Ian’s mind was tangled with thoughts of Rosetin again today. She hadn’t left Kaelin Palace since she woke up, and she didn’t want to see anyone.
Count Bedos, sensing Rosetin’s deteriorating health, wildly suspected the empress. However, Ian dismissed the count’s suspicions, attributing Rosetin’s weakened state to mere physical frailty.
At the Emperor’s behest, the people of Kaelin Palace were forced to remain silent about the matter, and Rosetin refused to meet with the Count and Countess, citing her illness as an excuse.
Therefore, it seemed unlikely that the incident would expand into something related to Lethenia. Ian considered that somewhat fortunate. However, there was something else that made his heart uneasy.
‘Kaire…’
The fact that this name came from Rosetin’s lips bothered him greatly.
Of course, she could be referring to someone else. Naturally, that’s what he should think. But… unfounded speculations continued to bother him.
Every time they met, the image of Lethenia overlapped with her, tormenting him. He kept asking himself the unanswerable question: Was it a coincidence? Was it really a coincidence?
He wanted to go to Kaelin Palace right away, grab Rosetin, and ask her. How did she know that name?
But even that was a ridiculous idea. The name Kaire was a memory of Lethenia that no one else could possibly know.
He lightly shook his head to free himself from absurd questions about Rosetin. Instead, he needed to find out why Rosetin committed such an unsightly act.
The last person she saw before swallowing the poison was him. He had a hunch that he had something to do with it.
At that moment, the chamberlain approached with a dark expression. However, he hesitated and paused for a moment before speaking. Ian turned to him in frustration.
“What’s going on?”
“Well, that… um…”
The chamberlain cleared his throat a few times before managing to speak.
“Rumor has it that the Empress has become a little… strange.”
“Tell me in detail.”
The chamberlain then went on to explain in detail the events that had taken place in the empress’s palace.
Lethenia was committing all sorts of atrocities against those around her. She had been insulting her maids and not hesitating to beat courtiers who offended her.
There were reports of her wandering through the palace in a drunken state in broad daylight, mocking the palace guards.
As the report continued, Ian’s face became increasingly grim. Lethenia would never do such a thing.
Were those who harbored resentment against Bledel spreading baseless rumors about the empress again?
“Thoroughly investigate who is spreading such false rumors.”
“It seems that…”
The chamberlain was about to speak again with a hesitant expression when a messenger rushed into the office.
“Your Majesty, there seems to be a great disturbance at the empress’s palace right now.”
Upon hearing this, Ian immediately rose from his seat and headed towards the empress’s palace.
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Upon entering Lethenia’s bedroom, Ian was momentarily speechless at the sight that met his eyes.
Broken plates and shards of glass were scattered everywhere. Lethenia held a bottle of alcohol in one hand and broken glass in the other, her appearance in complete disarray.
Blood was dripping from her hand holding the glass. She seemed to have walked on the sharp objects strewn across the floor barefoot, as there were bloodstains under her feet.
He couldn’t believe his eyes. He called her name in shock.
“Lethenia.”
Lethenia lifted her head to look at Ian. A chilling aura emanated from her expression, as if she were wearing a sinister mask.
Even Ian, who was used to maintaining his composure at all times and in all places, couldn’t hide his surprise. Finally, Lethenia’s languid voice reached him.
“Ian.”
“What are you doing right now?”
“Nothing; I’m just bored.”
There was an indescribable madness in Lethenia’s clear violet eyes.
“First, let’s get you treated.”
The palace physician, who had heard about the situation, was already waiting outside the door. Ian approached Lethenia. Then she spoke in a sly voice.
“You’ll regret it if you come any closer.”
Somehow, it sounded like a threat, but Ian couldn’t leave her like this.
He had been feeling intense unease since he saw the bloodstains on Lethenia’s otherwise pristine white skin.
In a moment, when he tried to approach to take away what she was holding, she swiftly struck his shoulder with a shard of glass. Ian, caught off guard, couldn’t block it.
The pain from the glass piercing his skin was nothing compared to the shock he felt when Lethenia harmed him.
Lethenia then pushed harder, trying to shove her weapon into Ian’s body.
“Ha…….”
When Ian made a weak groaning sound, Lethenia, with all her strength, twisted her face into a distorted smile, as if her mouth would tear apart.
At that bizarre sight, Ian was captivated by a fear he had never felt before in his life.
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“It seems the empress’s mind has been unstable lately. They say her gaze has completely changed. Like she’s possessed by something.”
“Not long ago, she sent a dead mouse to Kaelin Palace.”
“And she even brandished a knife in front of the emperor, they say?”
Rumors of the empress’s madness spread within the palace. While there were strict penalties for spreading disrespectful words about the empress, it was not enough to silence the numerous mouths from speaking.
Many witnessed the Empress’s strange behavior, and from that day forward, Lethenia was imprisoned in the Empress’ palace.
The excuse given to the public was that a terrible disease had broken out, so they needed to quarantine the palace. But the courtiers knew that wasn’t the truth.
After the communication with Lethenia was severed, Theo visited the empress’s palace several times, only to be stopped by the imperial guards, unable to even catch a glimpse of her hair.
His ominous premonition soon turned into reality, shaking him to the core. The strange rumors that had only circulated within the palace are now spreading widely among the nobility.
The content suggested that the reason Lethenia remained hidden was not due to a contagious disease but rather a mental illness.
She was said to exhibit bizarre behavior, as if possessed by an evil spirit. Theo, with a determined heart, entered the palace.
The place he sought was not the empress’s palace but the imperial palace. The first person he needed to meet was Ianhart.
“Please allow me to see the Empress.”
Ian felt a sinking feeling for a moment at the bold demand from Claflin. However, Theo, looking straight at the emperor, showed a gaze that indicated he wouldn’t back down.
Ever since Theo Claflin became Lethenia’s paramour, he has been a person who touched Ian’s nerves just by existing. Ian, without bothering to conceal his displeasure, responded firmly.
“You cannot.”
“If you truly cherish the Empress, you must permit it.”
In the confrontational tone of Theo, heat gradually rose in Ian’s eyes. However, at this moment, Theo had no concern for Ian’s personal feelings.
Ignoring the fact that he was facing an emperor who could kill him at any moment, Theo spoke with a cold voice.
I am well aware that the Empress’ condition is far from normal. Since the cause is unknown, even the palace physician couldn’t intervene.”
Ian’s gaze subtly changed at those words.
“You speak as if you know everything about the empress.”
“I believe I know more about her than Your Majesty does.”
Ian clenched his fist, emitting a palpable aura. In a voice full of anger, he said,
“Your arrogance is getting out of hand. Have you forgotten who I am?”
“Sometimes, even a dignified emperor has to swallow his pride. If you leave the Empress as she is, greater chaos will ensue.”
Theo’s words made Ian’s breath a bit ragged. However, Ian was caught in a moment of inner conflict. As Theo said, he couldn’t just leave Lethenia in that state.
The sudden change in Lethenia had thrown everyone who saw her into a vortex of shock. She had even harmed the emperor himself.
It would be a disaster if Lethenia were to be accused of trying to kill the Emperor.
Ian, in his efforts to conceal the incident, hadn’t received proper treatment. The wound had developed severe inflammation, making it difficult to open his eyes. But he acted as usual, without showing any signs.
Ian couldn’t understand why Lethenia had suddenly started behaving that way. Somehow, Claflin seemed to know what the cause was.
He wanted to avoid sending Theo to Lethenia, but the situation was too precarious to argue about such things now.
Reading Ian’s distress, Theo once again appealed to the emperor.
“Please allow me to see the Empress in person. I will try to find a suitable solution.”
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Theo entered the empress’s bedroom. Lethenia, with an expressionless face, was staring out of the window. She slowly turned her head, fixing her enigmatic gaze on Theo’s green eyes.
He felt an indiscernible and dangerous energy emanating from her eyes. She smiled lightly, a smile that seemed to carry no weight. Yet, her icy demeanor remained unchanged.
Theo could instantly tell. The woman before him was not Lethenia, not Kim Sejin, but someone or something entirely different.
