Rose Empire

Chapter 68: Idiot and Fool

To be absolutely sure \\there were no complications from Sapphire's treatment, Charlotte stayed with Linda all night, holding her down on the bed and monitoring her condition.

Charlotte was primarily concerned that the Shadowmancer's soul might not be entirely gone. While the probability was slim, she cautiously tested Linda using her own abilities.

This time, "Mind Control" worked effortlessly.

Throughout the night, Linda repeatedly called Charlotte "Mommy" in a confused state. The next morning, the little girl was so mortified that she practically turned beet red.

Beyond the repeated "Mommy," Linda also provided Charlotte with significant information, revealing that the Shadowmancer belonged to an organization called the "Silver Star Hermitage."

Silver Star Hermitage sounded like a monastic order, similar to the mendicant friars, but the name was unfamiliar to Charlotte.

The Church was a sprawling organization with reach across two continents. It encompassed numerous internal factions as well as countless monastic orders that had splintered off. It was likely that even the Pope couldn't claim to know every single monastic organization, so it was no surprise Charlotte hadn't heard of the Silver Star Hermitage.

Linda knew about the Silver Star Hermitage because the Shadowmancer, while possessing her, had written a letter to Allen Ferenbach in its name.

That's right, Allen Ferenbach, the second most powerful figure in the Green Plains Duchy and the Bishop of the Green Plains Cathedral.

The Shadowmancer had swapped Sean's Miracle Sapphire with an almost identical fake, provided by Allen Ferenbach. Although their clandestine communication involved specially trained rats and they never met directly, Allen Ferenbach clearly had substantial ties to the Silver Star Hermitage.

Perhaps the key to uncovering the truth lay with Allen Ferenbach...

Charlotte sat by her bedroom window, the Miracle Sapphire in her hand, lost in thought.

The Miracle Sapphire, which had once pulsed with brilliant light, was now dull and lifeless, indistinguishable from an ordinary gemstone.

The good news was that this sapphire was naturally formed, not an artificial miracle. Artificial miracles gradually depleted with each use until they were completely exhausted, whereas naturally formed ones were much more resilient. After each use, they would automatically return to their optimal state, as if being recharged.

The bad news was that Charlotte didn't know how long this "recharging" process would take, but she knew it was typically lengthy – possibly months, years, or even decades, certainly not just a few days.

For a family with a history spanning centuries, a cooldown of several decades was perfectly acceptable. Each generation's head would have an extra life at crucial moments, a significant advantage. But for Charlotte personally, this extended "recharging" time was rather frustrating.

"Miss, Miss, I just learned how to make this cake, would you like to try some?"

Linda excitedly approached Charlotte, carrying a plate of delicate, still-steaming cake.

Charlotte looked up at Linda, blinked, and smiled. "Why don't you call me Mommy anymore?"

Linda's face instantly flushed crimson. She couldn't explain it, but last night she had felt an overwhelming urge to call the Miss "Mommy," and in a daze, she had actually said it, repeatedly. Linda felt like her brain was malfunctioning.

Charlotte, while secretly amused by the little maid's embarrassed and mortified expression, put away the gem and picked up a piece of cake from the plate, taking a bite.

It had to be said that while Linda wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, she was remarkably talented in the kitchen.

Although the origins of cake were ancient, the way it was made in this world was actually quite rudimentary, not much better than bread, and Charlotte usually didn't enjoy it much. However, Linda's cake was fragrant, sweet, and soft, perfectly suited to Charlotte's taste.

Linda claimed she learned her cooking skills from the castle cooks, but Charlotte suspected that, at least in dessert-making, Linda had her own unique understanding and had already surpassed her teachers. It was just that the little maid wasn't very articulate and couldn't express it, or perhaps she hadn't even realized her own level of skill.

"Did that person contact you?" Charlotte asked while eating.

Just as Charlotte had suspected, there was another individual lurking within Riverside Castle. Linda was aware of this person's existence but didn't know their identity, as the Shadowmancer who possessed Linda seemed to be merely their subordinate. This person could contact "Linda" through coded messages and secret letters but never met her in person. "Linda" could only follow orders and relay messages.

"No," Linda shook her head.

Charlotte pondered for a moment, then suggested, "Perhaps we can try to lure that person out by actively using the code."

Linda recoiled, "But, but I don't understand their code..."

Charlotte suddenly stopped, then sighed helplessly.

Charlotte was now fairly certain that the Shadowmancer hadn't chosen to possess Linda because he had any designs on Charlotte herself, but simply because Linda was easily manipulated.

In the heavily guarded Riverside Castle, it was indeed difficult to find another vulnerability like Linda, who was underestimated but had freedom of movement in most areas.

However, upon further reflection, Charlotte felt she was being overly optimistic. The other lurking individual was clearly very cautious. Not only had they never revealed their identity to "Linda," but they had also ceased contact with her since Jose Mellerfield "fell ill." Their suspicion of their own accomplice was no less than that towards an enemy.

It was almost impossible to entice such a person with an unusual coded message.

After sighing, the helpless Charlotte could only silently hope that her own father would be capable and resourceful enough to catch the lurking assassin on his own.

Charlotte was willing to believe that Jose Mellerfield definitely had the ability to unearth that assassin. After all, the Green Plains Duke had far more resources at his disposal than she did.

However, that afternoon, something shocking happened to Charlotte.

Because he supposedly needed to "recuperate" and hadn't been seen by outsiders for a long time, the Green Plains Duke, Jose Mellerfield, suddenly emerged from his "sickroom" and issued a brutal order. As the command was given, the castle's steward, Wolf Von Derlen, led a team of knights into the castle and proceeded to drag servant after servant and guard after guard out, executing them on the spot, leaving corpses scattered across the ground and blood flowing freely.

These executed servants and guards were obviously suspects who had been observed exhibiting unusual behavior during Jose Mellerfield's "recuperation." Jose Mellerfield was too impatient to conduct a thorough investigation and identify them individually, so he simply had them all killed.

Charlotte, who had just sincerely wished him well, could almost hear her own father saying to her, "I'm not investigating anymore, I'm giving up."

Charlotte was surprised by her father's sudden surrender, but her confusion didn't last long before she understood the reason.

From her bedroom window, Charlotte saw a troop of cavalry galloping into the castle. Immediately sensing that something was wrong, she quickly hurried downstairs. Then, as expected, she saw her older brother Andre being escorted into the hall by a group of fully armed knights.

Jose Mellerfield stood in the hall with a frosty expression, clearly having awaited his eldest son for some time.

Rosie Mellerfield stood beside the Green Plains Duke, looking at Andre as he entered with a significant gaze, a smile playing on her lips. It was a smile that unmistakably conveyed unconcealed pleasure.

"Fath... Father, you, you've recovered..." Andre stammered cautiously.

Jose Mellerfield was in no mood for pleasantries with his eldest son. He walked up to Andre, then raised his foot and kicked him in the stomach.

"Ahhh!"

Andre was nearly knocked off his feet, clutching his stomach and groaning on the ground in pain.

Jose Mellerfield's anger still seemed to be simmering. He quickly took a few more steps, intending to kick Andre a couple more times.

"Father! Brother!"

Charlotte hurriedly rushed down, stepping between her father and brother to prevent Jose Mellerfield, in his fit of rage, from actually beating her foolish brother to death.

Other nobles might not know, but Charlotte had made inquiries. Her father had already been a Three-Wing Swordsman twenty years ago when he followed Emperor Leopold through life-and-death situations. Now, he had likely advanced to become a High-Rank Swordsman. Andre's strength, on the other hand, was probably only slightly greater than Charlotte's. He truly couldn't withstand Jose Mellerfield's beating.

"Father, brother made a mistake, you can just teach him properly, why are you so angry?" Charlotte pleaded gently.

Jose Mellerfield refrained from hitting anyone again out of consideration for Charlotte, but he still spoke angrily, "Teach him? He is the Green Plains Duke now! What right do I have to teach him?"

"Huh?" Charlotte asked, completely bewildered by Jose Mellerfield's words.

"Andre actually dared to announce in front of numerous Mellerfield family members that his father had passed away and that he would succeed as the Green Plains Duke. He even prepared the succession ceremony. He's truly impatient, wishing his father would die quickly..."

Although Rosie's words had the air of pouring oil on the fire, they did serve to clarify Charlotte's doubts.

Charlotte looked at Andre in shock. My stupid brother, what foolish thing have you done now?

No wonder Jose Mellerfield wasn't in the mood to investigate the assassination. If he continued to feign illness, his own son would usurp his position!

"No, no, I didn't," Andre curled up on the ground to defend himself. "It was Perode, Count Perode tricked me! He made me believe that you, Father, were already dead, and even had Viscount Chester testify to it..."

Hearing this, Jose Mellerfield became even more furious, trembling with rage, wanting to rush forward and kick Andre again. Seeing his posture, it seemed as though he wanted to kick Andre to death. Charlotte quickly embraced her father.

Jose Mellerfield pointed at Andre and cursed, "Idiot! How could I have such a stupid son! Don't you know that Chester is that old Perode's son? His own son testified for his father, how could you believe it! Do you even have a brain! Idiot..."

Andre, fearing another beating, covered his head, stuck out his rear, and lay on the ground pretending to be dead.

Jose Mellerfield continued to curse for nearly an hour before stopping. Only then did Charlotte dare to release her furious father.

Jose Mellerfield looked at Andre, who was pretending to be dead and almost falling asleep, with disappointment on his face. He said, "From today onwards, you will stay in the castle. Without my permission, you are not allowed to step outside Riverside Castle."

"Understood," Andre replied in a muffled voice.

"Get up! In the Mellerfield family's hundreds of years of history, there has never been a Green Plains Duke lying down!" Jose Mellerfield roared again.

Andre was so frightened that he quickly stood up.

Jose Mellerfield waved his hand wearily, and everyone understood and dispersed.

Charlotte had intended to leave as well, but the silent Jose Mellerfield suddenly said, "Charlotte, do you think Count Perode is the real culprit behind my assassination attempt?"

"It shouldn't be Grandpa Perode," Charlotte replied without much hesitation.

Jose Mellerfield had just asked casually after a surge of intense emotions and hadn't expected any particular answer from Charlotte. However, her immediate response piqued his curiosity. "Why are you so sure?" he asked.

Charlotte shook her head and shrugged, saying, "It's not so much that I'm sure, it's that Grandpa Perode has already told you so."

"What do you mean?" Jose Mellerfield was instantly taken aback.

"Grandpa Perode has already seen through your pretense of illness! If Grandpa Perode believed you were truly seriously ill and dying, would he have advised brother to become the Green Plains Duke? No, he doesn't even respect you, let alone brother. He would simply send his own troops to seize Riverside Castle." Charlotte replied with a helpless smile. "This time, he's instigating brother to succeed as the Green Plains Duke and even wants to hold a grand succession ceremony for him. Obviously, he intends to embarrass you and, at the same time, indirectly let you know that he's aware you're faking your illness. If Grandpa Perode were the mastermind, he wouldn't be in the mood or have the leisure to play such games with you right now."

Hearing Charlotte's analysis, Jose Mellerfield's face darkened even further. He had been momentarily distracted by Andre and hadn't immediately grasped why that old fox Perode Mellerfield suddenly wanted to support Andre as the Green Plains Duke. Indeed, as Charlotte said, Perode's actions were undoubtedly a way of saying, "Why are you still pretending to be sick? I've already seen through you!"

These unruly family members truly made Jose Mellerfield grit his teeth in anger, yet he felt powerless. They had seniority, strength, and troops. If they truly wanted to cause trouble, the title of Green Plains Duke alone wouldn't be enough to control them.

Besides his darkened expression, Jose Mellerfield couldn't help but look at Charlotte again. He suddenly realized the vast difference between his eldest son and eldest daughter. One was unbelievably stupid, while the other possessed an intelligence far beyond her years.

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