MYCDM 06

Chapter 06

“Lady Rebecca and the senior handmaiden who served Princess Aksa?”

Rebecca was the Emperor’s first child, a princess who died young from a fall from a horse.

“If she served Lady Rebecca, that would have been a very long time ago?”

“Yes. She retired from her handmaiden duties quite some time ago. Lady Bvinnna retired before Princess Aksa went missing.”

“Why?”

“Her only child committed suicide out of despair.”

“Ah.”

It was a fairly well-known incident.

While people said it was unfortunate that Bvinnna’s only child had died, there was also much talk about whether it was really necessary for her to quit her handmaiden duties.

In truth, a handmaiden serving the imperial family held a position close to power. And she had served both the Emperor’s first and second children up close.

The two were practically candidates for the next Emperor.

Of course, Bvinnna had retired after Rebecca’s death.

However, Aksa was still a candidate for the next Emperor. It would not have been easy to give up that position.

The Emperor, having lost Rebecca not long before, took pity on Bvinnna and let her go with a considerable severance.

All of this happened when Michael was only eight years old, so he had no memory of it.

But because he had investigated that period for fifteen years following Aksa’s disappearance, Michael knew that Bvinnna was a lucky person. Because Aksa went missing exactly one week after she retired.

When everyone involved in Princess Aksa’s disappearance was killed by the Emperor’s hand, Bvinnna was the one who escaped blame because she had quit beforehand.

“She said she has seen many people die. She said she felt great guilt about having quit at that time, and that she wishes to see Princess Aksa.”

Michael looked at Elihu’s subordinate.

What was that man’s name again?

“Tell her no.”

“Excuse me?”

“Princess Shia is not in a condition to see any other outsiders right now.”

“Yes. Then I will convey that.”

“No, I’ll go with you.”

This subordinate was strange. Michael felt it.

Something about his vacant gaze. He was being controlled by someone right now.

If it was a Ring ability strong enough to control others, it would be a high-ranking noble or….

‘It’s also highly likely that it’s the one who was the nanny to the Princesses.’

Michael forcibly smoothed his furrowed brow.

“I would like to meet her. I also entered the imperial palace during that period.”

“Ah, yes.”

The subordinate led Michael to where Bvinnna was.

As he descended the stairs, a woman seated with an elegant posture came into view. Her face appeared to be well over sixty.

“I heard you came looking for Princess Shia.”

Michael walked toward Bvinnna.

Bvinnna rose gracefully and bowed politely.

“I greet the imperial bloodline. I was the handmaiden of Lady Rebecca and Princess Aksa….”

“Yes. I heard briefly, Lady Bvinnna.”

It was rude to cut someone off, but Michael acted as naturally as if he were doing something expected.

When Michael extended his hand, Bvinnna cautiously placed hers on top of it. Michael smiled brightly and spoke.

“Pleased to meet you.”

Bvinnna looked at Michael.

At that moment, Bvinnna’s Ring began to move. An unpleasant sensation flowed through Michael’s arm.

‘Ha, would you look at that?’

What on earth was Bvinnna thinking, sending her Ring to him?

‘Surely she’s not trying to control me too?’

Sometimes there were arrogant people like this. Those who believed that because their Ring was exceptional, they could control most people with their ability.

Moreover, there were many who mocked Michael, saying his abilities must be pathetic if he had been imprinted by a five-year-old Princess.

If only it were just mockery. As now, there were many nobles who tried to dominate Michael’s mind by flexing their abilities.

And not once had Michael ever been swayed by their Rings.

“Lady Bvinnna, what are you doing?”

“Excuse me?”

Because Princess Aksa’s disappearance had been so long ago, even the citizens of the Tashin Empire didn’t know how powerful Princess Aksa’s abilities were.

And it seemed they had forgotten that Michael’s Ring was also overwhelming enough to have been chosen as Aksa’s fiancé.

If someone with a physical-type Ring possesses a superior Ring to someone with a mental-type Ring, they will not fall under mental control.

Just like now.

“I am His Majesty the Emperor’s consort. I am strictly speaking also a member of the imperial family. As a former handmaiden, Lady Bvinnna must surely know that attempting to control a member of the imperial family with a Ring is punishable by immediate execution.”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Bvinnna denied it as if she had no idea.

At that moment, Elihu’s subordinate suddenly lunged at Michael. When mental control didn’t work on Michael, she used someone else.

Certainly, being able to control a knight who was Elihu’s subordinate meant Bvinnna’s Ring abilities were excellent.

But….

Michael pulled Bvinnna, whom he was holding, and thrust her toward Elihu’s subordinate.

The subordinate was startled and hesitated for a moment.

“Lady Bvinnna.”

Bvinnna tried to twist her body away, but her other arm was firmly held by Michael.

“To dare try to control a member of the imperial family.”

Michael put strength into the hand that held Bvinnna’s.

“Aaagh!”

Michael let go as if shaking off his hand.

Bvinnna’s hand bones were all crushed. He had squeezed using his ability, so the bones must have turned to powder.

Bvinnna couldn’t bear the pain and collapsed to the floor.

“It seems you’ve forgotten your manners after being away from the imperial court for so long.”

Elihu’s subordinate could no longer move. Perhaps intimidated by Michael’s overwhelming ability.

Michael approached him with an expressionless face.

“Since I don’t know when the brainwashing will wear off, let me put you to sleep for a while.”

Michael struck his abdomen hard.

Then he looked at Bvinnna again.

“I don’t know how many people you’ve brainwashed. The best solution would be to kill you, but since you’re an important hostage, I suppose I can’t.”

Bvinnna looked around and retreated backward.

“Oh, it’s a misunderstanding.”

“Give me your hand.”

Bvinnna’s face filled with terror.

“The hand that isn’t broken.”

Michael smiled. It was such a charming smile that it was even more chilling.

When Bvinnna couldn’t bring herself to extend her hand, Michael whispered.

“You don’t want your shoulders to be crushed too, do you?”

With a face pale with fright, Bvinnna extended her hand, and Michael lightly took it and brought his face close to her ear.

“Don’t scream. Smile.”

Michael could feel Bvinnna trembling in terror through his hand.

“If being done like this by a physical-type Ring is so painful, you should have imagined how those who suffered from Lady Bvinnna’s mental-type Ring must have felt. Smile. It’s a good day.”

Michael put strength into his hand.

—

* * *

—

When Elihu returned to the inn with the merchant, the scene inside was strange.

An elderly woman with her eyes covered and a gag in her mouth was tied to a pillar. And one of Elihu’s subordinates was lying on the sofa as if asleep.

Michael, completely unconcerned by this situation, smiled and welcomed Elihu.

“You’re back?”

“Oh, yes. But what is all this?”

“One of Lord Elihu’s subordinates was brainwashed, and she also attempted to brainwash me. She said she was a former close handmaiden to Princess Aksa.”

Michael answered, pointing his chin toward the old woman.

“What?”

Elihu approached the bound old woman with an incredulous look.

Dobern, the merchant who had come with Elihu, rolled his eyes, pondering how he should treat Michael.

“Isn’t this a bit much for an old woman?”

Elihu said as he lowered the blindfold from the woman’s eyes.

“Well, I am also a member of the imperial family. In fact, I believe I showed considerable mercy by not executing her on the spot.”

“That’s true enough.”

Bvinnna struggled and wept. Her blindfold was soaked because of it, but Elihu just chuckled.

“More importantly, who is that person over there?”

Michael asked, looking at Dobern.

Dobern quickly straightened his posture. Elihu smiled and introduced him.

“Ah, this is Dobern, a merchant from Arune. Dobern, that person over there is Lord Michael Eshkenazi, consort of His Majesty the Tashin Emperor.”

“Oh! I am Dobern Campton.”

Dobern bowed politely.

“This fellow has prepared a fine ship for us so we can depart immediately tomorrow.”

Elihu laughed, slapping Dobern’s shoulder.

“As a merchant, you must handle various goods?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then there’s something I’d like to purchase.”

“Just say the word!”

Michael smiled at Dobern’s enthusiastic attitude.

Having lived a life of constantly watching others’ reactions to survive without roots, Michael understood people like that well.

Elihu probably planned to use Dobern for this trip and then discard him, but Arune was where Shia had stayed for a long time. To have a lot of information about Arune, it was necessary to build a close relationship with an Arune merchant.

And above all, there was something he needed to do before meeting the Emperor.