RHRTD 10

Chapter 10

Divine power.

A special ability that only those who had been chosen could wield.

In the Holy Empire Ethylia, divine power was considered a blessing from God and proof of a miracle.

Contrary to what was publicly known, Ines could also use divine power.

‘……Though mine is a little different from everyone else’s.’

In fact, thanks to the various functions of her own ‘unique’ divine power, she had been able to safely overcome countless crises until now.

And the most significant of those abilities was……

‘Seeing other people’s ‘malice.’’

Silence fell.

“What…… did you just say?”

Ines answered calmly.

“I said that, as the Duchess, I would stake my name on it.”

Everyone was taken aback by how strongly Ines had spoken and fell silent.

But Ines did not shrink back in the slightest.

‘There was a black energy clinging to that man’s body earlier.’

Black energy.

Ines called it ‘malice.’

Malice appeared in slightly different forms depending on its nature.

What she had seen around Hans earlier was a clear sign that he was lying.

‘If I leave him alone, he’ll cause an even bigger problem someday.’

And there was a high probability that, sooner or later, that malice would be directed toward Ines as well.

For the past five years, Ines had detected countless dangers in this way before they could happen.

When she had no strength to confront them, she avoided them. When she could not avoid them, she prepared herself as thoroughly as possible.

It was one of the reasons she had managed to survive in this castle without a single ally of her own.

“N-No way!”

Hans shouted hysterically.

“Sir, I’m innocent! Why should I be investigated?”

When Ash, the one with the authority to make the decision, remained silent, Hans apparently decided that he still had a chance and began protesting even more loudly.

“This is impossible! Back when First Lady Selena was here, something like this would have been unthinkable! Just because of the word of a woman like that……”

“Watch your mouth, Hans Ricker.”

Ash’s eyes changed instantly.

No matter how much he disliked Ines, Hans had clearly crossed the line with those words.

Startled by the cold warning, Hans quickly shut his mouth.

His attitude was completely different from the way he had treated Ines.

‘So he really didn’t consider me his superior at all.’

She was not surprised.

“What are you going to do, Sir Ash?”

She looked directly into Ash Ranford’s eyes and spoke clearly.

“Are you going to ignore the request of me, Ines Eberhardt, the lawful and only wife of the Duke of Eberhardt?”

A heavy silence descended.

Eberhardt.

The weight carried by that name was more absolute than anything else in this castle.

Ash frowned as though deep in thought, keeping his mouth tightly shut.

“……Understood. I will follow your orders.”

The answer, when it finally came, was exactly what she had expected.

“Sir!”

Hans screamed.

The servants began whispering among themselves, but Ash did not waver in the slightest.

‘Even if he is an aide, it seems he cannot ignore Zekard.’

If Ines had not spoken as the ‘Duchess,’ he probably would have continued ignoring her words until the very end.

‘In the end, there is nothing I can resolve here entirely through my own authority.’

Ines thought bitterly, then spoke calmly.

“Begin the investigation. Right now.”

It did not take long for the results to come out.

“No! I was framed!”

In Hans’s room, a large number of items were discovered that appeared to have been secretly stolen by him over time.

‘Did he really think he would never get caught?’

Then again, who would have thought to suspect him?

His opponents were ‘that’ Ines and a little odd-job worker.

“I-I’m truly innocent! That brat framed me!”

Hans shouted at the top of his lungs, pointing at Leo.

But naturally, no one believed him.

“Be quiet!”

The knights clicked their tongues and, looking disgusted, smacked Hans before dragging him away.

The other servants watched the scene and whispered among themselves.

“I can’t believe Hans was actually the thief……”

“I never thought he was like that……”

As they spoke, they glanced toward the other side.

Ines was calmly watching everything unfold.

Seeing that noble yet resolute face, Ash Ranford felt a headache coming on.

‘Was that woman really right?’

The truth was, Ash had never had particularly good feelings toward Ines from the beginning.

There were countless rumors about ‘Ines Chartier,’ the wife of the great war hero, Duke Eberhardt.

An innocent-looking seductress.

A witch who bewitched people with her beauty and devoured them.

A jealous, vicious wife.

All kinds of filthy and disgraceful rumors about her were spread throughout the empire.

Of course, he did not believe all of them.

But neither could he completely dismiss them.

‘Because I had heard things about her directly from the Temple.’

The Eberhardt Knights had stopped briefly in the capital before arriving in the territory on their return journey.

At that time, Ash had heard malicious rumors about Ines at the Temple.

The priests had made no attempt to hide their contempt for Ines, who had failed to awaken divine power.

And then there was the ‘Saintess,’ Elise……

〈You’re talking about my older sister.〉

Her beautiful face had twisted strangely.

The Saintess was the most perfect woman Ash had ever seen in his life.

She was kind-hearted, and every single one of her gestures was as graceful as though they had been painted into a picture.

She possessed a perfection worthy of being called someone who was loved by God.

And that was precisely why Ash had viewed Ines through even more prejudiced eyes when he heard that she had envied and been jealous of the Saintess.

That was why he had treated Ines with hostility despite Zekard’s instructions.

But……

Suddenly, Ines turned her head.

“Sir Ash.”

Ash flinched at her call.

But he knew very well that now was the time for him to apologize.

Ash politely bowed his head.

“I apologize. My poor judgment caused you trouble. I sincerely apologize.”

Ines quietly stared at Ash.

‘Still the same.’

He was more respectful than before, but that was merely because he was acknowledging that his judgment had been wrong.

He still did not recognize Ines as the Duchess or as the wife of his superior.

After thinking for a moment, Ines spoke.

“Report what happened today to His Grace exactly as it happened.”

Ash looked at her, seeming somewhat surprised.

“Tell him that Hans stole the items, that I requested an investigation, and that evidence was discovered as a result.”

“……Understood.”

“But there is one thing you should know.”

Ines’s gaze was cold.

“I have no intention of making an issue out of the disrespect you showed me today. But that does not mean I have forgiven you.”

Ash’s expression stiffened.

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. If I wanted to, I could make this matter as serious as I wished. I could formally report to His Grace that you refused my orders and instead tried to hold me responsible, and I could make an issue of it.”

Because of the matter of succession to the title, Zekard needed to publicly demonstrate that he was treating Ines as the proper Duchess.

If he learned what had happened today, he would never take it lightly.

He would probably make an example not only of Ash, but of everyone who had been present here.

‘But what would that accomplish?’

Ines spoke firmly.

“The childish power struggle you are trying to have with me is nothing but a waste of energy. It will help no one.”

If she used Zekard’s authority right now to force Ash to his knees, it would certainly feel satisfying.

But what then?

‘It would only deepen the conflict.’

Moreover, it would only increase the hostility the knights and servants already held toward Ines.

They did not need to have a harmonious relationship, but there was nothing to gain from making things worse than they already were.

One way or another, they would have to face each other for another year.

“I think what happened today should have been enough for you to understand what kind of person I am. It is your freedom to decide what you think of me.”

Ines looked straight into Ash’s eyes.

“But do not let that judgment interfere with the things you are supposed to do. If something like this happens again, I will not let it go so easily.”

Having said everything she needed to say, Ines turned around.

Ash stared at her retreating back for a long time.

‘…….’

Strange.

That woman was undoubtedly supposed to be the ‘Ines’ from the rumors.

Ash’s face stiffened ever so slightly.

His dark eyes held a confusion that had never been visible in them before.

Deep within his heart, a strange and inexplicable emotion began to rise.