"You are not making any sense, Felicia." The Duke said, letting out a growl vibrating in his chest while looking at her earnestly or more like intently.
Felicia looked at the Duke, it was clear on his face that he wasn't having any of her excuses, as well as Alexander who frowned at her argument.
Seeing their eyes filled with bewilderment, her heart suddenly skipped a beat, thumping loudly inside her, like soldiers marching in a fast face. A cold sweat appeared on her forehead, frowning as they didn't grasp what she meant.
"What I meant was that I certainly met with the Baroness and her son, I gave them a bag full of my gift to show my appreciation to my Nanny. The bag could have been used as soon as they returned from home." Felicia said, changing the course of her story.
Shit, she's having a really hard time today that she's actually shaking in fear. "Plus isn't it suspicious that the Madame left me alone with his son, only to not come back later on after obtaining my gift? If you don't believe me, you can certainly ask people who were at that time." She explained further.
She clasped both of her hands together, hoping for everyone to understand and let her have her way of lying. She's currently finding herself troubled in this situation where normally she would've ended this already.
"Now that she said it, the Bag is from Sugary Sweets, a famous café for baked goods," Alexander muttered, unintentionally helping Felicia with his words.
For once and for all, Rachelle felt thankful towards Alexander for saving her ass there.
"Right? So why should I be blamed just because of a paper bag that I gifted to my Nanny?" She asked, her head tilting towards the Knight who was just looking at her, staring right into her eyes to see if she was lying or not.
"Because the Baron used it to testify that you are involved in this case, young Lady." The knight replied, still stubborn and not letting go of the fact that the Baron told them it was her.
"This is basically defamation against character. Your Grace, I am innocent. Right after the Duchess left, I left too with the Marquis Liam together. I'm going to sue him back for ruining my character." Rachelle firmly said towards the Knight, staring at him back and not backing down.
He may push the blame on her, but whatever it is, she's still charged with no links towards the murder case and the confiscation of counterfeit bills.
"Right, we will sue the Baron for harming the name of my daughter. It is impossible for her to commit such a crime." The Duke fought alongside her, remaining still and unfazed. How dare they try to ruin Felicia's image?
"I see. Well then, that's all we need to know. Thank you so much for participating, my Lady, the Duke and the young Lord." The knight replied, bowing his head as he ended the silence inside the room.
It is bad to make an enemy of the Duke, knowing they are just second in power with the current empire. It'll be bad to make them an enemy.
"Thank you for clearing my name. But I will continue to charge the Baron another case for character assassination." Rachelle smiled, finally her heart stopped being preoccupied.
"You can also ask the customers yesterday about what happened. They were there first before I went inside." She added, waving her hand while smiling, covering her sweaty face with a smile.
Goddess, she was nearly caught right there. She eyed Olivia who's looking so pale as ever, took a deep breath and calmed down. She was panicking earlier when Rachelle almost let herself slip herself and cause harm.
"I don't understand why the Baron decided to bring your name in this case. You don't know him after all, so why would he claim that his crime is linked towards you?" The Duke asked, sitting back on his chair while sighing.
"I don't know, your Grace. It seems that he gets weird ideas just because I gave his wife a gift. That was completely innocent right there." She explained, shrugging her shoulders while fanning herself.
That was quite a call, she almost put herself in danger of rambling which didn't make sense. Was she too scared to speak up knowing that there's a probability for her to get imprisoned?
A chill ran down her spine as every hair in her skin jolted. Like a familiar feeling had just happened that she couldn't explain. What was it?
"Are you okay, Felicia? You look... Scared." Alexander asked, walking next to her as he cupped her face, looking at her with worried eyes. "You there, bring her back to her room. She must have felt scared earlier." Alexander commanded Olivia who then pranced and went to her side to guide her out of the Duke's office.
"Poor thing, do you think we can also accuse the Baron, father? Look at what he did to Felicia. She's shaking badly." Alexander asked, looking at the Duke who seemed to grow wary of his own daughter.
But then the wariness he felt just disappeared, looking at Alexander standing in front of him and determined to ruin the Baron. It seems that he had formed a deep connection with his sister.
"Yes... We should do that." The Duke agreed, leaning back against his seat. The Baron is set to be hanged anyway after killing someone, and that someone ended up as one of his sons.
—
"Oh! Oh, holy Pope! I am saddened!" Tyren cried as she knelt in front of the pope who was sitting in front of her, looking at her with saddened eyes, sympathizing with her.
"For whatever happened, the Goddess will help you." The Pope said, standing up from his throne and walking his way towards the Duchess, helping her to stand. Yet he felt disdain over this woman who couldn't even think and act smart.
"Oh Pope, my husband chose to ignore me and blame me for the mishaps that happened in the house. He cast me away, forbidding me to see my daughter at least. My poor daughter is being bullied by my husband's kids... Please help me see her, your Holiness." Tyren cried pitifully in the arms of the Pope, bawling her eyes.
It's been a week, or the Goddess knows the time she spent alone in the covenant, mingling with the lowlifes who do not respect and acknowledge her position as the Duchess of the Del Montague.
"Your Holiness, I have done nothing wrong other than making my family care for each other. But it seems that my stepdaughter hates us so bad that she caused this mess and my husband lost his trust in me. Help me, your Holiness." She continues to cry, hoping the Pope will hear her pain.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Madame. You believe that it was right for you to protect your family. However, there are some circumstances that will pull you down. But do know that the Goddess has another plan for you, she will take care of your life and take away your problems from you." The Pope said, his hand on the Duchess' back, appearing with a gentle smile.
"Even if it means that your problem is a person. the Goddess will find a way to ostracize that person for you." He added. Behind the smile, glared an evil persona, hiding beneath the Pope's skin.
"I hope she does, your Holiness... She's making our life miserable... Everything is not in place the moment that child steps out of the annexe. Dear me, Holy Pope... She's wrecking my perfect family." The Duchess replied, crying more yet feeling comforted by the Pope's kind words.
As expected of the holy Pope.
"Don't you worry, Madame. The Sabbath day is coming, you will see your daughter sooner, so I hope you can put a smile on your lips now. You are a Duchess, after all. All authorities will eventually fall on you." He cheered on her, giving the Duchess a light tap.
"Please send her Grave back to the monastery. She's not feeling well. Tell the sisters that give the Madame a rest. I mean it." The Grand Pope commanded someone, signalling him to come forward and fetch the Duchess.
The priest absolutely understood each and every one of the Pope's words, holding the Duchess close to him, bowed her head and left with the Duchess thanking the Pope for his grave and his kindness.
Meanwhile, the Pope just stood there, waving his hand until the two disappeared in his eyes. His smile that crept into his lips disappeared, and his soft expression turned into indifference, cold, and disgust.
What else could he be expecting from that woman?
Just as he was about to turn around, one of the Bishops approached him, bowing his head first in respect in front of the Great Pope. "Your Holiness, we successfully completed the task that you gave us." The Bishop said, his head still hung low.
"Good, did you spread it towards the common folks?" He asked, walking past the Bishop to sit back on his throne. His hand resting on the armchair and his head positioned on top of his fist, looking down at the Bishop with his dull cold eyes.
"Yes. It's currently happening." The Bishop replied, raising his head to meet the Pope's gaze, befall into him. He could not read his expression very well, it was blank.
"Well then. It's in the Goddess's plan for someone to finally step up and be a hero to protect us from the witches in this country. Go along and spread the news discreetly." The Pope smiled, a creepy smile that made the Bishop jolted in his position, nodded his head and left the room, in fear and corruption.
"Ha... What a day."
—
"Have you heard? A Paladin was able to pull out the sword bestowed by the Goddess Kartara while the Pope received an oracle at the same time." Olivia said as she poured tea into her mistress's cup.
Putting the book aside that was on her hands, Rachelle cocked her eyebrow, in disbelief after hearing what Olivia just told her. Wait what? What is happening right now?
"What?" She managed to utter it despite being speechless.
"People said, the Pope received an oracle that the person who'll be able to pull the sword of the Goddess will become a hero, protecting the Saintess and everyone else from the evil witches in our country. He will slay all the enemies of the church and those who contradict the Saintess. I heard he received a title, a Baron's position just to protect Lady Helena." Olivia reported, giving her the information.
It's been circling both in the social and the common folks these days. That the person chosen by the Goddess will help eradicate the evil inside and out of the country.
But what is shocking for Rachelle is the hypocrisy of the church. The sword is with her, the original sword is within her yet they blasted and spread false rumors upon hearing that bullshit.
"Who's the new Baron?" She asked, couldn't help but become nosey about it. She had a bad feeling about this because aside from forgetting the content of the novels, this new dude had the possibility of turning into her enemy.
"I don't know who he is, Mistress but I heard that he'll be showing himself tomorrow. It's Sabbath day, after all, he's getting blessed." Olivia answered her, shrugging her shoulders.
"Are you okay, Mistress?" She asked, worried about her Mistress suddenly turning pale. Rachelle looked at her, her eyes shaking her she maintained her usual self, except for the fading of her colours after hearing the news.
"Yes, I'm okay." She said, reassuring Olivia that she was fine despite how anxious she felt right now. Meanwhile, Noctua who's currently resting on the table, glance at her with his eyes flashing stern expression out of worry.
This is definitely going to become one of her problems sooner or later.