No Evil Lady in the World (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 72

Elmerat’s confident voice was brimming with cheerfulness. For the past few years, she had gone to great lengths to expand exchanges with Osraphen, a nation boasting formidable naval power and abundant fishing grounds.

On Osraphen’s side as well, discerning officials had earnestly tried to persuade King Jents, but the obstinate Grand Chancellor’s overwhelming influence caused their efforts to fail time and again.

The conservative nobles of El Bluyenne were also far from pleased to see relations with Osraphen progressing in a favorable direction.

Among the well-established conservative faction were cunning individuals who knew that profiting from conflict was quite a lucrative business; whenever signs appeared that trade routes might open, they seized every possible pretext to oppose it.

King Elmerat waited patiently for the right moment, gradually eliminating some of them while sowing discord among their ranks. Just who had infiltrated the heart of the conservative faction and shaken their solid alliance remained a secret—even Sediloi did not know.

“Sediloi, your start today was excellent. I must grant you a reward—what would you like?”

Sediloi stared silently at Elmerat, who was leaning casually against her throne. He hesitated—a breach of etiquette no ordinary noble would ever dare—but the king’s expression as she awaited his reply was gentle.

“To be honest, Your Majesty, an urgent letter has arrived for me from the duchy.”

The king blinked, then finally straightened her posture and looked directly at him.

“An urgent letter? What has happened in the duchy?”

Sediloi fell silent once more. Even his sharp mind could not fathom how best to explain this.

The letter he had received, of course, was from Meiana. Whether she had been angry or in a hurry, its hastily scrawled contents—barely legible—were hard to believe.

Someone in the manor had poisoned Ariante’s meal, and the head chef, who had eaten it in her place, had collapsed and was still undergoing treatment. Every word seemed unbelievable—and incomprehensible.

“Duke Valterminster.”

Elmerat’s stern voice yanked Sediloi sharply out of his reverie.

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