I Possessed The Immoral Empress

“How about it? Isn’t it splendid?”

Roberto, looking at Felio’s excited face, shook his head as if in pity and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk. How much did you pour into making this?”

“Is it about money? It’s about how well it suits her!”

The brooch in Felio’s hand had a large amethyst in the center, surrounded by hundreds of small diamonds.

“Even you ordered this. I can’t even imagine how much it cost.”

Since Felio heard the news that Ermedeline would inherit Francoise Duchy, he had been racking his brains to find the perfect gift for her.

And so, what he had chosen, now rested on his shoulders – the blue brooch that had found its place there.

Felio had thought of returning the brooch to Ermedeline but with something far more valuable than what he had received.

“Of course, the brooch Her Majesty the Empress gave you is also a fine piece. But anyone can see at a glance that this brooch you made is an exceptionally expensive piece of jewelry.”

“Isn’t that even better, then? It shows the effort I put into it!”

“Ah, you fool! Being the son of Duke Batistian and mingling with the Empress is not enough; now you have to be known for giving such expensive gifts. Do you know what kind of rumors this will start?”

Felio, who had been too caught up to consider the sensibilities of reality, now worried about the potential gossip from people.

“You used to be quite clever. To become such a fool… Love’s power is indeed great, huh?”

Roberto asked with his arm around Felio, grumbling away, but Felio didn’t seem to pay any attention to his friend’s words.

“So, how are you going to deliver this? Should it be done anonymously?”

“Anonymously? Give this expensive jewel anonymously?”

“Yeah. If no one knows I sent it, there won’t be any strange rumors, right?”

“Hey! You’re going to pour this much money into a gift and then give it away without anyone knowing who it’s from? What’s the point of that?”

Roberto’s point was perfectly valid, but Felio just shrugged with a look that said he didn’t understand a word.

“Don’t I know that? I know that the brooch shining on the Empress’s shoulder is the one I gave her.”

Roberto sighed deeply, tapping Felio’s forehead with a wry smile.

“I am wrong. You’re already hopeless.”

National Wedding Anniversary was just around the corner.

Everyone around Ermedeline was displeased that Henry would be parading with Valliere, but the person in question felt no enthusiasm.

“No matter which carriage they ride in, how can they march in the National Wedding Anniversary procession without the Empress?”

“Well, to be fair, it was always without me every year, but it feels different this time.”

“Even so, it’s surprising that Marchioness Belian is riding in a different carriage. She used to ride in the same carriage as Her Majesty every year. She’s even pregnant this year, so why would she ride separately?”

“Do I understand Her Majesty’s deep intentions? Well, if we have to speculate, it might be for the sake of public sentiment, given that the last time, Valliere’s involvement led to an epidemic.”

In reality, the reason Henry chose to march alone was because there was evidence of Valliere’s involvement in the Empress’s attempted assassination. However, this was still a classified fact, so everyone was just making various speculations.

“Yes, indeed. It’s fortunate that the epidemic didn’t spread too widely. The poor children who worked under Marchioness Belian suffered the most.”

Rooney trailed off, thinking of the deceased maidservant.

“That’s right. It’s a truly unfortunate event. Still, it’s a relief that the illness didn’t spread further within the palace.”

“But there’s a small village that’s almost in ruins, right? I wonder how terrible it must be for the people there.”

“Yeah, just imagining it is heart-wrenching.”

This is a normal reaction. It’s a universal response for people to empathize and feel sorrow for the suffering of others, even if they have no personal connection.

However, Valliere was not curious about the maidservants who had contracted the disease and died. Ermedeline, in the end, had to conduct their funerals in place of Valliere, and she had to deliver consolation money to their families.

There was a time when they had hoped Valliere would ask about the maidservants when her pension was released, but now they had given up on that expectation.

‘She really only cares about herself.’

***

“It looks so good on you!”

Countess Elion clapped over Valiere’s head as she studied her reflection in the mirror.

“It’s not perfect, but it’s not bad either.”

“Perfect or not, can’t you see how beautiful it is? There’s no one more beautiful than you among the marchionesses in the empire!”

“Oh, I’d wear anything but this mask if I could. The epidemic in the capital is almost under control, and yet they still want us to wear it.”

Valliere let out a deep sigh as she gazed at the ornate mask.

“It might have calmed down, but isn’t the Marchioness carrying the Empress’s heir? Naturally, you should be even more cautious.”

“Honestly, can’t the others at the event just wear the masks? His Majesty is practically sealed in from all sides!”

Even in the face of Valliere’s frustration, Countess Elion wore a serene smile, accommodating her temper.

“Beauty cannot be concealed by a mere mask. Even with it on, you’ll shine brighter than anyone in this world, so rest assured!”

Valliere knew that Countess Elion’s flattery was a veiled form of flattery. But hearing such self-praise aloud from someone else wasn’t such a bad feeling.

‘Go ahead, flatter me to your heart’s content. It’s the only reason I keep you by my side.’

Finally, the day of the National Wedding Anniversary had arrived.

Since morning, the palace had been bustling with preparations for the procession.

Ermedeline sat by the window, gazing contemplatively outside the castle gates, and Rooney asked her with a concerned voice.

“Don’t worry about it. After all, they’re not riding in the same carriage.”

“Did I seem like I was worried?”

“No?”

“I was just admiring the street. Also, I’m concerned about whether the people gathered in the square are wearing their masks properly…”

“But hasn’t the epidemic almost disappeared?”

“That’s true, but we shouldn’t let our guard down until it’s completely eradicated. Especially during events where a lot of people gather like this one.”

Ermedeline’s words prompted Rooney to also look out the window, trying to enjoy the view outside the castle gates.

“Indeed, many people have gathered today. It’s not as crowded as on Foundation Day, but still.”

“I suppose there were various incidents during Foundation Day. Nevertheless, it’s been a while since a royal heir was born, so people have gathered to celebrate.”

Even though they wore masks, the excitement of the people was not entirely hidden.

Ermedeline, prior to the start of the procession, took in the pleasant tension in the air, hoping that all the people gathered would remain safe. As the grand trumpets sounded, the palace gates opened, and finally, the procession began.

When the gates first opened, there was an enthusiastic cheer, but soon the shouts and cheers diminished.

The reason why the atmosphere of the procession had changed was because the people gathered had noticed that Henry, who had ridden in the same carriage as the mistress each year to mock the Empress, was now riding alone in his carriage. Of course, Valliere soon appeared right behind him, but people watched the procession with looks filled with various emotions, rather than enthusiastic cheers.

Nobles felt uncomfortable that Valliere had attached herself to the procession, which was meant to openly ignore the Empress.

The privileged children of prominent families looked at the Emperor, who was riding alone in his carriage without the Empress or the mistress, and began to imagine who the next Empress would be, or whether they might have a chance to stand by the Emperor, who seemed like a painting come to life.

Ordinary citizens were purely curious about why the Emperor had not ridden in the same carriage as Valliere, who had played the role of the Empress until now and had even recently been granted a title and was carrying his child.

Furthermore, it was baffling to them why, after riding in the same carriage as the Empress during Foundation Day, he had chosen to exclude her from the procession on the National Wedding Anniversary.

The procession was now a mixture of various emotions, quite different from Foundation Day.

People couldn’t help but applaud, but they were all shaking their heads while witnessing this strange spectacle.

And then there was Henry.

In reality, just like on Foundation Day, Henry wanted to march alongside Ermedeline, who was the Empress. He’s not ready to abandon Valiere completely, but at least he’s no longer thinking of her as the next Empress.

While Ermedeline was the Empress, her authority was directly linked to the authority of the imperial family. Thus, Henry was very uncomfortable riding alone in his carriage, as it seemed to symbolize his submission to the pressure from the nobles.

Valliere, too, was dissatisfied with the situation. She had expected to receive endless praises from the people’s admiring gazes, but she now found a sense of condescension and hostility in their eyes.

‘What’s going on? Why is everyone looking at me like that? No matter how you look at me, I’m up here in this carriage, and you’re down there on the ground!’

With an uneasy heart, Valliere took a deep breath and checked the dagger hidden in her bosom.

Meanwhile, Felio, watching the march from behind his father, Duke Batistian, was in good spirits. Whether that foolish woman bore the Emperor’s child or not, he had no particular interest.

If he could capture conclusive evidence of her attempt to harm the Empress, getting rid of Valliere would be an easy task. However, the concern was that as Henry distanced himself from Valliere, he was getting closer to Ermedeline.

While he had no intention of creating any awkward situation for Ermedeline during her time as the Empress, he knew that if the Emperor and Empress suddenly became affectionate, seeing them like that would drive him mad.

Thus, Felio looked at the empty seat next to Henry with great satisfaction.

Amid the jumbled thoughts and varied sentiments of the crowd, Ermedeline, who should have been the central figure of the event, simply watched the procession getting further away. She had no particular thoughts.

She was relieved to be at a distance and escape the discomfort she had felt during Foundation Day when she marched alongside Henry, drawing people’s attention.

As everyone’s attention remained focused on Henry and Valliere, Ermedeline looked on from afar, feeling content that she could finally enjoy the festive atmosphere without any disruptions.

And then, while all eyes were fixed on Henry and Valliere, a pair of eyes penetrated the palace.

Even in the darkness, the shining golden eyes of a wild beast could be clearly seen. He gazed intently at the palace in hopes of catching a glimpse of Ermedeline. However, the distance was too great for them to distinguish individual faces.

‘Soon… I’ll be able to see her soon!’

The golden eyes shimmered with anticipation for the reunion with the one they missed so dearly. They gleamed with excitement as they looked forward to the moment when they would finally be able to see her again.

The procession was coming to a close. The overall calm atmosphere suggested that the event would conclude without any major incidents. However, the incident occurred as the returning procession re-entered the square in front of the palace.

A disheveled woman, her face obscured by tattered cloth, approached Valliere. The palace guards immediately blocked her path, but she continued to sob and plead.

“During Foundation Day, because of the spreading epidemic, nearly the entire village perished. My grandchildren are now orphans! How will you take responsibility for this?”

It was a wonder how such a frail body could produce such a loud voice.

Her blood-curdling screams echoed across the square, capturing the attention of all the people.

Valliere was well aware of the epidemic that had spread during Foundation Day, leading to casualties. She knew that people had died as a result. Even the servants whom she encountered daily had perished.

But she had been deliberately avoiding the fact that her reckless actions had contributed to this tragedy.

The people’s decision to discard their masks was their own choice, and the resulting disaster had nothing to do with her, or so she had convinced herself.

So in that moment, Valliere said what she had perhaps better left unsaid, “What does it have to do with me?”

Enraged by Valliere’s answer, the woman lost her temper and lunged at her.

Of course, the guards prevented her from touching Valliere.

But Valliere, who had an obsessive anxiety that everyone was her enemy, was so startled that she drew her dagger and swung it as hard as she could.

The sharp blade sliced the woman’s throat exactly across the middle.

Blood gushed from the woman’s throat, and as she stood facing her, she was covered from head to toe in it.