Chap 9

'What is this?'

Upon unfolding the crumpled paper, there were the names of cursed potions and the list of people who had ordered them.

"Ugh! What is this? This woman, she did record everything so meticulously!!"

From commoners to dukes, counts, and barons. A list of customers regardless of high or low status.

There's no confidentiality like this lack of confidentiality.

If this list is revealed, not only the one who made the potions but also the customers will be in danger.

'Is this what has been accepted as evidence? I won't use it right away, but if I have it, there will be a time when I'll need it.'

Reading the letters in unfamiliar darkness wasn't a simple tiring task, but Ermedillin immediately picked up the next book.

'Isn't there any useful magic?'

As she read, she realized that every curse potion basically required a drop of the maker's blood.

Considering the description that the Franshuar family was called dark magicians in the novel, the lineage of the maker seems quite important in completing the magic.

'Ah, I shouldn't have skimmed through the settings, I should have read them in detail.'

What's the use of regretting it now?

For now, there's no choice but to thoroughly read the clues in front of her.

'The more I read, the more outrageous it gets, really.'

As the book gets thicker, the contents of the curses become more serious.

Exhausted by the dreadful content, Ermedillin gave up detailed reading and decided to check only the last two spells of the thickest and most ominouslooking book.

'The curse of the lion? Summoning the soul of the dead and calling it into the body of a living person who harbors resentment. Ugh, there's really all sorts of things.'

It's a curse that possesses the soul of the deceased into the body of a person with deep resentment.

The content of the memo, seemingly written by Ermedillin, is impressive.

'I will offer my soul to complete the curse. I will definitely possess ### into your body!!'

'Ugh, fortunately, it looks like it hasn't been executed yet. What kind of magic is this nonsense?'

The last curse's name is 'Disturbance of Rest.'

Reading the last chapter with a hope that something useful might be there, Ermedillin's eyes began to shake violently.

'This… is this a complete zombie? What's going on… what was this woman thinking?'

Startled, she closed the book that had the research method for magic that revives only the flesh of the lion and makes it act according to the caster's will.

'There's nothing helpful at all!! What is this, really! I don't want to earn money by using these weird curse magics. I don't even know how to do it. I must definitely collect the borrowed money.'

Even after thoroughly searching the basement, there was no information that could help with finances right away.

Helplessly returning to the bedroom, Ermedillin discovered something unseen on the bed.

"What's this?"

Picking up the paper shining faintly in the moonlight, there was a simple sentence written in it.

'Are you really going to proceed with the lawsuit? You don't care if Ferdant dies?'

'Could the Count Franshuar have visited the basement?'

The name Ferdant appears again.

'It seems to be an important name. I don't know who it is. Could it be…'

With an unbelievable feeling, she opened the pendant she saw during the day, took out a picture of a child that looked just like her, and there, as expected, was the name Ferdant.

'Is this kid's name Ferdant? Considering the resemblance, it must be a relative. Ah, what do I do? Just ignore it?'

It's somewhat unsettling to just pass over it.

'How do I find out?'

Thinking about the name Ferdant and about to lie down on the bed, Ermedillin suddenly felt a chill all over her body.

"The only ones who know that I am going to proceed with the lawsuit are the maids, the priest, and Count Batistian. How did they find out and leave a threatening letter in my bedroom?"

This place is the Empress's palace, where most people hesitate to tread, deeming it ominous.

Within the isolated palace, where even the guards are minimally stationed.

Therefore, there can be only one possibility.

That there exists a spy.

It seems the priest who gave testimony is not the spy, and one of the three maids must be the spy, but considering Count François' behavior, the probability of having been threatened is also thick.

"In this situation, I have no choice but to be careful on my own."

Thus, Ermedillin dismissed all the maids the next day and left the palace alone in the carriage prepared by Count Batistian.

Loonie wanted to accompany her to the end, saying it was dangerous, but the guards seemed lucky not to have been pointed out and did not try to stop the Empress from going out alone.

"Yes. How much would everyone love it if this terrible Empress went out alone and something went wrong?"

While harboring bitter thoughts, the carriage moved out of the city into a quiet alley.

The destination was a small, shabby building.