Chapter 52
Episode 52
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When someone with the ability to manipulate elements dies, that ability scatters back into the world.
However, there were those who could crystallize and contain that ability, which should have scattered.
Naturally, they were the heads of the families, the best among those who wielded elemental powers.
"Now that we've dealt with the traitors involved in this matter."
Dielo's gentle voice echoed in the bedroom.
He said he felt reassured when I was in front of him, so he brought some of his work materials into the bedroom.
And, making his work desk seem pointless, he was handling his tasks next to me.
"It would be good to return the source to where they were."
That was practically the same as sending the heads of the traitors.
The time Dielo was truly rampaging this time wasn't long.
Before I calmed him down, the time Dielo gathered all the servants of Argenta and interrogated them was said to be only about twenty minutes.
But within that time, he not only caught the tails of traitors that even the intelligence department hadn't discovered, but he also beheaded seven traitors.
Thanks to that, the atmosphere in the mansion was like walking on thin ice.
Moreover, the aftermath of his rampage still lingered, making it even worse.
I quietly observed him sitting at the round table in the bedroom.
"To think the head of the family would show such a side..."
"It's the first time I've actually seen an emotional outburst."
The servants were moving around holding their breaths.
Perhaps the evaluation of 'gentle Dielo' will change quite a bit from now on.
He, too, is Argenta of Fire who doesn't care about the consequences when he has an emotional outburst, even if he usually doesn't show it.
But with someone openly using poison in front of Dielo and me, there was also a problem with letting the traitors go.
Right now, only those involved in this incident have been eliminated, but the time has come to weed out all the traitors below the third floor.
So far, so good, but.
"We can send this to Alloze and Kartiel, right?"
Dielo lifted the 'Crystals of Power,' which were crystallizations of the traitors' elemental manipulation abilities.
The crystal stones, some transparent and some with a bluish tint, clearly bore the marks of crimson interrogation.
Wait, what did he just say?
"Just a moment."
I barely managed to stop Dielo, who was about to send them as they were.
If it were the usual Dielo, he wouldn't have even thought of sending the crystals, but it was different now.
Sending the Crystals of Power, and in a bloodstained state?
This person is still seriously spicy because of his emotional outburst!
"If you send them like this, both Duke Kartiel and Duke Alroze will be extremely wary of Dielo."
They're already surprised by the unexpectedly strong reaction, so we need to keep them off guard until the end.
At least until the real Pero appears and the ability succession begins.
"Let's wipe the blood off the crystals before sending them."
Sending the Crystals of Power with blood on them was practically the same as sending a mutilated corpse.
Of course, there's no need to be picky when they're aiming for our lives, but it was necessary to instill the perception that 'no matter how angry Dielo gets, this is the extent of it.'
That's how they'll let their guard down.
"Krua."
Dielo turned to me when I stopped him.
He pursed his lips and continued.
"I don't think my anger will subside with just that."
His voice was gentle, but the content wasn't.
The coldly gleaming eyes were the same.
If I let him suppress his emotions any further, he might rampage even more.
"Then let's do this."
I said, taking the crystal stone from his hand.
The sensation of it entering my hand with a clatter was unfamiliar and even a little creepy.
"If you want to send it as it is, say that Krua Argenta sent it."
It would be easier to explain that the villain Krua was running wild than Dielo doing this.
"..."
Dielo frowned at my words. As if he didn't like something.
"We mustn't make them wary of Dielo."
I calmly soothed him.
At least if I send it in my name, they won't increase their wariness of Dielo.
I turned my gaze to Rick, who was standing in front of us.
He had a slightly uncomfortable look on his face.
"These Crystals of Power, in my name―"
―Clack.
At that moment, Dielo snatched the crystal stone from my hand.
"Send it in my name."
Then he ordered as he pleased. Just as I was about to stop him again.
He suddenly started wiping the Crystal of Power. The red marks began to disappear on the white handkerchief that I didn't know when he had taken out.
"I, I will wipe it."
Rick quickly took the crystal stone from his hand.
Dielo looked back at me.
As if waiting for praise.
"Will this be okay?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
* * *
[An unfortunate incident occurred. It is fortunate that it did not escalate into a major accident.
As you know, there were those in Kartiel who did not know that the coexistence of the three families is the answer to bringing peace.
I thought we had eliminated them all, but it seems that was not the case.
We will take measures to prevent the incident from recurring.]
A few days after Dielo sent a letter demanding an explanation.
A reply came from Kartiel, the instigator of the poison incident.
There was a lot more written after that, but in summary, it was like this.
There were some overzealous guys? Sorry.
"..."
I came to the office because I was curious about what the reply looked like, but I feel like I have a time bomb in front of me.
Dielo raised his eyebrows slightly.
The blue light in his eyes, which seemed to be calming down, flickered again.
He hasn't escaped the influence of the rampage yet.
"...It seems they want to handle it in a way that doesn't cause diplomatic problems."
Nevertheless, Dielo's voice was calmer than I thought.
"I guess so."
Kartiel also sent all sorts of valuables as 'sincerity.'
Of course, Dielo burned it all as soon as it arrived, but anyway, Kartiel had shown enough diplomatic courtesy.
If we pursue it more fiercely here, it will not only lead to a long-term diplomatic conflict with Kartiel, but it will also be much different from the image that Dielo Argenta originally showed.
"I'll take care of this matter for now, Krua."
Dielo said to me again in a soft voice.
I nodded and carefully approached his desk.
"It's okay for me to do my work now."
I also wanted to take back my work that he had taken over. Dielo was doing all my work because I was sick.
At this rate, I'll be known as the idle mistress of the mansion who plays around and eats!
"No."
But Dielo was firm.
He said, subtly pulling the pile of documents that were my share of the work towards him.
"Take a good rest until this week. Nias said rest is important too."
I heard that rest is important a week ago?
But Dielo didn't seem to want to give it up.
When I tried to approach, he put his index finger to his lips.
"Krua, please don't take away the opportunity for me to work for Krua."
The sweet words, as if whispering, had the power to make even Pielle, who delivered the letter, avoid eye contact.
It would be strange to take the work back when he said this much.
"...Then I'll rest only until today."
Tomorrow is really mine!
When I said that with a deliberately cold expression, Dielo nodded as if he couldn't help it.
"Okay."
Take a good rest until today.
Dielo said that and got up from his seat.
"Shall I take you to the bedroom?"
I shook my head at those words.
"It's okay."
It wasn't like I was so sick that I had to make the working person get up.
―Click.
I narrowed my eyes as I came out of his office.
"Kartiel..."
Sneaky bastards.
It was fortunate that I had strong Water Manipulation Ability, or I would have been killed without a chance.
'That poison is called Nightmare.'
The information about the poison I heard from Nias was more chilling than I thought.
To die just dreaming. And only nightmares.
He said that if my Water Manipulation Ability hadn't instinctively driven out the poison, I would have died as it was.
But there's nothing we can do diplomatically?
And we're just sitting still like this?
This didn't suit my temperament.
And that would have been the same for the original Krua.
"I can't just sit still after being attacked."
When I arrived at the bedroom, I asked Pielle, who had come in with me.
"Can I give my personal orders to the intelligence department?"
