Chapter 32
Julian feigned ignorance of the Emperor's sharp tone and said calmly,
"I only know that it is the most precious treasure Your Majesty holds."
"Julian! Don't think I'll tolerate your licentious attitude forever."
Zahida snapped at Julian, who was smiling playfully.
He seemed to think that Julian was walking a tightrope between the temple and the Emperor with the identity of the Mont Blanc Club.
Julian quickly waved his hand.
"There seems to be a slight misunderstanding. As I said before, I came to be on Your Majesty's side. I can't repay kindness with enmity."
"Do you even consider my kindness as kindness?"
"Yes, that's why I came with such a good card."
"A good card?"
"Are you going to hide in the shadows forever? It's time to show your face."
At Julian's confident attitude, Zahida subtly relaxed his furrowed brow.
He gestured to Julian as if to tell him to continue.
"The painter named Barinika, whom I mentioned earlier, is the painter who will be commissioned by the Devonshire Earl."
"What?"
"The commissioned painting will be released completely anonymously. Because he will paint a picture denouncing the temple."
"Are you out of your mind? He is the one who rose to fame with the Dephria Goddess's icon. He is being sponsored by the temple, and the temple's proud grand ceiling painting is also his work!"
"The Pope recently took a fifth wife, a woman young enough to be his daughter, with an age difference of over thirty years."
"I've seen enough of his hideous deeds to be sick of them. It's not even surprising anymore."
"Originally, that woman was Barinika's fiancée."
Zahida paused while holding a glass of cold lemonade. Ice rattled in his wide-eyed hand.
Julian smiled wryly and said,
"The Pope must have fallen in love with her when he saw her visiting Barinika. Her father was a devout follower of the Dephria Goddess, so he thought it was an honorable proposal. I heard they didn't even have a wedding."
Zahida rubbed his forehead and let out a hollow laugh.
"He was more insane than I thought. Good heavens. Such a man is the Pope."
"It's not against the teachings of the Dephria Order, so there's no problem. Since they didn't have a formal wedding, he didn't steal another man's wife. Besides, the father could manipulate his daughter's opinion. Even if she claimed it was a forced marriage, the Pope would have used his power to reject it all. So, wouldn't Barinika, who had his fiancée stolen before his very eyes, readily accept the offer? Because he would dream of revenge. Well, if you want, I can return his fiancée to him."
"Good. Then what do you plan to do with that painting?"
"I'm going to plant seeds."
"Seeds?"
"Yes, seeds of distrust. Barinika's painting will vividly depict the Pope and priests' misdeeds. Of course, as soon as the painting is released under the temple's initiative, it will all be discarded, but who is Barinika? He is the greatest artist the empire has produced. His reputation alone is enough to own the work. At that time, I plan to spread copies all over the country."
"Hmm..."
"From the Duke to the poor tenant farmers, Barinika's paintings will be secretly enjoyed. It will be a beautiful painting that everyone will want to have. The world in Barinika's painting will remain in people's minds as the true face of the temple without them even knowing it. What do you think? Isn't it a great start with a splendid overture?"
Zahida stroked his chin without a word.
Julian clearly confirmed the satisfied smile spreading across his lips.
Zahida asked, pretending not to reveal his feelings.
"But why the Devonshire Earl? You could handle it more reliably if you moved yourself."
When Zeppelin's name was mentioned, Julian stirred his tea with a teaspoon as if he was angry just thinking about it.
He said indifferently.
"Well, it's a well-known fact that the Earl has a deep knowledge of art. And..."
"And?"
Julian stopped his hand. The swirling tea slowly slowed down.
He picked up the glass and put a piece of ice in his mouth.
Crunch. The ice shattered helplessly in his mouth.
"Wouldn't we be able to know for sure which side he's on? The only ones who know the details about this are me, Your Majesty, and the Devonshire Earl. If things go awry..."
"Then one of the three betrayed us."
Zahida's eyes narrowed. Julian was scratching his itch so perfectly today.
The Devonshire family was a loyal family that the Emperor had trusted since he was the Crown Prince.
In particular, Jakim Devonshire was the first contributor who helped Zahida ascend to the throne.
'But Zeppelin is a little different...'
Zeppelin Devonshire seemed to be following the same path as his father on the surface.
But Zahida did not fully trust Zeppelin.
Zeppelin was a cunning man.
Zahida clearly remembered that Zeppelin had cleverly avoided the Imperial Order several times.
Zahida thought it wouldn't be strange if Zeppelin turned his back on him at some point.
Did Julian read even his agony?
No. Zahida had a feeling that there was something more in Julian's intentions besides that.
There must be another reason why Julian, who had been indifferent despite all the material offensives and conveniences, suddenly showed interest in the imperial power.
Julian was using the good excuse of repaying the favors he had received.
But somehow, he thought that targeting the Devonshire Earl was also one of his goals.
'Rebecca, was it...'
Zahida recalled Rebecca Devonshire.
Certainly, she was a woman of outstanding beauty that any man could fall in love with.
She was too weak, but her personality was good enough.
That's why in the year Rebecca became an adult, the Prince of the kingdom across the sea visited the empire to court her.
That year was an unprecedentedly eventful social season with only Rebecca, the existence of one woman.
Zahida still remembered the fierce battle of the suitors for Rebecca.
But why now?
It couldn't have been the first time Rebecca and Julian had met.
Above all, if Julian was interested in Rebecca in the first place, something would have already happened given his impulsive personality.
'There must have been something between them at the victory banquet.'
It was by no means luck that Zahida was able to rise to this position from being the third Prince born to the Empress.
Knowing exactly which cards to take and which to discard, and accurately reading the other person's desires.
Patience to quietly wait for the right time, and a ruthlessly coldness to mercilessly kick out the useless, made him who he is today.
He was always smiling kindly, but beneath his mask, eyes like sharp spears that pierced people were shining.
And now those eyes were scanning Julian thoroughly.
Julian enjoyed the Emperor's gaze with pleasure.
'Yes, imagine as much as you want. And bring me what I want into my hands.'
The Emperor and Julian had the same destination: to destroy the temple.
Even if they had different intentions, he would be a great companion as long as they were on the same path.
And the Emperor was also a figure who would solidify his position when Rebecca became the Duchess in the future.
Julian smiled.
"Surely such a thing won't happen. It's just an assumption. How loyal is the Devonshire Earl? Your Majesty prepared Barinika's secret workshop, so all that's left is the Devonshire Earl to monitor him."
"I called him to the Imperial Palace today anyway. I've told him the general situation."
"Good. First, let's discuss it again when the painting is completed. And I have a gift for Your Majesty."
"Oh, you have a gift for me? What is it?"
"Croa."
Julian shouted loudly towards the door.
Croa entered as if he had been waiting, holding a thick book with a black cover.
Julian took the book from Croa and presented it to Zahida.
"It's the temple's ledger. I've been collecting it little by little since I was very young. Please enjoy it."
Joy appeared on Zahida's face.
It was the moment when his scale tilted greatly to one side.
* * *
"We can't turn back now that it's come to this. Are you okay?"
Croa cautiously asked Julian in the carriage on the way back.
Julian said, looking out the window without moving.
"It was something I had to do anyway. I don't know why I've been putting it off."
Croa didn't ask any more at his cold face.
A moment of silence fell in the wide carriage.
Julian, who had been looking out the window for a while, discovered the city gate and said,
"Is that Irencia?"
"Ah, yes. Once we pass through the city gate, it's the Devonshire Earl's territory."
"It's too beautiful a place for that guy to rule."
Julian looked at the streets lined with colorful and beautiful buildings.
The carriage slowed down slowly due to the large crowd.
A bustling market was glimpsed through the alleys.
Julian suddenly became curious and had the carriage turned around.
"Let's go to that market. I'm a little hungry."
Croa drew a large question mark in his head.
Julian had just eaten a tea time sandwich and half a cake in the palace.
But he's hungry?
'Is he going through puberty again...'
As Croa told the coachman the destination with a puzzled face, Julian nodded and looked out the window.
'There will be foods that Rebecca grew up eating in the market. I have to find them and tell the chef.'
He felt good just thinking about how happy Rebecca would be.
Julian smiled contentedly and captured the vibrant market scene of Irencia in his eyes.
His gaze, which had been watching people for a while, stopped at a familiar figure.
It was a tall woman wearing a bonnet pulled down deeply.
"Re... becca?"
* * *
"Then please take care of me."
"Mom, make a lot of money!"
Margaret smiled as she watched Jack, who was cheerfully seeing her off from Gloria's arms.
The children of the Poorhouse were already gathered in the room, chirping like chicks.
There were many people raising children alone in the Poorhouse.
While they were working outside, Gloria was taking care of the children almost for free.
That was why Margaret couldn't leave this Liberta Poorhouse even though she knew it was owned by the Devonshire Earl.
