58. Where Did It Come From? (3)

Ferma wore an awkward expression. Officially, the Magic Tower only answered to orders from the Emperor. Since Larael was not yet the Empress, Ferma could not obey her command. She glanced at Nora. It was because Nora had broken the rules and shown Larael too much favor.

“Is my request too much? Then you don’t have to inform me. Just make sure to thoroughly interrogate any wizard with that connection.”

Reading Ferma’s discomfort, Larael quickly added.

“…Yes, I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”

As if that was all she needed, Larael stood up after hearing Ferma’s answer.

“Then I should prepare to return to the palace, so I’ll go up now.”

She gave a light bow and left the drawing room.

“Does Her Highness the Empress Consort have foresight?”

Nora murmured absentmindedly as she stared at the door Larael had exited.

“Oh, surely not…”

That’s what she said, but Larael was the one chosen by the ancient artifact. Thinking that the Duke of Anderman was involved, Ferma’s brow furrowed deeply.

***

There was a commotion at the imperial palace when the Emperor returned earlier than scheduled. The same was true in Abella Palace.

Berser and Handelson, who had been on holiday, also hurried back to the palace. They stayed by Larael’s side, looking at her with grave expressions.

“We really should have insisted on going with you. What were the Emperor’s guards doing? It’s a miracle you weren’t hurt worse.”

“Her Highness was actually injured so badly that we couldn’t bear to look. The high priest treated her, so she only looks fine now.”

Joanna quickly retorted to Handelson’s words. Thanks to how much Sasha and Joanna had told everyone about Larael’s injuries, everyone who entered the room wore the same worried expressions as Berser and Handelson.

“Sasha, Joanna. I’m fine now, so stop saying that.”

Larael gave Sasha and Joanna a stern look.

“Your Highness, the Empress Dowager is on her way here.”

Sasha relayed the message from a maid who had come in.

‘Of course the Empress Dowager wouldn’t miss such juicy news.’

Larael nodded.

“I’d better lie down for a bit.”

With the hope that the Empress Dowager would be a little more pleased to see her lying down, Larael got into bed. She stared blankly at the ceiling until the Empress Dowager arrived.

“Empress Consort!!”

The Empress Dowager burst into the room, flinging the door open and shouting as she rushed to the bed.

“Is it true you were attacked by a monster?”

“Yes…”

Larael managed to sit up weakly in bed. Sasha quickly grabbed her arm to help her up.

As Larael slid down weakly, Joanna hurried over to support her from the other side. Thinking how smoothly they worked together without a word, Larael barely managed to suppress a laugh.

“Just stay in bed, Empress Consort.”

The Empress Dowager recoiled at Larael’s feeble appearance.

“I’m just exhausted… I’m sorry.”

As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, Larael lay back down. From the bed, she looked up at the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, perhaps not expecting Larael to actually lie down.

“The Emperor won’t tell me anything, so it’s just frustrating. What on earth happened?”

“It would be hard for me to tell you something His Majesty has not shared himself. Didn’t Your Majesty always tell me to be careful with my words?”

“That’s advice for dealing with others. I’m family, aren’t I?”

“I’m sorry.”

Larael lowered her gaze.

“I heard you were completely healed by the high priest. Was that not true?”

“I was mentally shocked…”

The Empress Dowager snorted, then looked at Larael and sighed deeply.

“What’s going on? Has someone slipped into the palace, or has something happened that has never occurred before?”

She turned abruptly and walked to the sofa, muttering loudly enough for everyone to hear. Watching her retreating back, Larael gave a wry smile.

“Did you hear that? She’s talking to herself…”

The Empress Dowager turned around and began to laugh in a high-pitched voice, then continued,

“A monster, really… I’ve never even seen one. Still, at least you’ll have something to talk about at tea parties.”

At those words, Larael gripped the bedsheet and sat up.

“Your Majesty, who in their right mind would happily chatter about nearly dying? Even mentioning it brings back the memory and torments me. Since His Majesty is investigating, I’ll just remain quiet.”

The Empress Dowager looked displeased as she watched Larael supporting herself with her arms. Even though Larael’s words about “someone foolish” weren’t directed at her, she felt oddly offended.

“If this incident was intentional, shouldn’t the mastermind also be brought to justice?”

Larael’s red eyes sharpened and gleamed. Meeting her gaze, the Empress Dowager felt a chill for the first time. But she quickly dismissed it, thinking she must have imagined it, and gave a hollow laugh.

“By the way, I heard you’re inviting the noble ladies to Abella Palace for your first tea party?”

She hurriedly changed the subject to the tea party, as Larael’s sharp tone made her uncomfortable discussing the Fenrir incident any further—especially since she knew who was behind it.

Larael slumped back down onto the bed.

“Yes. I’m very excited and nervous.”

She spoke in a flat, emotionless tone that made it clear to anyone listening that she wasn’t excited at all.

“I wonder if I’ll be able to make time…”

“Pardon? Your Majesty, do you wish to attend as well?”

The Empress Dowager had assumed Larael would naturally invite her to the tea party. Suddenly, her face flushed with embarrassment. She had never imagined anyone could make her feel so humiliated. It had been a long time since she’d felt this way.

Watching Larael lie there so indifferently, despite being told to lie down, made her blood boil. She didn’t like that Larael was actually lying down, even though she herself had told her to.

Unable to restrain her anger, the Empress Dowager abruptly stood from the sofa and stormed over to Larael’s bed. Without warning, she grabbed Larael’s hair and shook her violently.

“Who taught you to talk like that? Even if you have no breeding, this is too much!”

Larael was tossed about helplessly, like seaweed in rough water.

“Your Highness!!!”

Sasha and Joanna, shocked by the Empress Dowager’s sudden violence, shouted and flailed, not daring to intervene physically.

After shaking Larael’s hair several times, the Empress Dowager finally let go, leaving Larael limp on the bed. Still fuming, she glared at Larael’s disheveled form.

“You two! Go get a comb. Doesn’t Her Highness’s hair look a mess?”

She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Larael up to a sitting position. Sasha, her face streaked with tears, handed the Empress Dowager a comb.

The Empress Dowager took the comb and, humming, began to brush Larael’s hair. Larael gripped her trembling hands tightly and bit her lip.

“Larael, you really don’t seem to know me.”

‘No, I know you well. Every time I start to forget your cruelty, you kindly remind me like this.’

“I, unlike you, have always been at the very top. That’s why I hate it when anyone challenges my authority.”

“…For someone so noble, your hands certainly aren’t.”

The Empress Dowager’s hand paused in the middle of brushing Larael’s hair. A heavy silence filled the bedroom. Breaking the stillness, the Empress Dowager set the comb down and stood up from the bed. Larael’s head followed her movement. The Empress Dowager stood beside the bed, gazing quietly at her own outstretched palm.