Chapter 6

Gulp.

At Pellio's attitude of treating people like a mere water wheel, Ermedillin unknowingly swallowed hard.

'What do you know? You, born as the son of a count, raised nobly, looking down on others? Have you ever lived as an orphan in a cruel capitalist country? Do you even know how painful it is to be without money?'

Although curses erupted inside her due to the injustice and sorrow, she could not reveal them outwardly.

"That's right. Money… I like it. When I get all the borrowed money back, I intend to live as I really want to with that money."

"The amount is enormous. You must have sent all the money you made from selling potions and curses to your family home?"

'What? Is this an interrogation?'

She cannot stop here.

As long as she gets the borrowed money back, that's enough. There's no thought of falling with her father.

"Why should the count care about my private income? Moreover, the national treasury cannot be touched without Valliere's permission, so I have never used more than the amount assigned to me…"

Ermedillin deliberately showed an unpleasant smile.

A smile where the corners of her mouth turned up, but her eyes were not smiling at all.

The wicked woman image helps at times like this. There's no need to explain humbly or cringingly.

No one will believe an explanation anyway, so why not just go forward brazenly?

"Huh? I see. I guess I don't need to know about Her Majesty the Empress's private income."

'As expected.'

Pellio made an extremely displeased face but did not pry further.

"Then I will proceed with the lawsuit as per this content."

Pellio turned away as if telling her that if his business was over, she should leave.

But Ermedillin could not leave right away and hesitated for a moment.

"Do you have more business?"

"That, that is…"

It's strange.

There's no memory, and even if there is a memory, since it's not her own, ignoring it is enough, but the name keeps bothering her.

'Ferdinand.'

That name, the more she chews on it, the more a corner of her heart aches.

Ermedillin opened her lips several times to request an investigation about the name 'Ferdinand,' but soon gave up.

'If I know, what will I do? My nose is full already. In fact, the people here have nothing to do with me, right?'

She's uncertain about the already unstable future.

She doesn't want to add more uncertainty.

"No. The business is over. Thank you for representing me."

"Huh?"

Although she bowed her head slightly and offered her thanks very politely, the snorting sound that suddenly came made Ermedillin's head snap up.

"So Louise was right. Her Majesty the Empress really does know the word 'thank you.'"

Clearly mocking.

'Ah, really. He's ill- tempered. I'm truly grateful and said thanks. How twisted is this guy?'

But it's not only Pellio's fault. The record of the original Ermedillin's wickedness is too dazzling.

Moreover, she is in a situation where she needs help now.

What can she do? She must endure it even if it's annoying.

"You lost them?"

A splendid star room.

In a space more luxurious than the Empress's palace, Valliere, who seemed out of place in her somewhat modest dress, was there.

She was deeply buried in a chair made of the highest- quality velvet.

"Yes. The groom seemed to have a lot of experience in this area. We did our best to pursue, but...."

'Sigh....'

Valliere's anger surged to her hair's end, but she could not show it in front of others.

So she only sighed heavily inside and forced a smile.

After meeting with Duke Batistian, he went out, so it must be related to him, but what was the Duke doing at that time?"

"He was attending to his usual duties."

"Really? Then...."

'Could he have met Pellio? But Pellio wants to execute Ermedillin right away... What could they have met for?'

Lost in thought, Valiere's expression was tender enough to sway a man's heart.

To soothe Valiere's mood, a man kneeling spoke in a soft voice.

"Doesn't the Empress usually avoid going out? Well, this time too, she must have gone to find some disgusting ingredients for a curse."

"That's not it... If it was a place selling magical ingredients, she would have gone in openly, right?"

'Ah, these incompetent and ignorant fools. Why on earth did my brother attach such people as subordinates? Then again, he doesn't have anything in his head, so how could he have an eye for people?'

"What about the well matter, then? Did you find evidence?"

"Ah... that is...."

"It's clear that the Empress has cursed the well with plague, and you still haven't found evidence?"

"Yes. The Empress has been quite thorough. There are no witnesses or evidence."

"Didn't you catch anything on the magic merchant's side?"

"No. Nothing. Normally, she doesn't buy such rare ingredients, does she? Besides, there is almost no known curse that could cause a plague on such a large scale."

At the unhelpful answer, Valiere bit her lip in frustration.

'It's so tedious.'

"Leave."

Valiere's voice turned icy, and the men left her drawing room without delay.

"Haah... It's so frustrating. There's not a single competent person around."

Valiere, looking at the ceiling, sighed deeply for a moment and called the maids who were waiting outside.

"Request a visit from Prince Pellio."

"Has he arrived?"

As it happened, Pellio, who was staying near the imperial palace because of Ermedillin's matter, was able to meet Valiere quickly.

"What have you summoned me for?"

Although not as contemptuous as he was with Ermedillin, Pellio's attitude towards Valiere was still arrogant and stiff.

"I was curious if you had met Her Majesty the Empress today."

"Why should I report my movements to you?"

"Ah, not in that sense... I was wondering if it had anything to do with the outbreak of an epidemic...."

"I'm investigating that matter separately."

"Yes. I know. I was just concerned that a noble prince like you might be involved in Her Majesty's investigation...."

"I'll take care of my reputation. Did you find any new evidence?"

"Ah... that is...."

"That's fine. I didn't expect anything anyway."

Pellio, still with a chilly attitude, turned and left without even a dismissal.

In fact, there was no need for a farewell.

Valiere was just the illegitimate child of a mediocre novelist, and Pellio was the legitimate son of a great nobleman.

Moreover, Pellio, who was always as blocked as a boulder, had a positive view of Valiere personally, but he did not hide his dislike for cooperating with her publicly because she was the wife of a married man.

He was a man consistently unyielding.

Valiere, grinding her teeth at Pellio's rude attitude, swore revenge.

'Just let me be the Empress. I'll crush you first.'

"I'm tired!! How can all the people I send be so useless!!"

The person who had to endure Valiere's irritation, usually known for her gentle nature, was her maid Bier.

The color of her eyes was green, different from Velia's, but her soft, light- brown hair and closely set features resembled her younger sister.

"I did not send the incompetent. It is Ermedillin's cunning, that X. And you are still unable to fully win over Anri's heart, aren't you?"

"What are you talking about? Anri only has me. He never sets foot in the queen's chamber!"

"Then what? Has he bestowed even a common title upon you? What does it matter if you are childhood friends? What have we gained since you became the queen?"

"I have the authority to manage the royal finances…."

"Yes, well said. That great right? The one where you cannot spend a penny more than the allotted amount, and must report every expenditure? Are you joking?"

Bier slammed the table with his fist.

"Do you know how much shame we've endured while you've played queen these few years? Aren't you even ashamed to have lived as a queen for so many years? Aren't you your mother's daughter?"

At Bier's words, Velia bit her lower lip hard.

"Do you know how much money I have poured into you? Your mother should have been dealt with long ago, but she's been spared for your sake."

Upon hearing the word "mother" from Bier's mouth, Velia bit her lip hard.

It didn't matter what happened to the woman who had given her nothing but the unchangeable weakness of being a bastard, but she had not yet become the empress.

She still needed the financial support of these unbearable people.

With only her allotted finances, maintaining the dignity of not falling behind the queen was overwhelming.

To build up the image of the people's mother by establishing an orphanage and doing charitable work, she had to ride the same boat with these incompetent people for a while.

Biting her lip and trembling all over, Velia's expression was once again scolded by Bier with a slightly shrunk voice.

"That's it, get pregnant quickly…."

Thud, at that moment something inside Velia snapped.

"Get out! Get out now!"

Even though she had never raised her voice beyond the wall in anger before, this time she couldn't bear it.

Fleeing from Velia, who was screaming almost in a fit, Bier left the palace in a rush.

"Pregnant? Pregnant?? Me??"

Tears finally began to drop from Velia's trembling eyes.

"Damn! Damn!!"

After barely pulling herself together, Velia tried to swallow her screams inside, but soon felt nauseous.

"Ugh...."

"So, has the empress returned?"

Anri, buried deep in the imperial throne, was as stern and beautiful as ever.

His dazzling golden hair granted him the glory of the sun, and his penetrating blue eyes granted him the authority of the earth.

"Yes, it was a very short outing."

"Are you sure that what you met there was Pellio?"

"Yes, Her Majesty the Empress has been watching Prince Pellio since meeting Count Batistian yesterday."

"Did you find out what it was?"

"I don't know the details, but apparently something happened when Count François visited the palace yesterday."

"What happened?"

"It seems that the Count wounded Her Majesty the Empress's neck with a blade."

"What, an assault? Isn't that common? Is that all?"

"Ah, and unlike usual, Her Majesty the Empress stopped the Count from taking a maid with him, according to one of the maids."

Listening to the report, Henri lowered his eyes as if thinking about something, upon hearing of Ermedillin's behavior, which was different than usual.

"Hmm. It's definitely suspicious. Up until now, he acted like he didn't care if a few maids died at the hands of the count, but suddenly, he stands up to his father?"

"We too think that point is suspicious."

"Right. Understood. Keep a closer eye on the count and the empress. What's happening with Valierre?"

"He has summoned Prince Pellio, who had an audience with Her Majesty the Empress."

"Pellio?"

"Yes. He must have been curious about the conversation between the prince and Her Majesty the Empress."

"He failed to follow them?"

"Yes. Apparently, the people hired by Lord Valierre disappeared in the middle. But isn't he very clever?"

"Yes, he is smart. But lately, I feel like I can't quite catch his inspiration."

Henri sighed, shaking his head in disappointment.

"What shall we do?"

"For now, observe. We need to find out why he's doing something he hasn't done lately."

"Yes. Understood."

After the servant who reported left, Henri leaned on the armrest of his chair and became lost in deep thought.

'Valierre, and now the Empress… What is the reason for the two of them suddenly doing something they've never done before?'

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This novel has been translated up to chapter 96.

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