I Possessed The Immoral Empress

“I’m truly sorry. How could you be neglected like this?”

“I understand. Losing a child is the hardest for a mother, frankly.”

“And not even visiting after confining you?”

“Going through a miscarriage would naturally take a toll on both body and mind… You must be going through a lot.”

“Yes, I feel so lonely and exhausted. I can’t understand why His Majesty treats you this way.”

Wiping away the tears streaming down Valliere’s cheeks and gently patting her back, the Countess Brienta scanned Valliere from head to toe with a cool gaze.

“I wonder why His Majesty makes someone as pitiful as you feel lonely… You should receive more affection.”

At Brienta’s words, a memory of Leopold’s affectionate gaze, tenderly looking down on her, flashed through Valliere’s mind. 

The cracked heart had ample room for something to seep in, sometimes leading to irrational and reckless decisions.

“Do you happen to have a means to contact Lord Leopold?”

“Why suddenly Lord Leopold? No, I don’t. I’ll look into it while I’m in the capital.”

“Thank you.”

Nodding her head, Valliere looked down at the pendant while Countess Brienta smiled mysteriously.

‘This might turn out easier than I thought.’

It was a moment when a sinister wind unknowingly seeped through the cracks. 

***

She found herself eagerly awaiting this time, just sitting quietly and reviewing documents.

Initially, there were moments when she felt guilty for Felio’s continuous visits, but gradually, Erdemelin’s heart became more brazen. 

She had reached a point where she couldn’t sleep if she didn’t see him even for a day.

Quietly reviewing administrative papers related to the orphanage, she had made it a habit to sneak glances at his face.

The situation is clearly contemplated in her mind; she is determined to draw a line, yet she cannot help but be drawn back to the fleeting glance.

Ermedeline averted her gaze to the documents, avoiding the sudden movement of Felio lifting his head.

‘Surely, he didn’t notice, right?’

Ermedeline inwardly praised her agile reflexes.

‘Hmm.’

However, due to Felio having sensed all of Ermedeline’s sidelong glances in the past few days, her actions seemed merely adorable to him.

If only he could reach out and run his hand through her ebony-like hair right at that moment.

Yet, every day, he exercised superhuman patience, refraining from doing so.

Thanks to that, there was no sign of a bruise fading on his thigh.

‘She’s a married woman, a married woman. Pull yourself together!’

‘But can you consider these two as a married couple? I’d rather if Leopold really became the emperor instead…’

Thinking about her fervent support for the emperor, she knew her current thoughts were the epitome of filial impiety and disloyalty. 

Yet, she couldn’t find a way to prevent her mind from wandering in that direction.

Felio, completely noticing Ermedeline fixating her gaze on the documents to avoid his own, blatantly stared at her.

On his fair fingers sat a ring symbolizing the Empress and another representing the Francoise Duchy, both forming massive barriers between her and him.

‘Shall we just forget everything and try to live somewhere secluded?’

‘Will she agree if I suggest that? I’ve saved up some money, so maybe we could buy a boat and sail to a completely different continent…’

Amidst Felio swimming through an endless sea of fantasies, Ermedeline, scanning the papers, stumbled upon something peculiar.

“Your Grace. I see the name Alicia on the interview list here… by any chance?”

Felio, snapped back to reality by Ermedeline’s question, managed to recover from his floating thoughts.

“Indeed. That’s correct. Although it’s a modest ability, being a sacred healer, she can at least treat minor injuries. It’s better to have someone like that around when there are many children gathered…”

“Wow! Honestly, I never even thought this far. As expected of you, Your Grace. Amazing!”

Ermedeline lifted her thumb, praising Felio.

“Yes. And Alicia has been traveling to attend to patients so far, but due to her pregnancy, she seems to need a stable job… Not that we are obliging her to work, but Her Majesty the Empress might conduct the interview herself…”

“I understand. I know what you mean. I’ll make the final decision after personally meeting with her.”

Ermedeline lowered her head again to review the documents.

“Phew.”

Observing Ermedeline’s solemn demeanor, Felio secretly sighed, reproaching himself for being distracted.

‘Focus on the documents. Her Majesty the Empress is striving for the lives of her people, and here I am…’

At that moment, white flower petals drifted in through the window, landing on the edge of Ermedeline’s chin.

Felio, instinctively trying to remove the petal with one hand, immediately stopped himself with the other hand.

‘Am I crazy? Seriously?’

Caught between deciding whether to say something or not, he hesitated, and the petal slid down, this time reaching near her collarbone.

Felio, unknowingly, followed the falling petal with his gaze, which landed slightly on Ermedeline’s chest, visible atop her dress.

Thunk!

At that moment, Felio’s chair made a loud noise as it toppled backward.

“Your Grace!!”

Ermedeline, genuinely surprised, widened her eyes and bent at the waist to inspect Felio.

‘Oh, please, don’t come closer!’

But his inner plea didn’t reach Ermedeline.

“Why are you like this? Are you hurt somewhere? Your face is too red. Did you catch a cold? I should get Louise right away…”

“No, it’s nothing. Don’t!”

Trying to call Rooney, Ermedeline, Felio urgently intervened.

Of course, due to being sprawled on the floor, he barely managed to grasp Ermedeline’s sleeve.

“You can’t. Someone suddenly falling backward, of course, needs to be checked.”

With Felio’s head already spinning as fast as it could, blood rushed to his head, as it was about to reach his life’s maximum speed.

‘Think! Think! Come up with a plausible answer!’

“Well, I just dozed off!”

“What?”

As Rooney and Margo, alerted by the noise, rushed in and approached Felio, witnessing the scene.

“Why are you acting like this, Your Grace? Are you hurt somewhere…”

“No, it’s okay! I’m fine!”

As Felio struggled to get up, the three women by his side grabbed his arms and helped him stand.

“He says he dozed off.”

“Dozed off? Dozing off and falling backward? Uh, hmph.”

An odd sound escaped from Rooney, who was forcing a laugh.

“I should have guessed that Your Grace was tired these days, helping me with my work. I’m sorry.”

Unlike Rooney, Ermedeline didn’t display any traces of laughter on her face; her concern for Felio seemed genuine.

“I’m not tired! I’m perfectly fine! Just… I had a hearty breakfast, that’s all!”

“No, this is clearly my fault. I should give you a break for a while.”

“A break? I really don’t need it!”

Felio tried to show his vitality by clenching his fists tightly, but Ermedeline’s expression remained firm.

“You need rest right now. Besides, I was planning to discuss something shortly; I’m soon heading to the Grand Temple in her place.”

“What?”

Before the onset of summer, a beautiful and serene spring day, yet unlike the weather, the people of Trivian always endured a challenging period around this time every year.

As harvested crops dwindled and staples like barley and fruits were yet to be produced in abundance, it was a season where food prices skyrocketed.

When the time came every generation in the Trivian Empire, it was a long-standing tradition for nobles to engage in extensive personal or public donations. 

Even the royal family was not an exception, allocating funds and reducing taxes as benefits during this period.

During this challenging season, the Empress traditionally offered prayers to the Trivian gods at the Grand Hall, situated in the far eastern mountainous region, as the empire passed through these trying times.

However, lately, Valiere had visited the Grand Temple Instead of Ermedeline, who showed no interest in these matters. 

In fact, nobody had asked Ermedeline to make the trip to the Grand Temple ever since she became Empress several years ago.

Yet, this year, despite Valiere being pensioned off after losing her child and Henry, too, being saddened and angered by her state, she had no intention of sending Valiere to the temple.

“If the Empress isn’t inclined, you don’t have to go. It’s not a mandatory event,” Henry said, but for Ermedeline, it was a tradition dating back generations, making it difficult to outright ignore.

Moreover, considering Rooney’s mention that the Grand Temple was situated in a serene place deep within the mountains, it seemed like a good place to cool one’s head.

‘Usually, temples are built in beautiful places with good water and mountains, right? Let’s think of it as an early vacation. Truthfully, I want to get away from this tiresome atmosphere a bit.’

Months had passed since the possession. 

It had been a time of relentless running, trying to survive alongside Ferdant and somehow erase the sins remaining within this body.

Throughout this time, there had been encounters with countless people’s hatred and hostility.

Dealing with Henry, who changed his mind so frequently, was challenging enough, but now, facing Valiere’s incessant resentment as well, Ermedeline felt completely drained. 

It seemed like the right time for a bit of rest.

“I will go.”

“The Empress? Really?”

Henry frowned as if he saw something he couldn’t bear, despite speaking out of curiosity when Ermedeline actually confirmed she would go.

“Are you truly saying you’ll go to the Grand Hall?”

“Yes. It’s only about three weeks anyway, isn’t it? Can’t I do that much for the well-being of the Trivian Empire? After all, I am called the Empress.”

Ermedeline intentionally emphasized the word “Empress” to hide her desire for a vacation.

“If that’s your wish, then I understand. Please take care.”

***

“As the hardship period has returned, it’s time for the Empress to fulfill her duties.”

Felio’s expression seemed even more unsettling than Henry’s, prompting Ermedeline to purposefully show determination, fixing her gaze confidently.

“The Grand Hall… Are you really saying you’ll go there?”

“That’s right. I’m really going.”

“But what about the priests?”

“What about them?”

“Isn’t there a long-standing feud between the clergy and the Francoise Duchy?”

“Ah…”

It suddenly came to mind.

Despite momentarily forgetting due to Louise’s warm demeanor in the palace, the original Ermedeline harbored deep animosity towards the clergy and was the archenemy of the archenemy. 

Moreover, there was a description in the original where the High Priestess, during her execution, looked back at Valiere with a smile of vindication.

“Maybe not going would be… advisable.”

“It’s impossible to neglect obligations just because relations are strained. I’ve already committed to going…”

However, Ermedeline’s inner turmoil grew more complex.

She had barely managed to avoid insults or being pelted with stones while walking the streets. 

Yet, the nobles still despised her, and there had been numerous assassination attempts.

In the end, it was not the people but Henry and the nobles who held Ermedeline’s fate in their hands.

“If I choose not to go now, I’m sure they’ll sneer and mock me for it.”

“Shall I accompany you?”

Felio made a surprising suggestion to Ermedeline, who looked troubled.

“If you also leave, who will oversee the orphanage and sewage construction?”

“Don’t we have ladies for that?”

“Are you not aware that the ladies are currently busy recruiting staff to work in the orphanage, preparing teaching materials, and handling interior decorations? You have to stay behind to approve the payments.”

Despite intending to take a break and relax, the thought of facing the vivid animosities encountered at the initial possession made Ermedeline feel utterly drained.

“Your Majesty!”

At that moment, Bellest entered the audience chamber exuding a delightful aura.