I Possessed The Immoral Empress

From Henry’s perspective, Linette’s complaints might seem somewhat unjust. As soon as Henry was declared the successor to the former emperor, Linette began frequenting the imperial palace as if it were her own home and openly demanded tributes from the capital’s nobility. Moreover, she started flaunting a new lover even before the former emperor’s funeral rites had concluded. The mother-son relationship, already devoid of familial affection, reached its breaking point when Henry, trembling with rage, banished his mother from the country for these reasons.

However, Linette still failed to recognize her faults, feeling wronged by her son, Henry. It seemed unfair to her that while her son was an emperor, she had to wander foreign lands like a vagabond. If Linette had any sense of shame, she might have lived quietly abroad for her son’s sake. If she had any to begin with, their relationship wouldn’t have deteriorated to this catastrophic state.

Innian, witnessing Linette’s bitter complaints about her son, felt a mix of pity and disdain as a mother herself. However, she also saw this as an opportunity, with a useful piece landing right into her hands.

‘The heavens do favor the victor, it seems.’

“You must be deeply hurt. The bond between mother and child is something even the heavens can’t sever.”

“Bond? There’s no such thing left now. He wouldn’t shed a single tear if I died somewhere. That ungrateful child!”

Under normal circumstances, Innian wouldn’t have cared if Linette wandered foreign lands to her demise. She wouldn’t have even allowed her into her residence. But now, with Leopold aiming for Henry’s throne, even a mother estranged from her son could be of significant use. Linette knew this too and came to her former rival for help – to secure a comfortable future, even if it meant exploiting her son’s vulnerability.

‘What to do? She’s not immediately useful. Well, I can always create a use for her…’

While empathizing on the surface, Innian pondered with a lukewarm attitude, causing Linette to grow anxious.

“I have nowhere else to go. I’ve been to every relative’s house abroad. Sigh.”

As Linette put on a pitiful act, a brilliant scheme formed in Innian’s sharp mind.

‘Huh? My mind’s still useful. This could definitely send Henry packing without a war.’

Realizing the blatant use of her unwelcome guest, Innian nodded with a satisfied smile.

“If you truly have nowhere to go, stay here. I’ll arrange a decent manor near my residence for you.”

“Really?”

Expecting at most a room, Linette’s green eyes sparkled in surprise at Innian’s offer of arranging a manor.

“Of course. Given your status, I can’t have you stay in a guest room. I’ll ensure you lack for nothing here.”

“Ah, thank you…”

Although Innian’s offer was enticing, Linette, sensing that it came with strings attached, cautiously inquired.

“So, what would you have me do…?”

“Hmm? Oh, don’t feel burdened. It’s just a small favor for an old acquaintance.”

“I appreciate it, but…”

Hesitating at the unexpectedly extravagant offer, Innian quietly stood up and opened her jewelry box, pulling out a necklace with a diamond that glowed with the most transparent and brilliant golden light.

“Your neck looks bare. Try this on.”

Innian, with a warm smile, personally draped the weighty necklace around Linette’s neck.

“This valuable piece, for me…”

A colored diamond is especially precious among diamonds. The price of a diamond as big as a joint of a little finger would be immeasurable. Linette outwardly pretended to refuse, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the rare jewel she hadn’t seen in so long.

Innian watched Linette’s eyes sparkle like a girl in love with the diamond, smiling inwardly.

‘Indeed. There’s no lover quite like a diamond for a woman. It never leaves you, shining only for you forever.’

“It suits you well. It’ll be perfect with a new dress.”

“A dress?”

“Now that you’re in Ballius, you should try the local fashion. I’ll contact the boutique I use.”

“Ah, thank you…”

Linette responded somewhat dazedly, but seeing Innian adorned with lavish jewels and luxurious attire, she couldn’t hide her growing smile.

“I’ll find a place for you to stay as soon as possible. For now, remain here.”

“Thank you so much.”

Innian instructed a maid to take Linette to one of the best rooms available. Linette, lured by the promise of a luxurious life, seemed ready to agree to whatever Innian asked, as long as it didn’t cost her life.

But Innian wasn’t interested in Linette’s life, which held no value to her. Just one sentence from Linette would suffice.

‘Enjoy yourself. Enjoy it so much that you can’t let go.’

Though that one sentence would carry significant weight, Innian was confident. She knew Linette well enough. Linette, a selfish woman, wouldn’t hesitate to use even her son for her gain.

* * *

The situation was rapidly evolving, diverging from the original story. The plot had changed so much that predicting the future had become difficult.

But one thing that hadn’t changed was the fact that most of the nobility still harbored a bottomless hatred for Ermedeline, simply biding their time until she was deposed. Their resentment ran too deep to be appeased by mere gestures like funding orphanages or sewer construction due to the losses their families suffered from her curse.

‘Right. My intention wasn’t to persuade those who harbor deep grudges. If I can just sway public opinion, that’s enough.’

The situation had grown complicated with the sudden appearance of Leopold, her hostage son Ferdant, and Helen and Heather’s mother, who were all caught in Ermond’s web. Ermedeline of her previous life, who had lived a simple and modest existence, had never been entangled in such intricate matters.

“So you’re saying the townspeople did this?”

The orphanage, which was nearing completion of its external construction, stood before Ermedeline, partly burned and in a sorry state.

She was feeling a sense of pride at finally seeing the end of one of her projects, only to be faced with this catastrophe. Ermedeline felt as if she were standing at the edge of a bottomless cliff.

“Yes. Some residents believed that gathering orphans would worsen the area’s safety. Fortunately, the soldiers discovered the fire quickly, preventing it from spreading.”

The contractor, in charge of the orphanage’s construction, trembled as he watched Ermedeline, who was known for her infamous temper, stiffen.

However, Ermedeline didn’t scold the craftsman or the soldiers who failed to prevent the arson. She just clenched her fists and silently stared at the scene.

Felio approached her side and tried to offer some consolation.

“At least the structural damage is minimal since the fire was extinguished quickly. We just need to rebuild the burned parts.”

His words were meant to ease her mind, but they had little effect since her distress wasn’t caused by the delay in construction.

“It was my mistake, then.”

“Pardon?”

Ermedeline’s face looked as if she were about to cry, but her voice was surprisingly calm.

“I thought everyone was happy at the groundbreaking ceremony. When the children came out to shovel the ground, everyone cheered joyfully…”

Ermedeline trailed off, lowering her head and letting out a soft sigh.

“That’s true. I was there, wasn’t I? The atmosphere was welcoming.”

“But it seems that was all my misconception. Such an incident… it must mean…”

Felio bit his lower lip, feeling helpless as he watched Ermedeline struggle with her pain. He wanted to do something for her but couldn’t find the right words.

As Felio paced back and forth, unsure of what to do, Bellest, who had been standing a bit behind, stepped forward.

“We can’t necessarily assume that this was the act of nearby residents.”

“Hmm?”

“Isn’t this place quite far from the residential area, and don’t the emperor’s guards stay here? Claiming that the security will worsen seems like just a plausible excuse.”

“Is that so?”

As Ermedeline pondered over Bellest’s words, Felio muttered under his breath in a growling tone.

“It wasn’t the townspeople, then.”

Ermedeline, still trying to find her footing in this unfamiliar situation, hadn’t fully grasped the complex web of relationships she was entangled in. On reflection, it made sense. Naturally, there would be those who would resist her efforts to change her image by doing good deeds, especially given her family’s notorious reputation. There would be many who hated the so-called witch and wished for her to meet a miserable end.

“So, it wasn’t the orphans who were the issue. It was my involvement in building this place.”

Ermedeline gave a self-deprecating smile and lowered her gaze. Felio felt a surge of anger watching her eyes drop powerlessly to the ground.

“We need to find out who did this…”

“And then what?”

Arvian, who had been standing back with his arms crossed and a sour expression, stepped forward and pushed Felio aside.

“And then what? Seek damages for property destruction?”

“And you suggest we just let this go? They dared to set fire to Her Majesty’s property!”

Felio seemed ready to explode with rage, but Arvian sneered at him, clearly exasperated.

“Tsk tsk. We can’t do anything right now. You can’t force people to change their hearts. Go stir up the nobles looking for the culprit. See what happens. Won’t it just spread rumors that there are people who don’t want this orphanage to be completed? Wasn’t there already an incident during the groundbreaking ceremony?”

Arvian’s calm response was more realistic than Felio’s heated one. Publicizing the arson and hunting down the culprit would only remind everyone of the Empress’s inability to even build an orphanage.

“Priest Arvian is right. Let’s keep this matter quiet. However, we mustn’t allow further construction delays, so let’s increase the security.”

Ermedeline, hiding her troubled feelings, made her way back to the palace. As she climbed into the carriage, there were eyes secretly watching her.

Hidden in the nearby bushes of the orphanage site, two pairs of eyes followed Ermedeline with discreet intensity, like hunters stalking their prey. As the carriage carrying Ermedeline and Arvian, who joined her, moved away, the watchers emerged from the bushes, their faces revealing an immense hatred they could barely contain.