Rose Empire

Chapter 67: Linda's Deal

From the moment they met, Charlotte sensed that something was off about the Linda in front of her.

"Little girl" was a term Charlotte only used when she was arresting Linda, playfully rubbing against her. The Linda Charlotte had grown up with was a timid, shy, and somewhat simple girl who would blush with embarrassment whenever Charlotte called her "little girl."

However, this "Linda" only seemed happy when Charlotte used the nickname.

While this reaction could still be explained by the excitement of a long separation, her eagerness to massage Charlotte immediately raised Charlotte's suspicions.

With Linda's simple mind, if Charlotte asked her to help dry her hair, she would only focus on drying it and wouldn't even consider that Charlotte might be tired from days of travel.

Therefore, Charlotte decided to test her.

In fact, the moment this "Linda" opened her mouth to answer Charlotte's question, Charlotte was almost certain there was something wrong. The Linda she knew, aside from diligently carrying out any tasks Charlotte assigned, had only one real interest: learning to make desserts from the kitchen staff. How could she possibly care about what Andre was doing? Even if she had overheard something, the real Linda would likely have forgotten it in a daze.

Faced with Charlotte's question, the real Linda would most likely stammer and be unable to give any answer at all.

"Linda" felt the cold intent emanating from behind her. She slowly raised her hand in a gesture of surrender and sighed helplessly. "To get behind me so easily? This child really is stupid. After being together for more than ten years, she still doesn't realize that Miss Renee is such a powerful transcendent."

Charlotte stood up, turned to face "Linda," and stared into her eyes. "Who are you? Where is Linda?" she demanded.

"Right in front of you. I am Linda," the imposter said with a smile, spreading her hands.

Charlotte narrowed her eyes and circled "Linda," looking her up and down. Outwardly, Charlotte couldn't find any flaws, even knowing Linda as well as she did. In fact, the more Charlotte looked, the more this person seemed to be the real Linda.

Suddenly, a possibility occurred to Charlotte. She said slowly, "Are you... a Shadowmancer?"

The smile on the other "Linda's" face froze, and her right hand instinctively brought two fingers together, about to point them towards her heart.

However, Renee was faster. She slapped the back of "Linda's" neck, then easily twisted her hands behind her back. Judging by her fighting ability, this "Linda" was no different from the real one.

"I didn't expect Miss Charlotte to know about us humble Shadowmancers."

"Linda" was tied to the back of the chair, her hands twisted behind her. She looked at Charlotte with a smile, but it lacked the ease and composure it had held before.

Charlotte had heard Lilith mention Shadowmancers, this obscure branch of magic. They could use their souls to enter the bodies of others, thereby controlling their actions. It sounded similar to "possession," but it was different because Shadowmancers didn't destroy or consume the original soul. The reason was simple: in this world, almost everyone's soul belonged to the gods. Therefore, when a Shadowmancer invaded someone's body, their soul and the original owner's soul were supposed to have a symbiotic relationship.

Any intelligent life is equal on a soul level – this was common knowledge in their world. Therefore, after a Shadowmancer's soul entered another person's body, it couldn't directly take control. According to Lilith, Shadowmancers usually chose to make a fair trade with the original owner, allowing them to voluntarily relinquish control. These deals usually satisfied the original soul enough; otherwise, a restless second soul could easily expose the lurking Shadowmancer.

Charlotte didn't know what deal Linda had made with the Shadowmancer, but given the girl's simple nature, no matter what it was, Charlotte wouldn't find it surprising.

"What is your purpose in controlling Linda's body?" Charlotte asked, looking directly at "Linda."

"Linda" simply smiled lightly without answering.

"Was the assassination attempt on my father related to you? Who ordered you?" Charlotte asked again.

"Linda" remained silent.

Charlotte took a deep breath. She had encountered a difficult problem. She didn't know if this Shadowmancer was inherently strong or if it was due to the coexistence of two souls, but her "Mind Control" had very limited effect on the Linda in front of her.

"Not only Renee, but Miss Charlotte is also a transcendent? Linda really doesn't know anything."

Perhaps feeling tricked twice by the real Linda's memories, the fake "Linda" couldn't help but smile bitterly again.

"Your soul hasn't returned to your own body. If the host dies at this time, you will also die, right?" Charlotte said in a low voice. "If you honestly answer my questions, I can spare your life."

"No need. Returning to the kingdom of the Lord of Souls is exactly what I seek," "Linda" replied fearlessly.

Charlotte keenly noticed the subtle change in the other person's words and guessed, "Are you from the Church?"

"Linda" realized she had said too much and immediately clamped her mouth shut, not uttering another word.

The other person's silence confirmed Charlotte's suspicions. She sneered, "The Church clearly announced at least fifty years ago that they had wiped out all Shadowmancers. Now, a Shadowmancer belonging to the Church has appeared before me. What is this? Betrayal from within? Is this how you express your piety to God?"

Shadowmancers were also considered sinful by the Church for manipulating souls. However, unlike Necromancers, the initiation ritual for Shadowmancers had a necessary condition: near-death. Only when someone was on the verge of death could the ritual possibly succeed. However, the degree of near-death was difficult to gauge. Often, those attempting the ritual would die without becoming a Shadowmancer, or they would awaken as one in their final moments, only for the attending physicians to fail to save them, leading to another death.

Therefore, Shadowmancers were already few in number. After several rounds of suppression by the Church, the lineage had disappeared. But now it seemed they hadn't been completely eliminated as the Church claimed, but rather co-opted. Or perhaps, the Church eliminated the original Shadowmancers, obtained their methods, and then cultivated their own.

However, the "Linda" opposite her still had a cold gaze and offered no response.

"Forget it, I won't ask anymore," Charlotte said, shaking her head. "The hypocrisy and shamelessness of the Church aren't new. Lies, oppression of the people, extortion of wealth, debauchery every precept written in the 'Holy Book' is a sin committed by the Church. I really want to know why God never minds having such an ugly flock of shepherds. Or is it..."

Charlotte paused for a moment and said coldly, "Is our God actually blind?"

"Linda" suddenly raised her head, her eyes wide with shock, as if she couldn't believe Charlotte could utter such blasphemous words.

Seeing such a strong reaction, Charlotte thought she might be able to provoke the other person further, but unfortunately, "Linda" quickly lowered her head again without a word.

Charlotte realized that this person was likely a strictly trained "agent" who wouldn't reveal any useful information through simple interrogation.

However, judging by the other person's piety towards God, Charlotte's second guess was probably closer to the truth the Church had obtained the Shadowmancer's methods during the purges and then cultivated their own.

The elimination of Shadowmancers had occurred at least fifty years ago. It seemed some within the Church had been plotting for quite some time.

But what exactly was the Church preparing to do?

Was the assassination of Jose Melchior also the Church's work?

Charlotte felt it was unlikely that this "Linda" had been involved in Jose Melchior's assassination, because with the real Linda's identity, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to enter his study.

This meant there were at least two intruders in Riverside Castle. Oh, and they also had to include Marion Duran, who had previously tried to assassinate her!

Charlotte suddenly felt like the Green Plains Duchy was full of holes.

If these people were all connected to the Church, Charlotte couldn't help but feel a chill.

For no apparent reason, Charlotte thought of the Oran Empire's arch-enemy to the north the Edissa Empire. More than twenty years ago, the Edissa Empire's army had suffered a crushing defeat at the walls of Platinum City and retreated. On their way home, the Emperor of the Edissa Empire had suddenly fallen ill and died. His two sons, unwilling to yield to each other, had begun a long period of infighting. The vast Edissa Empire had thus been split into the East and West Edissa Empires.

Charlotte's thoughts turned to this historical event simply because the Church's holy city and the residence of the Pope, Moyes, were located within the Edissa Empire.

Seeing that Charlotte hadn't moved for a long time, Renee couldn't help but ask, "Miss, Linda... what should we do with this person?"

Charlotte snapped out of her thoughts, looked at "Linda's" familiar face, then looked up, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "Give her the medicine."

Although Renee looked reluctant, she followed Charlotte's instructions. She took out a small ceramic bottle, poured out about a spoonful of medicinal powder, dissolved it in warm water, and fed it to "Linda."

At first, "Linda" showed no reaction, but soon after, she doubled over in pain, curled up like a shrimp, and large beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Charlotte squatted down and gently stroked Linda's cheek.

Scarlet blood flowed from the little maid's nostrils. "Linda" looked at Charlotte, her voice hoarse, and laughed self-deprecatingly. "Linda said you were a remarkable noble. I didn't take it seriously at first, but it seems I was terribly wrong. You are willing to kill even your childhood friends. You are more than just remarkable..."

Charlotte bit her lip tightly and forced out a voice from deep within her throat. "I will kill you all sooner or later. I swear."

Linda had also been a childhood playmate of Charlotte's, and Charlotte didn't want to do this if there was any other way. However, Linda knew too much about Charlotte, and no matter what, Charlotte couldn't let this Shadowmancer's soul escape.

"Linda's" gaze gradually drifted, and tears welled up in the little maid's eyes.

"Miss, it hurts so much..."

"I'm sorry, Linda," Charlotte said, her voice thick with sobs. She knew it was the real Linda speaking now.

"Miss, Miss, don't be angry with me..." Linda pleaded.

Charlotte didn't know why Linda would say that. She shook her head and replied, "I'm not angry. I've never been angry with you."

Linda spat out large mouthfuls of blood, but then a satisfied smile appeared on her small face. "Miss, under the bed, under the bed..."

"What's under the bed?" Charlotte asked, confused.

"I... hid it under the bed..."

Charlotte still didn't understand.

However, it was too late. Linda's head drooped weakly, and she lost consciousness completely.

Charlotte slumped to the ground, closed her eyes, and took deep breaths, trying to suppress the overwhelming emotions.

Again and again...

Her pain, anger, and hatred were nearing their breaking point.

However, Charlotte knew she had to remain rational.

After several deep breaths, Charlotte gradually regained some composure, which allowed her to slowly remember something.

Charlotte suddenly rushed to her bed, reached underneath, and groped around for a while, but found nothing.

"No, it shouldn't be..."

Charlotte muttered to herself, unwilling to give up easily. She simply crawled under the bed.

Sure enough, Charlotte found a small wooden box tucked away near the back of the bed frame.

Charlotte immediately opened the box, and inside, she saw a teardrop-shaped sapphire with a brilliant luster.

Without a doubt, this was the sapphire from Helen's princess crown.

Seeing the gem, Charlotte roughly pieced together the truth Linda had probably blamed herself for losing the gem and made a deal with the Shadowmancer: in exchange for retrieving it.

Did this silly girl even realize that such a deal could cost her life?

Charlotte had Renee release Linda's restraints and lay her flat on the ground. Charlotte carefully checked Linda's heartbeat and breathing, and after confirming she was dead, she dipped her finger in a drop of blood from the corner of Linda's lips and smeared it on the sapphire.

The moment the blood touched the sapphire, it vanished as if absorbed. This was the procedure for the Miracle Sapphire to mark its wearer; it would restore the marked person to their state one day prior.

Charlotte then placed the sapphire on Linda's chest and took two steps back.

A moment later, brilliant light flowed from the sapphire, gradually enveloping Linda's entire body like a layer of water.

Linda, at the center of the light, was as light as a feather, looking as if she might float away at any moment, but she didn't. Color and vitality returned to her body, as if time were truly flowing backward for her. Its miraculous nature lived up to the name "Miracle."

After some time, the light dissipated, and a completely restored, unharmed Linda lay there quietly, as if sound asleep.

"Linda, Linda?" Charlotte gently patted the little girl's face.

"Mmm..." Linda slowly opened her eyes, seemingly still retaining the memory of what had just happened, and mumbled groggily, "Miss, it hurts so much..."

Charlotte laughed and flicked Linda's forehead, scolding her with a smile, "You deserved it."

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