I Possessed The Immoral Empress

Felio continued to talk at length about Ermedeline.

Robert was initially fascinated by the appearance of a friend he had never seen in his lifetime, but as the conversation stretched beyond two hours, he became completely fed up.

Therefore, when his wife, Alicia, returned, he could greet her with a brighter smile than usual.

Reluctantly, Roberto promptly escorted Felio, who had finished his story, out.

Alicia, who did not know what was going on, felt embarrassed by her husband’s actions, but Felio didn’t really care about his friend’s reaction.

He was simply too excited, with the conviction that nothing in this world could dampen his spirits.

His steps toward home, while humming a light tune, were as light as air.

He wasn’t sure what kind of verbal abuse and violence awaited him when he returned home, but Felio was now convinced that he wouldn’t be hurt by such things anymore.

A woman he truly loved had stood in front of him.

Not long after he resolved to risk everything to protect her, it turned out that she was the one protecting him.

Accompanied by the notion that he had always been a hypocrite who couldn’t escape his inner thorns.

Ermedeline felt ashamed of entrusting her vengeance to others, yet she was the kind of person who readily stepped up for others.

Well, he wasn’t entirely sure of anything else.

All the dark deeds of her past that had haunted her now seemed truly distant.

The image of her blocking her father was definitely not that of a demon or a witch.

He wanted to follow her to the ends of the earth to protect her, but it seemed he had a profound misunderstanding.

Ironically, it was Ermedeline who rescued him from the dark and melancholic valley where no light could penetrate.

She was his savior, strong and beautiful, who needed no one else’s approval or salvation.

Felio was confident that he could follow her path behind Ermedeline forever.

***

Her menstrual cycle had always been irregular.

Thus, Valliere didn’t find it particularly concerning that she was about two weeks late.

Furthermore, her body had suffered from a lack of proper care after being confined.

However, as her discomfort and dizziness persisted, she began to wonder. She decided to request a diagnosis from the doctor who examined her regularly.

As expected, she was pregnant.

‘That’s right. I knew it wouldn’t end like this! I’m the protagonist! I’m the protagonist of this novel! It can’t end like this!’

The doctor was supposed to inform Henry right away. Valliere waited eagerly, but he never visited her residence.

However, Henry did release her from the confinement and reassigned the maids.

Valliere’s daily life was quickly returning to normal.

After a few days had passed since she informed him of her pregnancy, late one night, just as Valliere was about to go to bed, Henry paid her a visit.

“You’ve come?”

Valliere greeted him with a bright smile, but Henry’s expression was not as cheerful.

“For a while, take care of your health…”

He wasn’t quite comfortable with the timing, but anyway, it was his long-time lover who was carrying his child.

Henry was determined to provide all the support she needed until she safely gave birth.

“The National Wedding Anniversary parade! Can I participate too?”

“?”

Although he had come to offer words of encouragement, he had no idea where this request had come from.

“You can’t ride in the same carriage as me.”

“Why?”

“This year, I’ve decided to march alone.”

“But can’t you change that when I have the Emperor’s child in my womb?”

It seemed that the incident at the Foundation Day was quite humiliating, as Valliere was not willing to change her mind.

“You can’t ride in the same carriage, but if you want to follow in a different one, I’ll consider it.”

Valliere wanted to persuade him to let her ride in the same carriage, but Henry’s expression was so resolute that she took a step back.

“Is the Empress participating in the parade as well?”

“No. The Empress won’t be participating.”

Valliere felt somewhat relieved that they wouldn’t be in the same carriage but without the Empress.

“Then let’s march together! I hope the people will welcome the baby in my belly.”

With dreams of receiving cheers from the people during the parade, Valliere looked up at Henry with eyes filled with hope, but his face was still veiled in darkness.

***

“Are you really insisting on marching in a different carriage?”

Having heard Henry’s words, Count Hallstein held back a cough, his laughter was evident.

“Yes, it seems like she really wants to receive congratulations.”

“But it won’t mean much if she doesn’t ride in the same carriage.”

“I understand, but what can I do if that’s what she wants? Regardless of what Valliere is told, the child in her womb is mine. It should receive the blessings of all the people.”

“Of course, that’s a valid point.”

Under Henry’s resolute voice, Count Hallstein reluctantly bowed his head.

“After the parade, prepare a simple reception. We should introduce the child in Valliere’s womb to the nobility. Naturally, everyone must attend and wear masks, as we don’t want any outbreaks in the palace.”

“I will prepare as instructed.”

After Count Hallstein left, Henry remained alone in his office, and the furrow on his forehead deepened.

In the past, he had hoped that the child would be born quickly when he assumed Valliere would naturally become the Empress.

But now, everything is just chaotic.

He’s not even sure if she can remain his lover, let alone become the Empress.

‘It’s my fault. It’s my fault for lacking self-control.’

It’s as if everything has been reversed.

***

It’s the National Wedding Anniversary event for the Emperor and Empress, but the Emperor will be marching separately.

Moreover, there’s an afternoon reception as well.

It’s an occasion where the nobility offers their congratulations and presents.

“Mmm, hehe.”

In the bedroom, instead of the stale smell of despair and loneliness, the fragrance of flowers once again filled the air.

‘What should I wear for the parade? Which jewels should I adorn?’

All the choices have been prepared and set aside at the boutique in the capital.

‘Since it’s the Emperor’s first child, the nobility will naturally bow before me at the reception. I wonder if I can sit beside Henry this time?’

‘What kind of gifts they would bring? I hope they won’t only bring gifts for the baby. After all, giving birth is hard work, and they should bring gifts for me too!’

Valliere was wandering around her bedroom, humming to herself in her dream, while the maids stared at her with a cold gaze. However, she didn’t notice such looks.

The two maids who were infected with the disease eventually succumbed to the worsening illness, and the surviving one’s health deteriorated to the point where she had to quit her job and return home.

However, from the moment her confinement was annulled, Valliere had never inquired about the well-being of those maids.

As a result of this, not only the maids but also the palace guards protecting her residence and all the servants working within the palace developed a strong resentment towards Valliere.

‘Now everything has returned to its rightful place. I must give birth to a healthy child. It must be a boy!’

The joy of being pregnant was brief, and anxiety once again engulfed her.

‘What if it’s a girl? To become an Empress, I need to give birth to a boy.’

‘Giving birth must be very painful, right? Can they even perform a cesarean section here? In the past, the mortality rate during childbirth was high, wasn’t it? I shouldn’t be the one to give birth to a son and then die.’

At just twenty years old, she had very little knowledge about childbirth.

Moreover, she couldn’t search for information here, and she had no one to confide in about her fears.

Valliere, who had been lost in momentary joyful thoughts, knelt in a corner of the bed and started biting her nails once again.

***

When she arrived at the orphanage construction site, she could see the wooden framework being erected.

‘It’s probably not as fast as modern buildings going up. Waiting can be frustrating.’

Ermedeline, who didn’t know that the foundation work would take more than two months, was frustrated by the slow progress, but Bellest, who was accompanying her, didn’t seem to think so.

“Hmm. It seems like the construction has progressed more than I expected.”

“Of course, it’s progressing. Who do you think is overseeing it?”

With a somewhat arrogant expression, Felio passed by Bellest and approached the workers.

“Ugh. How can you work with that rude man?”

Bellest, and even Liena who had come along, glared at Felio with eyes full of displeasure.

Certainly, it seemed that Felio didn’t have a harmonious relationship with his peers.

“Of course, Her Majesty the Empress will tolerate him a lot. He’s been rude since childhood, after all.”

“Oh, you said he’s your brother’s childhood friend, right? You might have known each other well since childhood.”

Upon hearing Liena’s words, Ermedeline imagined a younger Felio who was even more mischievous than he was now.

“Pfft.”

Due to the sudden laughter, Bellest and Liena looked at Ermedeline with puzzled expressions. In response, Ermedeline quickly regained her composure and shifted her gaze to the list of teachers.

“It seems like we can gather experienced teachers. Thank you.”

“Liena has helped a lot here as well. She couldn’t come today, but Marchioness Grania also lent her assistance.”

Marchioness Grania, who seemed to have a good relationship with Viella, mentioned that today she and Viella went to find a printer to create teaching materials for foreign languages.

“I see. You’ve all been a great help, and I’m thankful. Viella’s personal volunteering as a teacher is already impressive, and the fact that she provided teaching materials as well… I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

“Now she’s finally doing her lady-in-waiting-like work. She’s had a good time playing and eating all this time, so you can indulge her even more.”

Indeed, a family can be the most candid. It’s a bond built on deep affection, allowing for such banter, even when opinions clash and they may resent each other.

In her previous life, when she was in middle school, the twin sisters who were in the same class used to fight fiercely every day but always went to school and returned home together.

Even when they fought over a boy they liked and pulled each other’s hair, they would hold hands again as if asking when they had last fought, just three days later.

Even in the midst of their quarrels, when they fought and divided their sides, it was the norm for them to team up and conspire against the friend they had sided against, in addition to words.

They could never break up, being the closest friends in the world, and even in the moments when they fought fiercely, they couldn’t help but love their enemies.

However, Ermedeline couldn’t have such a relationship in the past or here. For a moment, she envied Bellest and Viella.

Then, she felt someone approaching and taking her hand.

“??”

When she turned her head, she saw Rooney wearing a cute, childlike smile.

“I’m here.”

“!!”

‘Is she reading my mind?’

Ermedeline, truly surprised, opened her eyes wide and looked at Rooney, but Rooney just returned to her place with a casual smile.

There was no sign of her trying to take advantage of the Empress’s favor, and she knew precisely when to step forward and when to step back.

Moreover, at times like this, when Ermedeline’s heart felt empty, even if she had hidden an unseen radar somewhere, she would approach and offer just the right amount of gentle comfort.

‘I may have had the fresh experience of a blade against my throat, but that day, I did well in protecting you.’

After walking around the site for a while and parting ways with the servants, Ermedeline was about to discuss the next agenda. She pondered on what to say first. In the midst of her contemplation, she felt the air around her becoming awkward.

When Ermedeline turned her head attentively, she noticed that not only Bellest and Lienabut even Felio were beginning to be more careful around her.

She quickly understood the reason behind their cautiousness.

“It seems like everyone has heard the news about Valiere’s pregnancy.”

Although Henry had planned to keep the secret until the national wedding anniversary, Valliere had been talking to the guards and maids all day long, and the secret couldn’t be kept. Therefore, everyone knew the tremendous news, but they couldn’t openly discuss it in front of Ermedeline, leading to an awkward atmosphere.