Chapter 79

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Spinel, who was soon brought to the palace, was a plain man with no distinctive features.

While wondering if Lily was into plain men, I noticed that he was turning pale and trembling slightly, as if he had an idea why he was brought before Queen Roxane.

When he was restrained on the spot, his trembling intensified,

"I, I, I don't know anything! I was also deceived! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please, not the death penalty!"

he began to beg for his life.

"Do you realize the gravity of your actions by begging for your life?"

The king's voice, filled with anger, made Spinel tremble violently,

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry……"

and he bowed his head to the floor, apologizing profusely.

When the knight who was restraining him lightly tapped his back,

"Ahhh!!"

he screamed,

"I, I, I was deceived, threatened, and forced to do a simple job! I was told it wouldn't lead to any trouble! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

"When, who, and what did they threaten you with to make you follow the order to harm the queen? Speak clearly!"

When the king asked angrily,

"W, w, w, harm! I didn't do anything like that! I, I, I was delivering financial documents to the guest room where the Duke of Rugaria was staying around noon the day before yesterday, and I was told to do a simple job in exchange for clearing my debt!"

"And what was that?"

"Yes, I was given a blue gem and told to touch it to the body of Queen Roxane's maid, and then to give her a black gem, which I was told to pass on to Queen Roxane."

Those gems must be cursed items.

"Why did you think it wouldn't lead to any trouble? Did you ask for a reason?"

"Yes, the gem to touch the maid was said to erase the memory before and after the task, and the one to give to Queen Roxane was said to be a memento of a secret meeting."

While listening to Spinel's story, Queen Roxane picked up a brooch that had fallen to the floor when the maid Emery was restrained and handed it to the king.

The king examined the brooch with the black gem, then showed it to me,

"Kaita, is this a cursed item?"

When I approached to look, I saw something wriggling inside the gem! I instinctively stepped back and nodded repeatedly to the king.

"It's full of squirming things in the stone."

"I see, but it doesn't seem to activate as it is?"

Muttering to himself, the king examined the back side carefully and seemed to have discovered something. He held it up to the light,

"There's a small blade hidden on the back. When worn, it will cut the skin and activate the curse through the blood."

He concluded.

The king carefully wrapped the cursed item in cloth and put it in a box,

"Take Spinel to the dungeon. This is also to protect his life. Do not attempt suicide or any foolish acts."

Spinel nodded vigorously and was led away quietly by the knight.

"Well, with this cursed item and the testimony, we can arrest Rugaria, but………"

The king's indirect suggestion to stop the search at the Duke of Rugaria's house tomorrow was met with,

"But, with just this cursed item, he might be able to deny everything. Moreover, he will likely prepare false evidence and witnesses to claim that his secret meetings with me were real?"

Queen Roxane, understanding the implications, pointed out the futility.

Sighing,

"Indeed, if he couldn't do that, he wouldn't have been able to maintain the curse on Alshain for over a decade without the church's notice. This plan might have been rushed, assuming that Roxane was already cursed and trying to push further."

Smiling triumphantly,

"He probably doesn't consider Kaita's existence as significant. I heard that the rumor of the curse being lifted only spread after the Pope visited the castle. He likely concluded that the Pope had somehow lifted the curse on Alshain. That's why it's crucial to act tomorrow, right?"

Queen Roxane patted the king's shoulder cheerfully.

"I understand, but it's only natural for a husband to worry about his wife!"

The king's slightly irritated voice made her laugh,

"Haha, Julius, you haven't changed a bit! You're so careless about your own affairs, but suddenly become cautious and worried about others!"

"Don't mock me! I'm genuinely worried!"

"Hmm, even your defensive side is endearing! My lord."

As they started to get cozy, I made a dozen or so curse-breaking orbs with water from a nearby pitcher and explained them to the knight before leaving. Watching them get cozy wasn't fun!

Alshain seemed to feel the same way, as he chuckled and patted my head.

By dinner time, the king had returned and was eating bread and water.

Despite being scolded just yesterday, Anneliese was sighing again and being glared at by Princess Cremone.

It was an early morning, so I went to bed early today.