I Possessed The Immoral Empress

In her past life, Valliere, the third-generation heiress Lee Yerim, had never been one to obsess over material possessions, even though she had everything she could possibly want. She didn’t have a natural inclination to fixate on things that could be easily obtained.

However, at this very moment, an inexplicable sense of jealousy had taken hold of her.

She was now, incredibly, pregnant with the child of the Emperor.

Naturally, she should have been walking on air, especially as a woman who was carrying the Emperor’s child. But due to the presence of a woman she had never even heard of, her procession had turned into chaos, and even the atmosphere at the Court had become awkward because of it.

Despite receiving all the congratulatory wishes from the empire’s citizens, it wasn’t enough for her. The Emperor, who was supposed to be the father of her child, couldn’t even ride in the same carriage as her, adding insult to injury.

As the day drew to a close, she finally began to feel a sense of celebration thanks to the splendid gifts. However, even that was under threat from Henry.

In the end, all the pent-up sorrow that had been building since morning erupted within Valliere.

“They clearly stated that these gifts were dedicated to Your Majesty’s child! Since I am carrying the child, I will decide what to do with the gifts myself!”

‘Is she out of her mind?’

The moment Valliere delivered her confident response, Henry couldn’t help but suspect that she had completely lost her sanity.

Henry was a human being too.

If you pricked him with a needle, just like anyone else, his blood would run red. He was an ordinary human being who had survived a horrifying childhood, neglected by his biological parents, and a turbulent youth. Even recalling the fact that he had killed his step-siblings, one by one, couldn’t serve as a complete justification for his heinous crimes.

That’s why, as he systematically eliminated his formidable competitors, the insides of ordinary human Henry began to rot and fester. Those rotten flesh and the wicked stench they emitted left behind black scars of his vile deeds.

Truly, a throne is earned by sacrificing one’s soul to the devil.

While Valliere didn’t necessarily approve of Henry’s methods, whenever she saw him suffering, she would quietly hold him without reproach and offer solace.

Leopold had no interest in the throne, and despite Trivian’s domestic power being somewhat limited, Ballius Empire’s aristocratic background made him a formidable figure.

For the sake of potential threats, Henry had ordered Francois Duchy to kill Leopold, who had been staying with the duchy at the time.

He had clearly been dead for seven years.

Yet now, this apparition of the dead had somehow returned to the realm of the living.

Henry, who had been exhausted from dealing with the backlog of tasks after attending the imperial court, had sought out Valliere’s abode, which he rarely visited. He did so today because he needed Valliere’s comforting presence more than ever.

However, she became someone who was blinded by the gold and silver treasures that were given by his political enemy. That is enough to make Henry assume that Valliere already lost her sanity.

“Are you really in your right mind now? Do you mean to say you won’t give up the gift from Leopold?”

“Whether I give it up or not, that’s for me to decide.”

Valliere, who had only skimmed the original to join in the group conversation, didn’t fully grasp Henry’s situation. Yet, if Valliere had truly thought about it, she would have known that the sudden appearance of a step-sibling wouldn’t bring much joy to Henry.

But at this moment, when the pent-up sorrow and discomfort she had been suppressing since becoming pregnant had burst forth, there was no room for her to consider such matters.

“Ha.”

Upon Valliere’s firm response, Henry let out a bitter laugh.

Valliere, who must have known what the step-sibling, resurrected from death, meant to him, exhibited such a reaction. Henry had barely been holding back the scars, and now, one of those red, black scars had fallen away, exposing itself to the outside world as a result.

A chill wind blew over that wound, and excruciating pain was felt.

“The woman you killed had her body purified and burned.”

Henry, who had ignored herself until the end, spoke in a heavy voice as she gazed down at Valliere, who was fixated on the gem in her hand.

“So? Are you trying to blame me for what I did wrong? I was just trying to protect Your Majesty’s child, which I am carrying.”

Henry suddenly realized something.

The woman before her was nothing but an empty shell, completely devoid of a heart.

Henry had no inclination to engage in further conversation with Valliere.

In the end, Henry leaves Valliere’s bedroom, leaving Leopold’s gift behind.

***

After the grand event had concluded, Ermedeline sought out Henry to present a report before commencing the sewer construction. Despite it being a private project, sewers were a national facility, and thus, Henry’s final approval was required.

Ermedeline worried that it might be too early to approach him, but Henry had already started his work.

He took the document that Ermedeline handed him and examined its validity seriously.

“In your opinion, how does it appear?”

Lord Hallstein, who was beside Henry, casually lifted his shoulders as if there was nothing to fault.

“Indeed, if things continue as they are, the quality of the sewers will greatly improve. However, the cost of the project is quite substantial. Are you really planning to bear the entire cost by yourself?”

It was a testing tone, but a relaxed smile played around her lips.

Certainly, a person is not easy to read.

“Yes. I intend to cover all the expenses for this project without any donations.”

Upon Ermedeline’s response, Henry’s expression remained unchanged, only a slight raise of her eyebrows, but Lord Hallstein’s face noticeably stiffened.

“I didn’t know the Empress was such a generous person. We’re seeing a lot of new sides to you these days, aren’t we?”

“I do have a desire to prevent another outbreak of disease in the capital, but to be honest, my true motivation isn’t all that altruistic. People are quick to point fingers, even if they know it’s not me who caused the epidemic, right? So, it’s about showing action instead of making hollow excuses.”

Although she had initially started this project to evade the impending execution, Ermedeline, while not admitting to her guilt, wanted to cleanse herself of the sins that still lingered in her flesh. She couldn’t bring back the dead, but at the very least, she wanted to rescue the living from death.

Ermedeline was the only one who knew for certain that the epidemic had started because of her curse, and that knowledge added to her desire for atonement.

Her compassion for the suffering people plagued by the epidemic was undeniably one of the reasons, but in reality, one of the main motivations behind pushing this project was to alleviate the burden of guilt that was gnawing at her soul.

‘It’s like this is the only way for me to breathe,’ she thought.

As a result, Ermedeline decided not to go through the trouble of acting as a compassionate Empress concerned about the people. Her past experiences had taught her that Henry was not one to be easily swayed by feeble acts.

Henry, clearly satisfied with Ermedeline’s answer, nodded with a meaningful smile.

“I see. I will approve it, so please proceed with the project.”

Before Ermedeline left, Lord Hallstein remained motionless, frozen as if petrified.

“Is the Empress still acting?”

Henry’s question brought Lord Hallstein back to his senses, and he slowly lowered his head with a vacant look in his eyes.

“It’s starting to get confusing.”

“I thought you might have the answer, but of course, you don’t.”

“If this act is to avoid execution, isn’t she an exceptionally talented actress?”

“Indeed, she is.”

“However, even if she starts caring about her reputation now, it will be difficult to appease the nobility’s backlash.”

“I’m well aware of that. Am I not one of the major accomplices?”

Henry grimaced and bit his lower lip while shaking his head.

“Do you think we should wait and see?”

“She claims she’ll fund the sewer renovation privately, and would you refuse that?”

“What happens after the sewer renovation is complete?”

Henry let out a deep sigh, as if she was deeply troubled by Lord Hallstein’s question, and then fell silent.

Lord Hallstein, seeing Henry’s reaction, thought that he was genuinely contemplating the Empress’s handling of the matter and quietly left.

But what had left Henry’s mind in disarray at that moment was not related to Ermedeline’s handling of things.

It was that brooch that had caught her eye from the moment Ermedeline entered her office.

The iridescent violet hue of the amethyst in the brooch, which seemed to emit a luminous light so similar to her eyes, had been bothering her.

‘Yeah, that’s it. The gleam in her eyes. It’s anonymous, but that brooch must be from Felio. Carrying a brooch received from a mere duke heir every day?’

Henry, who was meticulously monitoring Ermedeline, knew well that there was no personal relationship between her and Felio.

However, Ermedeline’s resolute gaze when she faced Duke Batistian in the garden, or the warmth in her eyes when she received the brooch from Felio, were all highly unsettling.

Having decided, Henry called for someone to handle his personal matters quietly.

“Find a skilled jeweler who can source a well-cut large amethyst.”

***

As soon as Henry gave her approval, Ermedeline headed to the sewer construction site. Upon arrival, she found that Felio was already there, engaged in a serious discussion with the workers on site.

“Felio!”

Ermedeline tried to push the contents of the constantly emerging magical ledger out of her mind and called Felio with an excited tone.

“Your Majesty, have you arrived?”

“Look at this! I’ve obtained approval for all the documents!”

Ermedeline, somehow proud, shook the piles of documents in her hands. A subtle smile spread across Felio’s lips.

“Hehe. You didn’t expect me to get it so quickly, did you? I came to see you right after I finished dressing up!”

Felio’s smile made Ermedeline feel a bit awkward for a moment.

However, what truly brought a smile to Felio’s face was not the documents Ermedeline had prepared. It was the brooch hanging from her shoulder. It was a symbol, something that unconditionally made him feel happy every time he saw it.

Felio, not even aware of the change in his facial expression, quickly adjusted his expression. He didn’t want anyone to notice the subtle change.

“It seems the approvals have finally come through. We can proceed with the project.”

But in the process of managing his expression, his tone became unintentionally brusque.

“I did my best to get them as quickly as possible! After all, the National Wedding Anniversary celebration only ended yesterday. I got them right after waking up this morning…”

Ermedeline, who was upset that her efforts went unnoticed, turned her head away from Felio, her lips protruding in a pout.

“Give me the documents! At this rate, everyone will run out of patience.”

As Felio approached confidently, he snatched the documents from Ermedeline’s hand.

“What…?”

Ermedeline turned her head again to question his actions, only to be met with Felio’s mischievous and playful expression.

‘Darn it. I fell for it again.’

How many times had she fallen for this brusque tone of his? When Ermedeline made a face like she was about to cry, Felio’s face finally broke into a bright smile.

The straightforward, mischievous smile on Felio’s face, was once again seen before her.

Under his deep navy hair, like an unmarked, pure white snowfield, his silver eyes sparkled with such clarity that it felt as though they could not be tainted by any malice.

Confronted with that radiant smile, Ermedeline’s heart began to ache once more.

While she had resolved to cast aside Ermedeline from the original story and live her own life, if every determination were perfectly kept, sayings like “New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken” would have never come into existence.

‘What’s the meaning behind that smile?’

‘Have I done anything well enough in these mere months to make him forget such a grudge?’

‘Do I even deserve to receive this smile?’

As Ermedeline sent a wistful glance toward Felio, her heart ached with torment. Just how much of her past sins was she responsible for?

Felio, noticing her disconcerted look, cleared his throat.

“Hmm, I think I’ll head over to the Timekeepers now.”

In moments like this, something happens. It’s a moment when emotions start to form and silently stir the heart, even before they take a definite shape.

Ermedeline watched as Felio turned away, and her heart quietly churned, like a tranquil sea agitated by the hint of a breeze, as she observed the faint blush at the tips of Felio’s ears.

Ermedeline had this complex, overwhelming feeling, a little ripple that had started in a corner but was filling her heart entirely. It felt like she might burst into tears at any moment.

Her mind was too tangled up for her to put her emotions into a single sentence, but the immature sense of them was spilling over, even though she couldn’t articulate them.

Suddenly, Felio burst into laughter, reacting to someone’s joke. While she wasn’t good at conversing with women, it seemed he got along easily with men. 

Then, a memory crossed her mind: Lienna’s words that he had only one friend, her brother Roberto.

‘Right. I should smile. If Felio can smile, why should I cry? Your laughter is my laughter, after all.’

Ermedeline stood there for a moment, her eyes moist, as the gentle morning sunlight sparkled on her face. She gazed at Felio’s retreating figure and wore a bittersweet smile.