Chapter 273: The Queen of Hearts’ Court

The Tea Party in the Illusion. This time, what appeared in the mist-shrouded courtyard was not the round table from before, but a long table.

All the Great Witches had answered the summons and arrived, but only three people were seated beside the long table. The other Great Witches were shrouded in mist, sitting together in the observers’ seats beside the long table,

Queen Alice, shrouded in mist, sat at one end of the long table. On this day, her figure seemed to have grown, clearly becoming much taller, while the flowing golden light in her eyes flickered indistinctly through the mist, making her even more imposing than usual. Arachne sat along the left side of the long table, while Dorothy sat on the right.

The atmosphere of the “tea party” was also different from before, appearing exceptionally solemn. Dorothy stared at Arachne, while Arachne stared back without the slightest concern.

This was a trial. Whenever disagreements and accusations arose between Great Witches who both belonged to the Witches' Assembly, Queen Alice would convene the gathering in this form.

“Dorothy submitted an accusation to me. Everyone should already have received the written report.” Queen Alice spoke first, “Dorothy, you may speak.”

Dorothy completely changed her usual attitude, standing up and speaking solemnly: “I hereby formally accuse Arachne of maliciously sabotaging the cooperative project that Fenrir and I established in the Empire. From the thirteenth to the fourteenth, she murdered three of Fenrir’s clients in River Valley County of the Empire using Corpse-Rot Poison, intending to disguise the deaths as a series of Magic Potion poisoning incidents in order to strike at the Magic Potion market established by Fenrir, and further sabotage the Magic Essence smuggling and distribution channel into the Empire that I established for Moiland.

Arachne disregarded national interests for the sake of her own personal grudge. Her actions could destroy the years of accumulation we have built up in the Empire, and she deserves to be put on trial. I ask Your Majesty to judge wisely.

After Dorothy finished speaking, Alice shifted her gaze toward Arachne, who remained seated without moving, indicating that she could speak.

Arachne gave a soft snort as though she found the whole thing troublesome, then finally stood and slowly said: “I hereby defend myself. Dorothy’s accusation is nothing but a malicious slander. I also heard about a similar incident, but afterward, the local Noren Church Tribunal already closed the case. The incident was caused by smuggled Ghouls escaping within the Empire and randomly attacking and injuring people. I heard there were also several unidentified dead.”

“That was a script Fenrir and I arranged in order to deceive the Noren Church Tribunal and reduce the impact. The idea came from Fenrir, and I prepared the Ghouls, while the original incident was caused by you. Arachne, you possess part of Earl Foyle’s client list, and they are now Fenrir’s clients. Someone who has the clients’ information, has the ability to carry out assassinations with Corpse-Rot Poison, and also has the motive—no matter how you look at it, that person is you.” Dorothy said.

“You arranged it yourselves, hehehehe……” Arachne sneered, “You’ve already admitted that you staged the whole thing yourselves, so what else can I say? You say I have a motive, but conversely, if someone wanted to dump the blame on me and deal with me, no matter how you look at it, that could only be you, couldn't it?”

“If I wanted to frame you, I wouldn't use this kind of method. Even with that sort of remedial measure, the consequences of this method would still be difficult to predict. Once it got out of control, it would destroy our market in the Empire. Besides, even if I wanted to do it, Fenrir could never have agreed to it.” Dorothy calmly refuted her.

“Oh, so with your personality you wouldn't use this sort of method, but with my personality I would, is that it? Maybe you deliberately exploited that impression and took the risk yourself? But no matter how much you say, what use is it? Even now, you can't produce a single piece of decisive evidence. I think you should stop wasting everyone’s time.” Arachne replied with an indifferent expression.

Dorothy did not immediately respond. She knew that although Arachne acted impulsively, she was not that stupid. She had clearly come to this trial prepared, maintaining an utterly shameless attitude throughout and never allowing Dorothy to easily provoke her into revealing an opening.

Arachne knew very well that even if everyone present believed she was the most suspicious person, and perhaps even Her Majesty thought the same, as long as Dorothy could not produce conclusive evidence, Her Majesty could not casually condemn a High Priestess of the Abyssal Church.

“Your Majesty, the smuggling channel I established in the Empire is now approaching stability. I hope you will take the interests of the nation into consideration and make an appropriate judgment.” Dorothy stopped arguing with Arachne and instead turned toward Queen Alice to offer her counsel.

“……” Alice considered it for a long time before finally speaking slowly, “Dorothy’s accusation lacks decisive evidence. Dismissed.”

Upon hearing this result, Dorothy did not show any disappointment, nor did the slightest trace of smugness appear on Arachne’s face. This accusation was never going to produce a result in the first place. Both sides understood that perfectly well. What mattered was the Queen’s subsequent decision.

Then, they saw Queen Alice shift her gaze away from Dorothy and toward Arachne: “Arachne, your mission in the Empire is over. You are ordered to return to the country within three months. I have another mission to assign you.”

Dorothy’s lips curved upward when she heard this. The result was exactly as she had expected. Queen Alice could naturally see just how suspicious Arachne was, but she could not convict Arachne without evidence. The matter had not become serious enough for Moiland to conduct an investigation within the Empire, where they could not move freely.

In the end, Alice could only choose the pragmatic approach, finding a reason to recall Arachne so that the conflict between Arachne and Dorothy would not continue escalating and cause even greater losses.

This was exactly what Dorothy wanted, and she naturally ought to show happiness here so as not to arouse suspicion.

Arachne first glanced at Dorothy, but in the end she raised no objections or dissatisfaction whatsoever and directly lowered her head toward the Queen as she replied: “I shall obey your command.”

Seeing Arachne’s reaction, Dorothy frowned slightly, vaguely sensing that something was wrong.

“That will be all.” After the trial ended, Queen Alice waved her hand to indicate that everyone could withdraw.

All the Great Witches began to salute. Mist enveloped them, and then their figures dispersed like ink spreading through water.

Dorothy’s consciousness rapidly floated upward from the illusion. When she opened her eyes, she was sitting inside her Temple in the swamp.

She lit the calming incense inside her smoking pipe, took a puff, and began thinking calmly.

Arachne’s reaction during this trial had been far too subdued. She had shown no unwillingness or anger whatsoever. Her attempt to sabotage Fenrir’s business had failed, and she had also been recalled to Moiland by the Queen. From now on, she could only sit back and watch Dorothy and Fenrir’s business grow larger. She should have shown some sort of reaction.

Could she have seen through it?

During the period when Arachne had established dealings with the Earl, Dorothy had never personally come to the Empire, only remotely issuing written instructions to the spies she had stationed there.

Because she knew that if she ever came to the Empire during that period, Arachne would develop the intent to kill her. If Arachne had the support of a faction like the Earl’s within the Empire, Dorothy had no confidence that she could escape.

But this time, their positions had reversed. Dorothy now had helpers. Once Arachne set sail, if Dorothy had Leon’s support on the Imperial side, she would have an opportunity to kill Arachne at sea.

Since Arachne herself would have done the same thing, it was not strange for her to realize that Dorothy had developed the intent to kill her.

However, even if that was the case, it would not have much impact. Fenrir had not fully agreed to the plan either, and Jonathan was completely opposed to it.

Even if they failed to organize an assassination against Arachne, after Arachne returned she would also find it difficult to continue sabotaging the smuggling channel Dorothy had established. Once Dorothy and Fenrir’s business developed further, there would always be another opportunity to deal with Arachne in the future.

Of course, if Fenrir agreed to cooperate with her and eliminate this threat, that would naturally be the best outcome.

……

At the same time, Arachne also slowly awakened inside an insect nest covered in spiderwebs.

“That bitch……” After returning from the illusion, Arachne had already become certain of one thing in her heart.

Dorothy was already preparing to kill her.

Although she did not possess intelligence-gathering abilities as strong as Dorothy’s, she had still keenly sensed the danger concealed within her current situation.

This plan had failed and had not managed to destroy Fenrir’s business. That sinister bitch Dorothy would definitely incite Fenrir to join forces with her and kill Arachne.

There were only a few routes that could return to Moiland. When she set sail, there would ultimately be no way to avoid Dorothy’s surveillance, but if Dorothy wanted to find a way to make her die at sea, she would need helpers.

It seemed that before leaving, she would still have to make some preparations.

Then…… before departing, she would leave them some gifts!