I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 189
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At the Empress’s words, Yeshion’s expression hardened.
A noble muttered in disbelief.
“……A curse? The Crown Prince is under a curse?”
“That’s right. Crown Prince Adelio is afflicted with a curse so vile and filthy, it’s almost disgraceful to say that such a thing could befall noble royal blood.”
Now Yeshion’s face was painted in shock. Eldis, too, looked tense, his expression stiffened. Clearly, even he hadn’t anticipated this turn.
“I was the first to witness the Crown Prince’s curse. But I tried to hide it to the very end, so as not to tarnish the honor of the Imperial Family.”
“……”
“I sought out every renowned figure I could, hoping to lift the curse. But I could not.”
To break a curse, one had to first identify the caster and determine the method used.
Only then could it be cleansed with divine power. And divine power could only be exercised with the temple’s support.
The Empress claimed she had pursued Baine, the one most likely to have cursed the Crown Prince.
“But Baine grew close to Archpriest Yeshion.”
“……”
“And even after Baine’s death, the Crown Prince’s curse remains.”
The Empress smiled as she said this.
Casting curses was a talent by nature, like Baine’s, but it was also possible through divine power.
“In fact, I didn’t think much of it at first. I couldn’t imagine a supposed priest being connected to a curse on the Crown Prince.”
“……”
“But then I heard something interesting. That the fake priest Yeshion who was thought to have no divine power, healed someone during the festival.”
The Empress wove her tale with impressive fluency.
The problem, however, was that if one wished to raise an issue with her words, there was sufficient room for doubt.
Priests had the power to suppress and undo curses. That also meant, theoretically, they could cast them. Although doing so defied the will of the gods and could incur Divine Punishment, it wasn’t beyond possibility.
‘Damn it……’
Listening quietly, Eldis bit down hard on his lip.
Yeshion had only recently awakened to his divine power. Chronologically, it was impossible for him to have cursed Adelio, as Adelio had been under the curse long before Yeshion’s awakening.
But once that argument was raised, the Empress’s next line was already prepared.
‘……She’ll ask how he knew about the curse in the first place.’
Adelio had sought help from the temple of his own accord.
The treatment had been kept secret. No one had spoken of it. Yet now, they were in a situation where the temple itself could be painted as partial and unjust.
The Empress turned her gaze toward Eldis with a knowing smile.
As if daring him to try and wriggle out of it.
“Then, is Your Majesty claiming that Archpriest Yeshion cursed the Crown Prince?”
“Not definitively…… but one can certainly suspect it. Besides, isn’t Archpriest Yeshion from the Azelist bloodline? That alone could suggest hostility toward the Imperial family.”
The Empress’s words sent a ripple through the nobles.
They were stunned. First, that a survivor from House Azelist existed at all, and second, that the Empress knew.
But right now, none of that mattered.
The simple fact that someone from a family purged by the noble house was alive gave the noble council enough reason to believe Yeshion had the motive to curse Adelio.
“Th-then what should we do? If it’s true that Archpriest Yeshion cast the curse, sh-shouldn’t he be punished?”
“How hasty. If we act without care, we may end up condemning the wrong person again.”
“……”
“They say the cursed recognize their curser. So… when the curse flares up again, why not lock Archpriest Yeshion in a room with the Crown Prince?”
If he survives, it means he’s not the caster.
But if he dies… then clearly he is. That was the Empress’s argument.
At that, Yeshion opened his mouth.
“All right.”
“……You agree?”
“Yes. As Your Majesty proposes, I will enter the room with the Crown Prince. But if I walk out alive, I ask that you lay your suspicions to rest.”
The Empress sneered at Yeshion’s words. That expression carried certainty that she was convinced Yeshion would die.
“Very well. If you survive, I shall gladly accept the punishment for casting doubt on the temple. However……”
