***

Then there was a knock on the door. The door opened and in walked Dagger and Bastard.

‘Thank goodness Dagger’s okay.’

Nicole was relieved to see Dagger; they were accomplices in this together.

Nicole winked at Dagger. Dagger returned Nicole’s look that said, ‘Well, I’m fine, so don’t worry about me.’

“I’ve got Dagger. I sent Estok to the rehearsal hall.”

Bastard said, his face as calm as ever. Raul nodded.

“So, are you going to keep her here?”

That’s when Bastard looked at Nicole’s outfit, puzzled.

Bastard was a man of sound mind. He was also a knight. It was rude to nobles, including knights, to see a scantily clad woman they didn’t know.

Besides, Nicole had been injured on a mission, so he didn’t know if he should ask how his colleague was doing or apologize for seeing her scantily clad.

“If you’re so embarrassed, turn around.”

Raul scolded. Bastard’s ears flushed and he turned away. Raul was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the sight.

He gestured, and Dagger swooped in.

The bed Nicole sat on had four pillars that connected to the ceiling. Two layers of curtains hung from each pole, which Dagger untied and drew closed with ease.

“Speak.”

Raul said. Dagger nodded meekly.

“My lord. I have been rash in my actions. I reported to you long ago that something was definitely hidden in the Marquise of Saratheve’s cellar, but due to the nature of the mansion, I was unable to access it, so I took extraordinary measures. It was a reckless move, and I apologize.”

“Do you even know what exactly you did wrong?”

“I acted recklessly, I got emotional, and my biggest fault is that I didn’t debrief you before I did it.”

Dagger said. Nicole was a little impressed that he spoke with such sophistication despite his young age.

“Why is it that only one person is at fault? Karen, what about her?”

Raul snapped.

“Karen was only following my instructions. I set the fire, I ordered her to peek into the basement for an opportunity, so it’s all on me.”

Nicole was inwardly touched by Dagger’s total defense of her. But Raul only snorted.

“That’s not funny, you two make such a good team, and now that she’s been exposed, I’m torn between disposing of her and you.”

“My lord.”

Bastard spoke up.

“While it’s true that Dagger was in the wrong, he did catch Marquis Saratheve in a major weakness. He was killing people for a ritual, and that’s pretty valuable information. Besides, Ms. Karen is a…….”

Nicole had expected Bastard to be blindsided by Dagger and blame her. For most of her life, Bastard had actually hated Nicole.

A woman who hated their lord, Raul, and shunned the duties of a Grand Duchess. That was his assessment of her.

He made no secret of it. He was too modest to say it out loud, but he showed his disdain in his demeanor.

“In any case, Miss Karen succeeded in getting inside the Marquis’s room. She even managed to steal some important evidence. She covered her face with a veil the entire time she was working inside the gambling house and the Marquis’ mansion, so I think you should give her another chance. It’s quite remarkable that she managed to do this much on her first assignment.”

“That’s quite generous of you for a woman you barely know, Bastard.”

“I apologize if I was presumptuous.”

Raul gave a crooked smile. He’d realized earlier that both Dagger and Bastard cared about this woman. Even if Dagger was still a kid…….

“Looks like she’s cast you all a spell since you all seem to be firmly enthralled by her.”

Bastard closed his mouth. But he didn’t take back his words.

“That’s it. You’ve done your research on the copper plate, right?”

“Yes. It’s a social symbol of a recent cult that goes by the name of the Blood Record, and the object of their worship is an ancient demon. They say it’s only given to core members who donate large sums of money.”

In recent years, bizarre religious groups worshiping ancient demonic deities have been popping up here and there.

They weren’t strong enough to be considered mainstream yet, but they were a nuisance.

Bastard explained briefly. Worshippers of ancient demons, they practiced a kind of socialization that had been around since ancient times. The rituals were usually unremarkable.

Some of the rituals had tangible effects.

They might make you feel better, or improve your concentration, but that was about it.

“It’s no secret that the Marquis of Saratheve’s natural abilities are tenuous. Perhaps he was trying to enhance his abilities through this ritual.”

“There’s no way something like that could really work.”

Raul said nonchalantly.

“Of course not, which is why the circumstances…… seem to indicate that the Marquis of Saratheve is being scammed, especially with the rituals involving the blood of the living…….. He’s been smuggling in a large number of people to be sacrificed, mostly outsiders or unrelated prisoners. Perhaps it has something to do with that ritual.”

“The Marquis of Saratheve is that stupid? Yeah, well, he’s an imperial bastard, and the imperial family doesn’t use just anyone.”

The Marquis of Saratheve, Gaston, was actually quite good at his job. He just had a bad reputation for being cruel.

“What if the Marquis of Saratheve is just as desperate?”

Just then, Nicole pulled back the translucent curtain and poked her head out. Her pale face stared straight at Raul.

“What if…… he is losing his powers?”

“……Keep talking.”

Raul’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Nicole.

“From what I’ve been able to piece together, the Marquis of Saratheve has fallen into a cult. Normally, a person living under normal circumstances wouldn’t fall for a false belief, but the Marquis of Saratheve has made his lack of abilities a complex his entire life. If he’s losing even his tenuous abilities, wouldn’t that make him a candidate for a religious scam?”

Raul frowned for a moment.

“His powers are useless to him anyway, and you think he’s going to go crazy just because he’s losing them?”

Nicole had something to say about that. Nicole had hated Raul her entire life. The reason she hated him the most was…….

‘I hated you because you were so amazing, so shiny, so good.’

When she realized that the rest of the world loved and praised someone who was the devil to her. The more you hate him, the more you realize how great he is.

It almost drives you crazy. Nicole wasn’t now, but she was then.

“There’s the presence of the Grand Duke.”

Nicole said softly.

“People don’t get desperate if they have nothing to compare themselves to, but there’s the Grand Duke, a symbol of absolute power, so it’s no wonder he’s going crazy with inferiority complexes.”

Raul had her pull up records on Gaston. Certainly his behavior had been strange lately.

Moreover, Gaston had recently purchased a number of beasts. A man’s whereabouts and records were his own. He was certainly doing a lot of out-of-pattern behavior.

There are many records of him changing dog breeders and servants.

It’s easy to overlook this when you think of him as an eccentric, crazy person. But when you put it in perspective, Nicole’s suspicions made sense.

Nicole looked at Raul and spoke calmly.

“If the Marquis of Saratheve’s powers were gone, I could see that as a problem. He’s losing what little he has left, and yet he’s still enjoying all the benefits of the Seven Houses of the Empire.”

In fact, he is a member of the Seven Families who were still alive and had immunity for minor offenses. They were allotted better estates than other nobles and received more rust. And they enjoyed numerous other perks.

Gaston, in particular, was a troublemaker, causing trouble on several occasions, and it was his privilege that allowed him to go unpunished.

“If the Marquis of Saratheve were to be stripped of his immunity, he would have to pay for his crimes.”

Understanding, Bastard nodded.

“Now you want me to go straight to the imperial family and argue with them? Do you think the Marquis of Saratheve is the only one who is losing power?”

Raul said. But there was a gleam of interest in his eyes.

“You just need to set a good stage. It’s the anniversary of the founding of the Empire, and I’ve heard that the Seven Families, along with the Imperial Family, will be worshipping the Lord, and you could ask the Marquis of Saratheve to demonstrate his power at that event.”

Every year, Raul would close the ceremony. Usually, it was a mild display of power. But on one occasion, he really showed his power.

Raul had been told that he possessed the powers of all seven generations of his family.

Different powers are available on different days, and no one knows exactly on what days or in what pattern they operate.

One day he made a small rainfall in the garden, and it was said to be an unforgettably beautiful event.

“What if you reminded them of that day and asked them to bring the Marquis of Saratheve to see him manipulating the animals – that is, controlling them – he would never refuse because he has a big ego.”

“And if the Marquis of Saratheve can’t do anything, I can use that to my advantage?”

“Yes.”

“And if he does well?”

“Then it will be business as usual. His power is insignificant compared to yours. You can mock his paltry strength, and the mere sight of the Grand Duke standing in front of him will make him feel humiliated, which will make the Grand Duke feel better, won’t it?”

Dagger and Bastard stood there at a loss for words.

‘Where did you even start with this? Is this all an improvised ruse, Noona?’

Dagger looked at Nicole in that way. Bastard was inwardly impressed.

“You think I would do that?”

Nicole nodded.

“You love to see a man like the Marquis of Saratheve so angry he can’t stand it, and you love to push, and I’d love to have the chance to give you the whipping you love so much.”

Raul smiled faintly. He looked at Nicole in amusement.

“You’re doing well. That way, I can continue to roll your life in the palm of my hand.”

Nicole wanted to rub her chest in relief— until he said the next words.