Chapter 95
Chapter 95. The Emperor is Dead
Marquis Gendal had just sent word. Finally, they could bring the Empress to a divine trial.
A gleam of obsessive delight appeared in Eurene’s green eyes as she threw a thick cloak over her shoulders.
“It won’t be long now before I can leave this wretched detached palace…”
Despite the unfavorable rumors spreading about the Empress, there were still servants within the detached palace who persecuted her. The disdainful looks, as if seeing someone trying to usurp Her Majesty the Empress’s rightful position and place, the whispers questioning whether the child in her womb was truly the Emperor’s. Even the doctor who diagnosed her pregnancy didn’t offer so much as a word of congratulations.
She had endured the humiliation steadfastly for this very moment.
The downfall of the Empress. The moment when all the empire’s people would learn the true nature of that devilish woman.
She had been busy all this time. First, she became close to some servants who pitied her and spread the news of that day outside the palace.
That the Emperor, as if he had lost his mind, searched only for the Empress, drank the medicine placed in the room, and became a cold corpse while vomiting blood. And that perhaps behind all this was the Empress of Veshnu origin. That she had stolen Sefitiana to bewitch the Emperor, and now was planning to devour Tessibania.
Half the people still didn’t believe it, but that would completely change after today’s divine trial.
Eurene, with her hood pulled low, stepped out of the detached palace.
Marquis Gendal, who had been the main force behind the former emperor, had contacted her the very day after she entered the detached palace. One of the Marquis’s subordinates, who had remained in the detached palace to help the former emperor, had relayed the news to him.
He was truly cunning. Judging the former emperor to be a rotten lifeline beyond salvation, and sensing that it would be difficult to wield power as long as the Empress was around, he sought a new lifeline.
The seed in her womb, which might be Emperor Tetar’s child.
As they both had no other choice, she willingly used him too.
She created a connection with the Grand Priest using Ansha, and then, backed by Marquis Gendal, continuously provoked the Grand Priest’s desires. It was easy to tempt him, who desired power beyond the temple. With evidence to bring down the Empress and an opportunity to prove the temple’s dignity through a divine trial, he must have seen only a future of success.
It had indeed turned out that way, so it wasn’t a deal where neither side benefited.
Eurene, keeping her head down to avoid people’s eyes, clutched her belly, which somehow felt a bit heavier despite it being impossible.
She recalled Marquis Gendal’s fishy gaze as he looked at her belly. And his voice asking, as if it didn’t matter what the truth was.
‘Is the child in your womb really His Majesty’s child? I’ve heard there wasn’t enough time for such a thing to happen.’
‘How rude…!’
‘Well, it doesn’t matter. Since we can’t use paternity test magic on a dead person, whatever the truth is, we just need to proceed with our plan.’
She wasn’t sure why he had asked again in his urgent message just now whether the child in her womb was really His Majesty’s, but in any case, this child would become the one and only crown prince of Tessibania.
The Emperor was dead, and the childless Empress would have her head cut off at the divine trial.
The rumor that the former emperor had a new woman was a bit annoying, but that too was a problem that could be dealt with by telling Marquis Gendal.
Eurene hurried her steps. To testify about the Emperor’s strange behavior she had witnessed before at the trial, she needed to head to the temple using the teleportation magic circle along with the nobles.
As Eurene left the detached palace, she heard a commotion from afar.
“—Please let me see them just once! It’s urgent!”
The sound could be heard because the detached palace was not far from the back door of the main palace.
As she was about to continue on her way, a disturbing word caught her ear.
“Please deliver a message to His Majesty, no, to Her Majesty the Empress! Just tell her that Priest Barmando’s disciple requests an audience! And the name Nemil too!”
Eurene approached the center of the commotion with a frown.
“A priest…?”
Beneath the cloth tied like a bag on his chest, a white priest’s robe was visible. What business could a priest, who rarely leaves the temple except for special occasions, have at the imperial palace?
“What’s going on?”
As there had been no order from the Empress to restrict entry, Eurene was free to move about. She had only stayed inside the detached palace because there was no reason to meet anyone other than family.
The soldier guarding the door noticed Eurene and slightly frowned. He was one of those who still protected the Empress despite rumors that she had killed the Emperor.
As Eurene’s sharp gaze turned towards the soldier, he reluctantly spoke.
“A priest came unannounced asking to see His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress. We explained that it’s not possible according to protocol, but he’s being unreasonable and it’s troublesome. My lady, you can go back in now.”
Eurene looked at the soldier’s disrespectful eyes directed at her. Polite words but a rude gaze, a wall erected to keep her out of this matter. She disliked it all.
“…Let him in.”
“That’s not possible.”
Eurene pushed the soldier’s chest with her hand. It was a weak push, but fearing the consequences of mishandling a noble lady, he hurriedly stepped back.
Eurene opened the iron door the soldier had been guarding and nodded at Nemil.
“Come in.”
“Th-thank you…!”
The soldier, with a face struggling to contain his anger, spoke to Eurene.
“You can’t do this. There are rules in the imperial palace. How can you let someone in without properly verifying their identity and purpose?”
“I, the lady of the Castallo Duchy, will vouch for him. Isn’t that enough?”
“Other than His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress, no one can freely use the authority to let someone into the palace. You, my lady, are a guest staying in the detached palace. Even if it’s your guest, you know you should have informed us in advance.”
Eurene bit her lower lip hard. She wanted to drive this rude soldier out of the palace immediately, but she was furious that she couldn’t.
As Eurene habitually placed her hand on her belly, the soldier looked at her with disapproving eyes and turned his head.
“I will report this to my superiors, my lady.”
“Do so. But only until I can no longer be called ‘my lady’ by the likes of you.”
Eurene turned away with a cold face. Nemil, who had hurriedly followed her into the palace, bowed deeply when the soldier was out of sight.
“May God’s blessing be upon you. A servant of God Urogia offers thanks.”
Eurene spoke to him in a cold voice as he expressed his gratitude.
“Now go back to the main gate. You’ve come a long way, but those you wish to meet can no longer be seen.”
“On my way here, I heard that His Majesty had fallen ill. It’s fine if I can only see Her Majesty the Empress. It’s really important.”
“…Do you think my words don’t make sense? Do you think I’m lying?”
“Pardon?”
As Nemil asked in confusion at the sudden sharp words, Eurene avoided his eyes with a start.
“His Majesty has passed away.”
“That can’t be. I haven’t heard such news.”
“It’s because Her Majesty the Empress is deliberately spreading false rumors. My words are true. I’m someone who directly witnessed His Majesty’s corpse.”
“That can’t be…”
Eurene spoke once more to the shocked-looking Nemil, as if driving in a final nail.
“He’s dead. I, the lady of the Castallo Duchy, saw it myself.”
“But the imperial palace is too quiet for that… Is Her Majesty the Empress in the palace now?”
A look of displeasure flashed across Eurene’s face. She had told the truth, even mentioning her family name, yet why couldn’t this priest accept it readily?
“No. Her Majesty the Empress has gone to the central temple to receive a divine trial. Even if she returns, she won’t be in a state to speak. So don’t waste your time and go back to the temple.”
“A divine trial? Why are you saying such blasphemous things? You could be punished for insulting the royal family, my lady.”
As Nemil spoke with a hardened face, Eurene snorted, lifting the corner of her lips. As the gentle expression that had remained on her face completely disappeared, the fierce emotions hidden beneath were revealed. Jealousy, envy, hatred towards the Empress…
Nemil took a step back, startled. Eurene raised her head, imagining the Empress’s downfall.
“Whether it’s blasphemous or not, you’ll soon find out, Priest. And the crime of insulting the royal family doesn’t apply to other royals.”
“Other royals? Just who are you…”
Someone who will soon become royalty. Eurene didn’t bother to say that she would be the empress of the dead emperor. After all, tomorrow, along with the Empress’s execution, news of her innocence would spread throughout the empire.
“You’ll find out about that soon enough too. Please stop causing a disturbance and leave the palace.”
“…I can’t do that. I must see Her Majesty the Empress before I go.”
“You’re quite stubborn. If you want to have a conversation with His Majesty’s corpse, go ahead.”
Nemil, who had been looking into Eurene’s eyes, lowered his gaze and after a brief consideration, spoke.
“I don’t know what your hatred towards them stems from, but I hope God will look upon you with pity.”
Nemil turned away without exchanging any more words with Eurene. Eurene called out to his back in an indignant voice.
“Who hates whom? I don’t hate His Majesty!”
Nemil stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Eurene again. Her beautiful green eyes, now wavering, somehow gave a feeling similar to the eyes of a venomous snake.
“I hope you will reflect on yourself, my lady. Even to my eyes, a mere human, your hatred is visible. Surely you, not being God yourself, must be aware of it. I appreciate your help.”
As the priest turned his back again and went on his way, Eurene trembled, recalling all the harsh treatment she had endured in the detached palace.
How dare, how dare a mere priest! How can someone who was likely of much lower status than her before becoming a priest act so stiffly and arbitrarily decide on crimes she hadn’t committed!
Filled with indignation, Eurene reached out towards the priest. The cloth the priest was carrying on his back was pulled by her white fingers and eventually fell to the floor.
With a clatter—
Along with a large, circular crystal.
