Chapter 86
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Violet's First Words - Episode 86
Bludin stood frozen, his gaze fixed solely on Violet's retreating figure.
Ash began walking with an expression of utter disbelief.
"Just a moment, Ravens Grand Duke. You must be deeply disappointed by Lady Violet Everdin's shameful conduct just now. Allow me to counsel her properly."
Bella spoke as she hurried after Ash. The coldness in his expression deepened.
"That shameful conduct wasn't Violet Everdin's alone, was it?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes. I will certainly ensure that Professor Bludin is disciplined as well."
"Your judgment of character leaves much to be desired. Disappointing."
Ash spoke. He bowed respectfully, yet with unmistakable coldness—a clear signal for Bella to cease following him.
Bella watched his departing silhouette from a distance.
Slowly, a smile curved across her lips.
* * *
Marlon, the Capital Knight Commander Order's leader and Bludin's father, entered a building with cautious deliberation.
"You asked to meet with me?"
"There are matters we discussed previously that require close consultation."
The figure standing in the darkness answered quietly.
"If we're discovered meeting like this, what then?"
"Have no fear. This place is registered under someone entirely unaffiliated with the Knight Order or the Religious Sect, so there is no risk of exposure."
"Hmm, is that so? Then perhaps... But can you truly make this happen?"
Marlon asked directly.
At that, a woman emerged from the darkness. It was Bella.
She smiled at Marlon with a knowing expression.
"Of course. You know well what our sect is capable of, don't you?"
In the Capital, there existed a group that had long provided special "services" in secret.
They were commonly known as the Night Shadow.
Though they had operated for many years, little was known of them beyond the fact that they were a clandestine religious organization based in Kaizeria.
Years ago, when Violet and Bludin became engaged.
Violet had been called a prodigy when she first enrolled at the Academy.
Marlon had worried whether such a Violet would truly become a genius knight.
A talented and accomplished woman would never obey the words of an incompetent fool like Bludin.
Marlon's initial reluctance toward the engagement stemmed from his fear that the young Violet would grow far too exceptional.
It was then that Violet's Stepmother, Paula, had come to him in secret and persuaded him.
[Violet's bloodline is indeed excellent, so she will bear children who become outstanding knights, but there is a way to make Violet herself incompetent—]
"At that time, through the introduction of our Paula, you contacted us. I placed a hypnotic suggestion on Violet Everdin back then."
Marlon remembered those days clearly.
Hypnotic suggestion was a type of curse. But instead of touching the body, it was a method of affecting a person's mind.
It was a technique known only to religions that worshipped demons, passed down since ancient times.
"If I recall correctly, you said that once the hypnotic suggestion was placed on Violet, it could be activated again at any time, even years later."
"That's right. Violet doesn't even know she's under a curse. It was about nine years ago, and while one curse we placed on her has been destroyed, the hypnotic suggestion we implanted still exists."
"I can't believe such a thing is even possible..."
Yet he had witnessed with his own eyes how Violet truly became powerless and Marigold became a Spirit Mage.
"I have one question."
"Please, go ahead."
"You're the commander of the Shatra Holy Knight Order, someone even the Imperial Court doesn't dare treat carelessly. So what exactly are you doing living this double life? You lack neither wealth nor honor in your position."
Moreover, in Marlon's eyes, Bella was intelligent and beautiful.
Why would such a woman be obsessed with a suspicious religion that placed curses on people?
Marlon couldn't understand that point.
"The order is reversed. I rose to this position because of my faith. Since childhood, our sect, Night Shadow, cultivates talents like myself. Then we send them to prominent Holy Knights and clergy organizations. That's where it begins."
"Proselytization... is that what you mean?"
"Yes, that's right. We guide people toward the righteous path."
As Bella, with her beautiful face, explained it as though it were obvious truth, Marlon felt chills run down his spine.
"But Paula was captured by the Heresy Inquisitors and still hasn't been released..."
"Cyril Everdin, a first-rate Barrier Master. He discovered the formation we used to connect Marigold and Violet. But he couldn't find the hypnotic suggestion. It's a completely different field. No one can uncover a hypnotic suggestion."
"But what if Paula talks?"
"Honestly... the Heresy Inquisitors are our natural enemies. Once someone falls into their hands, we can't save them. But Paula won't talk. She's been trained—in such situations, to never betray her colleagues and to reveal only the minimum necessary secrets."
Still, Paula had once been on the verge of becoming family through marriage. She had been a wealthy noblewoman.
That such a woman was a follower of the Night Shadow religion.
'Just how many people are involved with that religion?'
Marlon paused to think for a moment.
But it was none of his concern. The Capital was already controlled by wealthy high-ranking nobles anyway.
Whether these people took control of the Capital or not—what did it matter to him?
They said their targets were only Holy Knights and clergy.
Their enemy was the Main God Religion. The one and only monotheistic faith recognized as the state religion.
'It has nothing to do with me. If they grow their power, I can support them from the shadows and pocket bribes.'
The Ravens Grand Duke's enemy was practically his colleague.
Rivan Fatherfall...
At the thought of that name, Marlon felt his skin crawl.
"Then, tell me in detail what you plan to do from now on."
"Yes. The hypnotic suggestion placed on Violet Everdin's body—the 'slave's hypnosis' that makes her like a puppet and forces her obedience—cannot be activated immediately. If the hypnotic suggestion placed on Violet when she was young is the first stage, then we must now proceed to the next stage."
"The next stage?"
"In the case of a mana user like Violet, we must confine her in a space that completely blocks her body's mana and continuously administer drugs for several days while performing mental brainwashing."
"Drugs? Wouldn't that be harmful to her body?"
Marlon wasn't asking out of concern for Violet.
But by necessity or otherwise, she was the woman destined to become Bludin's consort.
If something happened to her body, wouldn't that be troublesome?
I could obtain everything I desired only if Violet remained healthy.
"Please don't worry about that aspect at all. The substances we use are merely herbal sedatives, sleeping aids, and aromatic compounds to promote wakefulness. Prolonged consumption would be problematic, but taking them for one or two weeks poses no issues whatsoever. In fact, they're beneficial to one's health."
Bella continued her explanation calmly.
The subject is confined to a place where contact with others is impossible, and the drugs are administered continuously.
Then the subject becomes perpetually hazy, unable to discern reality.
That's when the next phase begins—something akin to brainwashing.
"So what exactly does it mean to turn Violet into a puppet?"
"It's simple. Hypnosis is hypnosis, after all. Once the hypnotic suggestion takes hold, Violet will obey whatever commands are given to her."
"Then...."
"Yes, Violet will willingly throw herself into Lord Bludin's arms of her own accord. She will do whatever the family commands. I'll make her sign the marriage contract gladly."
"But there's still the matter of Violet's boyfriend—the Ravens Grand Duke."
"That's precisely why I'm being cautious. However, they aren't exactly dating in the strict sense. Moreover, the relationship between Violet and the Ravens Grand Duke has been deteriorating. Now they don't even make eye contact when they encounter each other within the Knight Order."
"Hmm, I see. That's fortunate."
"The human heart is simple. The Ravens Grand Duke holds a high station, while Violet Everdin's rank is comparatively low. In an unequal relationship like theirs, no matter how much they care for each other, what happens if the woman doesn't remain obedient?"
Bella, speaking of the discord between Violet and Ash, seemed oddly delighted.
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