17 – Perfect Titime
Morning came in an instant.
Once again, Elaine saved me.
Whether it was because she used up all her mana and vitality to the limit, and died and came back to life, or because her mana had increased even more, I couldn’t tell.
In fact, I was quite surprised when I regained consciousness.
I quietly looked around with my sleepy eyes at the sound of the door closing.
Elaine, carrying a large basket, was sneaking in.
In her hand, holding the basket, was a folded blanket stacked layer upon layer.
What came out of the basket were wet blankets and the black clothes I had been wearing.
It seemed like she hurriedly washed the dirty things in the early hours when no one was around.
Ssshh-
The newly brought blanket was meant to cover my body.
With a deep shadow cast over her face, she didn’t realize that I had woken up.
Just as I was about to call her name, suddenly her hand approached.
I had no choice but to quickly close my eyes.
Somehow, it felt like I had to do that.
What followed was unbelievable.
Elaine brushed my hair aside.
It was a gentle and delicate touch, as if dealing with a sleeping baby.
In no time, the hand that had descended touched my cheek.
It was a feeling that was hard to express in words.
I wondered why she was doing this, but at the same time, I couldn’t open my eyes out of embarrassment.
Goosebumps appeared on my face, and strangely, it tickled, almost making me unintentionally make a sound.
I couldn’t grasp the timing of what was going to happen, so I just stayed still.
Opening our eyes in that situation seemed like it would become an unpleasant memory between us.
Then, suddenly, Elaine rushed over to the dressing table.
And when the sound of a knock reached us, she hurriedly came back and sat beside me.
Of course, it wasn’t difficult to understand her intentions.
It seemed like she was trying to hide my true identity.
But Hanoyang’s questioning was quite persistent.
She gave off the impression that she was certain Elaine had done something wrong.
From beginning to end.
Hanoyang never showed any consideration for Elaine.
No matter how much of a bastard child she was, she always maintained an arrogant attitude as the daughter of the noble family.
In the end, it was easy to predict that she would even inspect the sheets.
I used Aqua’s cleaning magic to remove the bloodstains from the sheets.
Then, I made myself transparent and quickly got out of bed in time to remove the clothes under the bed.
After completely erasing the bloodstains on the spread-out sheets, I moved faster than Hanoyang and headed to the corner of the room with the clothes.
As a result,
Hanoyang’s appearance, begging and crying to Elaine, was quite interesting.
The initial confidence could no longer be found.
-You don’t have to apologize. I’m going to tell everything to Katia.
Just mentioning Katia’s name alone.
Fear spread across Hanyang’s face.
The effect of the threat he made to Katia didn’t seem too bad.
Come to think of it.
The changed appearance of the room didn’t look bad either.
Unlike the old small room that didn’t get much sunlight, it was a spacious room with a sense of openness.
And not only was it spacious.
There were luxurious dressing tables, a wardrobe on the table, and expensive-looking furniture scattered around the room.
Now, it finally felt like a room that suited her.
It was confirmed.
Katia was someone who could know two things if she knew one.
Even though she only scared her and didn’t actually harm her.
She had read the hidden meaning between the lines and greatly improved Elaine’s treatment.
So, I quietly moved Elaine to Katia’s room after her eyelids closed as she let out a deep sigh.
The intention was to further improve Elaine’s treatment by instilling more fear, as if cracking a whip on a running horse.
Perhaps the previous threat was quite effective, as Katia seemed very obedient without the need for the spirits this time.
Just like before, without saying a word, she nodded repeatedly before the conversation was even finished.
After leaving a short but commanding sermon, I left the Count’s mansion.
I wanted to have a conversation with Elaine, but I didn’t have the time.
Because of the unexpected injury I received at the Gerund Count’s mansion last night.
Hurriedly escaping, I left behind significant traces of magic.
It was clear that it extended all the way to Elaine’s room.
If Gerund had requested an investigation at the mausoleum.
Elaine could have been in danger if her trail was discovered.
So, before it’s too late.
I must leave additional traces to make it impossible to track.
But there was more to hurry about.
The amount of information obtained from Gerund’s investigation was not insignificant.
Even though only recent ones were selected.
There were quite a lot of evidence against the despicable nobles Gerund had been dealing with.
When I ordered him to swallow the massive amount of information that would fill an entire shelf.
I heard the curse of a spirit that I had never even read about in a novel.
Anyway.
Before Gerund and Duke Shurain take action.
At the very least, by mid-morning, I must quickly deliver the evidence to the noble supporters of the Queen’s faction.
Time is not generous.
Since my absence should never be known, I must return as soon as possible.
If, by any chance, the fact that I secretly left the palace becomes known to the Queen.
Not only will all the efforts go in vain, but the danger will also surpass anything before.
So I must move quickly.
Empress Herpina of the Mersenne Empire.
She was currently enjoying tea time in the palace garden.
It was a lazy afternoon, not long after having lunch.
Somehow, it felt like a warm spring day where she could easily fall asleep while sitting.
“Did you hear about it, Your Majesty?”
“What story?”
She pretended not to know, with a smile on her face, but Empress Herpina immediately knew what the maid was about to say.
“It seems that the Crown Prince used a cowardly method during the duel.”
A happier smile than ever appeared on the Empress’s lips.
The story of the Crown Prince, who was dueling and shamelessly threw dirt and even grabbed the opponent’s hair.
Of course, that was to be expected.
It was already a matter of public knowledge.
And also because of her own instructions.
Whether inside or outside the palace, it was a story that had been spreading like wildfire for several days.
“Moreover, he even slapped that arrogant woman, Astia Levolun.”
“Ah, the same girl with the snobbish attitude?”
“But she endured it quite well, didn’t she?”
“That’s true. She’s the one who killed my mother, after all. Impressive.”
“These days, all the kids are like that. They always manage to endure what they don’t have to endure. Hohoho.”
As the other maids played their instruments, the already cheerful atmosphere became even more lively.
The Empress was also in a good mood.
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It was exactly the picture she had wanted.
The more notorious the Crown Prince became.
The more he would be closer to the throne as the son and Crown Prince.
A proud smile naturally appeared on her face, but she tilted her teacup to hide it.
There was no point in revealing her true feelings in front of those beneath her.
“Finding joy in someone else’s misfortune is a lowly act that only the lower class would do.”
Instead, she gently scolded the maids with affectionate eyes and an elegant tone.
Of course.
After all, there wasn’t a single person who didn’t know that the Empress would be the happiest person to hear such stories, considering the considerable time she had spent in the palace.
“Oh, I, I went too far. If I upset you, I apologize, Your Majesty.”
Although they were slightly taken aback by the Empress’s rebellious words, they couldn’t help but lower their heads, knowing very well the Empress’s ruthless and cunning personality that had already submerged the empire.
Sip-
The Empress nodded lightly and accepted the apology before taking another sip of tea.
It had a sweet yet sharp taste.
Just like the blue sky and the refreshing spring breeze.
Ever since the late Empress Wibelia died, it was always a perfect tea time.
It was unexpected, though.
Perhaps the abandoned prince had finally detoxified the poison he had consumed for so long.
To lash out at the maid who brought the medicine in front of the emperor.
If one were to consider years of discord, it would have been impossible to do so in a sane state of mind.
It was clear.
The inability to control anger was undoubtedly a symptom of addiction.
Having been powerless against Astia, a concubine, it was clear that the elf’s abilities had not returned either.
Sneer. The Empress took another sip of tea.
There was no room for doubt.
There was absolutely no possibility of detoxification.
Moreover, there was a mistake in the suspicion against Glentino.
Then there was no need to worry anymore.
The notorious reputation piled up on top of the abandoned prince’s name.
Just by breathing, just by taking a walk, it would constantly fuel all sorts of negative public opinion.
It was the absolute power that deeply rooted prejudice had in the hearts of the majority.
Just leaving it as it is.
The abandoned prince would sink himself, accumulating infamy upon infamy.
So there was no reason to kill the abandoned prince and risk a war with the elves.
There was no need to put the empire, which would be solely inherited by his own son, in danger.
Just once would be enough.
So that people could chew on it and savor it thoroughly.
It was only necessary to provide periodic delicious material.
And one material had already been determined.
Her name was Elaine.
Upon investigation, she turned out to be the illegitimate child of Marquis Bart.
It was an interesting situation.
To betray the grace of Count Karan, who had saved the dying Marquis, and have affairs with a maid, resulting in the birth of a daughter.
And to marry such a child, who would be perfect for receiving criticism just by her existence, to a prince.
Could there be anything better than this?
The marriage with Elaine.
It would only add fuel to the already accumulated infamy.
With just a little seasoning.
It was a given that it would tarnish the name of Queen Viblea, who used to be the Empress, and even the Elven King, who was her father, would lose affection for his own grandson.
The Empress’s face was filled with delight.
There was nothing difficult about it.
A few days ago, the Emperor had sent a letter to Marquis Bart.
It was a simple and clear message.
He already knew about Elaine’s situation.
The talk was about wanting to bring the child into another noble family as a daughter and cleanse her status.
The purpose written at the end of the short letter was clear.
In the end, it was to marry Elaine to the prince.
Everything else is fine.
But a sheep?…
It wasn’t just a simple reason to find a partner to be together with.
Perhaps, it seemed like a calculated move to really bestow the title of a princess on the Crown Prince.
That’s why the sheep identity was necessary.
It was to make Elaine a suitable person for the Crown Princess.
In a moment of rising anger, the Empress’s eyes flashed fiercely.
The maids, who had been silently observing the sudden silence, all flinched at this extreme change.
Crash!
The teacup that seemed to shatter to pieces fell.
There was no more tea in it.
But the maids were just as frightened.
The Empress’s expression was so ominous that they couldn’t even muster the courage to pour tea.
Finally, when the Empress clenched her fist with a stern expression,
The maids all stood up and knelt down on the ground.
They couldn’t understand why she was acting like this, but there was no other way.
“We apologize, Your Majesty. Please, let go of your anger….”
“We must have done something wrong, please forgive us….”
They knew from experience. The answer was always to prostrate themselves flat.
Their voices were all choked up, but the Empress couldn’t hear a word they were saying.
All that occupied her mind was anger towards the Emperor.
There was no doubt about it.
The Emperor still couldn’t forget that wretched elf.
And so, he turned to his son, the Crown Prince.
To that trash who had committed so many sins.
He was determined to strip him of his title as the Duke.
The fact that he couldn’t surpass Wiblia even in death felt so pitiful.
Just the thought of it made her shudder.
What?
You want to bestow him with a title and territory?
I have no intention of allowing that.
I will somehow move the nobles, and not only will he not receive the title, but he won’t even get a tiny piece of land.
As the Empress thought about this, she felt a strange sense of unease.
…But.
Whether it be the Emperor or the Crown Prince.
How on earth did they find out about Elaine?
If the Crown Prince called her during his critical condition, it must mean they already knew each other.
Were they acquainted since childhood…?
But even though she had been keeping a close eye on the palace for years…
Elaine was learning about the existence of the child for the first time.
It was strange.
Somehow, she felt uneasy as if there was something she didn’t know.
But even if that were the case.
It couldn’t be possible, but maybe she missed something.
There was nothing that could reverse the current situation.
Her and her father had already almost seized the empire’s power.
The emperor believed the poison he was consuming was medicine and was dying.
The crown prince, like his father, was becoming an invalid.
In the future, he would accumulate all sorts of infamy and eventually burn as a sacrifice for his son.
Clearly, everything was perfect.
Until the appearance of Duke Shurain, who never showed his face in such situations.
That was certainly the case.
“Empress Mother, something terrible has happened!”
It was like seeing a leopard with its tail on fire.
The imperial prime minister, who had control over the empire and countless nobles, making such a face.
It was something that had never happened in years.