She thought he would stay by Lady Rant’s side a little longer, but he came to see the Empress right away!

If he came all the way to the Empress’s Palace himself, this must be that ‘one visit’ from the original story. 

After this, the Imperial Palace would turn into a bloodbath, and the situation would only spiral into despair. 

‘This cannot happen!’

Forgetting that she was disguised as a maid and in hiding, Delia shot out like a bullet. 

She had to stop Kaiel at all costs. 

That’s when it happened. 

“……!”

Something soft and heavy, like a cloth, suddenly fell over Delia’s head, covering her. 

“What……!”

As she immediately tried to pull the cloth off her head, a low voice whispered in her ear. 

“Shh.”

It was Niol’s voice. 

“Stay still.”

A fragrant scent wafted from the cloth covering her head. Judging by the metal ornaments embedded in it, it seemed to be the outerwear he was wearing. 

Soon, Niol’s voice continued. 

“What’s going on here?”

Delia almost answered, thinking he was talking to her at first. However, she soon heard Kaiel’s chilly response from the front. 

“It’s none of your business.”

His voice was even lower than usual. 

“Did you finally throw away even those unpleasant manners of yours?”

“Move.”

As they conversed, Delia slipped her hand between the thick fabric, creating some space. It became much easier to breathe with the extra room. 

Kaiel, who discovered the maid squirming under the clothes next to Niol, shot a cold glance. 

“What a vulgar hobby.” 

“Mind your own business.”

Whether the two were engaged in a war of nerves or not, Delia was inwardly relieved. 

‘Thank you, thank you! Niol!’

If she had recklessly tried to stop Kaiel earlier, she wouldn’t have been able to meet the Empress. 

There was no way Kaiel, who came all the way here to kill the Empress, would just stand by and let her have a private audience with her. 

It was a stroke of luck that Niol had concealed her like this. 

Niol asked Kaiel, 

“Are you here to see Her Majesty, the Empress?”

Delia answered in her mind. 

‘No, he’s probably here to kill her.’

Niol’s voice continued. 

“Unfortunately, there’s already a guest here. Why don’t you come back later?”

“I don’t care.”

With that, Delia heard the sound of Kaiel’s footsteps heading towards the study. She panicked. 

‘I have to stop him!’

As her body flinched, Niol grabbed her and held her firmly in place. As if telling her not to move. 

“Right, then. Is Miss Averbit alone in the auxiliary palace right now?”

Kaiel’s footsteps stopped. 

Niol continued. 

“I’ve been wondering what kind of punishment I should give her for this incident. If she’s alone, I should go see her now. It’s a little uncomfortable when you’re around.”

“……”

Even without looking, Delia could picture Niol’s face with one corner of his mouth raised. 

When Kaiel didn’t answer, Delia shook her head inwardly. 

‘As if he’d go just because of that!’

But after a moment of silence, the sound of Kaiel’s footsteps really did disappear in the opposite direction of the study!

Delia was dumbfounded. 

‘That worked……?’

To think he could suppress that rage and anger towards the Empress so easily?

‘Does he not know who’s behind it yet? Then why did he come here?’

As various questions came to mind, her vision suddenly brightened and the cloth covering her face was removed. 

“Phew.”

She felt like she could breathe again as she took in a breath of fresh air after being suffocated. 

“Sorry. That must have been stuffy.”

Niol chuckled, watching her catch her breath. 

“I heard you were reconsidering the position of the Imperial physician, but I didn’t know you were aiming for a maid’s position.”

As Niol’s gaze fell on her maid’s uniform, Delia’s face flushed with embarrassment, and he laughed out loud. 

“I’m just kidding. Are you feeling alright? Lord Tranade threatened to kill anyone who came in for two days straight, so I couldn’t come to see you. I thought you might have hidden something precious.”

Apparently, Kaiel had been looking after her for two whole days. 

It made her stomach churn even more. 

Seeing Delia’s expression harden, Niol asked with concern, 

“Your complexion doesn’t look good. Are you still not fully recovered?”

“Ah, no. I’m fine.”

Niol spoke in a sympathetic tone. 

“Are you sure? Last time, you said you were just sleepy and fine, but you collapsed right away and were bedridden for two whole days.”

At those words, Delia remembered what Karen had told her earlier and quickly spoke. 

“I wasn’t pretending to be sick or acting. I was really sick. I don’t expect you to believe me, but… I was really sick……”

Niol tilted his head. 

“Who said anything?”

He took a step back, making way for her in front of the study. 

“Here, go in.”

Delia asked, a little bewildered, 

“Aren’t you going to ask, Your Highness? Why am I here like this? I mean, I’m being accused of being the culprit right now.”

Niol studied her carefully and smiled. His dimples appeared attractively. 

“I trust my gut.”

“Yes?”

Until just now, Delia had been picturing Niol’s reaction in her head. 

Blocking her from entering the study, interrogating her, suspecting her, laughing, etc.…… There were many possibilities. 

But she really didn’t expect this kind of reaction!

‘Why did I have to write him as an unreadable character……!’

She couldn’t understand his intentions, but she had to finish what was important first. 

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Niol smiled gently and stepped aside. Watching his retreating figure, Delia took a couple of deep breaths and knocked on the study door. 

‘This is it.’

As she composed herself, she heard footsteps from beyond the door. 

A moment later, a woman who appeared to be the Empress’s attendant opened the door. The attendant looked Delia up and down and said in a stern voice, 

“Her Majesty is still in her study. You can make your request later……”

“I have an urgent message to deliver.”

“A mere maid cannot just speak to Her Majesty as she pleases–”

“I apologize.”

It wouldn’t be a problem to get past the attendant. Delia pushed the door open and walked right in. 

“How dare you be so rude!”

The attendant tried to stop her from behind, but Delia was already standing in front of the Empress. 

The Empress quietly set down the tea she was drinking. Perhaps thinking that an insignificant maid had come to see her, she asked without even looking at her, 

“What is it?”

Delia was momentarily stunned by the Empress’s beauty, which was more striking than she had imagined, before quickly collecting herself. 

“I have something to tell you.”

She hadn’t put much effort into describing the Empress’s appearance in the original story. She had only written that she had eyebrows and lips that gave off a sensual impression. 

‘Well, she’s Niol and Ashlene’s mother, so it’s only natural that she’s beautiful, right?’

Delia took a small breath and opened her mouth. 

“Your Majesty, do you know who I am?”

At those words, the Empress glanced at her and then fixed her gaze on Delia with a surprised expression. 

After a moment, the Empress opened her mouth, her face regaining its composure. 

“……Yes. You’re that researcher. I ordered you not to leave your room.”

The Empress took a sip of her tea and continued. 

“Why are you here to see me? Your punishment is not my concern.”

“I know, Your Majesty. But you know I’m not the culprit, don’t you? And that there’s a real culprit out there.”

The moment Delia mentioned the real culprit, the Empress’s eyes flashed coldly. 

“What are you talking about?”

Delia spoke calmly. 

“Once I prove my innocence, the real culprit will be revealed. I’m guessing the culprit is the owner of the handwriting on the gift.”

At that, the Empress took another sip of her tea and set it down, pretending to be relieved. 

“Is that so.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. If it wasn’t them, who else would you frame?”

“Insolent!”

The attendant shouted, and at the same time, the Empress shot up from her seat. The teacup she had placed on the table shook and clattered loudly. 

“Do you, do you even realize what you’re saying?”

Just as the Empress was about to gesture to the attendant to summon the guards, Delia was a step ahead. 

“Roena Jane Vanessa.”

“……!”

The attendant looked puzzled at the sudden name, but the Empress’s face turned pale as a sheet. Her hands began to tremble noticeably. 

“H-How do you……?”

Delia looked at the Empress with a firm gaze. 

“Your Majesty, I know a lot of things. I have something important to tell you, so please dismiss your attendant and give me some of your time.

“Ah, and just a word of caution, if you call the guards, I can’t guarantee what secrets might be revealed on the spot.”

The Empress struggled to speak to her attendant. 

“……Do nothing and wait outside.”

“Yes, Your Majesty……”

As soon as the attendant closed the door behind her, Delia spoke. 

“Please summon the owner of that handwriting. The one who conspired with you about the gift.”

“I can’t call them right now. They’re not in this palace……”

“Is that so?”

Delia stared into space for a moment, as if reading something, then looked at a small door inside the study with a cold gaze. 

“I don’t think it’s just Your Majesty and I in this study.”

The Empress looked at Delia with surprised eyes. Delia spoke in a slightly eerie voice. 

“I told you I know a lot of things. Right now, that person is behind that door. ……Aren’t you going to call them?”

Delia kept her eyes fixed on the Empress until she reluctantly called the servant, the owner of the handwriting, to her side. 

“Y-You called for me?”