It was a Political Marriage, But I’m Being Loved - Chapter 100

Before Charlize could even bring it up, Achilles Illien spoke first.

“I will speak with Young Duke Valter Bianchi.”

“What? You want to see him?”

Achilles could guess what she was thinking. She’d been suspicious of Valter ever since Susanna was found with a Fragment of the Demon King.

“There are too many signs to ignore. It’s possible he had contact with the demons, so I need to speak with him.”

“…”

In truth, Charlize had been planning to say she wanted to meet Valter herself. But if Achilles could get him to talk, then perhaps it was better this way.

There’s no guarantee he would even talk to me. He always looked down on me, after all.

She had tried not to admit it before, but now that her feelings for him had almost entirely faded, she could see clearly just how little Valter had respected her.

If he still believed she loved him, he’d assume she was desperately working to save his life.

If he thought I might cling to him, he would’ve tried to sweet-talk me. And if that didn’t work, he would’ve used threats.

Men like him were all the same. But with Achilles as his opponent, things might play out very differently.

“Do you want to come with me?” Achilles asked.

“No. If I’m there, he might just puff up his pride even more.”

Charlize wanted to ask what kind of method Achilles planned to use—but she held her tongue. She already knew that Valter’s interrogation had been postponed until after the wedding.

This interrogation… might involve torture.

She wondered if wanting to see Valter again was just her pride talking. He didn’t trust her. He mocked her. He only ever tried to use her. Knowing her nature as he did, he’d never say a word about any demonic contract.

“If you’re going to meet him, you should tell Oscar. Valter’s case is officially under his jurisdiction.”

“Understood.”

“If you find anything out… let me know. I’m still trying to piece things together.”

Achilles nodded at Charlize’s sincere request. He was quietly relieved she didn’t insist on joining him.

He was already planning to bring Giel.

The imperial family wouldn’t take it well if they knew what method he intended to use. He preferred to keep it hidden. But when it came to anything involving the Fragment of the Demon King, Giel’s power was essential.

“Your Highness. Will you be preparing for the tea gathering now?”

“Yes. I promised I would attend today.”

“There’s someone I’d like you to take with you—as a precaution.”

“Someone?”

Charlize blinked, curious.

Achilles stepped to the side of a palace corridor and began summoning a creature. Charlize’s eyes widened at what appeared before her.

Pitiful, perhaps—but necessary.

No. The High Priest reminded himself that pity had no place in a ritual like this. It was a ceremony to save Susanna’s soul. Delaying it wouldn’t be mercy—it would be dangerous.

The purification could only begin after the Fragment of the Demon King was severed from her body.

The High Priest emerged from the prayer chamber after completing a vigil that had lasted since dawn.

Outside, priests and priestesses stood on either side of the door, waiting for him. Their faces were solemn, aware of the gravity of what was about to happen.

They hadn’t had time to prepare when the Tower Master first delivered the fragment, but they understood the importance of this mission.

No matter what happened, they had to protect the fragment until the High Pontiff arrived. To do that, they had to remove it from Susanna’s body.

Thankfully, her body hasn’t been fully consumed yet. With the Goddess’s blessing, there is still hope.

A novice priest handed the High Priest his ceremonial robe. He draped it over his shoulders and hung the sacred artifact around his neck. With measured steps, he led the way down the corridor, followed by the clergy.

He descended the stairs to the prison wing beneath the temple and stopped at the door. The temple guards, already waiting, stepped forward with a key.

Their hands shook so much that the key rattled in the lock.

The High Priest waited in silence.

…It’s unlikely the full details reached even these guards.

Perhaps they were reacting to the tension hanging in the air. After all, this wasn’t just any prisoner. Holy Knights had been stationed to stand guard in the cell, a sure sign of how serious the situation was.

Though word of the woman who had been captured hadn’t spread, there were already whispers among some that she might be a demon.

The High Priest made no effort to quash the rumors. He believed that leaving her identity unclear would actually help keep the truth hidden for longer.

If we can just remove the Fragment of the Demon King from Lady Leroy’s body, we can finally breathe a little easier.

Creeeak—

The door finally opened, and the High Priest stepped inside. A staircase led downward into the deep, oppressive darkness.

“She’s in the Grand Temple’s underground prison?! Is that really true?!”

The young messenger had thrown himself flat on the ground before the Marquis of Leroy, trembling with fear as he delivered the message.

“It’s true, my lord. Lady Susanna gave me a gold coin and told me to come here and deliver this message to the marquis. She said… if I brought word back to House Leroy, she would give me nine more.”

“What happened? Why is Susanna in the Grand Temple? You must know something!”

The Marquis crouched and gripped the boy’s shoulders tightly. The boy looked up, eyes wide and fearful.

“I don’t know anything else, I swear! All I know is that she was taken away by Holy Knights in the middle of the night! She didn’t say why!”

The Marquis glared at him for a moment longer, but the boy only cowered and avoided his gaze. Finally, the Marquis pushed him away and rose to his feet.

“Pay him. Then lock him in the warehouse until I return.”

“W-what?”

The boy looked up in shock, but the servants were already moving. The Marquis turned to his steward.

“I’m going to the Grand Temple. Prepare my carriage.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Iaoros, disguised as a young boy, was dragged away by the servants. He kept up the frightened act as they tossed him into a boarded-up storage shed and threw him a leather pouch containing nine gold coins.

While crawling across the floor to retrieve the pouch, he heard the door slam shut behind him. Once alone, he dropped the act and flung the pouch aside with disgust.

“Disgusting humans.”

He wanted nothing more than to tear apart the Marquis and every servant who had dared to imprison him—but for now, this deception could buy him time.

He crept toward the nailed window. Though the boards were loosely arranged, they still blocked his full view. It seemed the shed opened to the side of the estate rather than the main courtyard, so he couldn’t confirm whether the Marquis had left for the temple.

Once he confirmed there was no one outside, he tore the boards away.

He might look like a child, but his real strength could shred a grown man with his bare hands.

Within moments, he had pried open the window and slipped outside. Now, his only goal was to circle the Grand Temple and wait for the right opportunity.

He just hoped the Marquis would act quickly.

With that, he transformed into a crow and took to the sky.

Oscar listened to the explanation in silence. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

He gave permission for Valter’s interrogation—on the condition that he be present.

It was an offer Achilles couldn’t refuse.

“Tower Master. You called for me?”

Giel entered, bowing his head slightly. At Achilles’s nod, he lifted his head and adjusted his glasses. Thanks to a crystal orb he’d been using to monitor communication, he already had a good idea of what was going on.

So, I’m finally needed.

Eliza had complained of discomfort and was staying in a city hotel, while Marcus was housed in one of the rooms in the prince’s private villa, thanks to the crown prince’s hospitality. Giel himself had also taken a room in Eliza’s hotel.

“You’re going to open up Young Duke Bianchi’s mind.”

Achilles’s words weren’t to be taken literally—Giel knew that. This wasn’t the first time the Tower Master had called on him for a job like this. The fact that Oscar had given his consent meant even the royal family was sanctioning the use of such magic on Valter Bianchi.

“Understood.”

It wasn’t the first time he’d delved into the mind of a Sword Master—and he was certain it wouldn’t be the last.

As Oscar led the way toward the imperial dungeons, Giel glanced sideways at Achilles.

The Tower Master, ever since his engagement to the princess, had appeared unusually content—but now his expression was steely, unreadable.

His face might’ve looked the same as always, but something sharp and cold radiated from him.

Something must have happened to Her Highness… otherwise, the Tower Master wouldn’t be here.

If that was true, then this entire affair had become something far more serious.

With a hardened look, Giel followed closely behind. Several mages under his command walked in formation behind them, prepared for whatever might come next.

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