Free Web Novel“Wait! This is a misunderstanding! Colluding with an evil god or whatever—there’s no way that’s real!”
Muen was stunned. Right now, he was literally on the little black notebooks of several evil gods, the kind who wanted nothing more than to tie him to an altar and light him up like a sky lantern. Colluding with an evil god? Colluding with what evil god?
And as for Wimpy Bro... could that even be called colluding? That was just mutual benefit, okay? And now he’d jacked part of that guy’s divine favor—who knew, once it woke up, it might come find him and deliver a righteous, victim’s-justice counterattack on the spot.
“Yeah, yeah, I also think this has to be a misunderstanding!”
Ariel was also shocked. Debauchery in the harem? Harem? Whose harem?
...The current Emperor was Celicia, so of course it would be her harem, but lately Ariel had only seen Celicia buried in political affairs, and there hadn’t been any intimate behavior between her and Muen at all. So this “harem” stuff—fake, it had to be fake!
Besides, Celicia was proud, aloof, cold as an iceberg snow lotus—how could the word “debauchery” possibly be used to describe her?
With her temperament, if someone dared to profane her, wouldn’t she just snap their... you-know-what clean off?
“Did you arrest the wrong person?”
“We are only responsible for taking the suspect into custody. Whether the charges are true will be determined by the Empire’s judgment!”
The lead knight looked iron-faced and impartial, giving Muen no chance to keep explaining. ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) He gestured behind him. “Take him!”
Two knights stepped forward toward Muen.
“Offending you, Young Master Muen.”
Muen frowned slightly. After thinking it over, he still didn’t resist, letting them lock shackles onto his wrists.
He didn’t know why things had taken this unexpected turn, but that arrest warrant was obviously real. If he resisted now, he’d just hand his enemies a pretext.
Better to watch how things developed first.
Besides, if things proceeded within the rules, the current him didn’t need to fear anyone.
After all...
I’ve got someone backing me up.jpg.
So Muen was obediently taken away.
Ariel watched Muen get led off by the Royal Knights. She blinked, then suddenly turned around and ran off in another direction.
...
...
“What do you mean?”
Inside the affairs hall, Celicia was still reviewing documents. After hearing Ariel’s question, she leisurely set down the coffee in her hand and answered without even lifting her head.
“Exactly what you think it means. I issued the arrest warrant.”
“You issued it personally?” Ariel’s eyes went wide.
“Of course. I’m gradually taking control of the Empire. I imagine no one can bypass me and issue an order to arrest the Empire’s Emperor’s fiancé.”
“Isn’t that... not great?”
“What’s not great about it? Perfect timing. That guy’s been too arrogant lately. He’s started acting like he doesn’t even put me in his eyes. It’s time to teach him a lesson.”
When she said that, Celicia let out a cold snort through her nose. It sounded full of disgust.
“So that’s how it is...”
Ariel finally let out a breath of relief.
It wasn’t that she was relaxing because there was no deeper conspiracy, but rather... since Celicia was willing to arrest Muen Campbell that hard, it proved that this “debauchery in the harem” thing was definitely fake!
And from the disgusted look Celicia just had, she was clearly still maintaining her “relationship” with Muen—
That had to be because she still cared about her reputation and the help the Campbell family had given her, so she was temporarily compromising!
That’s right. It had to be that!
With her rich romantic experience, this was ninety-nine point nine percent how it was!
Ariel thought with absolute certainty.
“So, about this matter...”
“That’s right. It was your father... that Count Bugard, who refuses to accept reality. This is his ‘good work.’”
Celicia casually handed Ariel a file. Ariel looked closely and saw it was actually a letter of accusation.
And the signature at the bottom, as well as the seal, were both the Bugard family crest—one Ariel knew all too well.
“An accusation letter like this normally wouldn’t even be enough to make me spare it a sliver of attention, but Count Bugard is an old fox. He wrote three copies of the same accusation.”
“Three copies?”
“Yes. One to me, one to the Silent Bureau, and one to the Church of Life.”
Celicia tilted her head, looking at the contents of the letter.
“The other accusations can be ignored—they’re harmless. But the ‘colluding with an evil god’ charge is different. The Empire can’t have a single side adjudicate it, and I can’t suppress it on my own. What Count Bugard wants is to blow it up and pressure me. So even though it looks like he’s targeting Muen, he’s actually coming for me.”
“S-sorry, Your Majesty... I caused you trouble.”
Not knowing what else to say, Ariel scratched her head awkwardly. freёwebnoѵel.com
“No need to apologize. This has nothing to do with you. Haven’t you already severed ties with the Bugard family?”
“Y-yeah! That’s right!”
Ariel’s eyes lit up. “Then is there anything I can do to help?”
Even though she enjoyed the idea of Muen Campbell suffering a little in a cell, she instinctively sensed it too—this was a perfect chance to perform in front of Celicia!
“No.”
Celicia shook her head.
“For now, no one can help him in this matter. Not even me. I can only wait and see how things develop.”
“Wait and see? If Muen Campbell really gets convicted...”
“Hmph. Then he gets convicted.”
Celicia said expressionlessly, “Could it be he’s actually being wronged?”
“Ooh!”
Seeing Celicia like this, Ariel became even happier. She felt like she was back in the game—like there was huge potential here!
...
After Ariel left, Celicia’s paperwork temporarily came to an end.
She picked up that accusation letter again and examined it carefully. With a light flick of her hand, a photo that Ariel hadn’t noticed slipped out from behind where the letter overlapped.
It was clearly an image copied by recording magic. Because the light was dim and the spell had been cast in a hurry—like it had been recorded amid countless stampeding magical beasts—the picture was blurry and chaotic.
But you could faintly make it out: the man in the photo was wrapped all over in something extremely ominous... bizarre black flames.
Celicia pinched the photo between her fingers and studied it more carefully under the glow of the magic stone.
“So you’re doing this to me, huh?”
This was a detail Ariel didn’t know. This wasn’t just a simple false accusation.
There was evidence.
Of course, this photo alone wasn’t enough to prove that Muen Campbell had colluded with an evil god, but it was enough to prove that someone connected to an evil god truly existed.
And with the Bugard family sending accusations in the family’s name to three different parties, this matter would inevitably be dragged into the open—likely to the point where all of Belrand would know.
So no matter what, Muen Campbell would be forced into this whirlpool. Even she couldn’t cover it up.
Besides, who knew whether Count Bugard, who could produce this photo, might be able to produce more evidence?
“Count Bugard... truly. The older ginger is spicier.”
Celicia murmured softly, but the curve of her lips carried open mockery.
“However, the Silent Bureau, the Church of Life... heh.”
...
...
“Is it done?”
“Yes. Everything has been set up.”
The old butler bowed and spoke earnestly. “All according to your arrangements, Count. Absolutely no mistakes.”
“Very good!”
Count Bugard patted the old butler’s shoulder with satisfaction. Since the Inner Council fell, this was the first good news he’d heard.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“No. It is what I should do.”
“Sigh. There are so few reliable people in the whole Bugard family. Luckily you’re here. After this is over, no matter what, I will help your son secure a noble title!”
“Thank you, Count.”
“No need to thank me. You’ve earned it.”
With his arrangements steadily taking shape, Count Bugard looked much more energized. He immediately went to the desk, scribbling and drawing as he continued planning for what came next.
“Count, there is something I still don’t quite understand...” The old butler followed to the desk, looked for a while, then suddenly asked. freёweɓnovel.com
“Speak.”
“We keep pressing Her Majesty again and again like this... isn’t it too dangerous? Her Majesty is Her Majesty—she is the Empire’s ruler now. If she holds a grudge against the Bugard family, then even if we survive this time, we may not have a good outcome later.”
“...”
Count Bugard’s pen stopped. After a long pause, he let out a deep sigh.
“Of course I know that.”
“Then...”
“But do we still have a choice? Her Majesty is already sharpening her blade against the Bugard family. The Canary affair will involve us sooner or later.”
Count Bugard’s gaze sharpened. “So before that happens, we can only take the initiative and step forward first.”
“Take the initiative?”
“That’s right. The matter of colluding with an evil god is extremely serious. And by dragging the Silent Bureau and the Church of Life into it too, I’ve ensured both sides will be involved. Those two hate evil-god remnants to the bone. They will absolutely urge Her Majesty not to handle this perfunctorily.”
“I already know that strange black flame on Muen Campbell has to be related to evil-god power. So as long as she still cares about Muen Campbell, she will never clash with me to the bitter end.”
“So this is neither ‘advance’ nor ‘pressing.’ It is advancing in order to retreat. Her Majesty is a smart person. She understands that as long as she compromises, takes a step back, and guarantees she won’t pursue the Bugard family any further, then I will also take a step back and withdraw this accusation.”
“That is also why I first sent my son over to beg forgiveness, then accused Muen Campbell, and finally sent a photo that can’t actually convict Muen Campbell. We press aggressively, yet still leave room. Hard when we must be hard, yielding when we must yield—tight and loose, forward and back... that is what people call the art of politics.”
Count Bugard exhaled a long breath of stale air. Just these few moves were already packed with the essence of everything he’d learned while clawing his way up through the Empire’s political arena.
“...So that’s how it is.”
After hearing it all, the old butler couldn’t help but sigh in genuine admiration.
“Count, your insight is brilliant. With your strategy, I believe the Bugard family will easily weather this crisis as well.”
