I saw Martha’s eyes change momentarily, and I smiled inwardly.

‘I knew she’d be interested.’

I threw the bait because I knew her purpose for going to the capital.

And as expected, Martha didn’t let it go.

“Hmm. You say His Majesty is unwell?”

Martha cleared her throat, narrowing her eyes as she added.

“That’s nonsense…. It’s said that His Majesty held a meeting with the nobles just a few days ago. If he were unwell, many people in the empire would have known by now. Rumors spread so quickly.”

She spoke nonchalantly, but I could tell she was trying to hide her excitement.

This was her testing me.

‘I should pretend not to know.’

At times like this, Lize’s innocent appearance was truly a blessing.

I continued speaking calmly, wearing a worried expression.

“Not many people know this. I heard His Majesty is trying to keep the news from spreading, so he’s being very strict about it.”

“…….”

“It seems he’s concerned that the issue of succession might arise since the Crown Prince’s power hasn’t stabilized yet.”

Martha, who had been watching me silently, muttered, “Is that so.”

In fact, she already knew up to this point.

She was merely testing to see if what I said was credible.

Now that it was certain I knew something, it was time for her to dig for information.

As expected, Martha scratched her chin and asked in a disinterested voice.

“Then where exactly is His Majesty unwell?”

She pretended not to care, but inside, she was probably very agitated.

That was precisely why Martha had gone to the capital.

‘To find out the Emperor’s illness.’

Martha had recruited a maid working in the palace and obtained information that the Emperor was suffering from unexplained pain every night.

Even numerous doctors and mages couldn’t identify the exact illness, and the Emperor had secretly ordered them to find a cure somehow.

This was a golden opportunity to gain the Emperor’s favor.

If the Cayenne family were to win the imperial favor, it would be akin to holding the empire in their hands, so Martha wasn’t about to miss this chance.

That’s why she went to the capital, the source of information, but no matter how discreetly she inquired, she couldn’t find out the Emperor’s illness, let alone his exact symptoms.

The maid’s information had its limits, and Martha was left frustrated, beating her chest, when unexpectedly, a breakthrough came from an unforeseen place.

From me, who knew all these facts.

“In fact, a doctor who used to work in the palace came to see me. He thought my abilities might help His Majesty.”

It was a lie to provide an excuse for how I knew this.

And Martha, who had even kidnapped me after hearing rumors of my healing abilities, didn’t seem to doubt my words.

“So, was your power effective on His Majesty?”

Her voice carried a subtle expectation.

I shook my head wistfully, lowering my eyebrows.

“No. His Majesty’s illness is something my power cannot heal.”

“What? There’s a condition that even holy power can’t cure?”

“Yes. His Majesty’s ailment is not due to a physical cause but a curse.”

Martha flinched slightly at my words.

“A curse?”

“After hearing the detailed symptoms from the doctor, it was clear it was a curse caused by dark magic.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Well… I strongly sensed the aura of dark magic in the symptoms he described…! Even if others can’t, I can tell because I possess holy power.”

It was, of course, a made-up excuse, but I delivered it passionately without batting an eye.

Perhaps because of my demeanor or my seemingly innocent appearance that made it hard to believe I was lying, Martha murmured as if she understood.

“Right… holy power is truly an incredible ability. So, what exactly is the curse His Majesty is under?”

“When His Majesty went to in subdue Mount Kroom recently….”

Mount Kroom is a massive mountain in the northern part of the empire, known as a habitat for all kinds of monsters.

Hearing that a group worshipping demons had formed a tribe there, the Emperor personally went to subdue it.

For other matters, he might have left it to the local lord or the knight order, but the tribe’s size was significant enough to be considered a rebellion, so he took personal action.

After a fierce battle, the Emperor’s forces successfully completed the subjugation and returned.

‘The problem was… the relic they brought back as a trophy.’

The Emperor discovered an ancient relic in the tribe’s dwelling and brought it back to the palace as a trophy.

However, it was actually a guardian deity-like object imbued with dark magic.

‘Of course, taking such a thing would inevitably lead to a curse.’

The devout Emperor never suspected that the relic could be the problem.

Martha, having listened to my entire story, pressed her lips together.

She seemed to be deep in thought, slowly rolling her eyes.

“…So, do you also know how to lift the curse?”

“Yes.”

“How should it be done?”

Though Martha’s eyes flashed as she asked, I remained silent, letting out a deep sigh.

‘Did you think I’d tell you for free?’

This is my trump card, so I can’t just give it away.

As I stayed silent, Martha, growing impatient, asked.

“Is there a problem?”

“Well… I’m not sure if I should say this.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to be like me? Then let me advise you. If it were me, I’d spill all the information in a situation like this without any lies.”

The cold indifference she showed when I claimed to admire her was nowhere to be found.

‘Now, this is the Martha Cayenne I know.’

The outward demeanor she shared with Arkle was quiet and unassuming, but she was the most ambitious person in Cayenne, quick-tempered and adept at handling situations.

This was precisely the aspect of Martha I liked in the original story.

She discarded the romance and pure-heartedness a heroine should have, focusing solely on money, honor, and work, which was refreshing.

The male lead, Jean Allenheim, experienced all sorts of emotional turmoil because of her, but Martha didn’t even realize Jean was suffering because of her.

Well, she mostly sought out Jean Allenheim when her endless work left her with pent-up frustration….

‘She was quite an extraordinary heroine in many ways.’

When I said I wanted to emulate Martha’s abilities, it was half true.

Her determination to achieve whatever she set her mind to made me want to cling to life while lying in a hospital bed.

In many ways, she was a character I cherished, but….

“But Martha, you never do anything without a profit, right?”

“…That’s true.”

Martha, who answered quietly, already seemed to have guessed what I was going to say.

“As someone who wants to be like you, I think I should follow that principle starting now.”

“…….”

“In exchange for telling you the cure, please grant me one request.”

Martha, who had been watching me silently, burst into laughter.

“…I should have known when you came out of the cage unscathed.”

“Hehe….”

Martha let out a small, wry laugh, but she didn’t seem angry.

“So, what’s the condition?”

“It’s a request.”

“Just state the condition.”

Her sharpness remained unchanged.

I smiled slightly and spoke.

“Believe me.”

“What?”

“Believe that I’m doing this because I respect you, Martha. I really… want to be like you.”

“…….”

I didn’t avoid Martha’s gaze as she stared at me.

Her reddish-purple eyes, characteristic of the Cayenne lineage, exuded an intimidating aura just from meeting them.

Feeling somewhat tense, I swallowed dryly.

‘Is she doubting my sincerity?’

If she thought I was joking by making such an intangible act a condition, what would I do?

‘Is she going to say she can’t accept such a frivolous condition?’

Martha Cayenne was more than capable of saying that.

Martha silently watched me with an inscrutable expression.

I told her to believe me because I didn’t want to appear to have another motive, but I kept thinking I should have asked for money instead.

“I’m sincere, but if you think asking you to believe me is too light—”

“I believe you.”

Martha’s firm voice interrupted.

“I’ll believe that you respect me. It’s not hard to believe. I believe you. I do.”

“Martha….”

“Now hurry up and tell me what the cure is. I’ve granted your condition.”

‘…Now, this is Martha Cayenne.’

Once again, I couldn’t help but admire the heroine’s quick handling of the situation.

I couldn’t tell if she was sincere about believing me, but at least I was clear on the concept I’d push forward with in front of Martha.

“I heard that among the tribesmen His Majesty subdued, one who wasn’t captured managed to escape. He’s said to be a shaman using dark magic, and I think we need to catch him.”

“…….”

“We have to make him lift the dark magic on the relic.”

This fact comes to light years later.

After that, the royal family gathered knights from all over the country to capture the shaman, and Arkle was also offered a spot in the party.

‘Originally, Martha would have definitely sent him, but… it was a time when the vassals were divided and fighting because of Jean, so in the end, he didn’t go.’

Martha let out a deep sigh, rubbing her chin.

She probably intended to try the method I suggested, thinking she might as well, but it was a bigger deal than expected.

Moreover, since the truth wasn’t certain yet… it was understandable.

‘Hearing this, she’ll probably think she can trust my words.’

I quickly added,

“While the curse can’t be completely lifted… rosemary leaves will help His Majesty.”

“What?”

“They help alleviate the pain caused by dark magic. First, try telling His Majesty about this.”

The family that discovered this and earned credit was a noble house hostile to the Cayenne family, but given the situation, I decided to take a little credit.