Rosie's Games

Chapter 346: Rumors about the Seven Families

The news about the Duke's bravery spread like wildfire through Aster.

The thing that they have been worried about the most had happened. Now, the children on the streets of Aster were singing about the Duke's actions of chasing the beasts back to the North.

This not only damaged the reputation of the members of the seven families, but it also made a lot of people think of moving to the North.

"It is not very safe. First the plague and then the tide happened. I believe it is time that we consider moving to the North!"

"I heard that the North accepted the people from Cirid after it fell. Meanwhile, the Aster Empire and the other Empires do not accept the unbelievers that are still camping outside of Aster. I heard that the guards refused to let them in when the tide started too! Isn't that too inhumane?"

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Of course! I know someone who is a soldier and is working at the gates of the capital. This was instructed by his Blessedness Federico who believed that only the ones who believe in the Goddess should be saved! This resulted in many deaths. A lot of children lost their parents too!"

"That is truly harsh. Those people have lives and kids that depended on them. How could they refuse to let them enter the gates just because they do not believe in the Goddess?"

"We have been believers all our lives, but this did not change our lives. We die of diseases as His Blessedness Federico and his son refuse to do something about our illness. They even stopped healing people's wounds and only cater to the nobles."

"That's horrible."

"They are horrible."

"The seven families are not as strong as the rumors. If they are… then they could have chased all the beasts away."

Conversations like this spread not just in the capital, but in the neighboring towns of Aster. The Duke was celebrated with songs of praise, while rumors about the uselessness of the seven families spread like wildfire.

"This is not what we wanted," Ena gritted her teeth before she downed the glass of wine that Federico handed her. "The rumors are spreading everywhere. In a few weeks, people from other Empires and Kingdoms will hear about it too. Are we not going to do anything about it?"

"Do we have a choice?"

"We could tell them that the tide was the Duke's fault," Ena said. "That he started it so he could save everyone."

"That would mean we are going to reveal the existence of the relics that could attract the beasts. If we— do that then the other families would surely start to ask questions."

"Do you think they would refuse to cooperate? This is for the sake of our empires. For the faith of the people. If we do not put a stop to this nonsense, it will not take too long before everyone starts believing that the seven families are not as strong as him!"

Federico pursed his lips.

"It will be very hard to prove that without revealing the relics," Federico said. They could not just create a relic out of nowhere. They needed to find more of those relics. If what Ena said was true, then… the only way that they could obtain the relics was by going to Howling Mountains to get more of them.

However, going to that place was very dangerous.

They could not just waltz in there and get more of those relics.

"We needed another plan," Federico said. He is not about to sacrifice his old self just because of the rumors that flooded the streets. When he noticed Ena's unusual quietness, he added. "Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You look… "

"I heard the others mention some sort of pressure that they felt when the Duke fought."

"I heard about it too. I have sent people to check that place and no one found anything. It was already a clearing. It was very clear that someone fought in that place, but there were no traces of their identities." Federico frowned. "Do you think it had something to do with the Duke?"

Ena knew that it had something to do with the Duke. She heard that the Duke had disappeared for a few minutes before he came back as if nothing happened. Was it possible that he attacked Lurea during those few minutes?

No. Impossible.

She shook her head. How could he kill Lurea in just a few minutes?

Moreover, there were no traces of Lurea anywhere. It meant that he also had to hide her body. Could he do that in just a few minutes?

"That might be the place where he hid the relic," Ena uttered.

"You think the relic exploded and caused all that?"

"I do not know." The only way that they would know it is if they asked the Duke himself. Obviously, the Duke would never tell them anything. He would probably laugh at them for asking.

"So, the Emperor is planning to hold the ceremony tomorrow?" Ena changed the topic. She did not tell Federico about Lurea's involvement in trying to kill those who wanted to retrieve the relic and there is no point in telling him anything now.

The less he knew, the better it would be for him.

"Yes. While he hates it, he has no choice but to do it as this is what the people want." Federico looked defeated. What happened in that war made them see how weak they were in front of true power.

For centuries, the seven families always felt like they were the ones who the Goddess loved the most as they received her Blessing.

They have grown arrogant— too arrogant.

Seeing the Duke fight was a wake-up call.

Federico knew that the others felt the same way. Most of them immediately bid goodbye and decided to leave Aster, but some of them chose to stay. Like Lachlan and Douglas Quarris.

Federico did not need to ask to know why they stayed.

The two of them… wanted to talk to the Duke of Wugari, and he could barely guess their purpose.

...

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