Chapter 12

‘The Emperor’s eyes and ears, and her loyal sycophant.’

How long had it been since she ascended the throne?

And already a sycophant had secured a position among her closest aides.

No matter how she thought about it, Mary deserved to be deposed.

Even setting aside her own revenge.

A comparatively heavy voice for such a slender frame settled into the air.

“Morian. Miss Hartsone.”

“How did it go? Can I bring her in right away?”

Though she did not know what had been discussed beforehand, Lilia quickly understood that the person hidden behind the words bring her in was herself.

As she slowly raised her head, her eyes met the Head Attendant’s.

The blatant gaze made her feel as though he could see straight through her thoughts.

A chill ran down her spine.

“No. Take her directly to Her Highness.”

“Eh? To Her Highness? Not to you, Head Attendant?”

“…Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Ah, y-yes. Yes, sir! My apologies!”

As Mol hurriedly bowed her head, he gave Lilia one more look before leaving.

When the sound of his footsteps finally disappeared down the corridor, Mol let out a long sigh and muttered quietly,

“Honestly, how are we supposed to keep up with him…?”

“Miss Hartsone?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go in!”

Pretending not to understand the question, Morian brushed it aside and knocked on the door.

“Your Highness! It’s Morian.”

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Lilia stepped inside.

More respectfully than anyone else, she offered a formal greeting.

“Greetings, Your Highness Evelyn Strovana. My name is Lilia Grenzach.”

To the partner with whom she would achieve her revenge.

***

“Head Attendant Wilcock Hopnagen seeks an audience.”

With the attendant’s announcement, the massive doors of the audience chamber opened.

Though it was a place prepared for subjects to meet the Emperor, Mary was not the only person present.

“…Count Edenbarker.”

“Head Attendant.”

Wilcock’s expression hardened at the sight of Robert seated there as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

He was not seated directly beside the throne, but he occupied a position that one might expect a Crown Prince to sit in, and the sight was deeply irritating.

Nevertheless, Wilcock maintained his practiced smile.

“My apologies if I am interrupting a conversation between the two of you.”

“It doesn’t matter. I merely keep him by my side.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Mary’s indifferent reply, the Head Attendant bowed his head.

‘It is not yet time.’

Especially not in front of the Emperor.

He could not afford to bare his claws at the Count.

After all, Robert Edenbarker was unquestionably the greatest contributor to placing Mary upon the throne.

The moment he came of age, Robert rescued Mary from the monastery where she had been confined.

According to rumor, he entered alone, killed every guard, and brought her out.

A religious sinner deserving of the Curse of the Divine Lord.

Because of that, he should have been destined to spend the rest of his life fleeing the Church.

And yet, several years later, Robert suddenly appeared in the capital.

Standing proudly at the side of Mary, who had manifested a Blessing.

Where he had been, how he had lived, and when her Blessing had awakened were all unknown.

But one fact remained unchanged:

Robert was, without question, the foremost architect of Mary’s rise to power.

‘I can increase my influence little by little from here.’

Wasn’t manipulating those intoxicated by power his specialty?

Wilcock had always sought the master who would bring him the greatest benefit.

He manipulated them to suit his tastes and discarded them without hesitation when they ceased to be useful.

The former ducal house of Epister, now fallen from power, had been no exception.

As a vassal of House Epister, Wilcock had offered up the lord he once served to Mary the moment the late Emperor Edward died, securing an important position for himself.

Of course, his influence was still lacking compared to Robert’s.

But he fully intended to seize the position of closest confidant before long.

‘And for that, the princess needs to be crushed first.’

Recalling the reason he had come to see Mary again, he opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, the Princess wishes to take on a new maid, but the woman lacks the necessary qualifications. I have come to seek Your Majesty’s judgment.”

“Evelyn has taken on a new maid?”

“Yes. They apparently knew each other beforehand, but she is a commoner and even bears the surname Grenzach.”

The eyes of both Robert and the Head Attendant turned toward Mary.

Ordinarily, the Emperor showed absolutely no interest in the affairs of state.

“Discuss it among yourselves.”

She cared only for purges that strengthened imperial authority and for stimulating amusements.

As a result, most state affairs were handled after Robert and the Head Attendant reached an agreement between themselves.

And Wilcock was extremely satisfied with that arrangement.

He simply hoped the Emperor’s attention would continue to remain elsewhere.

At present, the perfect sacrifice to ensure that outcome was Princess Evelyn.

“Your Majesty, may I offer a few words?”

“I permit it.”

The Head Attendant, still bowing his head, deliberately raised his voice.

“No matter that she is a princess, there are laws and traditions that must be respected! To seek shelter behind Your Majesty’s authority is truly improper! To think she is already attempting to wield power by using Your Majesty’s name. This servant is deeply concerned for the future.”

“Hmm.”

“And was she not, until only recently, imprisoned in the Tower for the crime of treason?”

His voice, rich with persuasion and backed by his talent as an exceptional actor, echoed through the vast hall.

“Therefore, this must never be dismissed lightly!”

The dazzling chandelier illuminated Mary as she sat upon the throne.

The golden crown atop her crimson, curling hair reflected the brilliant light.

Mary, who had been tapping her temple with an indifferent expression, finally spoke.

“Leave it be.”

“…Pardon?”

For the first time, a crack appeared in Wilcock’s fervent expression.

Caught off guard by the unexpected response, he hurriedly bowed his head.

“Your Majesty. It is only natural that one as insignificant as I cannot comprehend the will of the heavens, but would Your Majesty grant this loyal servant the grace of understanding even a little?”

At the slippery cunning of his silver tongue, Robert’s lips twisted upward on one side.

Mary, meanwhile, was rather pleased with the sight of him lying so flat before her.

And so she decided to grant him a measure of generosity.

“Head Attendant, do you enjoy hunting?”

“My apologies, Your Majesty, but I do not particularly enjoy it.”

“I see. Then do you know the difference between hunting for survival and hunting for sport?”

“I understand that hunting for survival is done for sustenance, while hunting for sport is done for amusement.”

“Correct. When hunting for food, a beast is killed the moment it is found. But hunting for pleasure is different.”

Mary, who had been resting her head against one hand, rose from her seat.

“The primary purpose of a hunt is enjoyment. Do you know when a person experiences the greatest excitement?”

“I humbly ask for Your Majesty’s wisdom.”

“When they have thoroughly played with their toy and discard it at the very end.”

The Emperor’s eyes, which had remained sunken and devoid of light, suddenly gleamed.

The dark-green pupils widened as the darkness receded and a faint light emerged.

“The more the prey struggles, the greater the enjoyment becomes.”

“…”

“Let the princess struggle as much as she can.”

Mary’s lips curved slowly.

“To me, even that is nothing more than entertainment.”

Mary rose from her seat and turned around.

Behind the gilded throne stood a barren wall that did not suit the splendor of the audience chamber.

It had once been the place where portraits of past Emperors hung, but by her order they had all been shoved into a corner of a storage room.

“I can already picture the look on her face when she cries out in despair.”

Her voice, laced with laughter, echoed through the audience chamber.

When she turned back again, her usual cold expression had returned.

“You are dismissed. This has become tiresome.”

***

Beneath the arched ceiling, Robert walked along the long red carpet and spoke in a mocking tone.

“Head Attendant, I’m impressed.”

“What do you mean?”

“The way you objected so strongly over the princess taking on a single maid was quite memorable. Your loyalty to Her Majesty is truly profound.”

“Of course…”

“Or perhaps you’re simply lacking in courage.”

“…”

At Robert’s constant taunts, Wilcock fell silent.

Irritation boiled within him, but he maintained his practiced smile.

“It seems I have much to learn from Your Excellency, who has served Her Majesty for so long. Especially when it comes to understanding Her Majesty’s intentions.”

“Ah, you’d do better to give up on that.”

Robert, striding along with an irritatingly relaxed expression, suddenly stopped.

The Head Attendant, who had walked several steps ahead, turned around.

“The place beside Her Majesty will always belong to me.”

The corners of Robert’s lips twisted upward.

As though he had never expected an answer in the first place, Robert’s muttering showed no sign of stopping.

“So you’d do well to hide that rotten ambition of yours. Don’t aim for a place that doesn’t suit you and end up becoming my prey.”

“…”

A killing intent slowly spread through the air, making the atmosphere feel heavy and oppressive.

Wilcock’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily.

The fear that an invisible blade might sever his throat at any moment stole the breath from his lungs.

His heart pounded loudly in his ears.

‘Thump. Thump.’

“Well, as long as you know your place, that’s enough.”

The moment Robert withdrew his pressure, Wilcock’s lungs finally began to work again.

“Hah…!”

As he passed by him, Robert added quietly,

“And don’t touch the princess.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

“She’s mine.”

The instant Robert’s presence disappeared into the distance, Wilcock, who had barely managed to remain standing, doubled over and gulped down air.

“Haa…! Haa…”

Sweat trickled from his forehead, ran past his temples, and dripped from his chin.

A moment later, when he raised his head, his face was twisted beyond recognition.

“Edenbarker…”

Emotions such as rage, inferiority, and competitiveness churned violently within his eyes.