The Queen Who Shares Love
Chapter 24 Loyalty

"Who are you?" repeat the person behind it.

Leticia who previously felt worried if any maids or knights of Grand Duke Faust saw her, felt relieved. The shock for a moment made his head unable to think. It was the voice of someone he knew.

Leticia turned her body, facing the man. The man's sword was getting closer to his neck.

"Don't move or I'll slash your neck" the man threatened.

"It's me, Isabella." Leticia opened the hood.

Isabella was surprised to see her friend suddenly being here. He lowered his sword. "What are you doing here, Leticia? Have you made an appointment with sir? What if someone suspects you?" Isabella approached him. The distance between the two of them was not a single step.

"Sorry, I came suddenly. I must pass this information to Grand Duke Faust. I haven't notified the Grand Duke. Is he busy? I secretly came here with a teleportation magic stone." Leticia answered Isabella one by one.

"Luckily, you are not busy. You're lucky there's nobody here. If any servant or knight sees you, one might be suspicious. What information do you want to give me?"

"We better talk three."

Isabella is confused by Leticia's actions. Surely the information to be conveyed by this friend is very important to make him want to say directly to his master, and not through the letter delivered by his daughter

"I'll take you to work, sir."

Isabella walked ahead of Leticia. Sometimes they stop when they see a waiter passing by. 

Now they arrived at Grand Duke Faust's study. Isabella knocked on the door. Then open.

He let Leticia in. 

"You have a guest, sir," said Isabella. He immediately stood beside his master.

"I don't think I have an appointment today." Gerald took down the paper in his hand. He was about to ask who the guest was coming to, the answer he was looking for was already in front of him.

"What need did you come here for, Empress?" ask Gerald.

Leticia explained the meaning of his arrival. He recounted the information he got from the village near the temple. About the missing child, the temple who participated in the search but was not very helpful, and the way Viscount Gremaroft handled the missing child case.

Gerald listened to all the explanations from Leticia. Although surprising, his face remained unchanged. Unlike Isabella who widened her eyes when she heard Leticia.

"You came here not only seemed to want to convey this, Empress," Gerald said.

Leticia was silent for a moment. The person he cooperates with has a keen instinct as well.

"I'd like you to expose Viscount Gremaroft, Grand Duke. It can improve your reputation."

"What about the forbidden rituals of the temple? I haven't found anything yesterday." Gerald raised his hand

"We can delay the temple investigation. I think the temple also has something to do with this kidnapping. However, the evidence we have is not strong enough to reveal it."

A hasty action will lead to poor results. The temple can defend itself and counterattack Gerald. The gathering of more evidence will increase the success of the plan to expose the forbidden actions of the temple. By investigating Viscount Gremaroft will bring them closer to the secrets the temple hides.

"All right, I will" said Gerald.

Leticia breathed a sigh of relief. He can't stay here long. He must return before anyone is suspicious.

"I resigned first, Grand Duke," said Leticia.

Isabella came down to take Leticia. The people in the Faust residence were able to meet with Leticia, Isabella did not want that to happen. During the meeting with Leticia yesterday, Grand Duke Faust gave leave to the people working in his residence so that their meeting was unknown to others.

"If you can call me first before coming here, Leticia. I don't want people to be suspicious. In addition, sometimes you are busy or go out. I don't want your arrival to be in vain" Isabella recalled.

"Good, Isabella. I'll have Dale build you a magic stone to communicate with you and Grand Duke Faust." Leticia nodded slowly.

He activated his magic stone to return to his room, after making sure it was safe.

The sight of Grand Duke Faust's residence had turned into Leticia's room. Leticia immediately took off her hood. He went out to teach Judith.

***

Rose's headed for the palace. Last night he got word from a friend who was a witch like him. The case of a missing child in a village near the temple may have something to do with Viscount Gremaroft and the Pope. 

He passed through the knight's training ground before entering the palace. 

"Why did you become the Empress' bodyguard and the Emperor's outcast? You won't have any honor" said one of the knights.

Rose was silent at the words. He looked towards the field. He was a little closer to it, but not so close that the knights who were in the training area were unaware of its existence. Dean is being booed by another knight. 

"I have only kept the chivalric vows I have made to the First Empress and the Princess. It was a matter of pride and honor for me" Dean replied.

The other knights laughed at that. They looked at Dean with a condescending look.

Dean remained standing upright proudly without shaking even once. Events like this are nothing new to him. This was already his daily meal during morning practice before escorting the First Empress and Judith.

"How else, you can't move up the ranks. So you can only rely on your banished master" one of the knights quipped.

"It's still not specified. If I improve I might be able to become a leader" Dean replied.

The other knights grew furious hearing Dean who was completely unafraid.

"Don't dream! You're just some of the people downstairs, supposed to be crawling under our feet!" shouted the blonde knight. 

"So I have to crawl under your feet?" ask Rose.

All the knights flinched. Suddenly the palace magician was in front of them. Fear runs through their bodies. The palace witch was no noble either. The words of the knight just now could offend this witch. 

Palace knights usually came from among the nobility. Only a handful of commoners could enter the palace knights. This caused the dislike of knights among the nobility to Dean who came from among the people.

Rose originally intended not to interfere because Dean seemed to be able to overcome this. However, his ears felt itchy hearing all these spoiled knight's words.

"I didn't expect that the palace knights would still have time to babble. Training back!" scream Rose.

They came back for training. Rose's anger had already lessened by venting it to them. He left the training field. 

"Thank you, Imperial Witch." Dean was still there. Rose stop.

"It's nothing. I didn't do it to help you" Rose replied.

"Even though you have no intention of helping me, you still have helped me." Dean lowered his head to thank me.

Rose raised her hand indicating it was no problem for Dean. He's walking towards his destination.

Now he is at his destination. He bowed respectfully to the person in front of him.

"The Imperial Witch Leader is facing the Emperor and the Second Empress," Rose greeted.