The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella-Chapter 143
When Elodie spoke with her arms crossed, the Count recoiled in horror.
His brain, which had been lagging behind the rapidly shifting events, finally began to function again.
His face flushed red as he raised his voice, veins bulging at his neck.
“Lies! That bastard was using the power of the dark god from the start!”
“Anyone can see that’s not true from what just happened. I can’t wield the power of the dark god that proficiently.”
Even though I’m the one who built this training hall, I can’t use it like that.
Camel sniffled and sighed dramatically.
“That’s just because you were too focused on running your scam to dig deeper!”
“See? He just admitted it himself—he’s been consumed by the dark god’s power! I was hesitant and disturbed by it, which is why I didn’t go further!”
“You were the one who developed the training method, don’t spout nonsense!”
“I didn’t develop it! I simply followed the instructions you gave, and now you’re trying to frame me?!”
“Silence.”
The Emperor’s voice cut through the shouting like a knife.
The two men, who had been screeching and pointing fingers at each other, fell silent at once.
“The head of the training hall will be judged separately. Regardless, you used the power of the dark god within my empire. That alone makes you guilty of high treason.”
Count Bluewood broke into a cold sweat.
His foot was shattered, his internal injuries severe.
Normally, he’d have threatened to drag a physician here immediately to fix him up—or else. That was his habit.
He had never endured pain like this before, and now it felt unbearable.
On top of that, he was losing so much blood, his consciousness began to blur.
What if he passed out before he could properly explain himself?
What if, when he woke, it was all over?
Panic seized him.
“It wasn’t me—it was all Basilisk! Nyx Basilisk masterminded everything!”
And just like that, the truth slipped out of him.
“And the Queen and Prince of Silveria were involved as well!”
But even after revealing the truth, Emperor Leo III remained unmoved.
“So?”
“Wh-what do you mean, so...”
Of course.
No matter how much he shouted, there was no evidence.
And the Emperor had already heard the entire backstory from Lady Ratson. He knew who was involved.
But he couldn’t act without cause—those responsible had left no trace.
Just like now.
Which meant, if they thoroughly interrogated someone caught red-handed at the scene, they might still uncover something useful.
But first, they needed a proper justification to interrogate a foreign noble.
Even if they had to pin everything on him.
“Can you stand by your testimony?”
“Of course...”
“I mean, do you have proof?”
Proof... none.
He had never made direct contact with the royal family of Silveria. As for Nyx Basilisk—
—Everything’s proceeding according to plan. Fortunately, not a single deviation.
He wasn’t even a lizard beastfolk, but he was disturbingly good at cutting his tail and running.
‘The only thing left is the comm-stone, and even that’s gone silent.’
It was surely disabled beyond tracing.
Ah, wait!
The Count suddenly turned toward Claire, as if remembering something vital.
Driven to the edge, he had even forgotten for a moment that his wife had tried to flee without him.
“My wife was always in contact with the prince’s aide. She can testify that they were among the culprits!”
All eyes turned to the Countess.
Claire, who had remained quiet until now, suddenly began to cry, thin tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I don’t understand any of this. I was only sitting where my husband told me to... I don’t know what’s going on at all...”
“...What?”
“Dark god, Basilisk, Silveria... I don’t understand any of it. I don’t even know what I’m being asked to testify to...”
She wept and wiped her tears delicately.
She truly looked like someone caught in a terrifying, incomprehensible situation.
From the moment Nyx Basilisk said things were going too smoothly, she had prepared for the worst.
If, by chance, this wasn’t a trap for Seraphina but a trap for them instead—
Then she needed an escape route, at least for herself.
If the entire family is found guilty, it’s over for me and my daughters too.
The Count, obsessed with his plan, hadn’t noticed—but Claire hadn’t done a single thing since arriving at the hall.
She had stood quietly in the corner, observing the situation.
So she could later claim innocence.
“Don’t give me that crap! You’re the one who met with the Silverian prince’s aide! You told me to ignore the order not to kill Seraphina—that it was the prince’s whim and we had to go through with it!”
“I truly have no idea what you’re talking about. Even if such an order had been given, why would I say something so cruel and horrible?”
“Ha!”
It was true she hadn’t directly said to kill Seraphina.
More precisely, she had led the Count to say it himself!
“Everything was his doing! I still don’t understand what’s happening, so I can’t testify to anything.”
“Damn it, Claire!”
“It’s the truth.”
“How could you do this to me?!”
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
All physical evidence pointed squarely at Count Bluewood.
When it came to tormenting Seraphina, Claire had likely whispered sweetly in his ear, coaxing him to remove her from the family registry and make her a maid.
But now that she was useless and in the way, she discarded him without the slightest hesitation.
It was... impressive.
So much for familial love.
Not that Elodie could ever imagine feeling anything like that for someone like Count Bluewood.
This is the end for him.
Elodie watched the internal collapse with great satisfaction.
The stepmother seems to be under a funny little illusion.
She really thought she’d be safe if she just escaped now?
If something happened to the Count, Seraphina would inherit the family.
Did she think Seraphina would forgive her?
As if.
It would be amusing to see her face when she realized the trap she thought she escaped was the one she was standing in all along.
Elodie lowered her head and ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) rubbed at her eyes.
“Your Majesty... I was kidnapped and almost killed here...”
She let her voice tremble and her eyes redden, lashes quivering.
With everyone else putting on such great performances, she felt she had to join in too.
“Count Bluewood was going to kill Sera right here, and after that... he said to kill me too.”
“To harm Lady Ratson...!”
Leo III erupted with fury. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
The Ratson family was the Empire’s one and only jewel—a living symbol.
Even without her miracle-like healing powers, her existence alone was as valuable as a divine beast.
If the Ratsons were lost, the lion beastfolk who ruled the imperial house would suffer a devastating blow.
Unless something rose to replace them.
Which will never happen. And I’ll make sure of that.
At least in this lifetime.
“Well, if no one can prove otherwise, then the culprit must be that one person, right?”
Elodie pointed directly at Count Bluewood.
He sat there, hollow-eyed, having been betrayed by the person he trusted most.
“He could be executed right away, but... that would be letting him off too easy.”
She shook her head solemnly and continued.
“I think it’d be better if he were sentenced to a lifetime of forced labor in some mine. Work until he dies.”
Elodie smiled sweetly.
Trying to kill the Empire’s symbol, and that’s all he gets? It’s practically merciful.
“Very well. But before that, we’ll interrogate him—thoroughly. And then deliver punishment.”
“I like that idea.”
With the Emperor’s verdict delivered, Count Bluewood, who had been barely holding on, finally collapsed, frothing at the mouth and losing consciousness.
