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Chapter 3
When people talk about why Divine Stones are so sought after, most bring up the tragedy known as the “Leopold Incident.”
Long ago, the Argent Empire suffered a terrible disaster caused by a black magician named Leopold.
Leopold controlled black magic and monsters. He was the origin of all black magic, and the terrifying creatures he created were made using innocent lives. Wherever he appeared, plague followed. Countless people died. He was so cruel and bloodthirsty that people called him a demon who sang of slaughter.
To kill Leopold and wipe out black magic, many lives were sacrificed. The High Priests of the temple were often killed by black magicians, and many replacements had to be made in quick succession. Normally, there would be official ceremonies to appoint new High Priests—but there was no time. The attacks just kept coming.
As for the holy knights, the number who died couldn’t even be counted. Lands destroyed by Leopold’s black magic had to be permanently sealed off, and the empire’s people suffered greatly. Everyone desperately prayed for Leopold’s death and hoped God would destroy the demon.
Finally, after a long time, Leopold was killed by an unknown holy knight—a nameless knight—and the tragedy ended.
This knight’s identity—his origin, appearance, even his name—was never known. He died in the fight against Leopold, but when his body was recovered, a Divine Stone was found on him. Until then, Divine Stones were simply believed to be gems made from concentrated holy power—nothing more.
But after this event, it was discovered that Divine Stones blocked black magic. From then on, they were stored in the temple’s vaults, and holy knights began carrying stones made with their own holy power. Everyone wanted one.
***
Charlotte held tightly to the Divine Stone around her neck. It was her only proof that she hadn’t used black magic.
They all think I used black magic to attack Rieta…
Everyone in the empire knew what Divine Stones could do. Charlotte understood that if she held it up and showed its light, she could quickly clear her name.
But she didn’t. Instead, she simply gripped the stone and looked around calmly.
She pointed at a young staff member who, despite the panic, was clearing the area around the collapsed Rieta.
“You, there.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Go call the priests from the temple—not doctors. It’s not far, but not close either. Hurry. And you.”
Next, she pointed to the head manager of the salon—a middle-aged man who had gone straight to check on Rieta instead of whispering like the others.
“Tell the staff to close all the salon’s entrances. Everyone’s panicking—we don’t know what could happen.”
“Then… what about the Saintess?”
“Lord Winterile will stay with her. Make sure no one else comes in until the priests arrive. And the cookie near you—Rieta ate it before collapsing. Keep it safe so the priests can check it later.”
Then she added:
“They need to know whether I used black magic to harm her, or if it was the cookie.”
Gasps rose from the people around them.
The head manager didn’t reply but nodded. He pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wrapped the cookie Rieta had bitten into, then stepped away.
Charlotte knew that waving the Divine Stone around right now would only stir more chaos. The priority was taking care of Rieta.
***
As she calmly took control of the situation, whispers rose around her:
“Why is she so calm? Didn’t she just attack the Saintess with black magic?”
“Maybe she already figured out how to escape… Black magicians are clever like that…”
“But why was the Saintess here? Isn’t that Lord Winterile too?”
“Wait… could she have seduced them both and tried to kill them?”
The gossip pierced Charlotte’s ears like sharp needles. But she didn’t let it show. She stood tall, her shoulders squared, her back straight. Her expression didn’t waver, though her hands were still shaking slightly, and the silver chain of her necklace trembled between her fingers.
“Charlotte Blanche.”
It was Norman who called her name in a low voice. He seemed to emphasize her family name.
He gently laid the unconscious Rieta on a wine-colored sofa, then turned to Charlotte.
His eyes, once warm, were now cold. As they met, Charlotte’s grip on the Divine Stone loosened.
“Rieta collapsed after eating the cookie you gave her.”
“…”
“You and I both ate from the same tray, but we’re fine.”
“…”
“Charlotte, say something. Anything. Right now.”
“If I did do it… what would you do to me?”
Norman’s eyes wavered in shock. Even though it was the answer he had been waiting for, he looked unsettled. He asked again and again, his voice betraying confusion.
Each time he asked, cracks began to form in the love Charlotte had hidden inside. It hurt like tiny shards of glass in her chest.
“Charlotte, did you really do it? Why? Why would you…?”
“So in the end, you’re just like everyone else.”
“What…?”
“I regret thinking of you as someone I could trust.”
I wish I had never fallen in love with you… Charlotte whispered softly.
Whether Norman heard her or not, she didn’t care anymore. She slowly opened her hand.
No one saw the red nail marks on her skin—only the beautiful, glowing blue light of the Divine Stone spread across the salon.
“Lord Winterile.”
“…!”
“From now on, let’s pretend we don’t know each other. I hope you find someone who makes you happy.”
Before Norman could respond, the priests arrived.
With Rieta unconscious and Charlotte holding a Divine Stone, no one could tell what had really happened. That’s when Charlotte calmly approached the oldest-looking priest and handed over the stone.
“The Saintess collapsed. Some say I used black magic, but I had this Divine Stone—gifted to me by the Marquis Blanche. Please verify it at the temple. I will go with you.”
***
Thanks to the temple’s help, Charlotte was able to prove her innocence quickly.
The stone was confirmed to be real, and a trainee priest was sent back to the salon to inform everyone.
Charlotte bowed politely as she received the stone back.
“I’m sorry to have caused so much trouble.”
“Not at all,” the priest replied. “We should be thanking you for cooperating so fully. We’ll make sure this is properly handled so no false rumors remain. Don’t worry.”
The priest, Rettran, spoke kindly. But seeing Charlotte’s shoulders droop in defeat made him feel pity.
He was close with the Marquis Blanche, so he had heard all about Charlotte’s hardships growing up. She had been falsely accused so often that she had learned to apologize first—whether she was guilty or not.
Then, Charlotte quietly asked:
“How is the Saintess?”
“She’s fine. We think the reaction was caused by a type of poison she regularly takes. She’s awake now—in the prayer room. You can see her.”
At those words, Charlotte’s face immediately brightened.
***
In the Argent Empire, a Saintess was expected to be pure and holy. They wore white and ate simple foods like stew, fruit, or bread.
But unlike other countries, Argent Saintesses consumed small amounts of poison regularly. This was a precaution developed long ago, since black magicians often tried to poison them.
By taking tiny amounts of poison daily, the Saintess built up resistance, just in case.
So that’s why she vomited blood… The black color must’ve been from the poison…
Charlotte followed Rettran to the prayer room.
The door was a massive slab of marble, carved with an image of the god and decorated with golden stars and the empire’s moon symbol.
Charlotte had visited before with her father as a child, so it felt familiar—but still awe-inspiring.
“She’s inside. Go on.”
Rettran smiled and left.
As Charlotte approached the door, she heard voices through the crack.
“So… Lady Charlotte was falsely accused… thanks to the Divine Stone…”
Through the gap, she saw Rieta speaking with a priest, frowning in frustration.
It seemed they were discussing what had happened while she was unconscious.
Rieta tapped her lips with her finger, then suddenly smiled brightly.
The priest blushed deeply and awkwardly excused himself, fleeing out the back exit.
So it’s true that some become priests just to see her… Charlotte thought, amused.
She quietly stepped inside, tiptoeing toward Rieta—intending to surprise her.
But then she froze.
She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
She hoped she had heard wrong.
But then Rieta’s next words shattered that hope:
“I didn’t know she had a Divine Stone. I was really trying to frame her as a black magician this time. What a waste of a good poison…”
