Chapter 24
(24) I Will Protect Your Majesty (16)
Barely escaping from the elders, Eyo checked that the hallway was empty before sweeping his face with both hands.
In an instant, his black hair turned blonde, and his dark eyes shifted to a deep violet.
‘His Majesty was right.’
The number of knights within the imperial palace had decreased.
‘Did they really create a rift in the bustling district? I wonder if His Majesty is safe.’
He wanted to rush there himself, but that was not allowed. Heraith had ordered him to remain in the palace. So, Eyo headed for the Tulip Palace.
From the opposite side of the hallway leading to the Tulip Palace, a crowd of people was approaching.
‘What now?’
Eyo frowned and fixed his gaze on the two women walking at the front.
‘One of them is the First Consort.’
The woman beside her had her face covered, making it hard to identify at first glance. It was only after observing her blazing red hair that he guessed it was the Second Consort, Calliope.
‘Are those two forming an alliance?’
There were rumors that Eleanor Snow was the next empress candidate, but Heraith had not made any official announcement.
It was the perfect time for the consorts to act territorially toward Eleanor.
‘How irritating.’
But what truly annoyed him was the behavior of the consorts, showing jealousy without knowing what was happening outside.
‘Do they not care that the elite imperial guards have all left?’
Regardless, Eyo was Eleanor’s bodyguard. He dashed forward and blocked the group just as they were about to open the door to the Tulip Palace.
“What’s going on?”
He asked while quickly scanning the people behind them—three guards, two attendants, maids and handmaids.
‘Including the two consorts, that’s twenty-four. No, with the ones peeking from over there, thirty-five?’
There were also a few palace staff who had followed out of curiosity.
Suppressing a chuckle, Eyo stared at the First Consort, Aurelia.
Aurelia raised her chin and spoke.
“Step aside. I have business with Lady Snow inside.”
“His Majesty has ordered me to protect Lady Snow. You cannot enter without permission.”
At the mention of the emperor’s command, Aurelia’s face twisted. Though her veil hid her expression, Eyo assumed Calliope was making the same face.
“But surely His Majesty didn’t mean to protect a criminal.”
“A criminal?”
“Haven’t you heard what the lady you’re guarding has done, while supposedly protecting her?”
“No. I don’t bother with the idle gossip of loose-lipped fools.”
“How rude! Do you not know who I am?”
“I do recognize you, but since I’m under orders from His Majesty to guard Lady Snow, I must ask—are you telling me to defy His Majesty’s command?”
Seeing Aurelia’s eyes waver, Eyo smiled faintly.
“Please return. Without permission from His Majesty and the mistress of the Tulip Palace, no one may enter.”
The reference to both the Emperor and the mistress of Tulip Palace seemed to displease Aurelia. Her clenched fists said it all.
She had never been referred to in the same breath as the Emperor before, no consort had.
As Eyo watched her struggle to contain her fury, the door behind him opened.
Even with so many people present, Eleanor showed no signs of panic. As always, she wore a soft smile and looked around.
“What’s all this noise about?”
“It’s about you!”
Calliope started to shout, but remembering the eyes on her, she lowered her voice.
“Lady Snow threatened a maid and poisoned my facial tonic.”
“Oh dear.”
Eleanor tilted her head slightly, touching her chin with a finger.
“I haven’t been in the palace long. How could I have threatened a maid?”
“That’s—!”
“That’s what needs to be investigated.”
Cutting off the increasingly agitated Calliope, Aurelia stepped forward.
“I don’t want to suspect Lady Snow either, but the rumors within the palace are alarming. I hope you understand. Ah, I’m Aurelia, the First Consort.”
“This is my first time meeting you, Your Highness. It’s a pleasure.”
Eleanor showed no sign of intimidation, which made Aurelia scowl before quickly masking her expression.
Eyo stepped back to enjoy the unfolding drama. Who would win applause in this theater?
“And how exactly do you plan to prove I poisoned the tonic?”
“We need to check whether Lady Snow is hiding the poison. I know it’s unpleasant, but we must search both your body and your quarters. I’m sure you don’t want this to escalate to the Empress Dowager, do you?”
“Of course not. I prefer peace. But there’s a problem with your approach, Your Highness.”
“A problem…?”
“This situation feels rather unjust. You and everyone here seem to believe only rumors. Is the law of the palace truly this flimsy?”
Even as Eleanor challenged her, Aurelia remained composed.
“Not at all. That’s why we must determine whether the rumor is true.”
“The only rumor is that I had a maid poison your tonic. The only visible fact is that the tonic was poisoned and harmed your skin.”
“There’s also the maid’s testimony.”
“You believe the maid, but not me?”
“That’s why we must investigate—”
“How one-sided of you. Don’t you think?”
Eleanor looked around the crowd. Those who met her gaze quickly averted their eyes.
“If even one intelligent person is here, they might consider this: what if the Second Consort poisoned her own tonic to frame me?”
“Do you think I’m insane enough to do that?”
“Or what if the First Consort poisoned the Second Consort’s tonic to frame me?”
“That’s ridiculous…!”
“Or what if I, Eleanor, who may become the Empress if I just stay quiet, suddenly lost my mind and poisoned the Second Consort’s harmless tonic?”
Calliope clenched her fists. Aurelia glared.
But Eleanor only smiled sweetly and said,
“Surely no one here has not thought of at least one of those possibilities, right?”
If they stayed silent, they would look like fools.
One attendant cautiously spoke.
“Well… that could be possible.”
Several people nodded, only to drop their heads when Aurelia glared.
Eleanor wiped the smile from her face.
“As the woman personally brought into the Tulip Palace by His Majesty, I make this suggestion: if the First and Second Consorts, and that maid, all agree to body and room searches, I will gladly agree to be searched as well.”
Eyo thought, ‘This woman isn’t ordinary.’
Aurelia thought, ‘Unpleasant, but I don’t have the poison. This was Calliope’s scheme.’
Calliope thought, ‘Stupid girl. As if the poison is still with me.’
Cecily thought, ‘I hid it properly in the wardrobe. Lady Calliope won’t abandon me.’
[TL: Oh my god! Then everything will unfold according to Caron’s decision, which even Eleanor doesn’t know. Interesting… (ӦｖӦ｡)]
Each made up their mind in their own way.
Aurelia finally spoke, “It’s a ridiculous proposal, but if it helps uphold the law of the palace, I will comply.”
Calliope quickly added, “So will I. We must root out anyone who would act dangerously out of jealousy.”
Powerless to speak, Cecily only bowed her head. Eleanor, having calmly watched the three, said,
“Then I request assistance from the Daisy Palace and the Hyacinth Palace. Please bring handmaids from those palaces to conduct the searches. And I would like knights from the Azure Order to search each residence. Sir Bastid, is that possible?”
Eleanor had brought in a neutral party to investigate. Aurelia’s face remained composed, but Calliope couldn’t hide her unease.
‘What is this? Why is she so confident? Something didn’t go wrong, did it?’
She glanced anxiously at Cecily, but Cecily’s head remained bowed, her expression unreadable.
Calliope swallowed dryly and spoke.
Varsha.miffy
Go get’em Eleanor. Bunch of time wasters, your man needs your help.