majesty.”
“okay. No way.”
The most attackable person is the one who has a lot to protect. And the girl emperor of Ermano perfectly met that condition. Veron smiled like a poisonous snake, remembering the face of a young girl who was burning with a sense of justice.
***
[Wonderful lady. The protests coming to the guild stopped suddenly. After all, the lady is the best.]
“That’s right. Maybe it’s because I’m the best.”
It was also thanks to the tweeters who took the fake Veneno and put it on a production wagon.
[Lady Loyalty Loyalty. Then I’ll go see how I can break through the trade of foreign merchants. I have to pay for the meal too. I’ll go!]
Casey cut off the communication with an excited laugh. It was such a good thing that this case was passed safely.
“Mabel. Why is your expression so dark? Things worked out well.”
“that is. Aren’t you too quiet?”
I felt it every time, but Veron never rushed. He always maintained a hit-and-run technique. If he really intended to bring it down, he would have had to use all means, but he never did. As if ‘it’s not the time yet’. Anyway, this case went smoothly. The wizards who were protesting against the guild wiped their mouths after learning that the fake commotion in Devlin San Veneno had spread abroad. It goes without saying that Devlin’s reputation has fallen. There was no apology for the uproar, but I was satisfied with the fact that I was no longer threatened.
‘It doesn’t matter. It’s not like I’m trying to be praised by others.’
Still, I couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed.
“your majesty. You must prepare now.”
Larimar came in and urged me on. I nodded and hid the communication phrase from view.
“Come on, let’s go.”
“huh.”
I took Xavier and Larimar’s hands side by side and headed for the dressing room. Oscar was also seen going back to his room to get ready. Today was the day when Langard’s delegation arrived at the imperial castle of Ermano late in the afternoon.
‘I said Renesmee and Dylan were coming.’
He said that the two siblings of Langard, my cousin of King Gojong, were personally included in the delegation. The royal family said that even two of them would come, so naturally, Ermano decided to show their sincerity, and I, who was curious about them, readily agreed to the role of welcoming the delegation.
“All right. Today’s concept is a wonderful majesty.”
“You look really good.”
Larimar and Nanny praised me as they trimmed my hair.
“thank you.”
After giving thanks with a smile, I went outside and Oscar, who had been waiting for me while talking to Aidan, looked at me and smiled broadly.
“It suits you well, Mabel.”
“Oscar looks good too. Did you wait a long time?”
“It’s always worth the time I wait for you. short or long.”
I narrowed my eyes as I watched Oscar speak so naturally and kindly. It’s okay because I’m still young, but I have an ominous feeling that when I get a little older, I’ll become a huge flirt. It doesn’t matter if it’s me, since it’s my family, but if you smile like that at another young lady, I won’t be able to stop falling for it. I deliberately looked up at Oscar sternly.
“Oscar. You shouldn’t say things like that to other people.”
“…why?”
“Because you are so kind!”
“Then why not?”
“No. Now, you have to harden your expression like this and glar at it like this. It is forbidden to smile kindly. okay?”
“okay.”
Again, I warned Oscar, who was trying to smile kindly, and headed to the hall where I was supposed to meet the delegation.
“dad.”
“Welcome, Mabel.”
After my father seated me at the top of the table, I sat next to him. Oscar was also seated next to the other side. As Aidan and Lisandro stood behind me, the attendant guarding the hall door said.
“The Langard Empire’s envoys have arrived!”
Beyond the huge door, a group of people climbed the stairs and entered slowly. Representative of the delegation Every other day, a middle-aged man and a boy and a girl next to him. As soon as I saw them, I knew they were my relatives, Renesmee and Dylan. Renesmee was a girl with soft, round eyes, and Dylan was a boy with a slightly mischievous face. Perhaps afraid of the unfamiliar environment, Renesmee hid behind Dylan and blinked anxiously. And the last thing to come in.
“Kreureung…”
It was a giant-sized tiger. I could see the servants who were seated today saying ‘hi-ik’ and saving themselves. The representative of the delegation stopped and greeted us politely.
“I am Duke Orwell Tristan leading the Langard delegation.”
“Welcome, Lord Tristan.”
I smiled leisurely at Duke Tristan. Then the duke smiled meaningfully and winked at his attendant. The attendant dragged the gagged beast forward.
“Kleurreung…”
“It is a gift of peace from the Langard Empire to the Ermano Empire. Please accept it.”
Then the beast began to struggle with an aggressive spirit. The people of Ermano were frightened and backed away, but my reaction was different.
‘Eh.’
Are you making a beast of prey right now? That too in front of me?
