The Queen Who Shares Love
Chapter 55 Lodrey Orphanage (4)

Dean and Emilia were in the First Empress's den. They were a little tense from being suddenly summoned by Leticia. Leticia began to speak, "You guys are my confidants. I know your loyalty to me and the empire. However, if faced with the choice of having to choose one, you will choose which one?"

Dean and Emilia were surprised by Leticia's question. Emilia answered first. 

"For me to save my family is the Empress. I will continue to serve the Queen until the end of my life. I'll choose the Empress." 

Emilia had already solidified her heart since her family began to recover. If it were not for the First Empress, her family's financial problems would not have been resolved.

For Dean this is a very difficult question. The First Empress chose him to be a personal bodyguard because of his abilities even though he came from commoners. A knight must protect his master. What the First Empress asked was who her master was.

"I'll protect you with a life bet, Empress. A knight must be loyal to his Master. My master is you, Empress. No noble trusts a commoner like me except you, Empress." Dean lowered his head.

Leticia smiled. He has loyal supporters. He hardened his face, telling all his plans to overthrow Braun's government. 

Both were shocked to hear that. But for them, the most important thing is loyalty 

"My allegiance remains to the First Empress." Emilia and Dean answered simultaneously.

"I hope you can keep this a secret" Leticia said 

"Okay, Empress." Dayang and Leticia's bodyguards lowered their heads.

"Sorry, when I'm presumptuous. Who was involved in this rebellion, Empress?" dean asked still.

"I'm working with Grand Duke Faust, of course Countess Wollard is also involved. The Empire's Witch Leader and the Tower's Witch Leader also knew this. Is there anything you want to know again Sir?"

"Nothing, Empress." Dean breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sir Dean, you can go back to running errands" Leticia ordered.

"Ready, Empress." 

Dean immediately walked out of the room, going to escort Judith.

Rose meets Dean. He's headed to Leticia's office. He has entered the room. Leticia orders Emilia out to get back to work.

This palace witch recounted her findings earlier while giving Leticia the teleportation magic stone. The stone was very small, hence it contained only a little magic. That was why teleportation magic could only be used four times.

Leticia heard Rose's story carefully. 

"How do you think, Leti?" 

"Now I know how Marquis Lodrey sold slaves without anyone suspecting. The orphanage holiday must be some kind of pretext. Marquis Lodrey ordered the head of the orphanage to take the children to be enslaved in the Uthriah Kingdom" Leticia said.

No one was suspicious because the children had never socialized with neighbors. No one knows those kids. When old children are lost and replaced by new ones no one is aware of. The neighbors there only knew that there were children in the orphanage.

"We could threaten the head of the parlour to say everything. They can be made witnesses" Rose said.

"It looks like it's a little dangerous, it could have been Marquis Lodrey keeping their mouths shut forever before uncovering his crimes. We better keep an eye on them and bring them as witnesses at the trial" Leticia suggested.

"That's a good idea too." Rose nodded.

"I will tell this information to Grand Duke Faust. Then he asked her to arrest Marquis Lodrey while the boys were on vacation. It must be that the Marquis and the head of the parlour met somewhere so that no one would be suspicious. Without the children realizing the head of the parlour was leaving them. Afterwards, the Marquis took the children as slaves sold to the Uthrian nobility." 

It was all just Leticia's guess. However, he was confident Grand Duke Faust would accept his suggestion. He'll tell Gerald tomorrow.

"Do I have anything to help you with, Leti?" 

"I want you to find out exactly when they're leaving, Rose." 

"Well, I'll make sure when they go on vacation."

Before leaving Rose he turned around.

"Leti, you told Judith's bodyguard about all your plans to rebel, didn't you?"

"I also told my personal lady."

"What's their response?"

"They were surprised but stayed on our side, Rose."

Rose smiled and continued her steps.

Leticia looked up at the ceiling while clenching her hands. He was envious of Dean and Emilia who could quickly choose. While he himself is still confused which one he will choose, blood relations or his friends. 

***

Isabella was still in her residence she had not gone to Faust's residence due to the arrival of guests.

"You told the Grand Duke that you're late, right?" ask Isabella's guests.

"Of course I have" replied Isabella briefly.

"I didn't think you'd want to meet my four eyes" teased guest Isabella.

Isabella's eyes twitched. He regretted having welcomed the tower witch in his palace. Dale wanted to have a one-on-one talk with Isabella to talk about something important. He did not blame this, because Dale was not as thick as when he first met. However, that one tower witch was always playing around. 

"Stop spending my time. So what need do you want to meet me for?"

"The priest called me."

Dale looks very serious. Isabella swallowed her saliva.

"What's he saying?"

"Our guess is correct, it was the Pope who introduced the drug to his friend."

"With this, we can drop, Pope."

"Not only that, we have a witness to the temple's forbidden magic ritual."

Isabella sighed with a smile. Everything went smoothly, with this the reputation of his Master would get better and the present reign of the Emperor would falter. Leticia's plan will work.

"What forbidden magic rituals does the temple perform?"

"On that, our eyewitnesses don't know. He only saw children being sacrificed. While there, he also felt dizzy. I'm figuring out a forbidden magic ritual involving children."

"Did Leticia know about this?"

"Not yet."

"Then why did you tell me this first?"

"We're both the ones in charge of investigating the temple. I should have told you this first," replied Dale with his trademark smile.

Isabella realizes this is Dale's ruse in order to meet him. He was fooled into accepting it at the Wollard residence.

"It seems like our business is done. I have to work." Isabella stands.

"Alright, watch out Countess." Dale stood up as well.

"Next time, tell me how you met Grand Duke Faust, Countess," Dale continued before Isabella walked out of the room.

Isabella stopped her steps, turning to Dale.

"What are you asking about this?" 

"I'm just curious" Dale replied briefly.

"I can tell you now, if you're curious."

Isabella recounts how Grand Duke Faust saved her as she was about to head to the Hilbright residence to ask Leticia for help. Grand Duke Faust trained him and made him what he is today. He felt that this was not a secret that needed to be hidden.

"If there's nothing you ask anymore, I'll go."

There was no response from Dale. Isabella continued her halted steps earlier.

Dale stared at Isabella's back, which was now closed by the door. Isabella trusted him to the point of leaving him at Wollard's residence unattended. I don't know why there tickled Dale's heart. Not sure what this feeling is.