I Possessed The Immoral Empress

“Take a look at this!”

Bellest presented a sample of bedding intended for use in the orphanage.

“It may not be a very luxurious fabric, but it’s soft cotton that I think would be good for the children! Since we’re purchasing in bulk, the merchant offered us a reasonable price!”

“I see. Indeed, it feels soft to the touch.”

Felio, seeing Ermedeline captivated by the bedding Bellest brought, felt a twinge of inner disappointment but also a sense of relief. 

If Ermedeline had dwelled on the recent incident about the vacation and made it a big issue, it would have been truly embarrassing. 

Thanks to Bellest, Ermedeline’s attention was diverted, which was a fortunate turn of events.

“What about Your Grace? How do you  feel about this? It seems to fit the budget, doesn’t it?”

“Well, it’s not bad.”

However, even with that seemingly neutral response, he felt a bit miffed, have to share Ermedeline attention with Bellest.

“‘Not bad?’ If it were up to you, you’d have probably been swindled by some shady merchant and paid a fortune for shoddy goods, wouldn’t you? It’s so obvious.”

Felio wanted to retort to Bellest’s words, but in truth, there was a grain of truth to it, so he remained silent and merely glanced at her.

He lacked any skill in trade dealings, and he had completely avoided delicate matters like interior decoration altogether.

Ermedeline spent a considerable amount of time examining various furniture samples and teaching materials brought by the maids.

“Please expedite the payment for today’s approved items. Isn’t that your responsibility regarding the paperwork?”

Ermedeline smiled at Bellest’s words and gently declined.

“His Grace seems to be tired these days, so I’ll give him a little vacation.”

“A vacation?”

The maids’ curious gazes fixated on Felio.

“I’m fine! I really am!”

Suddenly recalling the earlier incident, Felio’s face began to redden once more.

“It’s fine. How tired one must be…”

Ermedeline, who was about to ask if he fell backward, reconsidered, contemplating Felio’s perspective.

However, without any consideration for Felio, Rooney, who lacked empathy, calmly revealed the truth.

“His Highness nodded off a little while ago and fell backward while sitting in the chair.”

“What?”

‘Ah, I want to disappear.’

Felio covered his face with his large hands and bowed his head.

A behavior seldom exhibited.

Misunderstanding that he had fallen asleep embarrassed Felio, but he felt even more ashamed as he knew the real reason for his fall.

‘What am I? Was I such a clumsy person?’

Lost in self-loathing, Felio couldn’t break free until Ermedeline’s incredibly kind voice reached him.

“Why be embarrassed? It’s merely because you’ve been tired for months, dealing with tasks I’ve requested. It’s embarrassing that I didn’t notice Your Grace was this exhausted. I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

‘Please don’t apologize!’

Felio’s conscience screamed inside, but it fell on deaf ears when it came to Ermedeline.

“If you’re that tired, just say so. We may not be as capable as you, but we can assist with basic checks.”

Even Bellest, with a worried tone that differed from usual, urged Felio regarding his changed attitude.

“It wasn’t because I was busy with work! I simply couldn’t sleep for days due to overthinking. I’ll be more careful from now on!”

To prove his vigor, Felio abruptly stood up and yelled loudly.

However, Ermedeline and the others appeared merely perplexed by his gaze.

Feeling awkward, Felio attempted to sit down as naturally as possible, but due to his stiff body, he struggled to find the chair. Bellest, noticing his plight, quickly handed him the chair.

“T-Thank you.”

As Felio sat down and focused on the documents again, Ermedeline and the maids looked at him with slightly concerned eyes, reflecting on whether they had been relying too much on him.

Only Rooney continued to gaze at Felio’s flushed ears with a suspicious look.

***

Though it was the Empress’s procession, the attendance was minimal due to the event being a prayer to the gods.

With Ermedeline, two maids, and the use of magic circles to directly reach the temple, it seemed there was no need for additional security personnel.

‘Although it’s considered the safest place in the empire…’

As they headed toward the grand temple, Ermedeline couldn’t help but worry more about the priests inside the temple than the potential assassins.

‘Still, they are priests; what mischief could they possibly get into? Louise alone was always more concerned about getting hurt, remember?’

As the magic circle slowly began to glow, Ermedeline’s attention had already drifted elsewhere.

Just before the activation of the magic circle, her eyes met with Felio, who had come to see them off.

‘What, what’s wrong?’

She noticed Felio mouthing something, but it happened too quickly for her to decipher what he was saying.

‘It probably wasn’t something important. If it were, he would have written it down.’

Before Ermedeline’s curiosity could fully emerge, the scenery before her completely changed in the blink of an eye.

Although she had experienced it before, it was still fascinating.

The destination, referred to as the Grand Temple, stood on an incredibly grand scale, far surpassing the central temple in the capital.

‘I thought the central temple in the capital was sizable, but this is incomparable. Why are the ceilings so high?’

No matter where she looked, there were dazzling white and translucent walls, giving the impression of an entire temple carved from an opaque crystal.

In this vast space, not a single seam or pillar was visible. 

Only the six statues guarding the Trivian Empire stood out in the pure white interior.

The carved sculptures on the enormous walls were several times the size of a human, instilling a sense of overwhelming awe in the worshippers.

‘Judging by the crown, that must be the deity Harmonium.’

Enthralled by the spectacle, Ermedeline found herself wandering around like a tourist, exploring various areas in a daze.

“Um, um. I greet Her Majesty the Empress.”

An impatient priest eventually pretended to recognize Ermedeline first.

“Oh, hello. Thank you for coming to greet me.”

Quickly regaining her composure, Ermedeline bowed towards the priests who came to welcome her.

A gulp.

‘As expected…’

Although it was merely a fleeting eye contact, the priests’ gazes were filled with disdain and contempt.

‘Sigh. Well, as long as I pray alone and leave, there shouldn’t be much trouble.’

“I’ll guide you to the High Priest’s chamber.”

Ermedeline nodded slightly in response to the courteous tone that sharply contrasted with the harsh glares, then followed the priests.

Glancing out of the window while heading to the High Priest’s chamber, she was greeted by a truly otherworldly sight. It almost felt like the time spent within the palace was a wasted opportunity.

‘I can’t wait to get out of the palace so that Ferdant and I can explore places like this…….’

Across from the temple, constructed at the edge of a cliff, there was a colossal waterfall and beneath it lay a vast valley shimmering in a jade-like hue.

The valley between the cliffs bloomed with a myriad of flowers, rendering the view outside the window an almost surreal painting.

The harmonious melodies of birdsong were an added bonus to the picturesque scene.

‘Yeah, bring on the hatred. It’s a healing process, a healing! I’m here for proper healing!’

After ascending a long flight of stairs, a small door appeared in a cramped space. 

Inside was a modest room with nothing but a shabby wooden bed and a small table. 

An elderly man with snow-white hair knelt beside it, and a young priest stood nearby, seemingly inattentive.

“Ahem.”

Ermedeline impulsively approached the elderly man, intending to help him up.

But before Ermedeline could even touch him, the young priest guarding the High Priest quickly swatted her hand away.

“Dare?!”

Caught off guard by the bizarre situation, Ermedeline’s intent gaze towards the priest who forcefully pushed her hand away soon left her speechless.

Before her stood a man with an incredibly beautiful face, so striking that even if someone insisted he was a woman, one might believe it. 

His enchanting, silvery waterfall-like hair tied neatly exuded an eerie yet unmistakable charm.

Although slender in build, his broadened shoulders retained a masculine distinction despite the delicate frame.

‘Sure, there are handsome men, but this is too overwhelming…’

Her admiration for his appearance was brief. 

His piercing crimson eyes initially filled with contempt swiftly transformed into astonishment, as if blood would start flowing at any moment.

‘W-What? I didn’t do anything!’

Ermedeline was used to contemptuous gazes, but the subsequent expression of horror felt uncomfortably vivid and unsettling.

“How dare you show disrespect to Her Majesty the Empress! This child has committed a transgression due to inadequate devotion. Your Majesty, please, with your gracious heart, understand.”

Looking around, it was evident that if Her Majesty didn’t understand, they might as well be ready to have their hair pulled out. 

In fact, apart from the High Priest, everyone mirrored the same faces she had encountered initially.

“No, it was my fault for reaching out first. I was merely trying to offer support. Nevertheless, even if it leads to misunderstanding, I have no objections.”

Seeing no advantage in looking hostile, Ermedeline politely nodded and greeted the High Priest.

“I amNoktavinus, the first servant of the gods. This is my disciple, Arvian.”

‘Arvian?’

A peculiar name, somewhat familiar.

‘Ah, right! This is it! The secondary male lead from the original work appears here!’

Why had she forgotten this crucial fact?

Looking again at the man’s face, glaring at her with a harsh expression, she realized he was exactly as described—a handsome face as portrayed in the novel.

According to the original story, Valliere was supposed to come to the temple as usual each year. 

This setting marked the first meeting between the secondary male lead, Arvian, and Valliere.

Arvian would later become the figure who bravely stood by Valliere’s side, sealing Ermedeline’s curse magic, earning significant recognition for his contribution during the story’s progression.

He would become the next High Priest after handling Ermedeline’s case, even smiling coldly while she writhed in agony during her execution.

Lately, memories of the original story seemed to fade gradually, but forgetting such a crucial event felt truly frustrating for Ermedeline. 

She resented herself for simply agreeing to come to the temple.

“I am pleased to meet you under these circumstances.”

Despite feeling incredibly awkward, Ermedeline forced a smile and greeted the High Priest, who received her greeting politely but with a more profound bow. 

However, Arvian, standing behind him, still glared at Ermedeline with a terrifying, malevolent look.

‘Ugh, it’s just one problem after another! Did I come here for a vacation from my troubles? I should’ve stayed and finished my donations. Seriously, do they want me to be barbecue meat?’

At this point, even if she scolded herself, there was no way she could return immediately upon arrival.

‘Perhaps I should consider it fortunate that I met you before Valliere did.’

Trying her best not to provoke Arvian’s mood, Ermedeline stumbled through her thoughts whenNoktavinus, the High Priest, cautiously took Ermedeline’s hand.

“Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”

‘Expecting me? But didn’t Valliere come every year?’

Ermedeline doubted the waiting part, but unable to retort against the old man’s warm smile, she continued with an awkward smile.

‘Still, this elder seems unbiased. Although in the original story, he seemed to have died… Why did he die?’

Thump.

Ermedeline’s heart suddenly sank and then jolted back up.

Noktavinus—an individual who, during the original story’s progression, persuaded Ermedeline until her curse magic led to his demise. 

He became the catalyst for Arvian’s awakening as the secondary male lead.

Each detailed memory from the original work came flooding back, causing a cold sweat to trickle down Ermedeline’s back. 

While the soul remained blameless, facing a character destined to meet their demise was undeniably unsettling.

As Ermedeline momentarily struggled with shortness of breath,Noktavinus gently patted her back, reassuring her, “It’s okay. You’re okay now.”