The members of the Communion stood quietly to one side. No one spoke.
Elliot's eyes flickered as many details he had never paid attention to resurfaced in his mind.
Sidney and Michel called the late His Majesty Thorne Father and Father Emperor, yet Victoria had always called him by name.
Victoria almost never appeared at court, yet no one had objected when she wanted to grant Vanessa a title.
Even Sidney's palace was in the Nobility District, yet Victoria's was in the Crown District, right beside the Imperial Palace.
Even nobles were forbidden to carry weapons into the Crown District, and Crawford had punished people under that rule. Yet after Victoria gave her permission, Vanessa had never undergone any inspections when entering or leaving the Crown District.
None of the other members of the Royal Family could turn into spiders. Only she could, and despite her grotesque, ferocious appearance, no one had ever questioned it.
The assassination the Sacred Blood Nobles had spent so long planning had targeted only two people: killing Michel and driving Victoria mad. They had not even bothered with Sidney.
Elliot had previously thought killing Michel was the main objective. Now, if Victoria really was the Immortal [Spider Queen], their true target had probably been her all along!
Victoria would turn into the Spider Queen if she went mad. Rather than assassinate her, the nobles had driven her mad-
Elliot swallowed, suddenly realizing that his guesses about the nobles' plan had probably been very far off.
Their true objective back then had not merely been assassination. They had wanted to force Victoria to become the Mad Queen and have her do something.
What could possibly require so much effort to accomplish?
Victoria stood rooted to the spot, fear and confusion mingling on her face, along with