I Possessed The Immoral Empress

“Ah, goodness. What on earth is that woman?”

In his early twenties, Arvian became a candidate for the High Priest not only because of his boundless sanctity but also for a special reason unknown to the public.

He had the ability to see through souls.

When he claimed to see through, it was more of a vague form and impression, but at least he could discern how corrupt a person’s soul was.

Arvian, at a very young age, once said about a passerby, “That man’s soul is as red as blood!” and was treated as a lunatic by those around him. 

Later, due to thugs targeting him, he lost his father.

No one believed in the ability to discern souls, and due to self-blame for his father’s loss over the useless comment, Arvian almost loathed his own ability.

However, after losing his mother as well due to famine and war during his childhood and living a rough life on the streets, Arvian finally realized the true value of his ability.

He could distinguish people as those worth clinging to, those worth deceiving, those absolutely not to be touched, and even those to avoid brushing past.

If it weren’t for the pivotal moment when his sanctity activated, sparing him from ever meeting the High Priest Noctavinus due to a twist of fate, Arvian would have merely been discovered in a dark alley as a tragic corpse, having been taken advantage of or swindling someone using his abilities, only to face dire consequences.

“A black soul, an absolute darkness that not even a ray of light can penetrate.”

“Is it just darkness?”

“Dark and sinister… and sorrowful.”

This was Noctavinus’s disciple’s impression upon seeing Ermedeline when he visited the capital.

Noctavinus, the only person who believed in his abilities, responded to those words with a bitter smile.

“I see, a soul that is both sinister and sorrowful.”

Having encountered various souls while living on the streets, Arvian distinctly remembered never having seen a soul as dark and profound as Ermedeline’s.

However, what did he see today?

The outer shell clearly matched that woman, but her soul was far too pure.

A pure white soul that couldn’t be associated with malice.

If there was one thing Ermedeline and her shared was that the white soul was profoundly sorrowful.

‘She’s really strange. Why is she suddenly crying? Now I feel like I’m the weird one for no reason!’

He needed to figure out who the soul inside the Empress belonged to, yet she cried out of the blue.

What was so good about having a white soul? With a foolishly bright smile, she shed tears.

Because of that, he couldn’t ask the crucial question and ended up being misunderstood by Rooney, who had just entered, and was driven away needlessly.

Arvian couldn’t shake off the image of that smiling face full of tears.

How should he describe it?

A smile filled with joy looking so sorrowful.

Arvian immediately sought out his master, Noctavinus.

“You were aware, weren’t you?”

“What?”

“I sensed something fishy! Ever since that woman’s visit was allowed, I found it suspicious!”

“What are you talking about? If Her Majesty, the Empress, is visiting, do I have the right to refuse the visit?”

“Stop pretending! You knew! You knew there’s another soul inside that body!”

“How would I know that? Gods haven’t granted me such a precious ability.”

“You’re too nonchalant for someone who claims not to know! Where are you lying?”

“Tsk tsk. Is the disciple of the gods getting angry? Sit down for a moment.”

Noctavinus casually beckoned Arvian, tapping his side with a composed expression.

“I don’t have the ability to see souls like you do. But I always pay attention.”

“Paying attention?”

“Well, you might skip prayer time every time, but I do listen.”

“Did the gods tell you they’d put another soul into the Empress’ body?”

“No. The gods didn’t say such things. I just pay close attention.”

With Noctavinus’s cryptic response, Arvian’s patience was wearing thin.

“So, what did you hear?”

“I heard about the Empress’s past actions.”

“What?”

“From Louise in the Empress’s palace and from the suffering people during the epidemic.”

“So what? Anyone can imitate that level of acting, you know?”

“Look at the bigger picture.”

“What?”

“Look at the bigger picture. It’s not about focusing on just one person. It’s about seeing the events caused by the Empress’s actions and what will happen in the future.”

“Ugh. This cryptic talk again. Babbling about things that make no sense!”

Noctavinus, while rolling his eyes, gently patted Arvian’s head with a wistful gaze directed skyward.

“To comprehend my lofty spiritual achievements, you’d have to live a long time.”

“Fine! I’ll live for eons, for centuries! Until I paint the walls brown! Hmph!”

Despite Arvian turning his head in disdain due to Noctavinus’s ongoing vague talk, he didn’t mind the touch as he sat by his side for a while, receiving the gentle strokes.

***

“Did he say something irritating again?”

As Rooney, who had almost kicked Arvian out earlier for making Ermedelin cry, wiped Ermedelin’s face with a clean towel, shedding tears alongside her.

“No, it’s not like that. It’s just that the priest…”

It’s hard to explain.

She couldn’t tell her that she wasn’t actually from here, and she couldn’t tell her that the grumpy priest saw souls.

“He probably offended the Empress again! Next time I meet him, I won’t let him off easy!”

Rooney, with fists clenched, fiercely stoking the embers of misunderstanding, looked so adorable that Ermedelin’s tears subsided.

“Am I kind?”

Ermedelin asked, pulling Rooney close into her arms. 

As a relatively tall woman, Ermedelin easily held the smaller-bodied Rooney in her embrace.

“Huh?”

Surprised by Ermedelin’s sudden question amid tears, Rooney decided to respond nonetheless.

“Yes. You’re kind. Maybe too kind, which might be the problem.”

“Really? Am I a kind person?”

The response seemed to please Ermedeline as she burst into a loud laugh, leaning her chin on Rooney’s forehead.

‘Hmm. He definitely said something weird. Next time I see him, I’ll pluck a handful of his hair!’

Ermedeline’s excited demeanor at the compliment only deepened Rooney’s misunderstanding.

***

At the same time in the capital’s palace.

“That woman, is there anything suspicious about her?”

“No. We’ve investigated her in various ways, but she’s just a widow from an old local aristocratic family.”

“I see.”

“There’s nothing concrete yet, although the timing of her approach to Marchioness Belian is a bit suspicious,” Henry remarked, receiving the report from Duke Hallstein.

“What’s Valliere’s intention in approaching Leopold through that woman?”

“She apparently wants to express gratitude for the gift she received during the coronation.”

“Is it sudden curiosity that sparked this?”

“It could be, or it might simply be an action to attract His Majesty’s attention.”

“Hmm. What should we do about this matter?”

“There was also the note received from Prince Ermond, right? Which was once posted on…”

At Duke Hallstein’s words, Henry swept his chin with his long fingers and lowered his head.

“No. That issue is premature to expose now. For the time being, continue to monitor. I’m curious about how Leopold will react.”

“Then, should the Marchioness keep playing along?”

“No, release the playacting. If Valliere continues trying to contact Leopold persistently, we might be able to exploit the situation from our side later.”

Duke Hallstein shivered momentarily at Henry’s emotionless remark.

He, who had been observing how much Henry loved Valliere all this time, knew it best.

However, the immediate turn to politically exploit their relationship as soon as there was a slight rift was unsettling.

Count Hallstein couldn’t help but feel a chilling emptiness at Henry’s actions.

However, in loyal fashion, without showing any outward emotion, he simply left his office to carry out his orders.

As soon as the playacting ceased, Valliere, as expected, sought out Leopold.

Although Henry had begrudgingly agreed to the charade to appease her nerves, secretly, he had hoped she would seek him out first. This slight disappointment was felt within him.

‘Well, that’s fine. If there’s any bond formed between them, I can use that as leverage.’

Henry found himself laughing at the irony of contemplating such thoughts about his lover, feeling desolate within himself.

Having given up on being human when he killed his step brothers, why did that guy’s heart still manage to agitate people so deeply?

Suddenly, an unbearable fundamental loneliness engulfed Henry.

Shivering with a cold sensation throughout his body, Henry wrapped his arms around himself.

After a moment, when he regained his composure, he couldn’t help but find his own state of being utterly ridiculous.

‘Hm. This might as well be my appearance for the rest of my life.’

***

Leopold also felt extremely uncomfortable with Valliere’s visit.

He was already concerned about Ermedeline leaving for the temple to pray, and having this Emperor’s Mistress constantly sending people was unsettling enough, but now she had come herself.

‘Does she know how much surveillance is imposed around here? Is she doing this despite knowing? Trying to provoke jealousy?’

Valliere, whom Leopold had naturally assumed he wouldn’t have any contact with, suddenly being so proactive made him think that maybe he should meet her at least once.

“I heard about the sad news. It must be a great loss,” greeted Leopold in a polite manner.

Valliere nodded with a composed smile. “Yes. Well, yes.”

Leopold’s residence, which encompassed an entire mansion near the palace, was extravagantly opulent, perhaps even more luxurious than the palace itself.

“However, what brings you to visit today?” asked Leopold kindly.

Valliere, with a slight smile and a shy voice, replied, “I felt I didn’t properly thank you for the gift you gave me before.”

“Didn’t we exchange greetings at the ball? That should be sufficient,” Leopold remarked, sipping wine from a crystal glass with a relaxed smile.

Leopold’s crystal glass looked remarkably similar to the one Valliere had accidentally broken several times, which Henry had prevented from being replaced.

For a moment, Valliere was reminded of her initial situation when she first possessed someone, as she gazed at the glass with a nostalgic glint in her eyes.

“Oh, you haven’t offered me a drink,” she remarked with a touch of regret.

At Leopold’s gesture, a beautiful crystal glass appeared in front of Valliere, emitting a radiant glow.

“Please have the drink of your choice. If there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave,” Leopold offered.

When Leopold, who found her gaze uncomfortable, began to rise, Valliere urgently caught his attention with a desperate voice.

“W-wait!”

Leopold, already standing, glanced down at Valliere with an indifferent gaze.

“Aren’t Your Grace His Majesty’s brother? That means we are somewhat close, and I wanted to build some camaraderie…”

Leopold forced a smile, barely holding back the urge to scream at how he could be so close to the Emperor’s mistress..

“Even if you wish to build camaraderie, coming here so personally is awkward for both me and the Marquess. I’m hosting a ball next week; please attend then.”

As politely as possible, Leopold invited Valliere to the ball and, as he left the reception room, murmured to his butler, “Get rid of that glass. Give it to someone else if she won’t take it.”

‘Is she changing her target just because things aren’t going her way? Such a frivolous woman who doesn’t even bother to grasp the bare minimum of the situation. Why does Henry bother taking care of such a lightweight woman?’

Despite being a bitter enemy who had murdered his brothers, Leopold begrudgingly acknowledged that Henry was fundamentally intelligent.

Therefore, when he heard rumors about the government, he naturally expected a politically helpful woman, or at least a sophisticated woman capable of offering wise counsel for him.

However, the reality of the government figure Henry introduced him to was not just off the mark but far from it.

Even while dancing with him at the ball, she couldn’t hide her jealousy towards Henry, revealing her emotions all too clearly on her face.

Ermedeline might have been stiff all over, but at least she could conceal her emotions to some extent.

‘If Henry’s taste is at this level, then naturally, refined and elegant women like Ermedeline wouldn’t have even caught his eye.’