TIRS 79

Posted by zahid, Released on September 11, 2025

CHAPTER 79…………………………….

. A Love That Could Not Be Fulfilled

“Fufu, so Prince Enzer incited you to harm Lady Ruivel. Then he meant to pin it all on Prince Anselot, so that he would earn the hatred of the Azester Empire.”

Maria, smiling with saintly kindness, struck the Dark Guild member on the head again with her staff.

“Eek! Y–yes, that’s correct!”

With a flash of pink light, the truth spilled from their mouths.

“Was this your first time?”

“Yes, it’s the first time… urgh.”

“In the name of the Goddess, let us speak only truth, shall we?”

How could Maria still sound so gentle, even while thrashing them like that…

“As a regular client of our Dark Guild, Prince Enzer has continually hired assassins to target Prince Anselot… and the rumors that surrounded him were also spread at our guild’s request…”

One after another, all the schemes Enzer had plotted against Anselot flowed out of their mouths.

I never imagined would be such a violent, dangerous ability…

I was watching them with pity when—

Bling!

[SYSTEM] <Detective Lulu’s Case Journal> (1/2) complete!

With a cheerful sound effect, <Detective Lulu’s Case Journal> popped open:

▷ Detective Lulu’s Case Journal

Case 1. Who sent assassins after Anselot? [√]
Case 2. What is the secret behind the suspicious deaths of Anselot’s fiancées? [ ]

(Hint!) and a date
(Hint!) A love that could not be fulfilled

The first case was checked off, and a new hint appeared.

A love that could not be fulfilled…?

I stared blankly at the vague clue.

Anyway, this means that dating Enzer won’t help with solving the remaining case anymore.

Enzer admitted that though he benefited from the deaths of Anselot’s fiancées, he never caused them.

It made me wonder if, perhaps, the one who sent assassins after Anselot and the one who killed his fiancées really were two different people.

I stepped forward next to Maria and bent down toward the Dark Guild members.

“So, you weren’t truly trying to kill me, just pretend to harm me, right?”

“S–sniff… y–yes, that’s right.”

“Then the deaths of Anselot’s fiancées—those weren’t Enzer’s doing either?”

“W–we don’t kn–know anything about that.”

Maria, who had been quietly listening, struck them again.

“What do you mean you don’t know? Speak everything you know.”

“It’s true! We really don’t know!”

They sobbed, insisting through tears that they truly knew nothing.

“It seems they’re telling the truth.”

Maria turned to me with a bright smile.

“To be certain, let’s wake Prince Enzer and ask him directly.”

She gestured to Enzer, who was still unconscious after fainting twice in a row.

“He doesn’t look like he’ll be waking anytime soon…”

“Don’t worry. That’s why potions exist.”

Maria beamed cheerfully.

Maria did indeed wake Enzer with a potion, and then smacked him until the truth tumbled out.

As a result, we confirmed that the mysterious deaths of Anselot’s fiancées were not his doing.

Then whose work was it…?

On the way back to the palace in a carriage, I reread the quest text, mulling it over.

…Those displeased with the scandal between you and Prince Anselot are making suspicious moves…

So, someone who dislikes the scandal between me and Anselot. That wording must mean something.

I glanced sideways at Maria, sitting beside me with her usual cheerful expression.

She disliked the scandal between me and Anselot more than anyone…

But it can’t be Maria. She has no connection to Anselot at all.

That left only King Titarus, and…

(Hint!) A love that could not be fulfilled.

At that hint, one particular woman came to mind.

Before long, the carriage reached the front of the main palace where King Titarus resided.

“What is the meaning of this, Princess Ruivel of Azester!”

The king, having rushed out at the news, bellowed furiously.

“How dare you treat the crown prince of Luenhart like this…!”

At the end of his glare lay Prince Enzer, tightly bound in rope and unconscious.

We had brought Enzer and the Dark Guild members back in the luggage compartment.

“It was Prince Enzer who tried to harm the Princess of Azester first,” Anselot said, stepping forward protectively.

“He hired the Dark Guild to attack Princess Ruivel.”

“Anselot Luenhart! What baseless slander is this…!”

“It is no slander, Your Majesty,” Maria interjected.

“As Saintess, I can testify. He has already confessed with his own lips.”

At her words, Titarus’s face paled.

As the Saintess, Maria’s authority carried the weight of the temple itself.

A testimony in her name was the same as an official declaration by the Grand Temple in the capital of Luenhart.

And the deity she served was none other than Amor, Goddess of Love and Truth.

“That… that can’t be…”

Titarus muttered weakly.

I stepped closer to him.

“Furthermore, Prince Enzer also admitted to sending assassins after Prince Anselot through the Dark Guild.”

“…!”

“You must deliver a just and lawful judgment. If the royal family of Luenhart fails to properly try this criminal, I will go to the Grand Temple and demand a trial there.”

“Ahh…”

At the mention of the Grand Temple, which presided over all nations on the continent, Titarus slumped helplessly into the arms of his chamberlain.

Pitiful as he looked, I turned away coldly.

He let Anselot suffer all those vile rumors, yet when it’s his own son, he’s devastated.

A proper investigation would reveal that all those who died in Anselot’s palace were assassins sent by Enzer.

Then the nasty rumors about Anselot will finally fade away.

It was then—

“Ah…”

With a faint sigh, Maria swayed and leaned her head against my shoulder.

“Maria! Are you all right?”

I quickly supported her.

“Just a little dizziness. Don’t worry.”

She smiled, but up close her complexion was clearly poor.

Right… Maria hasn’t awakened yet.

In the original Light Eternal, it was often noted that before her awakening, Maria’s holy power was severely limited.

She had overexerted herself by using , draining what little she had.

“I’m sorry… it’s because of me.”

“But I’m glad I got to see Lady Ruivel worry for me.”

“Oh no… Do you want to stay at the palace tonight?”

“Would that be all right?”

“Yes, Anselot will allow it.”

I glanced at Anselot as if asking permission.

He nodded quietly.

“If that is Her Highness’s wish.”

“Thank you, Anselot.”

At my smile, he paused for a heartbeat, then gave a small smile in return.

Supporting Maria, I walked with Anselot toward his palace.

Come to think of it, there’s still something I haven’t heard from him.

I recalled our conversation that had been cut off by the Dark Guild.

‘If it’s not you, then no woman—no one—can ever be with me.’

‘Why…?’

‘Because I…’

I still hadn’t heard the end of it.

The reason behind that vow, which had sounded so much like a confession.

Honestly… of all times.

I regretted not thrashing those Dark Guild members—and Enzer, the root cause—even more for interrupting that moment.

Maria’s here today, so I’ll ask him again another time.

I swallowed my disappointment and parted ways with him at the bedroom doors.

Listening to Maria chatter happily about how glad she was to have helped me, I slowly wound down from the long, eventful day.

News that Prince Enzer had failed in his attempt to harm Princess Ruivel by hiring the Dark Guild soon reached Arbella.

“In the end, they say he even confessed to all the schemes he plotted to slander Prince Anselot. With the Saintess’s testimony, it seems he won’t be able to escape easily.”

The one relaying the rumor was Doris, the maid Arbella had brought from her family home.

“Tch. Of all people, the Saintess had to be there. What rotten luck.”

Arbella clicked her tongue.

At that moment, a servant outside announced a visitor.

“Lady Arbella! His Majesty the King is here to see you!”

“At this hour…?”

Arbella frowned openly, clearly displeased, but she could not turn the king away.

“Show him into the drawing room.”

She quickly composed her expression and posture to receive Titarus.

“It’s a disaster, Arbella. Enzer’s gotten into trouble. He went and provoked the Princess of Azester, of all people…”

Titarus immediately took her hand, pleading.

“Arbella, since you were once close with Anselot, can’t you sway his heart?”