Chapter(40)

Episode(40): Firm Resolve, Unknown future

SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~(40)

If not before, Maria had no doubts in her heart now.

After all, just the fact that Elaine had suddenly felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her before she fell asleep was enough to prove it.

The herb wasn't a drug that induced sleep in the first place.

Sleep occurred simply because the herb used the process of sleep to cleanse mind and body.

Just like how the body naturally recovers mana when one sleeps.

The herb uses the process of sleep where there is no resistance in order to accurately locate the source of negative energy and then it blends with the mana of the host cleansing them of all abnormal effects then replenishing the mana again.

That process would continue until the host was completely cleansed of all abnormal status.

[I called it but I really didn't think someone would even be so bold…hehe]

Maria laughed holding her head to the ceiling with a thoughtful expression.

Standing at the side, Karian didn't know what she was thinking but she knew that there was no way it was something good.

With a gaze filled with endless meanings, Maria sighed before she looked down at her sister and stroked her hair.

Her heart felt tight seeing her helpless sister who was just caught up in some demons lust and lost her future.

An expression of apology was written on her face but Maria knew that was done couldn't be rewritten.

She could only clench her fist and apologize in her mind.

'I'm sorry, Elaine…..even though I should be your big sister I didn't even protect you'

She knew, that rather than realizing the truth she should have just let Elaine live in that blissful lie for the rest of her life.

When Elaine woke up she would definitely be traumatized by what happened. 

She might even go mad.

Even so, Maria didn't want her sister to suddenly regain clarity one day and realize that all her life and feelings towards that person was as lie.

If she blamed her then, Maria really couldn't take it at all.

So she decided the better thing was to have her wake up to reality sooner or later.

Even so, the fact that Elaine might detest everything about the royal family and even Maria who allowed such a thing under her nose to happen was still a probability.

And even if she did hate her, Maria knew she couldn't deny responsibility.

The relationship had been blooming and gaining flight under her nose for weeks, yet she only realized it when it was too late.

'I should have noticed the signs'

However all she could do was bite her lip in frustration and complain how useless she was.

Even so, even if Elaine did hate her she didn't mind.

Instead she had a look of determination in her eyes as she peered at her sleeping sister.

[This time I promise to protect you like a big sister should!]

Taking a seat, Maria gently held Elaine's head in her lap and stroked it gently.

Her expression was soft as she lovingly caressed her sister's head.

Karian didn't interrupt them and just watched the scene unfold before her. She was also slightly upset and disgusted by the hero's actions.

Although she was Maria's loyal aide, she knew what a good person Lady Elaine was. So to see her future stop here just because of a man's lust made her extremely angry.

She really couldn't fault Maria if she wanted to retaliate.

After a while, Maria sighed. On her mind she could only see countless hectic days ahead. But-

'For you sister, I will become the best queen and protect your happiness going forward'

[Karian]

Maria called out.

Her soft expression had now become incredibly stern and she no longer seemed like a naïve princess at all.

Karian stepped forward.

[Your order, my lady!]

[Please instruct the servants to bring my sister to the private villa and have all information be left confidential. Erase all evidence of my sister Elaine's movements over the last month as well. Let absolutely no one get involved besides my close aides...I wouldn't be able to hold back if someone caused a mess again]

At this point, all Maria could do was hide her sister.

So no one would be suspicious and cause trouble. It would also enrage her if Renji, after all he had done wanted to get involved again.

So she wouldn't inform a single soul.

Using abnormal status to get women into his bed.

Maria despised people planting such false feelings into others just to satisfy their lust. Especially since her sister was a victim.

If he wasn't the hero she might have already stormed the banquet demanding for his head.

Fortunately Maria had felt something was off and stayed away from him.

If not, without a proper means of resistance she might have already fallen to become such debauched woman long ago.

Seeing that Maria was in thought, Karian asked with curiosity etched on her beautiful features.

[Are you planning something Lady Maria?]

Maria smiled coldly then shook her head right after.

[...Not especially, we all know that so long as the demon king exist the hero can never be charged with a crime even if he himself becomes a devil] 

He was the hero after all!

Humanity had given heroes such freedom simply because they were chosen by god. And even if they acted out of line they never went too far.

It was just that Renji was a deviant.

He was wanton and did whatever he wanted no matter whether it was unrighteous or not.

That was simply who he was.

Maria wanted to laugh.

Of course, who ever said a hero had to be just and noble? Now because of said freedom her sister had to be on the side of suffering.

The rage she felt was like the burning of a volcano.

[At least at the moment I cannot act]

She composed herself.

Maria seemed calm on the surface but Karian could feel a coldness she had never felt emanating from her lady.

Still, she didn't complain.

On the other hand Maria thought about the hero. This wasn't an issue she could approach lightly.

It wasn't like all she would get away with was a slap on the wrist if she really plotted against the hero.

Even if the hero was wrong, the church definitely won't let it go. Neither will the people.

Even if they know that morally they couldn't accept the hero's actions, as the only one who could bring them salvation they would have no other choice but to stand on his side.

There was also another possibility she must avoid.

'Father could use this as a means to retake his place on the throne'

When she thought about this, Maria had a strange expression on her face. Something felt like it was wrong with the whole situation and she thought about it.

Her father introduced her sister to the hero.

While it was true that having the hero's bloodline spread throughout the royal family, it wasn't like it was that important.

The empire was strong enough and there was no way to conquer other nations even with the power of other heroes.

Simply because they were strong enough, if they got too greedy the entire continent might view them as a common enemy.

Yet he still saw benefit in having the hero be with Elaine?

No, something wasn't right.

What was it that she had missed?

'Father knows how close Elaine and I are…..'

Hm, wait? 

Maria squinted and wondered if he had anticipated this situation.

The situation where she was too angry to think about reason and just attacked the hero.

The more Maria thought about it the more it felt like a genuine possibility. 

Knowing that sly old fox there was really no way he would care about a matchmaking that wouldn't benefit him.

He must have just wanted to use Maria's retaliation against the hero as a reason to once again take the helm of the empire.

She snorted as she thought about it.

Her father must have never though that Maria would be so composed and rational that she would have thought it over and figure out his plan in one go.

Even so, she was angry that her father used Elaine as a tool for his own good.

[Will you be going back to the venue your highness?]

Karian suddenly asked her. 

Maria looked at this beautiful attendant for a while but soon nodded hesitantly.

[...I will]

Though she wasn't the mood for the banquet anymore and was sure that she might act out of line if she saw Renji again, there was nothing she could do.

As the host of the party she needed to be there.

If the nobles on her side didn't increase then taking the throne officially instead of being an 'active' ruler would be hard.

Especially with Elaine's situation she was even more motivated to become the real Empress instead of a figure head.

If it's impossible to get the throne, then all she could do was run away so no one could use them as tools.

Especially if one of her relatives that hated them were to be crowned, it would be a disaster.

She nodded again, this time with firm resolve.

[Yes, I'll return to the party but, I will be seeing my sister off in a carriage first...please take care of things while I'm gone]

[As you wish]

Karian bowed and left the room immediately after the confirmation.

Maria watched as her silhouette vanished down the hall thinking she was really like a little secretary.

It was thanks to this good friend that Maria could continue keeping her sanity and reasoning in check even with the current situation unfolding.

Left in the room caressing her sister's head gently, she sighed.

What the future held she couldn't even imagine.