The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella-Chapter 140

A rumor had been spreading across Animallia.

It was the news that the High Priest's daughter, who had previously gone missing, had disappeared again.

"How could this happen? Isn't he supposed to be the High Priest?"

"Even if we let the first one slide, how could he fail to protect his heir twice?"

It was around this time that the beastfolk began criticizing the incompetence of the Ratson family.

A new rumor began circulating among the nobles.

It was the suspicion that perhaps the Emperor himself had been behind the abduction of Lady Ratson.

"I heard that when one reaches a certain level in their training, they can directly absorb divine power from a priest, is that true?"

This information had been disclosed only to those who made large donations to the training hall—mostly nobles.

"But does that even make sense?"

"If it’s true, then not only priests but anyone with talent in divine power could have their abilities absorbed..."

"Isn’t the fact that the Divine Kingdom is now closed related to someone fleeing after finding this out?"

"Or maybe they've already fallen victim to it. The fact that Lady Ratson, who just recently returned, has gone missing again..."

"Someone with such power could..."

Dark rumors about the Emperor of Animallia began circulating in hushed tones.

"They couldn’t have hidden Lady Ratson in the Imperial Palace, so maybe... could she be inside the training hall?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

It was still a delicate matter, and the rumors hadn’t spread publicly yet.

When the Emperor of Animallia, Leo III, a lion beastfolk, heard these rumors, he immediately contacted the High Priest of the Ratson family.

And he denied the accusations.

"I’ve heard that there are rumors circulating about me recently, but surely Your Majesty doesn’t believe in such absurd speculations."

"Of course, Your Majesty would never believe such things. However, since we haven’t found any clues regarding my daughter's disappearance, we require proof of our innocence."

"Well then, if Your Majesty insists, I will have no choice but to prove it."

Emperor Leo III showed a slight hint of frustration.

At that moment, Sera, who had been quietly standing in the background, shouted in fury, trembling with anger.

"We must search the Imperial Palace immediately! Elodie must be there!"

"...And you are?"

The Emperor, bewildered, asked as the High Priest sighed deeply, as if troubled, rubbing his forehead.

"I apologize. She is a daughter whom I treasured as much as my own life. It seems she has temporarily lost her composure."

"I will not retract my statement."

Sera, though unable to understand the mouse language, caught on to what the High Priest was implying and stubbornly responded.

"I may have said proof is needed, but Your Majesty surely knows the rumors about divine power being transferred from others are just lies."

Sera quickly realized that the High Priest was defending the Emperor and gave a bitter laugh.

She then turned to Duke Valkyrisen, Eisen, and asked.

"Duke, what do you think? Do you agree with him?"

"The rumor about absorbing divine power from priests probably started after His Majesty joined the training hall. It’s hard to believe he would suddenly abduct the heir of Ratson..."

"...."

"Well, I think it’s unlikely."

It was the common opinion that someone who joined the social circles for the sake of trends would not suddenly be overcome by greed and resort to kidnapping.

But, having lost her reason since Elodie's disappearance, Sera was convinced that the Emperor was up to something suspicious.

"How can you be so sure His Majesty heard the rumors after joining the hall? Perhaps he was already in league with the Nova training hall from the beginning!"

"Watch your tongue! How dare you speak like that to His Majesty? Even the two of us can only protect you so much!"

"...Then I suppose there’s nothing more to say."

Sera turned and walked away.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

It seemed as though she was about to leave the Holy Kingdom altogether.

"I will find Elodie by any means necessary, even if I have to do it alone."

And with that final statement, she concluded.

Emperor Leo III, unseen by his subordinates, winked as if to say, "That’s enough."

At the same moment, contact with the Emperor was cut off.

"Cut!"

In the center of the room, Leopard, who was holding the communication device, announced loudly and gave a thumbs-up.

Just as Sera was about to storm out without looking back, she turned around and asked.

"How did I do?"

"I thought you were an actor in a drama," Eisen said with a chuckle, praising Sera for her performance.

"Now, we can start investigating the suspicious individuals and uncover any spies in the palace."

"That’s something the Emperor should handle."

Leopard, who was still holding the communication device, said flatly.

Leopard, the head of the Golden Order and a lion beastfolk, known for having ten lovers.

‘He’s clearly a lion beastfolk, so why is his name Leopard?’

Sera stared at him, sensing something familiar about him, almost like the Emperor.

If he's a lion beastfolk, could he be closely related to the Emperor? And judging by the fact that he has a direct connection with the Emperor...

Leopard, showing his bright white teeth, smiled with a greasy grin.

"Is something on my face?"

"...."

"Are you ignoring me? That’s hurtful."

"Oh, I’m sorry. Elodie said if she spoke to you, germs would spread. Could you please avoid talking to her?"

"Well, never mind. It might be less hurtful if you just ignore me."

Leopard grumbled, but Sera merely stepped back, as if avoiding germs.

Elodie had given her that advice, after all.

Leaving the sulking lion beastfolk behind, she reviewed her plan.

‘I’ve played along with the plan, so now the spies planted in the palace will pass on the information.’

The Bluewood daughter would soon go to the Nova training hall to find the missing Lady Ratson.

And along the way, she could also root out the spies and interrogate them.

‘Elodie, I’ll come to save you soon.’

Just like the day you came to me.

***

"I saved you from almost being wiped out, and now you’re calling this leniency? What do you call that?"

Count Bluewood had never forgotten the humiliation of the past.

And he had eagerly awaited this day.

"The day when I’ll make Seraphina, the girl who repaid the kindness of being born and raised with hatred, pay for her sins."

"......"

"Isn’t that right?"

Countess Bluewood, Claire, spoke as though voicing his very feelings.

She lit the cigarette that he was holding.

The Count, his face aged and haggard over the years, took a deep drag, grinding his teeth as he spat out the smoke and asked,

"Are you telling me that they suddenly changed their mind and said not to kill her, but to capture her alive?"

"They said there’s still use for her. Once everything is over, His Highness the Prince will return her to the Bluewood family."

"......I knew it."

If the prince had sent the message through his subordinates in secret, it likely hadn’t been reported to the higher-ups.

Not even to the Emperor, and maybe not even to his biological mother, the Queen.

It was highly probable that it was the prince’s own decision.

The Queen would not welcome Seraphina’s survival in the slightest.

Even if someone possessed a rare and valuable power, they would understand that such abilities come with greater risks.

"His Highness still hasn’t come to his senses after all this time. Does he still believe he can control that sly girl?"

"That’s just his nature. He has to hold everything he desires in his hands to feel satisfied."

"Tch, no matter how much the Queen tries to fix it from behind the scenes, it’s completely useless."

How spoiled must one be to lose all sense of judgment like that?

The Count clicked his tongue, shaking his head, lamenting how important proper upbringing was.

At any rate, the Bluewoods had no intention of sparing Seraphina.

No matter how secretly ordered it had been by the prince.

If they allowed Seraphina to live here, she would find a way to interfere with their plans sooner or later.

They couldn’t afford to take such a risk.

This was their last chance.

"I’m glad I got involved directly."

"You’re planning to kill her, aren’t you?"

Countess Claire smirked as she whispered into his ear.

"Is that even a question?"

Now, all that was left for him was the title of Count Bluewood.

His position in the Silvaria Kingdom had fallen to rock bottom.

Since it had become widely known that he had fallen out of favor with the Valkyrisen family, no noble wanted to associate with him.

It wasn’t much different within his own family either.

His servants acted as though they already knew that he would soon lose his title in some way.

After all, it was only thanks to Duke [N O V E L I G H T] Valkyrisen that his family had been spared from annihilation. How low had things gotten?

The only path left for Count Bluewood was to hand over his title willingly.

But he had no intention of doing so.

By any means necessary.

"I gave her life, so it’s only right I take it away with my own hands."

That was the proper thing to do, wasn’t it?