Chapter 15

Ermedillin thought she had crossed the line, and immediately attacked, causing the plump face of Countess Elion to lose its sly smile.

"Your Majesty the Empress. That ability is not something to hide. Outwardly, everyone pretends to hate the curse, but do you not know how many families want the bloodline of the François family? But no matter how much they claim to share the blood, without that clear gaze, the curse loses its power. Isn't that the evidence of being chosen?"

These people's sense of morality must be quite unique, thinking that possessing such a disgusting ability is something of a chosen gift.

Ermedillin thought that she must firmly imprint that she is a different person from before on this occasion.

"Countess Elion. Listen well. The reason I denounced Duke François this time is to completely sever ties with this cursed bloodline."

The real reason was money, but was there a need to reveal the truth? Any reason can be fabricated.

"Ah… Is that so?"

"I don't want to be called an immoral empress anymore. I don't like the title of witch either. You understand?"

In order to make sure she was taken seriously, Ermedillin looked into Countess Elion's eyes with unwavering eyes and said.

For a fleeting moment, a blank expression appeared on Countess Elion's face and disappeared, replaced by a warm smile.

Should it be called flexibility or shrewdness?

"I thought you took pride in the title of the empire's greatest witch... If Your Majesty says so, I will know it that way from now on."

'Proud of the title of witch? Is that why Pellio reacted so strongly to the mention of reputation?'

Apparently, her former self didn't care about something like reputation, but knowing the result of that behavior led to execution, she couldn't afford to.

If she can't make allies, she must minimize enemies.

"And please tell Princess Biella that I will definitely attend the funeral. She will be very sad, so I hope you will console her."

'Go in my place to give comfort and also check the situation with the Duke of Ilenian's family.'

Although she did not say the last part out loud, Ermedillin believed that the astute countess would understand her intention.

The incident occurred late in the evening.

As Ermedillin was about to retire to bed after her daily routine, an unwelcome visitor arrived.

Ballier appeared in the reception room, glaring at Ermedillin with a determined face.

"That's not possible."

"What's not possible?"

"The capital is strictly under the emperor's command. You plan to build an orphanage there without even asking for His Majesty's permission?"

'Ah, he must have heard about the orphanage.'

"It's a private orphanage operated with my personal donation. Why does His Majesty's permission matter for a facility that does not involve the nation's finances?"

"Even if it doesn't involve finances, every blade of grass and every tree in the capital belongs to His Majesty."

"Is that so? Then I'll speak to His Majesty myself tomorrow."

Tired Ermedillin didn't want to get entangled in this forcibly created quarrel. She just wanted to lie down in bed.

But Ballier seemed to have other ideas.

"That money, Your Majesty's personal donation, it is the property of the François family."

"What about it?"

"Someone's blood and tears are stained on that money; there's no way His Majesty would allow you to build an orphanage with it."

"Is that so? Regardless, let's talk directly with His Majesty as soon as the day breaks tomorrow. Guard!"

Ermedillin, no longer wanting to hear Vallier's words, called the guard loudly, and Vallier left the bedroom on his own.

"Ah, finally he's gone. Even an angelic heroine reacts sensitively to what's happened to the hero."

As soon as the day broke in response to Vallier's rage, Ermedillin went to find Henri.

It was an early hour, so Henri was still not out of his bedroom.

Actually, Ermedillin didn't intend to visit so early, but she had no choice but to move her early steps because of Vallier, who had been waiting for her since dawn.

'Ah, it would be good to have an orphanage. Why is he getting so worked up about this?'

Entering the sitting room attached to the bedroom, Henri was not yet dressed in his formal attire.

'But these two, they don't sleep together? It seemed like they shared a room in the novel.'

Unlike Henri, Vallier was already perfectly dressed in casual clothes.

The two didn't look like people who had shared a bed.

"What's the matter so early in the morning?"

A subtle irritation was apparent in Henri's drowsy voice.

The appearance of him massaging his Adam's apple with his long, elegant fingers was so captivating that it would make anyone lose their mind, regardless of gender.

'Wow! He really is handsome. This much is necessary to play the role of the hero.'

"The Empress wants to establish an orphanage in the capital without the Emperor's permission."

"I know."

"With money from the ducal house, she plans to take care of the orphans who lost their parents in this recent epidemic."

"Well done. The Empress has made a big decision."

Not bothered by this situation at all, Henri didn't even look at Vallier.

"Your Majesty. Isn't the capital under imperial command? Do you really wish for an orphanage to be established on this land with the property of the François ducal house?"

Vallier's words finally fixed Henri's blue eyes on her.

"Weren't you the one who was begging for more budget just a while ago, saying that the capital lacked orphanages?"

"Yes. That's correct. But the filthy money of the François ducal house…"

"What's wrong with the money? Money is simply a means to an end. How can it be dirty or clean in itself?"

"Ah, but…"

In the novel, Henri was always on Vallier's side.

But Vallier's face turned pale in real- time as his opinion was rejected in front of Ermedillin.

"Moreover, as you said, this place is under imperial command. The Empress is my wife. The only person in this empire who shares everything with me."

Henri spoke, flashing a faint smile, now fixing his deep, slightly relaxed eyes on Ermedillin.

His fatal gaze was enough to create emotions that weren't there.

"Establish the orphanage as you wish. However, once it is established, there will be continuous and thorough inspections from the imperial palace."

I'll acknowledge your authority, but I won't fully trust you.

Ermedillin, understanding Henri's intentions, quietly nodded.

'This much is good enough.'

She let out a short sigh and quickly glanced at Vallier, who was looking at Henri with a face that had turned from blue to grey.

'Ah, it will be a mess. I better disappear quickly.'

There's nothing as fun as watching a fire, but one has to take care to avoid the sparks.

Ermedillin quickly slipped out of Henri's sitting room.

As Ermedillin had anticipated, a cold silence enveloped Henri's reception room after she left.

The two stood still for a moment, quietly staring at each other.

Soon, Valliere broke the suffocating silence and spoke first.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"What have I done?"

"Do you know how you've been looking at me lately? Have you ever seen a mirror? Your expression."

"Expression? Look?"

As if he could not understand Ingla's words, Valliere furrowed his brow and shook his head.

"Yeah. I suppose it's understandable that you're in so much pain you can't even touch your body. But it's not just your body. Your heart has already left me too."

"What are you talking about…"

"Do you know why I fell in love with you? Those eyes that reveal everything, so transparent. Even in moments of terrible hatred and having to stand alone, when I look into your eyes, I feel like there's at least one person in this world who loves me. Someone who likes me without any deception."

"..."

"No matter how dirty and ugly the world becomes, I believed you would love me with a pure heart to the end."

"I still do. My heart hasn't changed."

Valliere denied Henri's words with a desperate expression, but Henri's face was cold as ice.

"Really? Do you really think so? Honestly, I don't even know if the person I'm facing now is the one I knew?"

It was nauseating.

Upon returning to his bedroom, Valliere vomited all the contents of his empty stomach.

'Damn! Damn!! Damn!!!'

Leaning against the wall and looking up at the ceiling, tears were flowing from Valliere's eyes.

'See- through eyes? How do I even do that? What more do I have to do?'

Frustrated with a question he couldn't find the answer to, Valliere suddenly jumped up, overwhelmed by despair and powerlessness.

'I can't help it. It can't end like this.'

"Again?"

Ermedillin was first annoyed by the news that Valliere had visited again after parting just a while ago.

"He says he has something important to say."

Sensing Ermedillin's mood, Loony cautiously conveyed the message.

"Ah, then there's nothing to be done. Let him in."

Feeling pity for the cautious Loony, Ermedillin allowed Valliere in.

As Valliere entered the reception room and confirmed that everyone had left, he quickly walked over to Ermedillin and whispered something in her ear.

"Who are you? Where did you come from?"

"You almost said 'virus,' didn't you? You should have been careful. What if there's someone who can understand?"

Choked by Valliere's confident and arrogant gaze, Ermedillin took a breath.

"Really?"

"Yeah. After I died and woke up. Here. In this crappy novel, of all things. And I'm a main character too."

'Crappy novel?'

It was a popular work that even Hye- young had read all night.

Calling it a crappy novel, although not the author, Ermedillin was slightly offended.

'It is more trashy than I thought, but not crappy…'

"I shouldn't have been reading such a novel. It's annoying, really."

Valliere flopped down on a chair nearby, spreading his legs wide.

"Ah, if I die again, will I go back to where I was?"

At Valliere's words, Ermedillin jumped and grabbed her hand.

"I don't know why you died, but since you're dead, you came here. Don't even think about it."

"Then what? Because of you, this whole novel is messed up. Should I just live like this? Playing second fiddle to a married man?"

"No, there's no need for that. I have no attachment to the position of empress. I plan to divorce at an appropriate time and leave the palace."

"What?"

"If it were according to the original work, I would die, wouldn't I? And by burning. I just have to avoid being burned at the stake. I swear I'm not interested in the empress's position. It only gives me a headache. I just want to be a wealthy unemployed person."

"Huh? You became empress but want to become a wealthy unemployed person?"

"Yes."

"Huh?"

Not believing it, Velia continued to chuckle and glare at Ermedillin.

"Really. Not everyone lives with a grand dream. I just need to enjoy a comfortable life."

"Can I believe those words?"

"Yes. Really. I just want to get divorced as soon as possible."

"Really? Then, stop pretending to be good, okay? It looks like you're acting this way because you're still attached to the position of empress."

"No! I just don't want to die burning alive. That's all."

"Alright. Fine. I'll assume that for now. I'll find out whether you're telling the truth or not in due time."

As the door of the reception room opened, Velia greeted Ermedillin with an exceedingly elegant gesture.

"I shall take my leave now."

She did not forget to also offer greetings to the maids and guards with a gentle look in her eye.

But as she walked down the pure white corridor, the smile gradually disappeared from her face.

By the time she had reached the end of the corridor, not a single trace of emotion was visible on her tight face.

'Hmm. Fortunately, she's a stupid wench. I can keep her alive for the time being.'

The sound of Velia's footsteps, heading towards her bedroom, became a little lighter.

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This novel has been translated up to chapter 96.

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