After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 192

Chapter 192: The Incontrovertible Evidence

As the nobles watched Cecil-san slowly walk into the hall, they all began to murmur at once.

“That priest, she wasn’t executed yet?”

“I heard she was being hidden somewhere…”

“After being involved in treason, she dares to show up now…”

Of course, there were no supportive voices. Cecilia-san’s face looked pale with tension, but her steps were firm, and her violet eyes were locked directly on the Chancellor. She would be fine… After all, she was a strong woman who fought alone to protect her family.

She knelt before the Queen and Beatrice, lowering her head. The Queen nodded slightly, and Beatrice, with her usual impassive expression like a porcelain doll, looked down on Cecil-san without showing any emotion.

“State your name,” the Queen commanded.

“Yes. I am a servant of the Supreme God, Cecilia von Westhofen.”

When she raised her head, her flaxen hair cascaded to her shoulder. Then, the interrogation by Liese-sama began.

“Priest Cecilia, explain in detail the crime you committed.”

“Yes. I was ordered by Viscount Verdan to harm Her Highness Beatrice during the crown ceremony. While everyone was distracted by my light magic, I tried to stab her with a magic dagger that was handed to me. However, His Highness Ludwig sacrificed himself to block me, and the dark blade never reached Her Highness Beatrice.”

“Why did you engage in such an act of treason?”

“My parents and younger brother were taken hostage. I was threatened that if I didn’t do it, they would be killed.”

“Who threatened you?”

“Directly, it was Viscount Verdan. She also said that even if I reported this to the court, it would be useless because the one who gave the orders was the Chancellor herself.”

A low murmur of shock spread among the nobles. Then, voices of anger erupted from those loyal to Beatrice and from the neutral factions.

“How dare she, a Chancellor, be involved in such a conspiracy!”

“She wanted to remove Beatrice and turn Clara into her puppet!”

But there was no way the Chancellor would fall so easily. The middle-aged woman, whose obesity was noticeable, raised her eyes and spoke coldly.

“Hmph, what this criminal says means nothing! She has likely been forced to fabricate her story in exchange for her life. Even if the testimony were true, it could only be that Viscount Verdan used my name falsely. There is no evidence linking me to this crime.”

“Indeed, the Chancellor makes a fair point. Priest Tsètsìrīa, do you truly believe Viscount Verdan’s claim that the Chancellor was behind it all?”

“Yes, I believed it without a doubt.”

“Why is that? Did you not think, as the Chancellor says, that the Viscount might be lying?”

At Liese-sama’s words, Cecil-san’s eyes widened in surprise. She took a deep breath and then spoke the decisive words.

“It’s because the Viscount showed me the Chancellor’s words.”

“How?”

“It seemed to be a magical tool infused with wind magic. It had the ability to record conversations and play them back.”

“I see. What did the magical tool say?”

“I clearly remember the words. ‘Beatrice must die. I am giving you a dagger imbued with dark magic. You must finish the job.’”

“What!?”

Until now, the Queen had been silently listening to the exchange, but now she stood up, her rich golden hair swaying. Shock and anger filled the nobles’ voices as they all began to criticize the Chancellor.

“What is this nonsense!? There is no evidence! After the incident, Viscount Verdan’s mansion and territory were thoroughly searched. There was no ‘wind magic tool’ found! Anneliese, are you trying to defame me without evidence?”

“If you want evidence… we have it.”

With the Queen’s gaze on her, Cecil-san took another deep breath before slowly continuing her words.

“As you said, the ‘wind magic tool’ was not found at the Viscount’s mansion. That is because I stole it and hid it.”

“What!?”

She pulled out a small cube, about five centimeters on each side, from the pocket of her white robe. As Cecil-san slowly channeled magic into it, the unmistakable voice of the Chancellor filled the room.

“Beatrice is a troublesome girl who cannot be manipulated or threatened. If she ascends to the throne, our faction will be dismissed. That’s not all; our past wealth might be investigated and we could be punished. Listen, Viscount, Beatrice must die. I’m giving you this dagger with dark magic sealed in it. Make sure you succeed.”

Everyone in the room heard the Chancellor’s malicious words. The culprit, whose evil deeds had been exposed, stood there, her mouth trembling as she struggled to comprehend.

“W-Why is this…?”