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~Chapter 45~
Lerazie was shocked that Ciella understood the spirit language. She frowned, telling Ciella to be quiet, but Ciella wasn’t the type to stay silent.
“If you do things that spirits hate, this is what happens. There’s a company ad that says, ‘People are the future,’ but it’s more important not to do things others hate if you want to build trust.”
Ciella spoke confidently, trying to look good in front of the important people and the Grand Marquis. A new junior investigator wrote down every word in his notebook, hoping to impress his boss. Lerazie, angry at Ciella’s lecturing, finally shouted,
“Please, shut your mouth! Who said I lied?”
“Lerazie, you should use nice words. That’s why your spirit ran away.”
“Ran away?”
Everyone looked at Lerazie with surprise. The Marquis stared at her pale face and asked,
“Your spirit ran away? Lerazie, explain yourself.”
“It’s nothing, Father. Let’s talk about it later…”
But the Grand Marquis stopped her and pointed directly at Lerazie.
“If it’s nothing, then call your Sylph here. Prove the truth and clear your name.”
Lerazie couldn’t take the pressure from everyone watching. She dropped to the floor.
“Sylph… won’t come out…”
The Marquis looked down at her, confused.
“Does that mean you can’t use spirit magic?”
“I think it’s because Arnes’s figure was broken. Ever since that wretched girl showed up, strange things have happened!”
Lerazie angrily pointed at Ciella.
“And it’s strange that she knows my spirit left!”
Ciella tilted her head, acting curious.
“I heard the voice. Was I the only one?”
“Only a high-level spiritist could do that! You’re lying!”
“But you really can’t summon your spirit, right?”
The Grand Marquis, who had been listening quietly, asked Lerazie,
“Lerazie, did your Sylph leave without warning? Be honest so the adults can help you.”
Lerazie nodded with teary eyes.
“Yes, it left suddenly, without a word.”
The Grand Marquis, who had stayed neutral as test organizer, looked troubled. Spirits sometimes broke contracts if they were badly treated or hated someone, but usually gave warnings and chances to fix things.
If the contract was broken because of lying, the spirit would normally give a sign or another chance before leaving. No one would ignore such serious warnings.
But this time, Sylph left suddenly, without any sign.
Lerazie quickly said,
“But the contract isn’t broken. You heard that too, Marciela?”
“Yes. There’s just a condition to come back.”
Ciella nodded. The Marquis grabbed Lerazie’s arm and asked,
“What’s the condition?”
Lerazie opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. If she admitted she must not lie for a thousand days, everyone would know she lost her spirit because she lied ten thousand times. And if she lost her spirit power…
“She’s just a commoner after all.”
“This is why bloodline is important.”
She didn’t want to be looked down on.
“The condition is… that liar Ciella has to leave here!”
If I just stop lying from now, Sylph will come back. But with all this evidence, my words mean nothing.
“Lady Lerazie, your spirit powers are your own problem. But for now, you must come with us.”
The investigator spoke. Lerazie stomped her feet in fear.
Sylph, why did you leave without telling the truth? You just needed to say one true thing!
“Father, please do something! I’m really innocent!”
Far away, Basilie—the real culprit of the fire—breathed a sigh of relief as he watched. Lerazie called out to him desperately.
“Brother, you heard me say my Sarah’s Flower was stolen, right?”
Basilie shrugged, looking troubled.
“Oh? Well, as your brother, I have to believe you.”
He gave a vague answer and stepped back. If people started looking for the real arsonist, he’d be in trouble. Lerazie couldn’t use spirit magic anymore and would be kicked out of the family test anyway, so it was fine for her to take the blame. He never wanted to be head of the family himself.
So, you can be the one to sacrifice.
Basilie cleared his throat and pretended nothing was happening.
Marquis Chase Belmore stared hard at Ciella.
Did she really understand the spirit language, something only contracted spiritists should know?
Come to think of it, the jealous spirit always gossiped about Marciela Belmore, but stayed quiet in front of her.
After Lerazie left with the investigators, the Marquis glared at Ciella coldly as he walked by.
“Not only did you sneak into the black market as a noble, your spirit left you? You really don’t know how to behave. Blood doesn’t lie, sigh…”
The Grand Duchess closed her fan and left. William followed her, his face stiff.
In his office, the official with the mask called in the chief investigator.
“Did you confirm the special instructions from above?”
“You mean to check for traces of dark magic and evil energy? According to Marciela, there was a demon lizard.”
The chief investigator was ordered to look into more than just the fire. The explosive power of Sarah’s Flower suggested dark magic or a demon was involved.
The main goal was to investigate dark magic. Two years ago, even after the Black Order and dark mages were wiped out, new dark mages kept appearing in the Empire.
Most came from the Academy, especially commoners who had entered through the “special admissions” program. These students were mistreated by noble families. Even if they were smart and capable, they were often falsely accused and kicked out, ruining their dreams. Some of them ended up in the underworld, or became dark mages.
This fire case also seemed likely to involve a dark mage.
The chief investigator sighed.
“Even if I try to uncover the Academy’s corruption as you ordered, so many powerful families are involved… Even the royal family.”
“The people in power won’t let the public learn about school corruption and fraud.”
If they pushed too hard, those against the “special admissions” would attack the Saintess who introduced the system. The second prince, Mckellan, who hated the Saintess, was deeply connected to the Academy’s corruption. No one could touch either side easily.
The official remembered Marciela, who had been mistreated and kicked out of her family and the Academy. She seemed like someone who could have become a dark mage.
The disaster at the spirit temple, the destruction of the heirloom… there were plenty of reasons to suspect her. That’s why he came here as a test supervisor, to watch her.
The chief investigator spoke carefully.
“I heard Grand Marquis Isaac Belmore himself asked for a special inspection of the spirit temple, suspecting there was a traitor. But it’s hard to believe it’s Marciela…”
She didn’t give off any evil feeling. Even after all the bad treatment, she stood strong.
“People with strong self-confidence don’t give up or become evil easily.”
The official nodded and sighed.
“Let’s keep watching. There are people who can perfectly hide their energy, like Yuri Sinclair. Faking powers is also possible.”
There was definitely a dark mage hiding at the spirit temple.
Besides the family members, there were other dark mages from the Academy who might be looking for revenge.
“For now, watch Marciela Belmore closely.”
The official looked grim.
