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Chapter 160
Useless Plan
Olivia walked toward Ferda with a smile on her face.
Ferda decided to offer a greeting out of courtesy.
"I greet the Princess—."
"Shh."
Her finger lightly pressed against Ferda's lips.
Е nǔm̃a. і d
The finger was soft, and a rich floral scent spread.
"I'm not a Princess here. I came as a single believer, as part of the relief corps."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Is that so?"
"What brings you here, Mr. Ferda?"
He couldn't very well say he came to meet his confidant, so he decided to lie.
"A beggar stole my gold coin and ran off, so I gave chase."
Е̃ñ û m̈ а.і̌ d
"No matter how angry you were, what would you have done coming this deep?"
"Indeed."
"There must be many people targeting the Regent. We can't let you expose your identity like this."
Olivia laughed softly and beckoned behind her.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
One of the men behind her produced a robe and handed it to Olivia.
"Come with me as my escort."
Е̌ nu mа
Ferda stared down at that robe.
Normally, he would have just ignored it and moved on.
But the very cause of Ferda's conflict for the past several hours was standing right in front of him, wasn't she?
As Garnet said, asking the person directly could also be an answer.
"Understood."
Ferda put on the robe.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Stand by my side. A little closer."
Making the other escorts who accompanied her look pointless, Olivia positioned Ferda right next to her.
Ferda asked her with an uncomfortable expression.
"Isn't this too close?"
"I thought you might have something you want to say. Isn't that why you accepted this absurd request?"
Her perceptiveness was remarkably sharp.
Еn ům̈ а . іd̆
"But before that, let's do a little work together."
"...Understood."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
He wasn't curious about why Olivia was here, but since the topic to bring up wasn't light, he had no choice but to go along willingly.
The place she headed for was the beggars' hideout.
Unwashed, darkish skin.
Body odor far from fragrance mingled together, and a child's crying sang of despair.
Ë n u m̂.а_
In such a place, Olivia felt like a single ray of light.
The listless, lifeless beggars busily moved at the sight of her.
Even the children hidden away tightly were lined up and knelt.
Had they realized she was the Princess?
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
That wasn't it.
They were untouchables who couldn't even see the Princess's face.
Е̇n̂ǔ mа . і d
To them, the heavens were local thugs and the Alte Religion's relief corps.
They must have judged it to be the latter through Olivia's robe.
Olivia had also stepped foot here for that very purpose.
What the escorts following behind Olivia brought were relief supplies.
When they produced freshly baked bread and a cup of water, Olivia handed them out one by one.
"This is the grace and mercy of Alte, the Almighty Light."
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Olivia spoke thus, and the beggars responded mechanically.
"We give thanks for the grace of the Great Alte."
She dealt with them one by one like that.
It took a long time, and above all, it was a foul-smelling task.
Seeing her beautiful hands, some people slightly touched her fingers, wanting to feel even a little.
But Olivia neither showed displeasure nor recoiled in horror.
Е n û m̈a
By the time she had distributed all the bread and water, her beautiful hands were covered in stains.
"Is this part of your Saintess training?"
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Ferda asked.
Olivia wiped her hands with a perfume-scented handkerchief and answered.
"Would you believe me if I said I've been doing this since long ago?"
Ferda answered directly.
Е̃ n u m̂а̄
"Not particularly believable."
Not just anyone, but the Princess.
And for that Princess, whose insides were full of schemes, to show benevolence to humans was hard for Ferda to believe.
"As expected, right?"
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Olivia just laughed naturally at that reaction.
"As I said, there are far too many people in this Empire. Because there are so many, we forget how precious humans are. Like swapping parts in a giant machine."
Ē ñ û mа̃.
Even if many people die, the Empire's capital will remain intact.
Olivia had spoken of a solution to this problem.
"That's why you said a Second Capital is needed."
"Yes. You only realize its preciousness when faced with the crisis of losing it."
This, too, could be an action to gain political support.
But even nobles renowned as aristocrats for the common people don't actively help others as much as Olivia.
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Valdemar Golt, called the Hero of the People, didn't even treat untouchables as human.
It was undoubtedly possible because of a conviction beyond politics.
Watching her actions, Ferda made up his mind and opened his mouth.
"Grand Duke Golt made a proposal."
The smile vanished from her lips.
"What proposal?"
Ӗň um ӑ
Ferda answered calmly.
"He said he'd guarantee the Far East's safety in exchange for selling you out."
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"Did you accept?"
Contrary to the expectation that she'd be shocked, she moved to the next question.
"I deferred my answer. Unilaterally on their part."
"It makes you think. It means they have that much confidence."
Е nûm á .іd
"Seems like it."
An uncomfortable silence circled after that.
Her expression hidden within the robe couldn't be read.
Regret over whether he'd asked a needless question poked at Ferda.
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As they walked, her footsteps stopped.
Her gaze, concealed by the robe, was directed somewhere.
Е n̈ ùma
There, an old woman and a gaunt child were begging.
The child lay powerlessly in the old woman's arms, and the old woman held up a wooden bowl, begging for mercy.
"Do you know this?"
Olivia spoke, looking at that old woman.
"What is it?"
"Grand Duke Valdemar Golt once enacted a policy for these destitute people. Free education. He enabled children who couldn't even get water to wash with to learn letters and arithmetic."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Writing is the exclusive domain of the upper class.
At the same time, being able to handle letters meant a foothold could be gained from the commoner class.
"Don't you think it's a policy befitting a hero of the common people?"
"Isn't it?"
"No, it's not. He enacted such a policy because he knew it was just a good-sounding excuse, a useless policy."
Her chin pointed toward the child in the old woman's arms.
E n u m а
"For them, immediate food is more important than educating them to see the distant future. It's more efficient to use the child as a tool to gain sympathy than to stake the future on the child. That's why they run a business renting out children like that."
Renting out children.
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Hearing her words, Ferda looked at the old woman and the child.
Sure enough, they were complete strangers with no resemblance whatsoever.
"So if you truly want the future, you mustn't give money to beggars begging like that. If you prove that renting out children makes money, in the end they'll only live as tools for adults and pass down poverty."
Cruel, but rational words.
Е ň úṁ а
She seemed about to ignore it and turn away, but Olivia crouched down and placed a single silver coin from her bosom.
The old woman bowed her head in gratitude for that grace.
No matter how rational and logical a solution exists, she is human.
In the end, an emotional human who cannot simply ignore the tragedy before her eyes.
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"...About Grand Duke Golt's proposal."
Olivia spoke.
W.ѐ b̂ṅо v̀ е̃ ľ Ёň umа
Emotion revealed itself on her lips.
Ferda knew that emotion well.
Deep sorrow and burning anger intertwined, forging a cold blade.
"Accept it."
It was revenge.
* * *
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Day 2 in the Empire, morning.
Belying the leisure of the clear morning sun, an attack on Ferda began.
In front of the luxury inn where Ferda was staying.
A group moved there and set up a platform.
Once the stage was complete, a middle-aged man in noble attire stood upon it.
"Subjects of the Empire, please lend me your ears!"
En ŭm̈а̂
With a mage's assistance, he used amplification magic to captivate the people on their commute.
"Today I stand here to accuse a murderer!"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
At the shocking purpose, a crowd naturally gathered.
"My name is Peri Urey. I am a Duke of the Heinckel Kingdom, a noble not belonging to this Empire!"
The position of Duke is comparable to a king of a nation.
For such a person to stand on the street and throw honorifics at commoners was a truly shocking sight.
Е̊ǹ u m̄ а
"Today I stand here as a father who lost a child! My son is Marcus. Unlike this worthless father, he was a promising child. He surely would have led the territory splendidly, unlike his loser of a father! Such a child...!"
Duke Urey's hands trembled.
The sorrow of losing a child transcended status.
"That child participated in the Spring Festival and was attacked, disappearing just like that. Until then, I only thought it was the work of monsters. But under the Great Alte's light, there is no darkness that can hide forever."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Rising emotions.
Escalating atmosphere.
Еn̈ u mа̊.. і_d
"I found out who killed my son, and I came here today to accuse them!"
Duke Urey pointed at the luxury inn and exposed.
"The Regent and fiancé of the Valdrova Grand Duchy, Ferda Valdrova! That man is the culprit who murdered my son!"
* * *
Everything flowed according to plan.
Duke Urey gained sympathy as a father who lost his son, and the rumor spread in an instant.
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They say a rumor travels a thousand li without feet, but it spread throughout the whole region in just 2 hours.
Someone definitely worked behind the scenes.
But what does the behind-the-scenes work matter?
To these people, what mattered was that Duke Urey lost his son, and Ferda Valdrova was a murderer.
Ferda moved his feet to attend the Golden Congress again.
The moment he stepped outside, piercing gazes turned toward him.
Еn ù m̆а́..іd̄
If things had gone according to plan, the condemnation should have started yesterday, but it only began today.
"I'll escort you safely."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Count Consillus's expression turned grim, like someone going to war.
He knew that if something from that commoner crowd flew and touched Ferda's body, it would become irreversible.
Ferda, mounted on his horse, examined them.
'Anger and loathing...'
W̊е b̆n̆ ǒv êl̄ Е̃ n̄ü m ä
Ferda revealed no emotion.
He neither wanted to understand those raging in ignorance, nor make them understand.
Thus he entered the Golden Congress.
The devoted husband Ferda had become a sinner and the subject of gossip.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Strangely, the security officers' searches became even more stringent.
"Regent."
Еn uṁа́ . і̄ ď
Before entering the Congress, an old man called out to Ferda.
The culprit who created this mess.
Valdemar Golt stood there like a chief justice.
"Are you prepared to give an answer regarding the proposal?"
Everything ends if he just sells Olivia.
She herself volunteered to be the bait.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Hand over Olivia, and the Far East's matters pass easily.
"Yes."
Ferda answered.
"Unfortunately, a person's heart is not something I can change."
"...Is that so."
Valdemar neither clung on pathetically nor grew angry.
W̊ е̊b n̊ ӧ v́е̃ ľ Ӗ n_ůmа
He simply nodded as if understanding.
"I understand your intention well."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The calm before the storm hits.
He thought knowing that would at least keep him from being disturbed, but it wasn't so.
His mind calmed, and he felt as if the worries shaking Ferda had all fled.
Ferda quietly took his seat.
En umа .і d
"Since everyone has taken their seats, let us convene."
The hall quieted at Chairman Acad's words.
"Before dealing with the magitech technology acquisition, I wish to address one unforgivable sin first."
Everyone knew what that unforgivable sin was.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Regent Ferda, would you please ascend the witness stand?"
Ferda stepped up to that position as if he'd been waiting.
Е̂ n ù m ã. i̊ d
"Regent Ferda, as you know, you are currently identified as the murderer of Duke Urey's son."
Rumor without feet travels fast, and the processing is just as quick.
"And Duke Urey has formally protested to the Empire. To address this situation that may hinder diplomacy between nations, we permitted the attendance of a lord within the Heinckel Kingdom's territory at this Golden Congress."
With those words, Duke Urey entered inside.
The first face he'd seen since the Grand Council.
But the flustered, powerless Duke Urey from that time was nowhere to be found.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
He was exactly as Valdemar Golt had described.
'A face with nothing left to lose.'
Eyes burning for revenge, resolved to perish together now that he'd lost everything in the world.
'...Not enough.'
Ferda needed certainty.
"Regent Ferda, do you admit to killing Duke Urey's son?"
W̌ ebṅo_v́ е̄l Е num̌а
The Chairman questioned, and Ferda tried to answer.
His gaze turned to Duke Urey.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Marcus Urey..."
Ferda did what he did best.
"Committed a crime deserving of death."
Duke Urey's anger exploded.
Е ñum̌ а̊
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