The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 118

Chapter 15: Conspiracy: The Blood-Sucked Fool

Until now, everyone assumed I was possessed by a demon and being judged, so no one suspected Archbishop Francis.

Using this, Francis had subtly manipulated the situation from behind the scenes, using his pure white robes as a shield.

But I dragged the Archbishop into the spotlight and urged him to be questioned as well.

Flustered, he expressed his displeasure and retorted,

“What are you talking about?”

“Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

“Of course! I am the Archbishop of the Holy Kingdom. How could I be possessed by a demon?”

“If you’re so confident, just undergo the judgment. It’s not like I’m asking Lord Johann to interrogate you separately. Is pressing a button that difficult?”

It was a logical and irrefutable argument.

The royals and nobles of the Elden Kingdom nodded in agreement.

Yet, with a hint of doubt, they looked at Francis with suspicion. As everyone’s attention focused on him, the Archbishop sweated profusely on his obese body.

“Why… can’t you do it?”

I subtly needled him.

At this point, Johann, a fellow countryman, tilted his head, as did us foreigners.

“Archbishop Francis, Lord Lloyd is right. It doesn’t take long to be judged, so why not do it lightly?”

“That’s…”

Archbishop Francis’s evasive behavior further fueled Johann’s doubts.

“Archbishop Francis.”

“……”

“Answer me, Archbishop.”

“Yes, Lord Johann.”

“Press the button on the sacred artifact right now. This is an order.”

“!!”

In the Holy Kingdom, excluding the Pope and the Saintess, the next in authority is Holy Knight Johann.

If he gave an order with a serious face and it was refused, it would be as if he had been interrogated without being interrogated.

Archbishop Francis’s face turned pale, and a drop of cold sweat ran down his temple and fell from his chin.

“What are you doing? Your boss told you to do it.”

Even I thought I was being annoying.

As I kept pestering him from the side, the Archbishop hesitated, unable to do anything.

“Are you… scared?”

“What nonsense! I was just embarrassed by the situation of being suspected. I will undergo the judgment right away.”

Did he choose his pride after all?

He makes a foolish decision.

“Here! Take a look.”

Archbishop Francis, holding the Joy of the Sun [a sacred artifact used for judgment], pressed the button tightly as if to show off.

The same pure white divine power spread out, surrounding the Archbishop.

I could roughly guess what his intentions were.

He would probably try to endure the curse of pain.

But if it was pain that could be endured, would it really be called a curse?

“Haa! Haa! Hoo!”

Despite the pain of having his hands and feet forcibly torn off, Archbishop Francis displayed superhuman patience.

Although his breathing became somewhat rough, he still maintained his reason without screaming.

‘This is good enough.’

Archbishop Francis, relieved, smiled and looked at me.

As if he had won the bet.

“How is it? As you can see, I am innocent. I will not accept such rude requests again, Lord Lloyd.”

I didn’t even need to step in.

Johann was already standing in front of Archbishop Francis.

His armor clanked with each step he took.

“Archbishop Francis.”

“Why do you have such a scary look on your face? Hasn’t this proven that I am far from being a demon?”

“Look at the floor.”

“The floor? Why suddenly tell me to look at the floor…”

The Archbishop, lowering his gaze, was speechless.

Yellow and brown excrement was splattered on the floor.

Come to think of it, his crotch area was wet.

He hurriedly looked around, only to be met with shocked and contemptuous gazes.

“To not even realize that you’ve soiled yourself. Was the pain that severe?”

“No! That’s… um…”

“I thought it was strange. Henon would never be possessed by a demon, so I wondered why such an order was given. It was all your doing.”

Johann’s pent-up anger found its target.

Archbishop Francis, trembling all over, finally crossed the line he should not have crossed.

“No! I’m just a subordinate. I was just following the Saintess’s orders.”

“How dare you utter the Saintess’s name with that filthy mouth!”

Johann’s hammer was swung mercilessly.

Archbishop Francis’s head disappeared in vain.

Thud!!

The Archbishop, with only his torso remaining, collapsed.

It was a brutal judgment.

I shuddered at the thought that I could have been hit by that hammer.

Anyway, the result was out, and Johann took action.

The Holy Knight, who had just executed Francis, now walked towards me and knelt down with a thud.

“Lord Henon Lloyd, I, Inquisitor Johann, on behalf of the Belanus Holy Kingdom, formally apologize for the rudeness I have committed against you.”

Rebecca sighed in relief and touched her forehead, while I looked down at him with an indifferent expression.

“I accept the Holy Kingdom’s apology. But the most useless thing in the world is an apology that’s just words.”

“Of course. Now that a new king has ascended the throne, I will return to the Holy Kingdom and redefine the relationship with the Elden Kingdom.”

Just like on Earth, when the leader of a country changes, they usually send envoys to neighboring countries to greet them.

In the midst of this, new treaties are made and contracts are carried out. The relationship between the Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom will likely give the Kingdom a significant advantage due to this incident.

“I look forward to it.”

“I, Johann, am a man who always keeps his promises, so don’t worry. There have been many discourtesies.”

Johann, carrying Archbishop Francis’s corpse on his back, disappeared as suddenly as he had come.

The royal palace, after a storm had passed.

Now it was time to clean up the trash that had slandered me and caused chaos in the kingdom.

But before that…

“Princess, now that all suspicions about Royal Consort Lloyd have been cleared, let’s proceed with the coronation and appointment ceremony tomorrow.”

Duke Arnold’s words were echoed by the anti-imperial nobles, and even many of the pro-imperial nobles followed.

Princess Rebecca stared intently at Charlie Hilton and Philip Lloyd before speaking.

“Do you still distrust my husband? Do you think he’s possessed by a demon?”

Sensing the subtle anger in her voice, Charlie and Philip bit their lips and prostrated themselves.

“We were only offering advice to ensure certainty. Please have mercy.”

They slipped away like eels.

They were trying to kill me until just now.

Well, there’s no rush.

Since the tide has already turned, I can slowly get rid of them.

“Be careful.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

* * *

On a clear day with high skies and no clouds.

Princess Rebecca officially became the ruler of the kingdom.

Rebecca de Arianne Elden XLII.

That was her official title.

“Long live! Long live the Elden Kingdom!”

“Long live Her Majesty the Queen!!”

Simultaneously, my Royal Consort appointment ceremony took place.

I, who had been pre-selected as the Royal Consort, was embroiled in various rumors, but overcame them with my own abilities and became the Queen’s man.

The appointment ceremony was personally led by the Queen.

Rebecca placed a sparkling golden crown on my kneeling form.

This was a tradition unique to the Elden Kingdom, publicly declaring that the Royal Consort and the Queen were equal.

‘I’m going back to the Marquisate anyway.’

Some pro-imperial figures still didn’t understand the concept of the Queen ruling the country and made absurd claims that I couldn’t rule the Marquisate and the Kingdom at the same time.

But as time passed, even those ignorant nobles would realize how capable and wise Queen Rebecca was.

She had prepared and worked hard her whole life for this moment.

“With this, we conclude the appointment ceremony of Royal Consort Lloyd.”

“Long live Royal Consort Lloyd!!”

“Long live the Elden Kingdom!!”

“Long live Her Majesty the Queen! Long live! Long live!!”

People from all walks of life gathered in the square in Fontano and cheered that Rebecca and I had become the new rulers of the kingdom.

Rebecca, with a flushed face, subtly linked arms with me, showing off our marital harmony.

‘It feels like we’ve become a show window couple [a couple that presents a perfect image to the public].’

Anyway, we had to show that we were on good terms to reassure the people of the kingdom.

I pulled her in with my arm, thickened by strenuous training, and lightly kissed her forehead.

Then, the square, which had been as noisy as a marketplace until just now, became as quiet as a mouse.

“Did I make a mistake?”

Was a forehead kiss a skinship [physical affection] that only worked on Earth?

In fact, in the Elden Kingdom, the soul was contained in the forehead, so putting lips on it was rude or something…

“Waaaaaaah!!!!!”

I guess not.

An even louder cheer followed.

Rebecca, surprised by my sudden action, slightly raised her hand to her chest, as if her heart was racing, and staggered.

I gently wrapped my arms around her to support her.

Our eyes naturally met.

“Are you going back to the Marquisate?”

“I have to go home.”

Rebecca seemed a little disappointed at my words.

“This is your home now.”

That’s right.

Since I became legally married to Rebecca, the Elden Royal Palace was now my home.

But I had no intention of staying here.

The more the Royal Consort showed his face, the weaker her power would become, and above all, I was busy preventing the end of the continent.

“I look forward to the country you will create.”

I was being indirect, but the meaning was clear.

She said with a disappointed expression.

“Come visit often. There’s also a teleport portal directly connected to the royal palace.”

“Of course.”

“And… you know?”

For a moment, a red, eerie energy flickered and disappeared in her eyes.

She kept licking her lips with her tongue.

She was openly craving my blood.

In some ways, I might be the best groom for her.

No matter how much she bit, she wouldn’t be infected with vampirism, and even my blood regenerated well, making me a delicious, unlimited blood pack.

“I’ve already put a few years’ worth of blood in your secret warehouse. But if you need more, just tell me. After all, draft beer straight from the tap is much tastier than refrigerated beer.”

“I want to try that draft beer now.”

“As much as you want.”

With the cheers of the entire capital as background music, Rebecca and my lips carefully overlapped.

Everyone would think it was a loving expression between a couple.

We continued the act of bloodsucking disguised as a kiss for a long time.

* * *

“Damn it! Stupid Holy Kingdom pigs! How did they handle the job!”

Thud!!

The desk split in half.

Charlie Hilton, unable to contain his anger, paced around the room, struggling to calm his rough breathing.

“How the hell did that bastard sway the Holy Knight? Was he really possessed by a demon?”

The person in the same room was Philip Lloyd.

His expression, Henon’s half-brother, wasn’t good either.

“Lord, please calm down and prepare the next plan… Cough!!”

The glass flowerpot that Charlie threw hit Philip’s forehead exactly.

Philip collapsed, bleeding from his forehead.

Charlie grabbed Philip’s collar and pulled him up.

“This is all your fault, you useless piece of trash.”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t Philip’s fault.

The slander prepared by the Hilton family was meticulous and flawless.

It was just that Henon Lloyd displayed extraordinary feats that exceeded everyone’s expectations.

But Charlie needed a target to vent his anger, and right next to him was Philip, who was in a precarious situation.

“I’m sorry.”

“You grew up eating from the same pot as Henon, so you should have known in detail what abilities that damn bastard had.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What the hell are you good at? Born as the eldest son, you had your rice bowl stolen by a bastard. You even made me get involved after I created the opportunity for you?”

Philip was wronged, but he had nothing to say.

It was too late to return to the Lloyd family now.

He had to faithfully fulfill his role as the Hilton family’s doormat, no matter what humiliation and disgrace he had to endure.

That was the only way out.

“Lord, shouldn’t we use extreme measures now?”

“What nonsense are you going to spout again?”

“Listen carefully. Rebecca has already ascended to the throne as Queen, and Henon has become the Royal Consort. The Hilton family might as well be considered out of politics.”

Charlie’s mind was jolted by Philip’s cold judgment.

“Let’s admit what we need to admit. Henon’s scary point is not just his powerful force, but also the cunning three-inch tongue that follows it. I’ve been fooled by that tongue several times.”

“Keep talking.”

“It’s impossible with words anyway. Then, as a second-best option, we must focus on stabbing the opponent’s vulnerable points.”

After that, the plan Philip spoke of was shocking in itself.

Charlie’s eyes widened.

“So… we kidnap Queen Rebecca and make her our ally?”

“That’s right.”

“The risk is too great.”

“Isn’t this an all-or-nothing situation anyway? Let’s bring her in and torture her, brainwash her, or do whatever it takes to make her our puppet.”

“What if she resists to the end?”

Philip didn’t answer.

But that was enough of an answer.

They were now planning to kidnap and kill the queen of a country.

“Lord, if the Elden Kingdom is absorbed into the Calon Empire anyway, the royal family will become nominal.”

“The royal family is still the spiritual pillar of all the kingdom’s people.”

“How long will that last? Time passes, and people’s memories disappear and are forgotten in an instant.”

Charlie, resting his chin on his hand and pondering for a long time, said in a calm voice.

“Are you confident?”

“It’s not a matter of confidence, it’s something that must be done.”

“We’ll need a lot of troops to raid the royal palace.”

“We have to go with a small elite force. As far as I know, there are quite a few masters in the Hilton family. If we want to buy time against Count Hornet, the Count himself will have to come.”

If it were to be carried out, Hilton would be betting the family’s fate on it.

The head of the family had to move as well.

“I’ll discuss it with my father.”

“I understand.”

They finished the meeting.

Just then, the sound of mice squeaking was heard from the ceiling.

“Why is there a mouse?”

“Old mansions always have mouse holes.”

“This place has been around for a while. I need to have the servants do some repairs.”

“Anyway, I hope the head of the family will consider it positively.”

No one paid any attention to the insignificant mouse.

The mouse, having seen and heard everything, leisurely left the mansion.

And safely landed in my hand.

[Share Vision Deactivated]

[Taming Deactivated]

The mouse runs away into the forest.

I heard all their plots.

‘I didn’t even expect them to stay still.’

Now it’s time to act.

It was time to shatter their shallow schemes and end the tiresome bad relationship.