Chapter 88 – The Play Begins

#88

“No…”

The woman answered. Jeha felt a slight relief that nothing terrible had happened.

“Then the rumor that the Marchioness Scarlet killed virgins and bathed in their blood isn’t true?”

“Yes… The Marchioness isn’t a good person, but she’s no murderer…”

“What will you testify at the Inquisition?”

“That she killed virgins and bathed in their blood…”

“Who told you to say that?”

At Jeha’s question, the woman’s face subtly twisted. Probably revealing guilt.

“The Inquisitor…”

“He told you to lie?”

“Yes… He said if I didn’t testify, he’d denounce me as a witch…”

“Does the Inquisitor have any other evidence?”

“Yes… The bodies of virgins dug up from graves… In the basement…”

The woman’s body trembled violently. If he continued to stimulate her unconscious, she might suffer harm.

Jeha pondered for a moment.

What would happen if, at the public trial, he revealed that this woman had been threatened by the Inquisitor into giving false testimony? The Inquisitor had already prepared multiple witnesses and fake evidence. There was a strong possibility they’d frame this woman as an accomplice to the Marchioness.

“You won’t remember anything that happened now or meeting me. Understood?”

“Yes…”

“Good. Now lie down on the bed and get some sleep. When you wake up, your head will be clearer.”

“Yes…”

The woman obediently lay flat on the bed. Only after confirming this did Jeha withdraw the sound barrier and vanish from the room.

Returning to his room at the Belgarga estate, Jeha let out a deep sigh.

“Did you confirm it?”

Zephyr asked. Jeha narrowed his brow and nodded.

“She’s innocent after all. The Inquisitor fabricated the evidence and witnesses.”

“Oh dear…”

Zephyr said sympathetically, but his face clearly showed amusement.

“What’s so funny?”

Jeha glared at Zephyr slightly.

“It’s just that humans are so consistent in their actions… Watching them is quite amusing, don’t you think?”

Jeha clicked his tongue lightly. He didn’t even feel like getting angry at Zephyr’s words. He thought that to Zephyr, who had lived for so long, human life might indeed appear that way.

“Then what will you do?”

“Well…”

Jeha flopped onto the sofa. He rested his chin in his hand and sank into deep thought.

Even if he somehow managed to prevent the burning at the stake, she would be imprisoned in a tower or something similar for the rest of her life, awaiting a miserable death. To save her from this injustice, he had to prove her complete innocence.

The problem was that there were too many people who wanted her guilty. From the Inquisitor who framed her as a witch, to the high-ranking priest backing the Inquisitor, and the Emperor and the Grand Temple who coveted her wealth. The opponents were too formidable. It would be difficult to prove the Marchioness Scarlet’s innocence against them, and if he did manage to prove it, he would practically be making enemies of the Emperor and the Grand Temple.

Jeha, chin in hand, eventually abandoned his thoughts. This didn’t seem like something he could solve alone. If it were only his own affair, he could handle it however he wanted, but he was tied to Hereis. It was only proper to discuss it with him.

Jeha immediately prepared a carriage and headed to the Grand Temple. Even though it was wise to avoid directly visiting Hereis while scandalous novels were circulating, the situation was urgent. Of course, he could wait for Hereis to be alone at night and sneak in, but it seemed better to discuss it as soon as possible.

As expected, Hereis seemed busy. With the public Inquisition approaching, it was natural for the Archbishop to be occupied. Jeha waited in Hereis’s reception room, drinking several cups of tea, waiting and waiting. After waiting several hours, Hereis finally appeared.

“Lord Jeha, I’m sorry. I was informed of your arrival, but I couldn’t leave until an important meeting ended.”

Hereis said with an apologetic face. Jeha, with a look that said such things didn’t matter, wrapped his arm around Hereis’s waist and lightly kissed his cheek.

Only after their brief kiss did they sit down. Sensing that Jeha had something to say, Hereis voluntarily blocked the sound.

“Did you come about the Marchioness Scarlet?”

Hereis went straight to the point. Jeha nodded.

“As it happens, we had a long discussion about her in the meeting just now. The priestess who examined her thoroughly said there was no trace of a contract with a demon.”

“That’s surprising. I thought they would have forced a mark on her.”

Hearing Jeha’s cynical tone, Hereis gave a bitter smile.

“I spoke with the Marchioness Scarlet’s maid, who is a witness in the case, a little while ago. The Inquisitor fabricated the evidence and witnesses. The Marchioness is innocent.”

“I suspected as much.”

Hereis nodded readily, his smile not fading. His face still held bitterness.

“What’s the Grand Temple’s position? Have they already condemned her as a witch?”

“Verbally they said they’d wait for the trial results… But since the evidence and witnesses are already solid, a guilty verdict is highly likely.”

“Then what will be her punishment?”

“Historically, when a noblewoman engages in heresy, she is imprisoned for life in a remote tower or monastery. But in this case…”

Hereis trailed off, then continued in a low voice.

“There is talk of a public burning at the stake.”

“As expected.”

Jeha muttered quietly, unable to hide his displeasure.

Hereis lowered his eyes briefly, wearing a bitter expression, then lifted his gaze to meet Jeha’s. In that brief moment, Hereis’s eyes had cleared again.

“The Marchioness Scarlet is a widow with no husband or heir, and she possesses immense wealth. Over the past few years, even the Emperor has borrowed a considerable amount from her. The Emperor has no intention of repaying that debt; rather, he wants to obtain even more money.”

“So the Emperor and the nobles want her dead.”

“Yes. The Grand Temple is the same. The recent spread of obscene novels has shaken public sentiment. They need a spectacle to quell it. Of course, when she is convicted, the Grand Temple will also gain a huge share of her assets.”

Hereis’s lashes fell again after speaking. Jeha watched him for a moment, then stood up. He sat down on Hereis’s lap and wrapped his arms around his head.

“Have you been stewing alone watching the Grand Temple’s behavior all this time?”

“…You don’t blame me?”

Hereis asked quietly. Jeha gently stroked Hereis’s head in his embrace.

“Why would I blame you?”

“Because I’m a coward who turned a blind eye to the corruption and decadence of the temple, devoting myself only to asceticism because I didn’t want to get my feet dirty in the mud.”

“If you had rushed in alone to fix it, you would have only been shattered yourself, not fixed anything. You have to consider the odds before fighting. But eventually, you summoned me and made a contract, dedicating everything to overturn this temple.”

“Lord Jeha always saves me.”

Hereis hugged Jeha’s waist tightly. At this moment, Hereis felt utterly pitiful and fragile. Jeha continued to stroke his head gently, comforting him.

After some time passed, Hereis finally lifted his face from Jeha’s chest. Jeha gave a brief kiss on Hereis’s lips, which seemed somewhat recovered.

“Now, shall we begin our discussion?”

As Jeha spoke, Hereis gave a faint smile and nodded.

“It’s too difficult to claim the evidence or witnesses were fabricated because the backing is too strong. Not only is it hard to find proof of fabrication, but time is also too short.”

“I can’t openly take her side as Marquis Belgarga either. The world knows that she and I have no connection. Moreover, the Marquis Belgarga is just as good prey for the Emperor and the Temple as she is. If I step in rashly, I might become the next target.”

“My divine power won’t help this time either. In the previous old woman’s case, she was accused of contracting with a demon, so pouring divine power proved her innocence. But this time is different. She has been charged with murder and heresy, not a demon contract. No matter how much divine power I pour into her, nothing will be proven. Also, it’s difficult to sway the opinions of the other high priests. We don’t have enough time to persuade or bribe them, and this time the Pope’s direct will has been handed down…”

The two sighed almost simultaneously.

Hereis was a favored child of God with considerable divine power, and Jeha was the Demon King. Yet they couldn’t use their power to save one woman.

They fell into thought for a while. After some time, a brilliant idea struck Jeha, and he curled his lips into a smile.

“Hereis.”

“Yes.”

“Are the evidence—the bodies of the virgins—here in Encarcosa?”

“Of course. They’re important evidence.”

“Good. Then how about we put on a very interesting play?”

Seeing Jeha’s playful eyes, Hereis’s eyes also glimmered slightly.