I Possessed The Immoral Empress

Ermedeline wondered whether she felt relieved by Bellest’s visit or regretted the moment coming to an end; at this point, she couldn’t quite tell.

Even as Ermedeline hastily wiped away her tears, trying to regain composure, there was a gentle smile on Felio’s face.

“Lady, I’m grateful for your visit! I should have come to you…”

Looking at Bellest’s face, it was somewhat different from when she looked at Felio, but once again, Ermedeline’s heart began to ache. She couldn’t help but wonder if there were any scars on that pale skin. She held Bellest’s body and examined it, but there seemed to be no visible injuries.

“I’m fine. I’m more worried about Felio than myself.”

Even Bellest, who was usually quick to raise her spirits, seemed quite shaken by Felio’s condition yesterday.

“Huh? Are you worried about me? Just take care of yourself. I’m not that fragile.”

However, Felio, whether unwilling to yield or not, let out a mocking laugh and playfully chided Bellest.

“Ah, it’s my fault for worrying. You’re quite lively for someone who had a knife through the stomach yesterday, aren’t you? But what about me? I only got a few minor injuries.”

“Alright, alright! Enough! Everyone is safe now!”

Before Felio could get any angrier, Ermedeline intervened and addressed both of them.

“We are all fortunate to be safe. His Majesty is conducting an investigation, and soon the one responsible for the curse will be captured. When they are caught, I will wager everything I have to make sure they suffer more than you have.”

Ermedeline’s face exuded a cold and cruel energy, unlike anything one would usually see.

The moment she cast the curse, she vaguely understood.

The fact that the one casting this curse was her own kin.

There had been times when she hesitated to see Duke Francoise die, even when a blade was at her throat, solely because he was her father.

But not anymore.

Her father and even her brother are now attempting to kill her.

When she had no family, she longed for them, but now that she has one, she can’t stand the thought of them not being able to kill them.

No more leniency.

She almost lost precious people because of them.

Characters who originally had no connection to the antagonist were on the verge of a horrific death when they should have had a peaceful ending.

If they meet again, she will return the favor.

‘Starting today, I’ll only sleep for two hours and study. I’ll keep that resolve now that I’m here.’

She had made up her mind to die and went to the Han River but ended up choosing to live.

‘This time too, I’ll study while only sleeping two hours at a time!’

It seems the time to keep that promise has finally come.

“Your Majesty, in truth, it was our fault yesterday. Although we were supposed to be with you as your escort, we were careless.”

As Ermedeline was firming up her resolve, Bellest bowed her head.

In response, Felio also bowed his head with a bitter expression.

“You didn’t do anything wrong. None of you are at fault. You were just by my side, and things went wrong. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize. To you and to those soldiers who died…”

Thinking of the horrific corpses of the deceased soldiers, Ermedeline felt like she might vomit again. Not because of the ghastliness of the corpses, but because of the guilt.

They were people with no connection to her. Before Ermedeline’s arrival, they were just ordinary guards on duty. They might have been someone’s brothers, sons, or fathers, and they died because she visited the castle.

When she finally spoke, a rush of emotions that had been held back surged all at once.

She couldn’t catch her breath. She wanted to empty herself, but she had nothing to expel except the pain in her head.

Ermedeline sat hunched over, her arms wrapped around herself, and tears streamed down her face.

“Your Majesty, please don’t cry. It couldn’t be helped!”

Rooney, who had been watching nearby, ran over, crying, and held Ermedeline in her arms.

Watching this scene, Bellest knelt in front of Ermedeline and gently lifted her head. Torment flickered in her eyes, now a mess of purplish-red from self-loathing.

Bellest looked at Ermedeline with a firm gaze and a resolute tone.

“Your Majesty, you didn’t kill those soldiers; you saved me.”

Ermedeline remained silent.

“Those soldiers died initially because of the sorcerer who cast the curse. And even if the curse was lifted due to the fatal injuries they received while fighting us, it would have been difficult for them to survive. Your Majesty merely saved us.”

“That’s right. The sorcerer who cast the curse should bear the consequences of those deaths!”

Though they didn’t sit down together, Felio also agreed with Bellest’s statement with a resolute tone.

While Ermedeline knew that their words were meant to comfort her, the truth was that their words didn’t provide her with much solace.

Regardless of the circumstances, four people had died due to her magic.

For Ermedeline, who had been an ordinary citizen throughout her life, this was an unbearable truth.

During the time she could remember, likely for the remainder of her life, she had to carry one deep and painful scar.

Felio felt a wave of immense anger and frustration watching Ermedeline cry. Ever since Duke Francoise had died, Felio had been covertly trailing Ermond, with the intent to take care of him once his identity was confirmed.

He had briefly relaxed when he heard that he had left the country and was almost caught in his own negligence. Ermedeline had come close to dying due to his mistake.

Even when he heard rumors that Ermond was in the enemy territory of Frianton, he focused solely on ensuring that these rumors didn’t reach Henry’s ears. He didn’t plan to go as far as taking action to deal with him.

No matter how crippled he might be, Ermond’s curse was formidable. It had simultaneously drained the sanity of four perfectly healthy individuals.

He wanted to summon Ermond and kill him immediately, but dealing with such a behemoth required a strategy.

When tracking Duke Francoise’s whereabouts, his eagerness to dispose of him was strong as well, but he exercised patience, dug traps, and waited for him to fall into them.

In the end, he had fallen victim to his own curse.

‘This time, I need a trap. I’ll have to be the bait myself and hunt him down.’

Felio’s silver eyes emitted a cold, sharp gleam.

Inside the palace, there was a small commotion. Leopold had come to the palace and was causing a ruckus, for reasons unknown, possibly due to leaked information.

“Is this the best the Trivian Empire has to offer? How negligent must our security be for there to be a stabbing during a parade and for the Empress to be attacked in her own castle?”

Henry, it seemed, found dealing with him extremely irritating. He pinched the bridge of his nose with his finger as he squinted his eyes.

“No matter what happens, Your Grace should have no reason to concern himself, right?”

“How can I not be concerned? She’s the Empress; isn’t she also part of His Majesty’s family, and therefore my family? It’s only natural that I care.”

“I didn’t realize Your Grace was so concerned about my family. I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll handle my family’s affairs on my own.”

“If it’s a matter of insufficient military funds, I’m willing to lend a hand. I mean, you could hire mercenaries if necessary.”

Henry looked into Leopold hidden intentions, which were wrapped in generosity and mockery.

Leopold waited for Henry’s response with a relaxed smile on his face. He couldn’t react here. He couldn’t show fear of Leopold, nor could he give the impression that military funds were lacking. There were too many eyes and ears in this garden.

A serene smile crossed Henry’s face, mirroring Leopold’s own.

“Your Grace’s generous offer is appreciated, but I can manage my family’s safety well enough. I’ve already taken measures to increase security.”

“Then, I’m relieved! I can only hope for the safety of this palace, which holds my father’s cherished memories, and my family.”

Leopold strolled around the garden, as if uninterested. He suddenly glanced towards the second-floor corridor that overlooked the garden and locked eyes with Ermedeline, who had been nervously observing the scene. Startled, she quickly hid behind a column, but Leopold was satisfied.

The purpose of causing this commotion was merely to confirm her safety, after all. While he earnestly longed to see and feel her up close, now was not the time.

He’d be content with knowing she was living safely under the same sky until her security was assured.

‘It was Henry who ascended to the throne with your curse magic, now all the arrows are aimed at you. It’s absurd! I’ll definitely take control of this palace and make you the happiest and safest woman in the world.’

There’s no disgrace like this disgrace.

Intentionally causing a commotion during the time the delegates were in the palace, especially in the garden, was no accident.

Furthermore, even though many had witnessed the pitiful state of the Empress and her entourage, it was incredible that news of the palace’s events reached Leopold’s ears within a single day.

If Henry had entirely barred Leopold’s entry or explicitly ordered the palace staff to restrain him, this might not have happened. However, showing any signs of attempting to confront him would not have been wise.

Even if he knew his imperial authority wasn’t that strong, he shouldn’t reveal it to others. In such situations, it might be wiser to seek the assistance of someone else rather than trying to resolve it with one’s own power.

“Count Hallstein, is there an outbreak in the capital?”

“Since the last time I checked, there hasn’t been any.”

“Keep an eye on it until next week and declare its end.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Also, prepare for a ball.”

“A ball?”

Out of the blue, a ball? A faint line appeared on Count Hallstein’s forehead.

“Yes. We’ll hold a ball to commemorate the end of the epidemic that was canceled on Foundation Day.”

“Yes, understood.”

“And…”

Henry paused, glancing at the slightly ajar door of the study. This was a discreet signal for confidential instructions.

Count Hallstein closed the door and stood close to Henry, bowing slightly.

“Speak discreetly. I intend to depose the Empress soon and elevate the next Empress.”

“What?”

“As you know, it’s still risky. Even if Ferdant is under my control, hearing the word ‘deposition’ directly from me might provoke an unpredictable reaction from the Empress. But the rumors have been flourishing for years, anyway.”

“So, are you suggesting we spread the rumor as if it has leaked from the palace?”

Henry smiled meaningfully at Count Hallstein, who quickly grasped his intention.

“Yes. Discreetly, in salons or cafes where noblewomen gather. Then everyone…”

“…will have their eyes on the position of the next Empress.”

“That’s right. No matter how wealthy Leopold is, in the end, he’ll need the cooperation of the nobility. But if the families that have their sights on the position of the next Empress were to support Leopold, it would be impossible.”

“Indeed. They will watch each other more closely than ever. Understood. I’ll carry out your orders.”

After Count Hallstein left, Henry hung one arm over the back of his chair and sat at a slight angle. Since the moment he decided to become Emperor, he hadn’t had a single day of peace.

Now, he had reached the point where he had to use his adjacent seat, even though it was the supreme one. The suspicion-laden legitimacy of his birth and his position as an alleged illegitimate child were only superficial.

“Haa.”

A deep sigh escaped his lips. Just as the epidemic was being brought under control, trouble was brewing along the border with the neighboring enemy nation. Furthermore, there was now his step-brother who might have his sights on the throne.

At times like this, Henry, who had always found solace by Valliere’s side, had nowhere else to turn. Could he even call his mother, who had been banished and severed all ties with her own kin?

‘Please, let my child be born safely! Then, I might finally have a real family.’

***

Quiet days passed.

Ermedeline was tirelessly working at the orphanage and the sewage project, while Valliere stayed locked in her own residence, refusing to venture outside.

However, this tranquility was merely on the surface. In reality, the situation was more complex. Whenever Ermedeline thought of Felio, who had been on the brink of death, she fueled her desire for revenge, devoting herself to the study of curse magic.

Likewise, Felio prepared a trap to lure Ermond, who had dared to try to kill Ermedeline.

Henry kept a watchful eye on Leopold’s interactions with the nobles and struggled with anxiety. He worked tirelessly to find evidence that would support his expulsion.

Meanwhile, Valliere, who had briefly been content with the gifts brought during the festival, became even more restless. She learned that public opinion had turned against her due to the murder of the woman who had sought her help during the parade, and this caused her great unease. 

As a result, many now shunned her, and her interactions with Countess Elion, who occasionally visited with gifts and shared conversation, became her sole connection to the world outside. 

The nobles were weighing the truth behind the rumors emerging from the palace, evaluating the circumstances involving Henry and Leopold. During this time, not a single person in the capital exhibited symptoms of the infectious disease. 

According to the original story, the magical curse was gone, and the rapid containment measures led to its swift end.

Finally, two weeks had passed without a single patient emerging in the capital. Henry declared the end of the infectious disease.

“As a celebration of its containment, we shall hold a spring dance festival at the palace!” 

The palace became a hub of social activity once again, with the official social season starting.