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Chapter 64 Part 5 – Why do people turn hostile over small conflicts? Countess Rosenthal recounts the night my mother became ill at heart. There was a hidden, sad reason for it.

With the red hair and red eyes he inherited from his father, Rufus holds splendid conversations with the sly old foxes nobles. The nobles are surprised and delighted when Rufus talks about their secret local pride, which only they know about. He also has a deep knowledge of the arts and his conversational skills can be likened to a pleasant dance.

Despite being so sociable, Rufus tends to stay in his own territory.
His intentions are unreadable and it’s extremely uncanny.

As long as this child that is filled with wisdom wants to, the royal family will not hesitate to discuss marriage, let alone granting him a title.
It was said that the royal family has had discussions with Rufus’s father, the Crimson Duke, regarding marriage with the first princess. Also, Princess Margaret, who is considered the next heir to the throne, has hit it off with Rufus. It is rumored that it is very likely for him to become a prince consort.

「How extraordinary …… As expected from the son of the Crimson Duke.」

Countess Rosenthal said nonchalantly to the astonished nobles.

「After all, he is the son of the Crimson Duke and the genius archer. It is no wonder that he is extraordinary.」

「I see. When it was rumored that the duchess had become a fallen genius, I wondered what would happen, but it turns out that the Crimson Duke had a keen eye.」

The countess hid her smile with the folding fan so that the astonished nobles would not notice.
Then, when she saw the time was right, she sent Cornelia an invitation to the ball.

◇◇◇◇◇

When she had finished talking, Countess Rosenthal took a long breath.

「The people I have invited here tonight are the nobles that were present that night 14 years ago. I’ve made it into a masquerade ball so that Cornelia would not notice. …… Thanks to the evil eye you gave me, my wish will finally come true.」

Solomon raised his pince-nez glasses with his index finger while looking very interested.

「So you want to re-create the confrontation, likening it to the one that happened 14 years ago? The evil eye against the Hunter of the Magic Bow …… Fufu, what an interesting combination of cards that stokes my desire to research. Or do you want to charm the Crimson Duke with the power of the evil eye?」

「Likening it? No, it will be a complete recreation of that event 14 years ago.」

As soon as she said this, Countess Rosenthal’s eyes shone piercingly and bizarrely.
Her hair swelled up like a beast’s hair.
The scene became distorted.

「Ohh, this is ……」

Solomon looked around and admired the scene.

The Countess’s dilapidated residence was recently rebuilt.
Its current elegant architectural style turned back to its former rustic and dark castle.
It is a horrifyingly dark building with a history of numerous tortures and slaughters.
The solid stone walls prevent the cries of the prey from being heard.

It was not only the castle that had reverted to its former state.
The nobles gathered in the ballroom had also reverted and became rejuvenated.
But they had no doubts about what happened to them.
Because their hearts had also reverted back to that night 14 years ago.

It was the powerful hypnotic ability of the countess’s evil eye that allowed her to freely manipulate the vision and even the mind of other people.

「It is wonderful that you have mastered the evil eye so much in such a short period of time. However, using it in this way will have an impact on your life force. It would be more efficient to focus on defeating Cornelia or captivating the Crimson Duke.」

The countess laughed at Solomon’s suggestion.

「I don’t want to do either of those things. I want to make use of this opportunity to confirm whether Cornelia is worthy of Wendell-sama or not. Otherwise, I would not be able to take a step forward. Cornelia and I are still trapped in that night. But I’m sure that the current Cornelia will be able to …… The showdown will come afterwards. Besides -」

A drop of blood trickled down her cheek from the corner of Countess Rosenthal’s eye due to the excessive burden of the technique.
To Solomon, it looked as if she was crying.

「The memory of Wendell-sama rescuing me on that snowy day is my treasure. Back then, my body was defiled, but my heart was still beautiful. If I use this evil eye on him, I will really lose everything.」

Solomon stood up, put his hand on his chest, and bowed reverently.

「…… I respect that love of yours. I’m glad I gave you the evil eye.」

Countess Rosenthal adored the Crimson Duke so much that she never once said out loud that she loved him. As if she thought that she had no right to say it.
She would probably never say it.
She loved him that much.
Solomon lowered his head to her wholehearted devotion and sorrow and dared to say the word 「love」.

The countess’s eyes widened in surprise, then she said in embarrassment.

「This is just a woman’s stubbornness. Just as a fallen man sometimes risks his life for pride, a defiled woman risks her life for stubbornness. That’s all I have, so I can’t help it.」

Looking at Countess Rosenthal’s back as she mentioned her faults, Solomon felt like he could see a bashful maiden.

「Fufu, are you going to insist that it’s just a woman’s stubbornness till the end? Then what a beautiful stubbornness. It is appropriate for my research. Well then, let’s at least raise a toast to that beautiful spirit.」

Solomon raised the wine glass in his hand.
The countess was walking across in front of Solomon and heading for the door when she stopped dead in her tracks.

「…… You crazy mad scientist. Then, are you going to insist that your rescue of that maid was also some kind of research?」

Her tone was harsh, but there was affection in her eyes.
Solomon smiled wryly at the brilliant counterattack.

「So you noticed that. Good grief. Just like Alisa, women are indeed a mystery. It would be worthwhile to study that more in depth. Well then, I’ll be sure to observe this battle of women’s stubbornness. Good luck.」

「Do as you please.」

The Countess Rosenthal nodded haughtily, flicked off the hem of her dress, and went through the door.
She had a bright and cheerful expression.
Solomon watched her back, even after the door had closed behind her.

「…… Fufu, I’ve been had. Alisa. So, even with all the power I have gained, I still can’t reach you.」

After some time, Solomon smiled bitterly.
He sensed that Alisa had burrowed herself into Scarlet’s bosom.
He also knew that she went ahead and made a truce to prevent himself from joining forces with the Bradd from the True History.
In addition, she let the Seven Phantoms go through a trial to raise their standards and it also reduced the manifestation time of the Bradd from the True History.
Everything was in Alisa’s hands.

「But do not underestimate a scholar. It was not the strong men who have conquered disease, foreign enemies, starvation, and the obstacles of mankind better than anyone else. It was us, the pioneers of wisdom. The game between you and me has just begun. Fufu, what a depraved, worthy, strong opponent you are. One day, when I force you to yield and make your noble expression twist in disgrace, that will give me more pleasure than solving any equation ……」

Solomon spoke to himself under the moonlight.

「You think of Countess Rosenthal as nothing more than a speck of dust. In the eyes of you, who have led me around by the nose, the countess is nothing more than a woman who doesn’t know her own status and dared to interfere with the Queen Mother.」

Solomon’s pince-nez glasses glinted.

「However, Alisa. I’ll be loading the beds for the countess this time. If the supporting cast shines brighter than necessary, the stage will turn into a mess. …… No one can match you in terms of strength. But what if it’s wisdom? First of all, I will make your perfect calculations go wrong. I have this ‘gift’ of drawing out the power of the minor roles that are involved in Scarlet’s life. Fufu, it is just like alchemy that turns a stone into a jewel. How far can you go in reading the numerous additional gears of fate? Alisa.」

Solomon opened his hands and numerous gold coins floated in the air.
The gold coins moved lightly and stacked themselves vertically in a row.
Solomon pressed his fingertip against the topmost gold coin.

「Now then, let’s begin the bet. The countess has shown that she is prepared to stake even her own life. The ‘gift’ is both a present and a poison. Cornelia, the mother of my beloved Scarlet. I hope you will respond so beautifully that she will even be willing to eat the poison. Or else …… you will die. You are not included on the list of people that I really want to keep alive.」

The gold coins shone brilliantly and then scattered.

「Fufu, Countess Rosenthal, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am not a good person. I am a madman who is willing to sacrifice everything in order to achieve my goal. That is what drives researchers ……!!」

Solomon’s figure vanished. Leaving only a deep darkness in his wake.