The Marchioness Strikes Back

#96

“Yes, that’s correct. I wanted precisely that, so I made substantial donations to the temple and maintain a close friendship with Archbishop Hereis. Do you know when I first formed a connection with Archbishop Hereis?”

As Jeha asked, everyone exchanged glances. Without waiting long, Jeha spoke again.

“It was right after the Inquisitor system was revived. I studied history and realized I could be a very easy target. So I sought a means to protect myself.”

Surprise flickered across several faces. Jeha continued.

“Everything you all have said is correct. The temple will try to gloss this over as a deviation by the Inquisitor who led this affair. Even if the Marchioness is acquitted, she will forever be branded as having been tried for witchcraft, unable to escape people’s suspicious gazes.”

“…….”

“Even if she endures that, this is no longer just her problem. This means the temple has the power and the will to manipulate our nobles’ rights, honor, and privileges as they please. If we don’t address this now, who knows which widow or noble will be accused of heresy next. So the Marchioness must take the lead and show the nobles’ strength. All nobles must unite around her and demand a proper apology from the temple.”

Marchioness Scarlet let out a faint sigh. A trace of weariness appeared on her previously rigid face.

“…Let me think about this a bit more. Give me some time.”

“Of course. But please keep in mind that there isn’t much time to think. The temple will try to strike first, and then we’ll have no room to act.”

Jeha spoke in a grave tone. At the words ‘no room to act,’ Marchioness Scarlet’s hand, clutching the black handkerchief, tightened.

“My lady!”

A young noble couldn’t hold back and called out loudly to the Marchioness, urging her.

“My lady, you must make a decision. Only then can we act.”

Another noble also joined in urging the Marchioness.

Countess Delfard, who had been listening quietly, rose from her seat and sat beside the Marchioness. As if to show her support, she placed her hand over the Marchioness’s and gripped it firmly.

“Marchioness, why do you think I maintain connections with high-ranking nobles and priests of Encarlosha? It’s not simply out of desire. It’s largely to protect myself as a widow.”

At Countess Delfard’s words, everyone’s gaze wavered. Marchioness Scarlet stared at Countess Delfard with fresh eyes.

“Can I win? The opponent is the temple.”

Marchioness Scarlet’s voice trembled slightly. Jeha quickly interjected.

“Of course. If a few step forward, all the nobles will rise together. Several high-ranking nobles have already sent protest letters to His Majesty the Emperor. If nobles across the realm rise up, His Majesty won’t stand idly by. And of course… there are those within the temple who will side with us.”

At Jeha’s final words, surprise flickered in everyone’s eyes.

“Surely… you’re not saying Archbishop Hereis will take our side?”

Jeha looked around with a secretive expression and gave a small nod.

“Archbishop Hereis has been secretly working to abolish the Inquisitor system from the moment it was revived. If we nobles unite, His Majesty steps forward, and there’s an internal accusation from within the temple…”

As Jeha trailed off, the nobles’ faces immediately brightened.

“Marchioness, if what Marquis Belgarga says is true, this is a fight we can win.”

“Yes, a fight we can definitely win.”

Everyone added a word. Marchioness Scarlet lowered her eyes slightly, as if lost in thought. All eyes were fixed on her face, waiting for her answer. After a moment of deliberation, Marchioness Scarlet looked at Jeha with resolute eyes.

“Can I trust your word, Marquis Belgarga?”

“Of course. I never engage in games with low odds. In this fight, we will surely win.”

As Jeha spoke, he infused his gaze with a captivating aura. Marchioness Scarlet’s eyes wavered slightly as they met his, then a strong trust emerged in her gaze.

“Very well. Then let’s do this. I will formally accuse Inquisitor Casto, who framed me. And I will send a letter to His Majesty the Emperor, demanding punishment for the insult to the nobility.”

The Marchioness spoke in a firm voice. The faces of the nobles who had been desperately persuading her lit up.

“Since the lady has made up her mind, we must act swiftly. We will appeal to acquaintances not only here in Encarlosha but across the realm.”

The secretly gathered nobles exchanged glances and nodded firmly.

****

Unlike the nobles’ morning, the commoners’ day began early.

As people left their homes at dawn, rumors began to spread. It was said that at noon today, Marchioness Scarlet would personally visit the Grand Temple to formally accuse Inquisitor Casto, who had falsely accused her of heresy.

Servants from noble households, walking to the market or to work, rushed back to their masters to report.

The nobles of Encarlosha, who enjoyed sleeping in except on days with morning mass, got up at once and began preparing. Jeha was no exception.

Having risen early and finished his preparations, Jeha slipped the ring of Marquis Belgarga onto his finger. He paid even more attention to his attire than usual. Though still a young man, when fully dressed, he transformed into a dignified noble.

After completing his preparations, Jeha mounted a horse instead of a carriage, unlike usual. Paimon and Zephyr each mounted horses and followed behind. Jeha’s destination was not the Grand Temple but Countess Delfard’s mansion. Although he arrived a bit early, a considerable number of nobles on horseback were already gathered in front of the Countess’s mansion.

Despite the large crowd, there was no commotion. Everyone knew full well why they were here. Tension hung in the air, born from the impending procession and what would follow.

Around noon.

The firmly closed main gate of the Delfard mansion slowly opened. Under everyone’s gaze, a carriage emerged. The carriage window was open, and inside sat a woman in a black veil—Marchioness Scarlet.

She bowed her head slightly toward the nobles waiting on either side of the road, and then the carriage sped off toward the Grand Temple. The nobles followed without hesitation.

Led by the carriage, the horses of the nobles formed a long procession. The main road leading to the Grand Temple was already crowded with people who had heard the rumors and come to witness the spectacle.

Before long, the Marchioness’s carriage arrived at the entrance of the Grand Temple.

As if the rumors had already reached the temple, the faces of the holy knights guarding the entrance were very rigid.

“What business brings you here?”

A holy knight asked with a stiff face. In response, a knight of the Scarlet family escorting the Marchioness’s carriage shouted loudly, as if for the onlookers to hear.

“Marchioness Scarlet has come to formally accuse Inquisitor Casto!”

The spectators who had followed the procession gasped. A noble accusing a priest—it was unheard of. Countless eyes focused on the scene. The holy knights exchanged glances, unable to hide their embarrassment.

“Are you trying to stop a formal accusation against a priest who falsely accused a noble of an unforgivable crime?”

A young noble following behind shouted loudly. The holy knights’ faces hardened even more. One knight, who seemed to be of higher rank, stepped forward and spoke.

“We have no intention of blocking Marchioness Scarlet’s visit. But what business do the nobles who came with her have? If they have no separate business, we will only allow the Marchioness’s carriage inside. The Grand Temple is a sacred place. No commotion will be tolerated.”

“We are merely here to escort Marchioness Scarlet as fellow nobles! We will not cause any disturbance, so do not block us!”

“That’s right! If you obstruct our entrance, it can only be seen as the temple picking a fight with us nobles!”

Hot-blooded young nobles shouted vehemently. The other nobles remained steadfast, not turning their horses away, showing their resolve by standing their ground.