14 Schemes (2/2)

”In fact, was it not for me always hiding my spiritual cultivation, I would probably be in the same state.”

There was nothing more terrifying than a power-hungry woman. The level of cruelty they could reach often went far beyond men in the same positions. Thinking about it, that was only natural. After all, their rise was often more challenging and required an abundance of ruthless decisions early on.

”Who's the cousin you mentioned? Is she the one you needed the other high-grade True Spirit Restauration pill for?”

The reason why Konrad was confident in the cousin being a ”she” was simple. Since she could be used to threaten count Wolfgang, she was undoubtedly her paternal cousin and belonged to the Uradel house Kracht. That being the case, it was impossible for her relatives to not have True Spirit Restauration pills at disposal. The only explanation was that just like Iliana, she had entered the palace.

As for her status, Konrad recalled the rumor of Iliana being related to a consort.

”Her name is Daphne, an imperial consort and the daughter of one of my uncles. Although my father always doted a lot on us, he could not resist the emperor's decree to send us into the palace. Fortunately for me, my illegitimate birth allowed me to avoid the miserable fate of becoming a consort.”

Challenging the emperor's decree was treason. Oddly, a commoner committing treason would only get himself beheaded while nobles caught doing so would drag their entire bloodline alongside them. This had something to do with commoners not possessing family names.

And now that Konrad knew the full story, he couldn't help but pity those women caught in the crossfire of political games.

”It is necessary to give them a lot of penetrating love.”

”What did you say?”

”Hum, hum, nothing, nothing…”

He needed to stop that nasty habit of thinking out loud.

”Regardless, I do not think the Holy Consort is the one who sent them after you.”

”Why is that?”

Iliana was puzzled. Who besides the Holy Consort could dispatch those ladies within the inner court? Freya was especially known to only obey Else's will.

”From what you've told me, the Holy Consort is callous but shrewd. You and your cousin are her political hostages. Meaning that as long as your father doesn't go beyond a certain limit, she will keep you alive. She can harm you, but she cannot kill you. Otherwise, she not only loses her advantage, but she also gains your father's unrestrained retaliation. It makes no bloody sense. Even if she wanted to kill one of the hostages to send a powerful message, she would first start with your cou…”

At that time, Konrad's eyes widened in realization.

”Not good! Quickly lead the way, your cousin is in danger!”

Only now did Iliana become aware of her own neglect. If she was being attacked, then wasn't it almost certain that her cousin also was?

Without another word, she turned and shot toward Daphne's palace with Konrad right by her side.

…

Meanwhile, at Daphne's palace, the only attendants left with her, servants carefully handpicked by house Kracht to assist and protect her, were now fighting tooth and nails with a group of masked assassins. But their resistance was coming to a brutal end.