Chapter 10

"My older sister, two years my senior, who grew up with me in the same neighborhood, went into the Empress's palace as a maidservant and came back as a corpse. She came back with horrendous bruises all over her body, and people said… it was a sign that Her Majesty the Empress had been experimenting with a curse."

The probability of Helen's words being true was very high.

Among the contents densely written in the secret diary, there was information about actually experimenting with curses on the maidservants.

"At first, I was really scared of Her Majesty the Empress, but as I continued to be around her, she seemed to be different from what people said. It was like that when she saved the baby today, and when she saved me just a while ago."

The time spent with Ermedillin was the shortest, so Helen's impression of the Empress seemed to have changed quite quickly.

Loony, who received direct help, let down her guard that day, but Mago was still cautiously treating Ermedillin.

"I have no intention of reproaching or killing you. I have no thoughts of cursing you either. So, lift your head."

At Ermedillin's words, Helen slightly lifted her head and peeked up at her.

Though thin, her freckle- strewn face with lingering baby fat was quite charming.

Even though it was revealed that Helen was a spy, Ermedillin didn't want the young girl to be blamed for this.

Ermedillin unconsciously stroked Helen's red hair a few times.

"Thank you. For speaking honestly. You must have been scared."

"No. I've really committed a sin worthy of death. I'm sorry."

"You can stop apologizing. If you're really sorry, just tell me what you've done as Count Fransuar's spy."

"I only passed on a few words. And… and I received this."

"??"

What Helen pulled out from her bosom was a small glass bottle containing red liquid.

"This is to go into the basement and bring Her Majesty's diary."

"And?"

"I tried, but it wouldn't open."

'It doesn't work with just blood. Fortunately, this woman, she wasn't a fool.'

"So what did you do?"

"I told the Count, and he said he would go in himself."

"Directly?"

"He originally said he would come when Her Majesty was in the spirit world, but…"

"But?"

"Loony stopped him. She blocked the door with her body, saying that the Empress was not there, so he should visit next time!"

"Whew…"

Ermedillin's diary contained evidence of all kinds of evil deeds, as well as a list of clients that could become excellent shields later on.

It was something that should never be lost, and she felt that she had been too lax with security.

"I'm relieved. I'm really relieved. Thank Loony."

"Yes. Mago called the guards, so it was fine, but if not, the Count would have really invaded Her Majesty's bedroom."

"Wait. But the guards were called? There were no guards in front of my bedroom?"

Even though she herself had to strengthen security, it made no sense that there were no guards at all in front of the Empress's room.

At Ermedillin's question, Helen fumbled, rolling her eyes around.

"Helen. The guards are paid to work in the palace. If they were neglecting their duties, I naturally have to know. You hiding it won't make it go away."

Ermedillin said, deliberately using a stern and cold tone.

"Ah, I, that… that's… only sometimes when Her Majesty is not there…"

Hearing Helen's stammering answer, Ermedillin thought that pursuing this matter further with her would yield little benefit.

"Okay. Understood. Make sure that no one enters this room without my permission. Then I'll overlook what you've done so far."

"Yes, yes! I understand! I'll make sure no one goes in or out!!"

Despite Helen's desperate response, Ermedillin was still anxious.

How dare they attempt to intrude into the Empress's bedroom? Is this something that can be taken lightly?

It was not something to be overlooked, and Ermedillin's steps quickened toward Henri.

"What is the matter?"

Henri, who was working with the steward, glanced quickly at the news of the Empress's arrival but showed no particular reaction.

"It's about my security."

"Security? What's the problem with the security of the Empress's Palace?"

"Today, during my presence in the reception hall, it appears that Count François attempted to intrude into my bedroom."

"Your father?"

"Yes. My maids barely managed to stop him."

"Maids? What about the guards?"

"That's exactly what I came to say. There were no guards in front of my bedroom."

"Huh?"

Henri put down the pen he had been holding with a loud thud and snickered.

"That's really strange. The salaries for the guards of the Empress's Palace are paid regularly, but there's no one working."

For a moment, Henri made an annoyed face, then whispered something to Count Halstein, who was next to him, and stood up, approaching Ermedillin.

"Were you surprised?"

A voice without the usual sarcasm.

In his beautiful blue eyes, free from any malice, filled with innate dignity, Ermedillin involuntarily shrank back.

"I am more concerned about maintaining discipline within the Imperial Palace as it is part of the Empress's duties."

"I see. I won't let this go, so go back for now."

After Ermedillin left, Vallière arrived at Henri's office.

Apparently having run there after being summoned by the steward, he was out of breath.

"You seem busy lately."

"Yes?"

"I really thought you were sick. You were begging for an alliance, and then you refused."

"What are you talking about?"

"I tried to understand that you were following the Empress. But biting the guards of the Empress's Palace goes too far."

"What, what are you talking about?"

"I know you've been exchanging letters with Count François."

Henri's cold blue eyes froze Vallière on the spot.

"That, that was just information about Her Majesty the Empress…"

"Yes. That's why I've been overlooking most things. But even you can't destroy the discipline inside the palace. A mere government dares to take away the guards from the Empress's bedroom; do you think that's acceptable?"

Just like this.

Usually, he acts as if he would give the world to you but suddenly pressures you to know your place.

The government is the government, and the Empress is the Empress, he said.

So, if you want to be treated like the Empress, you must become one, he said.

Therefore, Vallière clearly saw, but could not grasp, Ermedillin's wrongdoings and worked to gather evidence.

He spent money, time, and effort to collect evidence to dethrone the Empress.

But Henri, the very one who spat those words, does nothing.

All he needs to do is take the initiative to clear the suspicions related to the Empress, but he never takes the initiative to investigate anything.

He just watches quietly and, if he feels a line has been crossed, calls and presses to remind you of your place.

Half- resigned, Vallière bowed his head, his face filled with a bright smile.

"I was short- sighted. I inadvertently agreed to the overbearing request when Count François said that he needed his blood to collect evidence. I apologize."

One must never defy when being pressed.

Just let yourself be stepped on as he wishes, and he'll soon calm down, but if you resist, he'll crush you to death.

That was the way of Henri, who has been guaranteed the life of the master of the Tribean Empire since the day he was born.

"Hmph."

Henri flashed a faint, satisfied smile as he looked at Velia, who promptly admitted her mistake.

"Why apologize? I simply wish for your swift recovery."

Henri saw off Velia from his office, smiling a captivating smile that anyone, young or old, couldn't help but gaze at.

Velia also gave a submissive smile, relieved that it had passed without incident.

But the moment she turned the corridor and entered her room, Velia's face hardened.

"I feel terrible. Damn it."

A curse that kills the fetus, and it's asking to kill a child that's just about to be born.

She wanted to argue, asking what kind of person he takes her for, but Ermedillin sent the Countess of Elion back, using purification as an excuse.

"Ah, really… They won't just kill the child, right? An unborn child… What kind of person would do such a thing for money? Eh?"

A feeling of self- reproach crept in. Ermedillin was angry at her own reflection, grand and beautiful in the mirror.

"Are you out of your mind? No matter how desperate for money, who uses a curse for it? Honestly, even I think you deserve to die like this. Why did I have to possess you… Ah!! It's so annoying!"

From the depths of her soul, a hatred towards the original owner of this body welled up.

"Can I really survive? Even before the story really begins, it's severe enough from what's written in the diary… Can I really live?"

For a moment, she wondered if attacking her father so impulsively was wrong.

"If my family falls, won't I be executed all at once? Ah… I just wanted to save that little one! Am I being punished for not being able to save the child? But I died too? I really wanted to save them but died because it was beyond my ability? Do I have to be punished for that too?"

Ermedillin felt wronged and miserable.

She had not only been abandoned by a lover of seven years and died but had also ended up in this worst situation.

But this time, she wouldn't die in vain.

She had finally acquired a glamorous appearance and a noble status, but she didn't want to die for a crime she didn't commit.

Ermedillin looked at her diary with determined eyes.

She pricked her finger, drew a little blood, and opened the diary, writing down the names of the Countess of Elion she had visited today and the Earl who had requested the curse, along with the Princess.

"I don't know why they didn't use this list in the original story, but I'm not like that. Even if I die, I won't die alone. I have no allies, so I must use everything I can!"

The next morning, as soon as the day broke, Pellio came.

"The lawsuit preparation is complete. Thanks to the detailed information you provided, all we had to do was find the witnesses, so it ended quickly."

"I see. Thank you. I don't have money at hand right now, but as soon as I get the debt back, I will certainly pay the retainer fee…"

"No need."

Pellio sharply cut off Ermedillin's words.

"What do you mean, 'no need'? What, what are you talking about?"

In an instant, Ermedillin's heart shrank to the size of a bean, fearing that the words "Duke François, it's your turn next" might leap from Pellio's mouth.

"That baby, did it not live thanks to Her Majesty the Empress? I'll take the baby's life as payment for the ransom."

"No, saving the baby was not something I expected a reward for, so I will certainly pay the ransom."

At Ermedillin's response, Pellio momentarily rolled his eyes but soon nodded.

"Then as you wish. And Her Majesty the Empress."

"Huh?"

"How did you know that the epidemic could be transmitted through body fluids?"

Pellio was staring intently at Ermedillin with his transparent silver eyes, slightly lowering his chin, as if he would insist on a convincing answer.

"Why? Because I spread the epidemic, I knew the cause of the secondary infection. Is that what you want to say?"

Ermedillin chose a straightforward approach. She has a nature that dislikes beating around the bush.

Although caught off guard, Pellio also showed no signs of being flustered.

"About half of that is the correct answer."

"Half?"

"Yes. In reality, when I instructed them to avoid contact with body fluids, the infection rate decreased. If Her Majesty the Empress really wanted to throw the capital into chaos, you wouldn't have obediently told them how to prevent the infection, would you?"

"The other half?"

"But now the situation is different from usual. Isn't it the moment to attack your most powerful ally, your birth family, Her Majesty the Empress? It might be wise to quickly eliminate anything that could be a weakness."

"I see."

Ermedillin fumbled with the neatly arranged indictment that Pellio had prepared, just as neat as her own personality, and her lips twitched.

"Believe as you wish. No matter what I say, you won't believe me anyway, will you?"

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This novel has been translated up to chapter 96.

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