Chapter 26
(26) I Will Protect Your Majesty (18)
Even though she insisted on her innocence with a trembling voice, when she heard that it didn’t matter, Calliope raised her head again.
Others kept their heads lowered, shifting their eyes restlessly, trying to get a glimpse of the Emperor’s expression.
“I said it doesn’t matter who among you hid or used the poison.”
“H-How can you be so heartless…”
“Seems everyone here is desperate to see my face. Fine, raise your heads.”
At Heraith’s command, the people hesitantly lifted their heads.
Confirming that everyone was looking at him, Heraith placed a hand on Eleanor’s shoulder. A collective gasp followed—even Eyo was stunned.
“You must all be wondering why this woman is in the Tulip Palace. Listen well. This woman standing beside me, Eleanor Snow, will henceforth be my Empress and walk the same path as I do!”
This time, no one even dared to gasp. Everyone was frozen, staring blankly at Heraith and Eleanor, whose shoulder was gently wrapped in his touch.
“Therefore, everything done by my Empress is as if I myself have done it. Any attack against my Empress is an attack against me. Whether that d****ed poison was put in the Second Consort’s cosmetics or her food, why should I care? Second Consort, do you have any reason why I shouldn’t be the one to poison your cosmetics?”
Of course, there were plenty of reasons—but no one could speak them aloud, not even Calliope.
In ordinary circumstances, anyone would’ve shouted that even the Emperor or Empress cannot go around poisoning others’ personal items. But the current Heraith appeared genuinely enraged, and in truth, he was.
Drenched in the blood of monsters, Heraith looked like a monster himself, glaring at the gathered crowd as he continued:
“If anything like this disturbs the palace again, I will punish not only the one who caused it but also the one who came to spectate. And Second Consort…”
“…”
Calliope, pale as a sheet, couldn’t even reply, but Heraith continued mercilessly.
“I will shut down the Rose Palace for two months. I hope not to see even a single strand of your red hair outside of it.”
At the cold declaration, Calliope collapsed to her knees in despair.
“And you didn’t poison the cosmetics yourself. There must’ve been a servant involved. Who was it?”
Cecily, who had been holding her breath like a speck of dust, covered her mouth with both hands.
Heraith didn’t miss that small movement. He stared at Cecily and spoke.
“Kill her.”
Cecily immediately fell to her knees and pressed her forehead to the floor.
“P-Please spare me. Your Majesty, please… I will never do it again. Please.”
Cecily didn’t even try to claim she was innocent. Because of that, no one in the room suspected anymore.
Heraith, who had just finished speaking, was about to walk away, when Eleanor grabbed his wrist .
Everyone expected him to shake her off, but instead, Heraith looked back at her.
“I’ll take responsibility for that servant.”
For a moment, the corner of Heraith’s mouth twitched upward before falling again. He gently held Eleanor’s chin between his thumb and forefinger, and once more, people were shocked.
“You really like picking up trash, don’t you?”
“A clean palace, inside and out, is best for Your Majesty’s eyes, isn’t it?”
The murderous aura surrounding Heraith slightly receded. He released her chin and said:
“Fine. Do as you wish.”
***
The incident at the Tulip Palace spread quickly. But no one dared approach Heraith to speak of the next empress.
A crack had appeared in the main square of the bustling capital.
Thanks to the swift action of the Emperor and the knights, the damage was minimal, though not entirely without casualties. Some had died, many were injured.
And Heraith was furious that while people were dying outside, no one inside the palace seemed to care.
Even officials who had entertained other thoughts about the next empress dared not face the Emperor’s wrath.
‘He announced the next Empress at the perfect time.’
Eleanor admired Heraith for turning even this moment into an opportunity.
For a while, no one would dare oppose him. And when his anger eventually cooled and people began to speak again, it would be too late.
Unless Eleanor made a grave mistake, it would be nearly impossible to remove her from her position as the future Empress.
Eleanor looked down at Cecily, who had been kneeling and bowing her head since entering the room.
She hadn’t spared Cecily’s life to win her over.
She simply thought the punishment of death was too harsh for someone who had merely followed her superior’s orders.
“Cecily.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have anything to say to me?”
“I was wrong. I deserve death. But thank you for sparing my life.”
“Why did you serve the Second Consort so loyally? What did she promise you?”
Cecily didn’t answer. Eleanor had expected her to babble out of fear—but surprisingly, she didn’t.
“You still remain loyal, even now. Yet if it were necessary, the Second Consort would’ve abandoned you.”
“…”
“So it’s not for money. Is it your family?”
Cecily’s shoulders twitched.
“You don’t think I can find out?”
“A long time ago, when no one cared about my family… Lady Calliope helped us.”
“And what was that favor?”
“My father used to work as a porter in the House of Rhiannon. After an accident, he lost an arm. The Count tried to throw him out, saying a cripple was useless, but Lady Calliope stopped him.”
That side of Calliope was unexpected.
“And why did she help?”
“I don’t know. She just said… he looked pitiful. Now my father works in accounting for the Rhiannon family. He doesn’t have to use his body anymore.”
It was probably a moment of whim for Calliope, but that whim had saved a family.
In a world like this, it was nearly impossible for a one-armed man to find work.
“I’m truly grateful that the future Empress spared my life. I will serve you with all my strength from now on. But…”
“You won’t help me harm the Second Consort, right?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
Eleanor gave a faint smile.
“Cecily. Do I seem like I want to harm the Second Consort?”
“…But she…”
Cecily stopped herself, perhaps fearing that what she said might become a testimony.
“There’s a saying: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. She tried to ruin my face, so I simply returned the favor. I was merciful, really. Cecily, do you think I didn’t know she had already tried to poison my food before?”
Cecily lowered her head even further.
“I could’ve returned the poison and killed her—but I didn’t. Do you know why?”
“…I don’t.”
“I don’t enjoy killing people. If I can avoid it, I will. If I can stop it, I will. But if someone keeps buzzing around like a fly that won’t go away, eventually, I’ll have no choice but to swat it. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
The answer came after a pause.
“Even if Lady Calliope orders me again, I’ll never do anything to harm the future Empress.”
“Because of this incident, she’ll probably kick your father out of the family. I’ll take him in and have him work in Snow’s territory. Even so—would you still refuse to harm her?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Eleanor was satisfied with that. She hadn’t intended to use Cecily to harm anyone anyway.
Cecily might not do anything to harm Calliope, but she wouldn’t work for her either. That was enough.
“I’d prefer you not speak of our conversation outside.”
“Of course.”
“Good. Then that’s all. You may return to your duties.”
Only then did Cecily raise her head. She looked surprised, as if she had expected to be severely punished or dismissed.
