* * *

After receiving confirmation from the saint that she would testify, Raphine left the clinic.

The knights grumbled and followed Raffine.

That was when I entered the Sapphire Palace.

"...!"

Raphine spotted Zerkan jumping from afar.

When Zerkan heard that Raphine had woken up late, he seemed to run right away.

Her hair was messed up in the wind, and as soon as she saw it, Rafine's heart began to beat strangely.

It was a complex subtle feeling.

I'm happy, I'm embarrassed, I'm sorry.... Emotions that could not be expressed were mixed.

"Raphine."

Zerkan, who came closer, checked Raphine's physical condition first.

"it's okay. The senator said it was fine...."

Raphine spoke with embarrassment, but Zerkan completely ignored the word that it was okay.

"By the way, my hands are fine... uh!"

It was time to ask about the injured hand. Zerkan lightly picked up Raphine as it was and entered the palace.

Raphine tried to tell her to get down, but then she shut her mouth and wrapped her arms around Zerkan's neck.

On the way to the bedroom, the courtiers who encountered the two bowed their heads with delighted expressions.

Raphine was very embarrassed, but her heart beating too loudly was more disturbing than that.

This sound seemed to be transmitted to Zerkan, who was in close contact.

Zerkan entered the bedroom and laid Raffine on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

"...."

With only her head sticking out, Raphine glanced at Zerkan. He sat on the chair he had brought by the bed and stared intently at Raffine.

"I came here to meet Saint Celestine. The saint promised to testify all about the kingdom of Themion."

"...."

Zerkan had an attitude as if he didn't care about anything. Raphine became very embarrassed.

It was because the words Zerkan had said that day lingered in his mind.

But it was not easy to talk about it.

Raphine, who was quietly keeping her mouth shut, asked as if thinking of something.

"Are your hands okay? Look where."

Raphine held out her palm, and Zerkan placed her hand on it. I thought it was like a large dog that listens well.

"The wounds are all healed."

Raphine carefully checked Zerkan's palm. Fortunately, the major wounds had healed a lot.

"It didn't heal at all."

"... Yeah?"

Raphine blinked and asked, Zerkan held out her palm without a word.

"ah. Are you still very sick?"

"... yes."

Raphine raised the corners of her lips slightly. To be honest, it wouldn't hurt if it had healed this much....

Zerkan, who made a weak sound to himself, felt cute.

Wanting to match the rhythm, Raphine pulled his hand and looked closely at his palm.

Then he blew a ho, a breath.

"Are you still in pain?"

"...."

When Zerkan did not answer, Raphine realized what she had done at the time, and was embarrassed and hardened.

He had no way of knowing why he suddenly acted like a chicken.

Raphine gently removed Zerkan's hand and gently raised the blanket.

"...."

When the blanket was raised up to the eyes in embarrassment. There was the sound of wind blowing.

Recognizing that Zerkan was smiling, Raphine closed her eyes tightly and bit her lip.

Then, a soft touch touched his forehead.

It was Zerkan's lips.

"... I need some more sleep."

Raphine covered her head with a blanket to hide her stinginess.

Above him, Zerkan's light laughter was heard.

* * *

After that day. Saint Celestina vomited a lot more than expected.

To the extent that Raphine was embarrassed.

The Temple of Atium was like a country. As such, there were numerous power struggles within.

Among them, there was a force that had been exerting the greatest influence recently.

They were followers of the priest Vescana, who was called the sage of ancient times.

And they say, ironically, they believe that the King of Themion is the reincarnation of Priest Vescana.

'You're laughing.'

Raphine snorted as soon as she heard the story.

In fact, it is said that there are many things similar to the record, including portraits, actions and characteristics.... The truth was unknown.

'The pseudo-teachers say the same thing.'

Anyway, Gerrol Tedler, who was on a trip to Themion, was the start of the problem.

He happened to attend the royal banquet and met the king.

Gerol, who was full of dissatisfaction with the world, fell in love with the cult in an instant.

Gerald revealed himself to gain their recognition, and the King formulated a plan, aiming at him to be Antonio's uncle.

It was a plan to overthrow Zerkan and devour the empire by making Antonio, who was relatively weak in spirit, emperor.

They all believed that King Themion, the reincarnation of Priest Vescana, should rule the empire.

So they secretly used gold magic to expand their power even more.

And to destroy the first button, Zerkan, he was aiming for Raffine.

'There was one more surprising fact.'

According to the saint, a long time ago. It is said that the woman who replaced Raphine when she was a baby is now living in Themion Kingdom.

'I was also using a forbidden technique.'

In order to finance the return to Themion Kingdom, he used the medicine he had.

It is said that the woman is currently at the level of an executive in the Themion Kingdom, and is manufacturing golden magic pills.

After hearing all the stories, Raphine informed Zerkan about this as well.

When it was revealed that Saint Celestina was a spy of Themion, she received tremendous protection.

Because the testimonies that came out of her mouth were very important.

After all the facts were revealed, the atmosphere of the imperial imperial palace became unfavorable.

The dark clouds in the sky moved quickly.

Raphine had a foreboding that war would soon break out.

* * *

At the request of the Empire, the temple also began to investigate the mysterious forces inside.

I don't know how much it will be revealed, but it will be difficult to completely get rid of it since it is in a position to keep an eye on the Empire.

While investigations related to Themion are proceeding rapidly.

Conversely, Empress Rebecca's trial was running sluggishly.

"Not me!"

Despite her haggard and skinny appearance, Rebecca exclaimed loudly.

"Are you going to keep denying all the charges like this?"

The judge shouted as if frustrated. The courtroom where Rebecca's trial was held was full of people today.

Rebecca still denied the allegations, but admitted one thing.

It was he who killed Gerald Tedler. And at the same time as admitting that, Rebecca started asserting other facts.

"I couldn't help it! You killed my little brother to protect the Crown Princess! I'm embarrassed! This is self-defense! Release me right now!"

Rather, it was argued that he was the benefactor who saved the Crown Princess.

Today, her argument is firm.

"How can you be so shameless? ...."

"How can you cut your younger brother in pieces like that? terribly...."

The aristocrats who took part in the trial criticized Empress Rebecca with tantrums.

Raphine, who came to see the trial while wearing a robe, concealed her identity, narrowed her eyes.

Raphine had already finished her testimony.

That day, Empress Rebecca tried to kill her.

But Rebecca stubbornly denied it.

'If the parties are violently denying and making a riot, the trial will inevitably proceed sluggishly.'

It's probably because of Antonio that Rebecca goes out so brazenly.

It was obvious that he didn't want to be blamed, as he was still considering the possibility of Antonio becoming emperor.

Antonio was excluded from all investigations in this case.

The servants of the detached palace all testified together. That day, Prince Antonio never took a single step out of the private palace.

Rafine also did not testify about Antonio.

If the truth was revealed, all the attendants of the annex would be punished for perjury, so it was difficult for me to open my mouth.

Moreover, if Antonio had not come, Raphine would have been assaulted by Geralt Tedler that day.

Antonio was already in a confusing and painful situation in many ways. I didn't want to touch it like a beehive.

However, there was one surprising thing.

'Why does the Empress wrap her maid?'

That day, the woman who imprisoned Raphine. The Empress's maid named Camilla.

The woman was acquitted and acquitted.

Because Empress Rebecca herself said that the maid knew nothing, and Camilla's own testimony was consistent.

Besides, Camilla was pregnant. An article about her relationship with Camilla vigorously asserted her innocence.

All the testimonies were consistent, and she was even pregnant, so investigators quickly released her.