“Of the same kind.”
The reason Desmond, a demon, said that was obvious.
“The Empress Dowager made a contract with a demon?”
I trembled all over at the shocking truth.
But that couldn’t be. The Empress Dowager had been revered as a saint in the temple before entering the imperial palace.
Even now, she was likely in close cooperation with the temple. The idea that such a woman had made a contract with a demon was absurd.
[There’s no doubt! That woman made a contract with a demon!]
“That can’t be…”
[But it’s not with the demons of our gems.]
“Then with whom?”
[Something more… hmm…]
But Desmond couldn’t finish his sentence easily. I tilted my head in confusion.
Of course, demons from the gem weren’t the only ones that existed in this world.
Unlike the Duke of Winston’s family, there were many who had secretly made contracts with demons. It was just that the Winston family was the most famous for it.
However, those who made such secret deals were often hiding something shady. For example…
“Now, take my hand.”
“…”
Like how the Empress Dowager entered the palace and the Empress died shortly after, and how her son became Emperor and both he and his wife died—leaving no political opponents.
I stared quietly at the outstretched, pure white palm before me. The flawless skin looked incredibly soft, as if she had never done a day of hard work in her life.
Did the Empress Dowager really make a contract with a demon? And with that power, did she kill the former Empress and Emperor?
Chills ran down my spine.
Just then, Vivi shouted.
[You fool! That’s the energy of an ancient demon!]
“…Ancient demon?”
[Yes, Master! There’s no mistake! That’s definitely a type of ancient demon that should have been cut off from the human world by now!]
“…”
What now?
My head started throbbing. Not just a demon, but an ancient demon? That sounded like serious trouble.
I clicked my tongue inwardly, and perhaps due to the stress in such a short time, my young, fragile body staggered. Sir Raven quickly stepped closer.
“Apologies, Your Majesty. The young miss is very frail…”
“And who might you be?”
“…I am Raven Hunter of the Duke of Winston’s household.”
Sir Raven politely bowed to the Empress Dowager as he answered.
She looked at him quietly.
“Yes, I’ve heard that Lionel’s child is rather weak.”
“…Forgive me.”
“It would be better if you carried her.”
The Empress Dowager smiled gently and stepped back. I immediately clung to Sir Raven’s arms.
The trembling in my body eased, and I began to feel calm again. I let out a small sigh of relief. “Phew, thank goodness.”
[You shouldn’t touch that woman.]
“Is it that serious?”
[Yes. Ancient demons are completely different from us.]
“…?”
Since forming the contract, it was the first time I’d heard Desmond sound so frightened.
That meant ancient demons must be truly terrifying. I swallowed hard.
[Those creatures have no reason or intellect. They move only according to their master’s orders. They’re more like mindless beasts than demons.]
“Can humans even form contracts with things like that?”
[Of course not! Ancient demons were exiled even from the demon realm. If a human wants to form a contract with one, they must pay a corresponding price!]
“A corresponding… price?”
Desmond’s words gave me a clue.
To summon and contract with an ancient demon, one feared even by other demons—such a method wouldn’t be ordinary.
I recalled the original novel.
Before the Empress Dowager became imperial consort, she was revered as a saint by the people.
Back then, an epidemic broke out in a small village on the empire’s outskirts. Many died, and the village was on the verge of being quarantined.
The one who saved them was Gabriella—the Empress Dowager.
The impoverished daughter of a baron, she had happened upon the village by chance, awakened her holy powers, and healed the sick. That event earned her the title of saint.
But now that I knew she’d made a contract with an ancient demon, my thoughts changed.
“She didn’t heal them. She sacrificed the villagers to form a contract with the demon.”
Surely, that epidemic had been her doing. A small village would’ve been easy to manipulate.
After forming the contract, she feigned holy power, then used the demon’s strength to lift the plague.
“That’s not something an ordinary human could do.”
How greedy must she have been to commit such an act?
The mere thought made me sick. I tightened my grip on Raven’s arm.
“Young miss?”
“Mmm… I want… mommy.”
“Just a little longer. We’re almost there.”
I missed Veronica. I wanted to see her beautiful face and feel safe again.
She was the one person in this world who would always be on my side. I bit my lip, thinking of her.
Soon, the terrace where the three of us had been together came into view. But Veronica and Dantalian were no longer there.
They must have gone inside to talk. I leapt from Raven’s arms.
Then I hurried over and swung the terrace door open.
“Mom—!”
The scene inside the room came into view.
What I saw made my eyes widen.
“Oh my.”
“Ahem. Ahem.”
“…”
What the heck?
Why were they hugging?
I glared sharply at the two people who quickly pulled apart.
Before I opened the door, I had clearly seen them embracing like they were one.
“Dia, y-you came early.”
“Did you enjoy the garden?”
“…”
I glared coldly at them, flustered as they were.
I had left them alone to reconcile, and they’d already made this much progress? Dantalian, you jerk!
Then, an odd voice echoed in my head.
[What’s the problem?]
“What?”
[Aren’t you trying to marry them off?]
“That’s beside the point!”
I shouted angrily at Desmond’s indifferent words.
Technically, he wasn’t wrong, but I couldn’t hold back my boiling anger.
It felt like Dantalian had stolen Veronica from me.
Veronica was my mother. She was supposed to care about me the most. That warmth belonged to me…
That possessive thought filled my little head.
“Mooommmy…”
“Yes, my sweet Dia.”
Veronica quickly came over and hugged me as I whined. Her familiar fragrant scent calmed me down.
Just then, the Empress Dowager’s gentle voice rang out.
“Did we interrupt a lovely moment?”
“…Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
The Empress Dowager stepped into the room with a warm smile. Dantalian stood protectively in front of us, his expression firm.
“To what do we owe the visit?”
“What a thing to say to family.”
“Family, you say.”
Dantalian let out a dry chuckle, as if he’d heard a joke.
Then the Empress Dowager turned her gaze to Veronica and me, standing behind Dantalian.
“Even if the two of you have known each other since childhood…”
“…”
“Being overly affectionate isn’t appropriate.”
She smiled with endless warmth. When her eyes rested on Veronica, the smile deepened.
“And you do have a family, don’t you?”
“…”
Veronica still hadn’t divorced Cedric. Officially, she was a married woman, so being involved in a scandal with the crown prince was inappropriate.
She wasn’t wrong. But hearing it from the Empress Dowager—who clearly sided with Cedric—was irritating.
“Thank you for your advice, Your Majesty.”
“Of course. I trust you’ll do the right thing.”
“…”
Once again, the Empress Dowager smiled kindly. She didn’t look like someone who had massacred a village to form a pact with a demon. I burrowed deeper into Veronica’s embrace.
“Still, what a beautiful child.”
“…!”
The Empress Dowager’s gaze fell on me. Her crimson eyes scanned me from head to toe.
“It’s a shame I haven’t seen much of her until now. From now on, do bring her to the palace more often.”
“…Yes, I will.”
“With Cedric, too.”
“…”
At her words, Veronica fell silent. I was equally speechless.
Surely, the Empress Dowager had heard that Cedric had brought his first love and their child to his estate.
He had even brought them to the victory banquet.
And now she was telling us to come visit the palace with that cheating husband?
She was doing this on purpose. I cursed the Empress Dowager silently.
“By the way… hmm?”
Just as she was about to turn her head, apparently done with us, she tilted it in curiosity.
What now?
As I watched in confusion, she turned her gaze again. Her eyes fixated on something.
“That doll…?”
“…!”
Her gaze landed precisely on Desmond.
To be exact—on the teddy bear I was hugging tightly.
