Harvis seemed a bit helpless.
“It couldn’t be helped. At that time, the birth of Princess Lucy almost caused a sensation throughout the human race. The Empire, which regarded the Kingdom as its rival, was originally ecstatic about Capeline’s birth, but then received this shocking news. It’s said that many members of the royal family felt despair at the time, thinking that fate was playing a trick on our Ragna Empire, not giving us a chance.”
Under the influence of such a mentality, it wasn’t strange for some unorthodox strategies to emerge.
The then head of the Raifurut family was one of them, believing that with the Empire’s Hero’s bloodline alone, they would never be able to surpass the Kingdom, and thus resolutely decided on the political marriage.
Unfortunately, at that time, there was only Ancil in the direct line of the Kingdom’s royal family. The other royal descendants were either from collateral branches, or in the process of fighting for the throne, they went too far and were punished by the former king and Ancil together. Moreover, the Raifurut family wasn’t the Imperial royal family, so it was basically impossible for them to immediately intermarry with the Kingdom’s royal family. Therefore, the Raifurut family planned to start with the Elvenbein family, who guarded the royal family.
The ancestors of the Elvenbein family were originally descendants of the Hero, and some of them had married royal princesses in the past, possessing relatively strong Hero blood. As the first target for stealing the bloodline of their rival country, they were undoubtedly very suitable.
Therefore, Diere’s mother was sent over, and she gave birth to Diere the following year.
“It has to be said that Diere Elvenbein’s birth truly delighted the Raifurut family.” Harvis sighed. “I heard that not only was she talented, second only to the Kingdom’s treasure, but she also possessed a very powerful Unique Skill, possessing astonishing power from birth. Although the Elvenbein family chose to hide these secrets, the Raifurut family’s daughter secretly sent the news to the Empire.”
“Since then, the Raifurut family has always wanted to bring Diere Elvenbein back and valued her very much.” Harvis looked at Shien meaningfully. “Unfortunately, the Raifurut family didn’t reveal anything about Diere Elvenbein’s Unique Skill. Even Wolram, every time I asked him, he would just brush it off. It really makes one curious what kind of power it is.”
Hearing this, Shien’s expression turned grim.
He knew that the Raifurut family must have already known about the “demon” within Diere, which was why they valued her so much.
For the Elvenbein family, Diere’s power was very dangerous, but for the Raifurut family, who specialized in training spies, assassins, and elite soldiers, the more dangerous this power was, the more fascinated they were, right?
They only valued Diere’s power.
In their eyes, it wouldn’t be difficult to use some extreme methods to train Diere and turn her into an obedient tool.
The reason why they wanted Diere so much was now completely clear.
However, ten years ago, the nature of this matter suddenly changed.
“At that time, a woman of unknown origin appeared in the Raifurut family.”
A gloomy look appeared on Harvis’s face.
“A woman?”
Shien also frowned.
“She’s a terrifying and hateful woman.” Harvis said coldly. “She used some unknown method to make the Raifurut family obey her every command, and they even introduced her to the Emperor, my father.”
From that moment on, everything quietly changed.
“My father was completely infatuated with that woman. He obeyed her every word, gradually neglecting even state affairs, allowing that woman to gradually infiltrate the Empire’s government.”
“That woman also framed my mother, causing my father to depose her as the Empress. She then ascended to power and has now become a highly influential figure in the Empire.”
“Because of her rise, my father’s concubines either died or were imprisoned like my mother. The Empire is now practically under her control. Even many nobles who originally opposed her were deposed, less than ten percent remaining.”
“And the Raifurut family is that poisonous consort’s confidant. The large-scale assassination in the royal capital was orchestrated by her and carried out by the Raifurut family’s daughter. Even the [Assassination Branch] was recruited by her.”
Harvis’s impassive explanation made Shien narrow his eyes.
If this was true, then it meant that the poisonous consort Harvis mentioned was the beginning of all the tragedies.
“Capeline and I have defied her more than once, especially Capeline, who, unlike me, doesn’t know how to flatter and deceive her. They are practically like fire and water. If it weren’t for Capeline’s special status, she might have already dealt with her.”
Harvis continued.
“I even suspect that this poisonous consort was involved in the Cosmos incident, because Capeline was almost forcibly sent there by her through some means, and afterwards, Capeline disappeared.”
Hearing Harvis’s words, Shien’s heart suddenly pounded.
(This feeling…)
Shien unconsciously pressed his hand against his chest, feeling his accelerating heartbeat, and suddenly had a realization.
(Could it be that the mastermind behind the Cosmos incident, the one hiding in the shadows and collaborating with [Mirage], is this woman?)
As this thought arose, Shien instantly understood.
This was a revelation from the blessing.
The blessing was telling Shien that this woman was the mastermind behind everything.
“Why did she plan such a thing, targeting the Kingdom?”
Shien asked Harvis.
“I don’t know.” Harvis shook his head. “I only know that she seems to hate the Kingdom very much, especially the royal family. Every time there’s a rumor about Princess Lucy in the Empire, she shows a chilling smile, as if she wants to tear Princess Lucy, or rather, the Kingdom’s royal family, to pieces. Her killing intent is very strong.”
Shien fell into deep thought.
“What’s her name?”
Shien asked casually.
Harvis answered,
“Mara.”