Chapter 114

'What's going on? This can't be happening...'

Sheria clutched the rosary in her hand.

'If there's a problem, it must be dealt with immediately.'

However, before Sheria could take any action, Mirissa, who had been sitting with a blank expression, suddenly leaped to her feet.

"I've come out here because I have something to accuse."

With her beautifully braided hair and bright purple eyes, the girl walked with firm steps towards the front of the platform. Sheria's eyes narrowed.

'Could it be that the brainwashing has been lifted? No... or did they deceive me from the very beginning?'

As if to confirm her premonition, Mirissa continued, her voice serious. "I swear that there is no lie in what I say now, risking the honor and pride of my family."

The bewildered adults exchanged glances and fell silent. In the chaotic situation, the only people moving were the children reporters. The young journalists, dispatched from the academy, clutched the quills Meldenik had given them tightly, like sticky rice cakes. It was the mark of a truly excellent journalist to respond quickly to a breaking incident. The children's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Mirissa looked at the reporters and then at Meldenik before opening her mouth. "Professor Abel here tried to kidnap me."

People simply looked at each other, unable to predict the turn of events. However, the situation did not stop. Princess Mirissa Hesmann had begun to make accusations, invoking the honor and pride of her family, so everyone felt compelled to listen.

Everyone, that is, except for one person: Sheria.

Sheria glared at Mirissa.

'I should have killed her then!'

Sheria's nails dug so deeply into her palm that blood began to flow. Today's events had ruined all her plans to frame Meldenik as a kidnapper. All because of that fierce little sissy with a cunning heart!

The President of the Academy spoke in a trembling voice. "So... the professor was behind the academy kidnapping, is that right?" He was shocked to discover that the kidnapper he had been searching for was one of their own professors. He opened his mouth so wide his jaw seemed to drop.

As soon as the President snorted and shook his chin, Abel spoke. "Yes, that's right." Abel had already been brainwashed by Dominic and Isaac. Thanks to that, he continued to speak fluently, as if reading a script he had been given in advance. "I came here to repent. The person who bought me will also be accused."

The embarrassed President whispered softly to the professor. "The one who controlled it from behind? No, but why are you speaking here now...? Isn't this something that needs to be tried in court?"

Then, Meldenik naturally stepped in. "President, I called the security force in advance. They'll make the arrest if necessary, so let's hear the story first."

"...Okay," the President conceded. "I would like to hear why you are speaking here."

Sheria watched the situation nervously. The people who had bought Abel were herself and Priest Luftel. Could it be that Meldenik was trying to accuse her? No, it was fine. There was no evidence anyway. All traces had been destroyed. It would be a serious crime to accuse a noble or a priest without evidence.

Sheria touched the rosary in her hand endlessly, her hands trembling with anxiety. She needed wisdom. Wisdom to overcome this difficulty.

"...Lady Sylvia." Suddenly, she grabbed the arm of Count Young-ae, who was beside her. "Isn't something strange?"

Sylvia blinked. After hearing Sheria's words, she pondered for a moment and then nodded. "That's right. It's not common sense, so perhaps they were bribed?"

"If His Holiness the Pope finds out about this, he won't like it."

Sylvia, who had already been swayed by the mention of the Pope, widened her eyes.

"Tell them what you've guessed. To the people."

Sheria quietly smoothed her gray hair, and Sylvia quietly stood up.

"Professor Abel, did you truly try to kidnap him? Think about it. Didn't you make a momentary mistake and misunderstand?" In the extremely quiet hall, Sylvia's words were heard loud and clear.

Abel's eyes shook violently, as if he had realized something upon hearing Sylvia's voice. Mirissa was also greatly embarrassed by Sylvia's direct challenge. Sylvia was loved in society for her intelligence and quick wit. Mirissa also had a brief acquaintance with her. With Sylvia's words, Mirissa and the audience had no choice but to pay attention.

Sylvia didn't miss the opportunity to fight back. "Common sense suggests that a kidnapper would not confess so obediently. And especially not in a place like this, rather than a courtroom."

Lady Sylvia's words were effective. She spoke quietly, as if she had noticed the sullen atmosphere. "Oh, it could be like this: Professor Abel and Princess Mirissa may have been bribed."

In fact, it was like an empty tin can with no logic. It was just a statement to deflect the situation. However, Sylvia was popular, and people trusted her words to some extent. In addition, people were quite embarrassed by the unexpected turn of events and were losing their logical way of thinking. Because of that, people were in a state of confusion. Embarrassed, Mirissa shook her head and retorted, "...Yes, yes? I wasn't bought or anything like that!"

"No." Sylvia cut off Mirissa's words in a firm voice. In an instant, people's eyes focused on Sylvia. "Someone is taking advantage of you. That's how they want to deal a blow to the Hesmann family. Pretending to be a kidnapping case, manipulating the situation. I guess they were going to portray the Hesmann family as incompetent, unable to even protect Princess Hesmann."

Sylvia's eyes were now on Meldenik. Those who had listened to Mirissa now leaned towards Sylvia's opinion as well. Sylvia's usual standing in society also played a role.

"Lady Sylvia doesn't say useless things."

"I think you'd better believe her."

"Princess Mirissa is young, and Professor Abel is of low status. Perhaps the silence is confusing for no reason."

"But what if it's a static enemy...?"

"...Marquis Kinnoa, isn't that right?"

The brainwashed young nobles poured out words one after another. Sheria, who thought she had won again, looked up at Meldenik with a confident expression and smiled.

"What if the Hesmann family is a static enemy...?"

Everyone here knew. The person who had officially fought against the Duke of Hesmann was Meldenik Kinnoa. In fact, Meldenik, who was publicly accused of being behind the kidnapper, opened his mouth with an unreadable expression.

"Princess Mirissa is not one to accuse without evidence."

"That's right!" Mirissa added softly, as if she wanted to be helpful at this moment. "And when I was about to be kidnapped by Abel, Meldenik saved me! Meldenik is the proof!"

But Sheria chuckled.

'The proof is that Meldenik saved her.'

That's why young children can't do it. Even if you think about it a little, you will suspect that you deliberately put yourself in danger and pretended to save you. People also exchanged glances and couldn't say a word. They also seemed curious about what would happen next.

Meldenik continued with a grin, showing no signs of intimidation. "Of course, there is evidence other than what Princess Mirissa said."

'What? Proof?' Sheria's face froze in an instant.

"My contractor, the hero Dominic, has captured the kidnapper."

Meldenik winked, and the door opened with a creak. And everyone, including Sheria, was shocked.

A dirty priest's robe. A grim face. Even cowering like a sinner.

One parent with sharp eyes exclaimed loudly, "That person... Isn't that Hodon, the secretary of Priest Luftel's New House and the Academy?"

Abel spoke again in a nonchalant tone, as if he had recovered from his earlier panic. "That's right. The person behind the kidnapping of the princess is Father Luftel. He gave me money and bought me."

"How do you believe that?" Sylvia challenged.

At Sylvia's words, Abel opened his mouth. "I have a ledger where the money is recorded. There are also witnesses."

At Abel's words, the people began to chatter loudly again. Only those who had drunk the holy water sat strangely, without any expression, shaking their heads.

"No way."

"What a noble personality Priest Luftel had."

However, it was a very suspicious situation in the eyes of normal people. The new building of Luftel looked small and cowering, but he looked very different from usual, constantly looking around as if trapped. It was the look of someone who had been kidnapped and tailed without a trace.

However, those who had drunk the holy water only reacted indifferently, as if they were ignoring the facts. A shadow fell across Sheria's beautiful face.

'I have to say no! No way... Isn't Luftel's capture implicating me as well?'

It was Sheria herself who had brainwashed Abel. Moreover, if Luftel was captured, wouldn't she actually be involved?

'No, I can never be involved. Because there is no evidence.'

If it were a bookkeeping, it would only be the relationship between Luftel and Abel. But why was she so anxious?

Sheria's hands began to tremble with anxiety. She clutched the holy relic in her hand, the Rosary. It was to find peace of mind.