Chapter 72: The Weight of a Queen’s Heart

Ten minutes later, within the inner hall of the mansion, a tea party commenced. A pot of black tea and three delicate teacups adorned the table as three witches settled down.

“I am already aware of this matter,” Queen Isola stated calmly, addressing their reports. “I had already discerned the outcome through divination last night and set out immediately, which is why I couldn’t respond to your messages.”

“Isola, are you certain it’s wise for you to be here?” Alice Liddell inquired cautiously. “The Church is undoubtedly still pursuing you. You fled from this very city, and you’ve even paraded through its streets. Countless citizens here have seen your face.”

Yet, Duchess Liddell offered a dissenting opinion. “Rest assured, Your Majesty’s ‘Glamour’ ability far surpasses my own. While I can only subtly alter the impression of my appearance, making it difficult for others to recall my true features, Her Majesty can directly project an entirely fabricated face to others.”

She paused, then continued, “Furthermore, precisely because this was the city from which Her Majesty escaped, it’s unlikely, after all this time, that many would ever suspect her return.” She then concluded her reasoning with a well-worn adage: “In essence, the most perilous place is often the safest.”

“What exactly does this ‘Glamour’ ability entail? To be honest, I don’t have a clear grasp of it,” Alice Liddell admitted, her curiosity piqued.

She vaguely recalled Duchess Liddell mentioning it during her theoretical lessons on witch knowledge. It was described as a special ability usable by witches of the ‘Succubus’ rank and above, allowing them to alter their appearance in the eyes of others.

However, Alice Liddell had never truly witnessed its effects firsthand. Neither Duchess Liddell nor Queen Isola had ever used the ability on her, always presenting their true selves.

Duchess Liddell and Queen Isola exchanged a glance, then nodded to Alice Liddell. “Very well, we shall demonstrate.”

As Duchess Liddell brushed a hand across her face, Alice Liddell noticed a subtle, peculiar shift. Her facial structure and features remained unchanged, yet for some inexplicable reason, Duchess Liddell’s appearance now felt distinctly different.

The unique charm inherent to witches was entirely veiled. Alice Liddell suddenly felt an odd unfamiliarity with Duchess Liddell’s face.

It was akin to the sensation one experiences after staring at the same word or face for an extended period, leading to a strange sense of alienation. Alice Liddell now felt this phenomenon amplified manifold. Under the influence of the witch’s Glamour, she found herself unable to recognize the face of Duchess Liddell, whom she saw every day.

“It’s merely a simple illusion; my rank only allows for this much,” Duchess Liddell said with a smile. “Now, observe Her Majesty.”

Alice Liddell turned her gaze to Queen Isola, who also brushed a hand across her face. To Alice Liddell’s astonishment, Queen Isola’s face completely transformed into an ordinary, common visage, yet it struck Alice Liddell as strangely familiar.

“I feel like I’ve seen this face before…” she murmured.

“This is the face of a maid from the estate,” Queen Isola explained. “I can assume the appearance of someone of a lower rank than myself, provided I possess a part of their body as a medium—usually hair.”

“This ability can be distilled into a potion for others to use, known as a Transformation Potion. You’ll find one among the elixirs I’ve prepared for you.”

“However, the ingredients for Transformation Potions are quite rare,” Duchess Liddell added. “Remember to use it sparingly!”

The power of high-ranking witches was undeniably convenient. The higher one’s rank, the stronger their capacity for self-preservation, Alice Liddell mused.

She had already completed the ritual for the Sixth Rank; all that remained were the necessary magical ingredients. If Duchess Liddell couldn’t procure them, Alice Liddell considered seeking out channels herself.

The Imperial Capital undoubtedly boasted more resources than Duke Liddell’s territory, though finding them would certainly require connections. After all, privately hunting magical beasts and trading their materials was illegal in the Empire, with most civilian beast hunters operating within the underground black markets.

“I plan to speak with the leader of the ‘Tea Party’ within the week,” Queen Isola stated nonchalantly. “Alice, please help me contact them over the next two days to ascertain their response.”

“Understood,” Alice Liddell nodded in affirmation.

“Speaking of which, when do you begin school?” Queen Isola suddenly brought up.

“In about a month, I believe,” Alice Liddell replied truthfully.

Queen Isola fell silent after asking the question, her gaze fixed on the tea in her cup.

“Your Majesty, are you troubled by something?” As Queen Isola’s confidante, Duchess Liddell immediately perceived her deep thought and inquired with concern.

“I’ve been pondering something these past two days,” Queen Isola suddenly confessed. “Is it too risky to have you search for the Holy Site where the Inquisition conceals its sealed artifacts?”

“Ah?” Alice Liddell was momentarily stunned. “Does this mean… we’re changing the plan?”

Duchess Liddell’s expression instantly froze.

After a second of hesitation, she quickly spoke before Queen Isola could. “Alice, could you please excuse us for a moment? I have some confidential matters I wish to discuss with Her Majesty.”

Not only Alice Liddell, but Queen Isola was also taken aback by this remark.

Alice Liddell glanced at Queen Isola.

Queen Isola hesitated, then finally nodded. “You may step out for now.”

Once Alice Liddell had left the inner hall, Duchess Liddell immediately rose, stood before Queen Isola, and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Forgive my impertinence, Your Majesty…”

“Patra?” Queen Isola was somewhat bewildered.

While Patra’s close relationship with her might excuse such familiarity, for an ordinary subject to make such a gesture towards their sovereign would be an immense act of transgression.

Then, in the next second, Duchess Liddell proceeded with an even greater transgression—she suddenly began to violently shake Queen Isola.

“Please, Your Majesty, clear your head!” she implored urgently, shaking her. “You aren’t actually thinking of halting this plan, are you?”

“I…” Queen Isola instinctively averted her gaze. “I was merely hesitating. After all, this matter does indeed carry risks, and it involves an outsider, someone not deeply connected to our restoration plan, bearing such a burden…”

“Look me in the eyes when you speak!” Duchess Liddell demanded, her gaze burning into Queen Isola’s. “Your habit of avoiding eye contact when you lie has never improved! You can deceive yourself, but not me! She has the blessing of a witch’s foresight and the status of a high noble; the risks are controllable! Even if we consider the worst-case scenario, where she doesn’t return, our restoration plan is already a tightrope walk. Regardless of who must be sacrificed, it must proceed! Let alone an outsider like her, even if it were me, it would still have to be done!!”

Queen Isola was left speechless.

“Your Majesty!” Duchess Liddell sighed heavily, a note of exasperation in her voice. “Did you perhaps divine a future you didn’t wish to see that day? Tell me the truth!”

“…No,” Queen Isola couldn’t help but shift her gaze to the side.

However, Duchess Liddell had already suspected Queen Isola’s strange reaction was linked to Levi’s old acquaintance at the Holy Cathedral Academy, making further questions unnecessary.

In that moment, Duchess Liddell yearned to stomp her foot and cry out, ‘What a foolish ruler! Such a foolish ruler indeed!’ Throughout history, nine out of ten rulers who jeopardized their kingdoms for the sake of beautiful men or women were fools! Your Majesty, I have diligently taught you for so many years, how could you stray down this path?

“Your Majesty!!” Duchess Liddell pressed her hand against Queen Isola’s cheek, meeting her gaze at an extremely close distance. “This matter is of utmost importance; you absolutely cannot be foolish! If you are worried about her being taken by someone else, then be decisive! Use your own abilities to secure her directly, hold her firmly in your grasp—that is the way of a witch! With your power, a single glance is enough to make her utterly infatuated, isn’t it?”

Queen Isola was startled. That was indeed true. In terms of romantic experience and tactics, she was merely a fledgling compared to Duchess Liddell. However, when it came to theoretical witch abilities, she could surpass Duchess Liddell by miles.

If she were to employ her charm, whether it was Levi or Alice Liddell, both would be instantly captivated. But what meaning would that hold for her? She could intuitively sense that it wouldn’t be the outcome she desired.

“There’s no need,” Queen Isola said, raising a hand to push away Duchess Liddell’s. “I understand your meaning, Patra. We shall proceed with the original plan. I was mistaken; I won’t make such impulsive decisions again.”

“The plan must certainly proceed, but are you truly going to let the matter of Alice Liddell go? If you ask me, Your Majesty, you should just—” Duchess Liddell still fixed her gaze on Queen Isola.

“Let us speak no more of this!” Queen Isola forcefully cut off the topic that caused her such embarrassment.

“Are you truly going to allow this, Your Majesty?” Duchess Liddell suddenly scrutinized Queen Isola with a look of surprise and uncertainty. “Could it be that you… have a cuckold fetish?”

“What in the world is that?” Queen Isola frowned, glancing at Duchess Liddell before pushing her away and rising. “Enough, I said no more. Now, show me to my room!”

“Of course, Your Majesty, please follow me,” Duchess Liddell agreed, though her mind was abuzz with speculation.

If that wasn’t the case, then her Majesty was likely just being contradictory, exhibiting that awkward personality type she’d heard other witches discuss, often found in romance novels—the so-called ‘tsundere.’ Queen Isola was indeed not one to easily reveal her true feelings, and with the grand task of national restoration before her, it would be incredibly difficult for her to honestly confront matters of the heart.

‘But Your Majesty, Your Majesty, have you not heard that being a tsundere can ruin a lifetime?’ Duchess Liddell sighed inwardly. ‘By constantly avoiding and concealing your true feelings, sooner or later, you will only be left to watch others steal your love, filled with regret.’

‘It seems that if such a critical juncture truly arrives in the future, I will have no choice but to give you a push myself, to help things fall into place, and to share your burdens!’ Duchess Liddell silently resolved, watching Queen Isola’s retreating back.