ITIF Chapter 118

The Real and the Fake (2)

As expected, Joshua’s mark was fake.

However, uncertainties still remained.

Whether the drawing on his wrist was a temporary overlay or a tattoo. Depending on that, the situation could change drastically.

“The idea of determining whether it’s real or fake isn’t bad. But you’d better think carefully, Duke Cardia.”

Joshua walked toward Kavelaseth and pointed at his mark.

“If that mark is revealed to be fake, you won’t be able to escape responsibility for the crime of impersonating a Descendant of Heaven and deceiving the Empire’s citizens, as well as insulting the Imperial Family.”

“…….”

“You will also be thoroughly held accountable for doubting and insulting me, the Crown Prince and Descendant of Heaven. So what do you say? Is it still all right to verify whether the mark is real or fake?”

Unlike a moment ago when he had shown bewilderment, Joshua now displayed a somewhat relaxed attitude.

Giselle Grante assumed the worst-case scenario.

If by any chance the mark on Joshua’s wrist was real.

If they couldn’t prove here and now that the mark on Joshua’s wrist was fake, the subsequent situation would become very complicated.

It was when Giselle Grante began to worry.

“……?”

Kavelaseth suddenly walked to the edge of the platform.

Naturally, not only her but everyone’s eyes turned to Kavelaseth.

Kavelaseth, who had walked to the table, picked up a glass. Then he walked toward Joshua.

It was the moment Joshua’s brow furrowed sharply as he watched to see what Kavelaseth was trying to do.

Kavelaseth tilted the glass he was holding. The water in the glass flowed down Joshua’s wrist.

Soon the dye on his wrist began to spread and blur.

“……!”

Watching this, Kavelaseth spoke meaningfully.

“This proves that one of the two marks is false.”

Then he poured the remaining water in the glass over his own chest.

Unlike Joshua’s mark, which had blurred and spread as soon as it touched water, Kavelaseth’s mark remained unchanged.

The people inside the Grand Temple were engulfed in confusion and shock.

This proved that the mark of the Crown Prince, whom they had believed with absolute certainty to be the Descendant of Heaven, was fake, and that Duke Cardia’s mark was real.

“Arrest the Empress who murdered His Majesty the Emperor and the Crown Prince who was complicit!”

The Knight Commander, who had been watching the situation unfold, ordered the knights who had been occupying the Grand Temple.

As the knights protecting the Empress and Crown Prince confronted the Emperor’s knights, the Grand Temple instantly became a scene of chaos.

****

Realizing they had become targets of the knights surrounding the Grand Temple, the Empress and Joshua chose to flee.

Since many people had gathered from all over the Empire to mourn the Emperor, there were quite a few knights to escort the Empress and Joshua.

However, being numerically inferior was a fact.

“This way! Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

Count Court Anwarz guided the Empress and Crown Prince to a narrow path leading to a side door.

As they proceeded down the cramped path, Joshua spoke irritably.

“Where the hell did all those people come from?”

Count Court Anwarz drew in a sharp breath.

“That’s what I’d like to know…….”

At the question Joshua raised, the Empress frowned.

Only the Emperor and the Chief Chamberlain knew exactly how many personnel guarded the Emperor.

Naturally, they had predicted that there would be more of the Emperor’s guards besides those they frequently saw.

However, they had never anticipated there would be enough personnel to occupy the massive Grand Temple.

“Count Court Anwarz.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Did you get a good look at the knights surrounding the Grand Temple?”

Count Court Anwarz, who had blinked several times, answered.

“The situation was so urgent that I didn’t look closely. Why do you ask?”

“You know well. That His Majesty the Emperor didn’t particularly like the northern ethnic minorities.”

“Of course.”

Count Court Anwarz nodded and then immediately closed his mouth.

Though it was softened by saying he “didn’t particularly like” them, in truth the Emperor had virtually oppressed the northern ethnic minorities.

It was because he had been wary of their destructively strong power and cohesion.

“Come to think of it, there were quite a few among the knights in the Grand Temple who had appearances similar to the northern ethnic minorities…….”

At Joshua’s words, a rather unpleasant assumption suddenly flashed through Count Court Anwarz’s mind.

However, just as he was about to voice the thought that had come to him, an exit began to come into view.

“Go ahead and check the situation outside.”

Count Court Anwarz gave instructions to the knight ahead. Then he turned around and added.

“For now, let’s return to the Imperial Palace and regroup with the knights there.”

“We’ll have to do that.”

Both the Crown Prince and the Empress nodded.

In fact, that was the only option.

To deal with the numerous knights surrounding the inside of the Grand Temple, they first needed to return to the Imperial Palace and reorganize.

However, even when they had almost reached the exit, the knights who had gone to check the outside situation had not returned.

“What happened to the knights who went ahead?”

It was when Count Court Anwarz asked another knight. The knight who had gone outside the Grand Temple returned.

“It’s safe outside!”

Thinking it fortunate, Count Court Anwarz quickened his pace. But the moment they finally exited the Grand Temple, his face turned deathly pale.

“……!”

Joshua, who had been muttering complaints toward Count Court Anwarz and the knights blocking the narrow path, also froze in place.

The exit was already blocked by knights wearing black uniforms.

“We’re in a hurry, but instead of going out right away, what are you standing there……!”

The Empress, who belatedly recognized the situation, trembled with a sense of betrayal. Among the knights standing in a row with weapons, the High Priest was mixed in.

The Empress, grinding her teeth so hard they might break, couldn’t contain her rising anger and shouted.

“High Priest……!”

At the Empress’s gaze that said she wouldn’t be satisfied even if she devoured him, the High Priest sidled slightly.

Even though he hid his body behind the back of a tall knight, he could clearly feel the Empress’s fury.

****

The people gathered at the Grand Temple were abuzz not only because the Empress and Crown Prince had been arrested during the Emperor’s funeral, but also because it was revealed that the Crown Prince’s mark was fake.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason for their excitement.

It was the identity of the one who possessed the true mark of the Descendant of Heaven.

After the knights who came to subdue the Empress and Crown Prince left, Kavelaseth, who naturally stood at the center of the platform, continued his memorial address.

“Though there was a rather unfortunate incident…….”

The speed of his speech was neither slow nor fast, but each word Kavelaseth uttered with refined and precise pronunciation had the power to elevate people’s expectations.

His impeccable and upright posture without a hint of disorder revealed his flawless disposition, and in his slightly raised chin, one could glimpse his arrogant yet noble character.

Clap, clap. Clap clap clap!

When Kavelaseth’s memorial address ended, thunderous applause erupted.

Regardless of status, everyone blessed the birth of the new Emperor with one heart and one mind.

Because while one who possessed the mark of the Descendant of Heaven reigned as Emperor, the Phasis Empire would be incomparably wealthy and prosperous.

It was stability that had finally arrived after the death of Imperial Princess Trinity, who had been designated as the next Emperor, and even the death of the Emperor who had reigned as a tyrant.

Kavelaseth, standing in an upright posture and slowly looking at the faces of the cheering people, stopped his gaze on Giselle Grante’s face.

When their eyes met, Kavelaseth showed a faint smile.

Giselle Grante also looked at his face and slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

Rejoicing that what had been taken had been reclaimed.

****

“Without any solid evidence, to commit such rudeness toward me…….”

The Empress, who had been moving her mouth incessantly even while being dragged to prison, felt a piercing gaze and turned her head.

A haggard woman beyond an unidentifiable iron cage was glaring at the Empress.

“…….”

The woman said nothing and merely glared at the Empress. The gaze was so sharp that the Empress flinched and stepped back.

However, she soon judged that she was not someone to be feared.

Because the woman was standing beyond the iron bars.

The Empress, who had been glaring back at the woman with an uncomfortable feeling, soon realized who the woman was.

“You’re the one who murdered my daughter Imperial Princess Trinity?”

A sneer flowed through the Empress’s teeth.

Clang. Clang.

As if responding to the sneer, Lady Oppenheimer grabbed the iron bars and began shaking them violently.

Her broken arm seemed to have already healed.

She knew well how sturdy the iron bars of the place where Lady Oppenheimer was imprisoned were, given that she was incarcerated for first-degree murder. Nevertheless, fear came first for a moment.

She was shaking them so hard it seemed the iron bars would break at any moment.

The Empress deliberately turned her head away, pretending not to notice. And she continued to babble words asserting her innocence.

“Everyone knows that His Majesty the Emperor passed away from old age, yet I’ve fallen victim to the schemes of those trying to frame me…….”

It was as the Empress was being led by the knights’ hands deep into the prison.

A mocking voice came from somewhere.

“Ha, what kind of state is this for the great Her Majesty the Empress?”

Not stopping there, a murky voice continued to ridicule the Empress.

The Empress frowned and turned her head toward the direction the voice came from.

Baron Cypress, who had been half-lying on a bed, walked sluggishly toward the Empress and sneered.

“My, what brings such an honorable person to such a humble place? I hear you murdered His Majesty the Emperor……. What method did you use exactly? Poison? Or perhaps…….”

“How rude!”

The Empress cut off Baron Cypress’s words with a short reprimand.

Then she slowly approached where he was.