Chapter 1782 - 496: The Demons of the Duchy Are Truly Increasing_2

"You were not waiting in vain. You preserved the Northern Relief Army's hard-won victory for the Duchy, pinned down the Judicial Court, and declared the Duchy's presence in the Twilight Province to the Kingdom—you did not collapse because of Earl Derek's betrayal; you are still standing on the dueling stage of this great game, not yet fallen, even more tenacious than before."

"Barring any surprises, this civil war has already reached its end. Your elder brother and Prince Colin have finished cleaning up the mess. And the Campbell people who died in this war—their blood will not be shed in vain. Those clowns who watched from the shore will pay the price they deserve in the end."

In truth, she already knew the outcome of the civil war, but she could not let it show that she knew everything, and this too was part of the Demon King's teaching to her.

Some things were not suitable for Erin to know.

At least not yet.

Erin was slightly stunned by these words. She had just opened her mouth, wanting to press Sarah about the deeper meaning behind "their blood will not be shed in vain," when a rhythmic knocking suddenly sounded on the wooden door of the attic.

Sarah rose and turned sideways.

"Please, come in."

The door was pushed open.

The Knight who walked in was "Erin Campbell"—or rather, Miss Theresa wearing Erin's face.

Theresa quickly closed the door, and the moment she turned around, she immediately perceived the stagnant tension in the attic.

She saw Princess Aileen slumped in a daze against the wall, while Miss Sarah, Prince Colin's guard, stood before her with an expressionless face.

Theresa's heart tightened, and she immediately cast an inquiring look at Sarah.

"What did you do to my Highness?!"

Sarah noticed her gaze, dipped her head slightly, and answered her question in kind with her eyes.

"Princess Aileen already knows about the civil war."

Theresa froze for a moment, then quickly read the implication in Sarah's eyes.

She stood at the doorway for a long while. At first, unease showed on her face, but soon she exhaled a long breath and instead relaxed.

She finally no longer had to hide things from Her Highness.

For nearly a month now, Theresa had been tormented almost daily by guilt, moving about Twilight City in Her Highness's appearance while keeping Her Highness entirely in the dark.

That sense of guilt had nearly crushed her.

Now that Erin knew everything, she no longer had to keep the secret locked in her heart.

And with matters come to this point, with everything already settled, there truly was no need for them to keep hiding it any longer…

Theresa walked up to Erin and dropped to one knee.

She raised a hand and gently tugged behind her ear; the flawless face rippled like water and dispersed, revealing her own loyal yet slightly weary features.

"Your Highness, please punish me for the sin of concealment," Theresa said, head bowed.

"Theresa… I won't punish you, but you must tell me the truth," Erin said hoarsely, forcing down the tremor in her voice. "When did you find out?"

"I knew from the very beginning," Theresa answered softly. "The commander of the Lion Heart Knight Order came to test you… or rather, me. They wanted us to stand on Earl Derek's side, but I rejected their unjustified request. The Northern Relief Army would not take part in this civil war. We would stay here in Twilight City and go nowhere."

Erin nodded lightly.

"And now?"

"I was just about to report to you, Your Highness," Theresa said respectfully, still keeping her head lowered. "The civil war is now over. The regular army led by Sir Wesley has taken Glanton Castle. All Nobles who betrayed the Duchy have been captured and thrown into the Dungeon by our Your Majesty…"

Theresa told Erin everything she knew.

Including the causes of this civil war, and the information about the rear she had learned from officers in the logistics system.

Erin drew in a lungful of icy air and slowly let it out from her chest, then asked the other question that weighed on her most heavily.

"What about Jelock? My brother… did Edward… do anything to Jelock? Did he…"

She could not bring herself to say that word.

Meeting Erin's uneasy gaze, Theresa shook her head gently.

"The Grand Duke did not forgive his crime."

Erin's face turned deathly pale.

After a brief pause of two seconds, Theresa went on.

"…However, Your Majesty did not execute him either, but exiled Prince Jelock to an Island somewhere far off the Duchy's coastline. There is a castle and a Monastery there. He will spend the rest of his life in that place."

On the Aus Continent, this was the standard procedure of a merciful Monarch after winning a civil war: forcing the opponent, before statues and Clergy, to swear never to return to secular life, then exiling them to an overseas Island or a Monastery in the mountains.

As a rule, this was equivalent to political death.

"Haa…"

The heart that had been hanging in Erin's chest finally dropped back into place; the back she had straightened slumped once more against the wall. Sarah, meanwhile, pressed her fingers to her brow in a headache, looking utterly at a loss for words.

Could this girl not just say everything in one breath?

Is teasing her own mistress… fun?

Sarah fell into contemplation.

Theresa, clearly oblivious, had no idea what those two seconds of silence just now had put Erin through.

"As long as he's alive…" Erin murmured once she had recovered, tracing a cross on her chest with her index finger and praying devoutly, "Saint Sis above, thank you for softening my brother's heart…"

Their father was dead, but their mother still lived.

Her mother had only just emerged from the shadow of her husband's death; if she were now to lose another son, Erin truly feared that she would follow their father into the grave…