ICM Chapter 115
The date for the Noble Council’s assembly was set, and when the Emperor unusually expressed his intention to attend the Noble Council meeting in person, the incident became an even greater topic of discussion.
Given the revealed circumstances, it was impossible to demand a formal trial. Knowing this, Oclein played his strong hand by mobilizing the Noble Council, and everyone was surprised by his aggressive move. Presumably, there was the Emperor’s instigation behind it.
Without time to prepare, Ashika was summoned to the Noble Council meeting within a week.
At the government building in the city center, not the imperial palace, dozens of nobles attending the council meeting had gathered. Due to the urgent summons, nobles who couldn’t come from their territories sent representatives to maintain their family’s seat.
Inside the building made of cold gray marble, those who had been murmuring and gathering in front of the meeting room door all widened their eyes in surprise at once.
“Look there. She really came.”
“My goodness, she has no fear. What business does a delicate lady have coming here?”
“Say what you will, but she is the Young Duchess Igraine. To send a representative would damage the family’s dignity.”
“But how shameful is it for an unmarried lady to lose face?”
At the center of everyone’s gaze, a woman approached with graceful steps. Her calm silver-gray dress was buttoned up to the neck, and her black hair was firmly pinned up, showing not a single gap.
Ashika rarely showed herself at balls attended by many unmarried men and women or at ladies’ tea parties. Since she could only be seen at mandatory official events, many didn’t even know her face.
“How could she not come? If she doesn’t want to be prosecuted, she’ll have to actively explain herself.”
“My goodness, who would be so fearless as to prosecute Igraine?”
“With His Majesty behind it, what couldn’t be done?”
“But did you hear that story? About Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager, I mean.”
Nobles gathered in small groups, putting their heads together and whispering.
Jeanne, who had been following behind Ashika, scowled fiercely as she glared around. Due to her sharp hearing, she could hear people’s whispers even when she didn’t want to.
“People who can’t say a word directly to her face have suddenly grown bold.”
Normally, she would have said a word or two to calm down. But today, even Ashika couldn’t say anything. She even felt grateful to Jeanne for getting angry on her behalf first.
“Jeanne, escort knights cannot enter the meeting room.”
“Yes, I understand. I’ll wait at the entrance until you come out.”
Jeanne looked at Ashika’s face with concern. Though she maintained her usual upright posture, Ashika’s face was pale. No matter how strong-willed she was, she couldn’t help but be nervous in such a situation.
Leaving Jeanne outside, Ashika moved toward the open meeting room. To avoid showing her nervousness, she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. As always, her gaze looking ahead showed no hesitation.
Was it because she was overly tense, or was it less frightening than expected? The moment she stepped inside, Ashika’s heart sank cold.
Heavy wooden chairs surrounded the long oval space in the center. Dozens of seats were occupied by nobles who had arrived early, and unlike the corridor, the inside of the meeting room was quiet.
Weive had already arrived and taken his seat in the meeting room. It was the seat Ashika had attended as a representative for the past few years. The nobles who had been chattering outside didn’t dare speak up in front of Weive.
When Ashika entered, Drushia, who had been sitting in a chair on the opposite side, stood up and nodded lightly. Ashika quietly turned her gaze away from him.
Just a few days ago, the tremendous stories she had poured out to him came to mind, and she unconsciously bit her lip. Throughout her story, Drushia had asked nothing. It was rather Ashika who was surprised by his unperturbed attitude.
Only once had Drushia reacted – when she spoke of Iben. He found it harder to believe that Iben was the last Grand Duchess of Arkpella than the strange hallucinations Ashika had experienced.
And the source of all this trouble was also present. At the end of Ashika’s gaze, she could see Marquis Maiheller sitting leisurely. The way he watched her while fondling the cane beside him with his hand was chilling.
At first, she had been uncertain. She thought it might be a mistake. But among those who survived the nightmare-like disaster of the Grand Duchy were only the bloodline said to be blessed by the gods.
There were Ibis and the Emperor, and one more person in that place. Those greedy blue-green eyes that had been looking at Ibis – it was Marquis Maiheller.
“The meeting will begin.”
At the sudden voice, Ashika emerged from her reverie. She had been so absorbed that she didn’t even notice when the Emperor had entered the seat of honor in the distance, or that Marquis Oclein had been glaring at her.
“Young Duchess Igraine must take responsibility for my son’s death. I seek agreement from those attending this meeting on this matter.”
Marquis Oclein, who bore a face similar to Coral’s, spoke first. It was Weive who stood up to confront him.
“I’ve compiled and submitted a report written in Igraine’s name and testimonies from witnesses at the scene. Where in all that is there grounds for prosecution?”
“Young Duchess Igraine was the only person at the scene. How can it make sense that she knows nothing!”
“She lost consciousness. The witnesses actually said they found two people collapsed. Not even a weapon was found at the scene.”
Coral had died from a wound to the neck. The imperial knights had thoroughly searched the lounge that day, but no weapon was ever found. While it was likely that the perpetrator was someone else, Marquis Oclein found it hard to accept.
“My son is dead. My only son!”
“If someone died, you should catch the murderer, not wrongly target my granddaughter! Is Marquis Oclein trying to take out his frustration on Igraine!”
Weive, who rarely showed emotion, burst out shouting.
Convening the meeting in the first place was absurd. With insufficient evidence alone, a high-ranking noble could not be dragged to such a public venue. Weive was furious that he couldn’t dissolve the meeting and had ultimately let Ashika come to this place.
“Who knows if she’s an accomplice or not? So Young Duchess Igraine must prove the truth in court!”
“Who dares put Igraine on trial!”
Not only nobles were present at this gathering. The nobles didn’t dare speak up, mindful of the Emperor’s attention, and only the two agitated men openly displayed their anger.
The Emperor watched the dispute with interest. Though he had hastily instigated the nobles, things were becoming more interesting than expected.
Igraine, who held the empire’s purse strings, would suffer a major blow from this incident. It could become a quite useful weakness.
“Both of you should calm down. Shouldn’t we hear from the person involved?”
It was Count Lutenun, the meeting moderator, who stepped in for mediation. As one of the representative neutral forces, he was an elderly gentleman with white hair.
When all eyes focused on her, Ashika stood up from her seat. She didn’t turn her gaze anywhere around her. She looked only at Marquis Oclein, who was showing hostility.
“Marquis Oclein, you know that this wasn’t the first time I was attacked by Lord Oclein. Yet you still want to hold me responsible?”
“That was…”
“Even though the engagement was broken off due to your son’s wrongdoing, he harbored resentment and invaded Igraine’s villa to attack me. That was actually an opportunity for me to prosecute your son, but I let it pass. Have you forgotten that fact?”
“My son came back injured that day! That’s why you chose silence instead of prosecution! It’s all over and done with!”
To Oclein’s shameless shouting, Ashika replied coldly, not backing down.
“Lord Oclein attempted to do the same thing once more. He deliberately waited in the ladies’ lounge, drugged me, and tried to drag me away. I lost consciousness while resisting. That’s all I know.”
“If not Lady Igraine, then who, and why would they kill my son!”
“Shouldn’t you ask the knights who were guarding the palace?”
The marquis threw a tantrum, forgetting his dignity. The more excited he became, the colder Ashika’s mind grew.
Count Lutenun glanced sideways at the Emperor sitting at the head table and stepped forward again.
“What we need to decide today is whether to prosecute Young Duchess Igraine. I ask for opinions from those who have reviewed the materials distributed in advance. Those who agree with the prosecution, please stand up. If more than half agree, the Noble Council will accept Marquis Oclein’s accusation and agree to formally send this matter to court.”
He swept the entire meeting room with his gaze, but no one stood up from their seats. They had attended this gathering because the situation was interesting, but none actually thought this matter would go to court.
Marquis Oclein’s face contorted mercilessly.
He too knew that Coral had been obsessed with Ashika. But he thought it was due to greed for titles and territory. When his eldest son died in an accident and Coral became the heir, he never imagined he would get involved with Ashika again.
Marquis Oclein couldn’t believe it. Both the fact that his son had tried to harm Ashika and the story about attempted kidnapping were all just Igraine’s words.
He believed his son couldn’t have done such things, that there must have been some scheme. And at the center of it was that woman. Ashika, who had never once looked back at his son with that cold, piercing face.
His son was dead, yet the woman who had become the cause was still alive and well – this fact made him see red with rage. So when he received contact from the Emperor, he accepted the proposal without hesitation.
The proposal to definitely find the murderer and help him vent the dead Coral’s grievances.
“Is there no one who will sympathize with my injustice!”
At Marquis Oclein’s cry, Marquis Maiheller looked around the meeting room. None of the dozens of nobles showed agreement. They were merely watching with interest to see how this would unfold.
Marquis Oclein ground his teeth. Even though it was an expected result, his insides burned.
“If Young Duchess Igraine cannot be put on trial in the empire’s court, I will follow the law of justice. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, force for force. I will wage territorial war against Igraine.”
Sharp screams burst from the mouths of the nobles who had been silent.