I Possessed The Immoral Empress

Finally, Ermedeline, after finishing the dance with Leopold, gasped for breath and hurriedly left the garden.

As she nearly sprinted her way out of the garden, those who were concerned for her gathered by her side, watching her.

‘Seeing him up close, I get it. He looks exactly like him. He and Ferdant have the same features!’

Now, in retrospect, the portrait of the former empress hanging in the palace bore a striking resemblance to Ferdant.

‘What if someone notices this fact? What if Henry finds out? Won’t he at least make a fuss with Ferdant?’

Rooney wrapped her arms around Ermedeline, who was catching her breath, with a worried look in her eyes.

“Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell? Should we return to the quarters?”

“Ah, no. It’s nothing.”

Ermedeline tried to reassure Rooney, clapping her hands lightly, but her mind was in turmoil.

‘So, you missed me? Is that it? You just came to see my face? I’d prefer that, to be honest.’

As the thought of these tangled emotions swirled within her, Ermedeline’s face darkened.

“I guess that won’t work. Let’s escort Her Majesty to her chambers,” Bellest suggested.

Ermedeline reluctantly raised her head and forced a strained smile.

“I’m really fine. Let’s go! Let’s head to the square!”

Even though she wasn’t in the best condition, Ermedeline didn’t want to return to the Empress’s Palace.

Sitting around without any purpose might make her tangled thoughts explode, so Ermedeline decided to clear her mind and took hesitant steps toward the square.

As she entered the square, she saw numerous faces of the people filled with happiness.

Their unmasked faces were overflowing with indescribable anticipation and relief.

Ermedeline’s astonished heart gradually began to calm down.

‘Yes. For now, let’s focus on this place and secretly find a way to contact Prince Leopold. I need to figure out why he came here.’

The resolute Ermedeline stepped closer to the center of the square, determined to find her answers.

Ermedeline could sense that the way the people looked at her had changed significantly from before.

Not everyone regarded her with affection, but at least, it was difficult to find the intense fear and hatred.

“Phew.”

As Ermedeline prepared for her speech and took a moment to catch her breath, a young couple she had met earlier in the morning approached.

“I was actually looking for you!”

Ermedeline, who had finally brought the baby she rescued closer to see, forgot about her opening address and stretched her arms out toward the baby.

The baby, seemingly still unacquainted with faces, was readily held by Ermedeline.

The baby’s body felt much sturdier than it did a few months ago.

With her head held high and a cheerful smile, the healthy and adored baby was undoubtedly a child who had grown up in love.

Suddenly, in Ermedeline’s mind, the image of the baby, lying motionless and lifeless, with a pale face, crossed her thoughts. She couldn’t help but recall how terrifying it was back then, not knowing if she could save that little life.

The baby she had nurtured had grown into a much heavier baby than at that critical moment.

She had contemplated for days on how to start her opening address. In reality, she hadn’t been sure about the right words until this very moment.

But now, Ermedeline knew what was needed.

“The long winter has ended, and spring has arrived! Life has triumphed over death at last! Today, all of us gathered here shall savor this beautiful spring day!”

“Waah!! Long live Empress Ermedeline!”

“Long live Trivian!”

In response to Ermedeline’s proclamation, the people gathered in the square began to cheer and salute her.

The enthusiastic cheers of the crowd filled her heart with warmth. Soon, lively music began, and the people started moving in their own ways. These were simple, lively dances, quite different from the elegant ones she had seen in the palace garden earlier, but they were more dynamic and full of joy.

Indeed, these were lives that had truly triumphed over the death-like, long winter, and they were now joyfully dancing in this place where spring had finally arrived.

Ermedeline gladly responded to all the people who invited her to dance.

Felio and Bellest were exhausted from guarding Ermedeline like a fortress, but Ermedeline accommodated everyone, from the elderly man with a cane to the children who had just started taking their first steps, all of whom wanted to dance with her.

“Phew. I’m tired now, so I can’t dance anymore. I should head back.”

Rooney and Margo said they would stay and have more fun with their long-lost friends, while the ladies decided to remain in the square to help with the closure of the event.

Naturally, it was only Felio, who was responsible for Ermedeline’s security, who accompanied her back to the palace.

Inside the palace, the central garden was now packed with people attending the ball, making the palace quieter and more tranquil than usual.

The reddish light of the setting sun, almost leaning, cast a slanted glow down the empty corridor.

Even the sunlight floating in the air seemed to radiate a happy aura. Ermedeline felt genuinely happy, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. She had successfully put an end to the heinous acts that caused the most significant casualties in the novel and organized a ball to comfort them.

As she briefly reflected on the path she had walked until now, the first person who came to her mind was there.

“Your Grace, it’s all thanks to you. I could never have done this on my own. I sincerely appreciate it.”

Ermedeline stopped for a moment, turned around, and offered her heartfelt gratitude to Felio.

Felio, who had been following her at a short distance, also stopped and stared at Ermedeline for a moment, without saying a word. There was no expression on his face, but Ermedeline now understood.

It was a completely different face from the cold, expressionless one she had seen when they first met.

“Your Majesty, may I have the honor of dancing with you for one song?”

“Right now?”

“Yes. Can’t you hear the music playing?”

The music from the central garden flowed across the palace grounds with the late afternoon spring breeze, creating a faint echo as it faded into the palace corners.

“Very well, just for a moment.”

Ermedeline quickly removed the brooch Henry had given her from her shoulder and replaced it with the one Felio had gifted her.

Felio continued to watch the scene in silence, without any expression.

“However, as you already know, I’m not much of a dancer… I don’t even know how many times I stepped on Prince Leopold’s feet earlier. So, Your Grace, be prepared!”

Though her mind was in turmoil as she danced with Leopold, there was one thing Ermedeline was grateful for – Felio. He hadn’t shown any sign of discomfort despite her repeatedly stepping on his feet.

Ermedeline extended her hand with a slightly embarrassed expression.

In response, Felio approached and gently took her hand.

With the faint sounds of the orchestra echoing through the empty corridor and the twilight transitioning from reddish to violet as the backdrop, the two of them held hands and moved their feet for a while.

Holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes, they felt a warmth that made it nearly impossible to control themselves. However, at least outwardly, they gracefully and elegantly danced together.

Of course, Felio, who had his foot stepped on by Ermedeline a few times during the dance, raised an eyebrow.

No one could show any emotion or speak. Both of them understood each other’s situation all too well.

They knew that if they crossed a certain line here, they couldn’t even dance to this one dry and lifeless song together, so they kept their emotions inside, moving their feet in time with the music.

The faint sound of the garden’s music came to a halt.

The two of them naturally let go of each other.

Ermedeline and Felio, wanting to preserve the emotions of this moment, remained silent until they reached the Empress’s Palace.

Felio bowed courteously and turned to leave. Ermedeline, too, responded to his gesture with a gracious nod.

“Whew, whew…”

Ermedeline had been trying to act nonchalant, but as soon as Felio left, she rushed into her bedroom, closed the door, and collapsed into a chair.

How fortunate it was that no one else was here.

If Rooney and Margo had been present, they would have surely seen Ermedeline, her entire body flushed red, and expressed various concerns.

Why this intense reaction was happening, she didn’t know. Her face continued to feel hot, and her heart raced as if it might burst, yet in her mind, she could only see Felio’s composed silver eyes as he looked down at her.

‘Calm down! Calm down! It’s just a dance! A dance! Felio is so composed, why am I the one going crazy by myself?’

Ermedeline tried to look at the situation objectively and calm herself down. However, despite her efforts, the slight trembling of Felio’s fingertips still felt vivid. She opened her palm and stared at her still-quivering hands.

She had exerted so much effort not to tremble in front of Felio that she was on the verge of having a spasm.

‘It was hot.’

Despite his cold appearance, his hand was surprisingly warm, warm enough to make her wonder. As Felio withdrew his hand, it left behind a lingering heat that continued to unsettle Ermedeline.

Ermedeline raised her hand to her lips and, closing her eyes, it felt as though the warmth and tremor were transferring to her lips.

‘Are you completely insane?’

***

On the other hand, once Ermedeline had left, Valliere’s ball began in earnest, and it was magnificent, sophisticated, and elegant. All the attendees were nobles who had mastered the art of hypocrisy, as they pretended not to notice Henry’s glances when Leopold made his appearance.

Henry danced with all the young ladies who requested a dance, which was a departure from his usual practice of dancing only a few songs with Valliere. Today, he intentionally accepted all the requests. 

As one brave young lady requested a dance, more followed, all beautifully dressed and looking to capture the future Empress’s seat, and their requests continued.

Holding hands with a beautiful emperor who had never held hands with anyone before, but now, the young ladies who had joined hands with the beautiful man in front of them were entranced, each for their own reasons. 

Even though she stood there with a burning heart, it was as if there were sparks flying from Valliere’s heart as he watched their faces, which resembled those of girls in love.

‘How dare he dance with other women while leaving me behind?’

Sometimes, she felt jealous when Henry was with Ermedeline, although they had minimal interaction. Even today, he accompanied her to the ball as his consort but did not dance with her. However, how was the current situation any different? 

It was clear to anyone that he was the object of interest from the elegantly dressed women who held onto him with determined looks. Moreover, this perfect ball was entirely her creation. Unlike Ermedeline, who received help from her ladies-in-waiting, she had planned and prepared everything alone.

Therefore, tonight was supposed to be a celebration of her pregnancy, which was not properly recognized at the ceremony.

At least for today, she was supposed to be the heroine of this tangled story.

All eyes were now on Henry. Expectant gazes were intertwined with complex thoughts: would Henry choose someone from the women he danced with today? If he did, whom would he pick?

‘How much did I prepare thoroughly for this day? I can’t stand it any longer!’

With a face adorned with a bright smile, Valliere approached Leopold.

Leopold, who had been engaged in light conversation with some noble attendees, nodded with an elated expression. It appeared that he was enjoying the socializing.

As Valliere stood behind Leopold, the expressions of those who had been chatting with him grew rigid. Leopold only turned around when he realized that someone was behind him.

Valliere involuntarily swallowed a dry gulp, a lump forming in his throat. Leopold’s demeanor, which had been light-hearted moments ago, had rapidly shifted. 

However, Leopold soon wore a polite smile on his face and nodded graciously toward Valliere.

“What business can the Marchioness have with me?”