“Speaking of investigating the empress, detained her… That is nonsense.”
The empress snorted and casually threw the Oberlir Post issued today on the floor.
Even though she said it was obviously nonsense, her face looked strangely nervous.
The maids quickly picked up the Obelir Post that had fallen to the floor and retreated.
Left alone in the bedroom, the empress’ expression gradually hardened.
‘Are you going to investigate again? How long has it been since that lowly thing died?’
It was right to have the time of mourning for the person who passed away just as much as that person’s value.
Lady Roselia, whom the empress remembered, was not a valuable human being enough to reveal her injustice by using the power of the high priest.
‘Why, at a time like now… Even after death, she was still annoying.’
If it was the same as before, she could call all the people involved and issue a silence order.
Those who seemed rebellious could have their tongues cut or their throats slit.
However, with the head of the Gelon family locked up in the detention room of the Great Temple, it was not the right time to do such a thing.
Since most of Gelon’s vassals are in prison, it could become a nuisance if even one of them spilled useless information.
‘well… Maria was sent by me, so conclusive evidence won’t come out.’
Maria. A kind-hearted baron’s daughter who started out as her own nanny and came to the imperial palace together.
She never forgot what the Empress said once, and she was the most favored person because she carefully took care of everything even without giving instructions.
‘That’s why I trusted her with Roselia and Frey’s meals.’
However, since the crime of harming the emperor’s child was serious, physical evidence should not remain.
The empress was always insensitive, but her dreams were troubled for a while after she ordered to get rid of Maria to destroy evidence.
‘Maria’s curse or it’s because of the poison that day brought me to this point.’
‘I thought that if I showed a dignified appearance even after killing her mother, Frey, who had nothing, would be frightened and shut up.’
It was hard to believe that now she had to move around to avoid the ax that Frey was slamming down on her.
‘If I act foolishly, there will be problems with Tahar’s succession. Then there will be no point in drawing a line to punish the Duke of Gelon.’
How did the status of the great Gelon come to this bottom?
It was a question that could be answered if she thought about it for a little bit, but the empress didn’t do that.
Gelon is great. Even the imperial family will one day kneel in front of Gelon’s infinite magical power.
Only those words she had heard since she was in her mother’s womb before she was born.
* * *
I visited the imperial palace today to check on my father’s condition.
‘It seems that his recovery has accelerated since Duke Gelon was detained in the basement of the Great Temple.’
I felt relieved that his condition had improved enough that I could now inspect the sacred power barrier in the capital.
“I’ll take care of it for the time being, Father, Please focus on your recovery.”
I said in a friendly voice, then stepped out of the Emperor’s bedroom.
As usual, Lina was waiting for me in the hallway near the bedroom.
“Then let’s go by carriage, Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”
Lina carefully checked whether the waiting carriage belonged to Prause and that the coachman and other servants were familiar faces before she led me into the carriage.
Then, she handed me the file folder she always held.
“A maid pretended to fall and exchanged her stuff for an empty file I was holding.”
Lina spoke to me with her lips smiling.
‘As expected. I’m glad I asked Lina to wait with the same file every day.’
The file folder I told her to hold was exactly the same product delivered to the imperial palace.
In the imperial palace, where there are many eyes, I thought it would be easier to prepare the same items and then exchange them, and Garnet seemed to have the same thoughts as me.
‘This may contain the secret of my mother’s death.’
Even though I’ve been working hard for this moment, I was afraid to face the truth.
I made up my mind until I reached the mansion’s office.
Sitting in a familiar chair, I opened the file folder and found a notebook wrapped in paper wrappers.
‘It’s not silk, it’s paper wrapper.’
I peeled off the wrapping paper without tearing it, struck a match, and lit the candle.
As I brought the paper closer to the candle, I saw the writing that seemed to be written by Garnet.
[The maid’s name is Maria. She is the Empress’s nanny. She was loyal to the empress all her life.]
‘Maria, the sweet-looking maid?’
Maria is the head maid at the Empress’s palace.
It was a name that even I, who don’t socialize often, had heard of.
No one handled the job as perfectly as the head maid Maria.
‘I thought she was a good person….’
I tried to calm myself down and finished reading Garnet’s note.
[However, Maria began to lose her memory rapidly five years ago. Fearing that if her forgetfulness worsens, she will not be able to serve the empress perfectly, so she notes everything.]
There was no name written on the notebook. However, the notebook was filled with things that were unknown to anyone other than the empress’s head maid.
What kind of food does she prefer?
What is she interested in lately?
What kind of flowers does she sneeze at?
and–
[Roselia and Frey’s meal. Apply the condensed poison of Gelon’s curse to the herbs that decorate their steak.]
“…..”
Looking at the date, it was the exact same day. The day my father was away due to a sudden appearance of undead monsters.
Just when I lost my mother and my younger brother in the womb, and recalled the memories of my previous life.
“Ahh….”
I finished reading Garnett’s note, wiping my blurred eyes.
[I learned about the existence of the notebook in the process of receiving Her Majesty’s order through Maria, but when I heard that the notebook was not found in her body, I searched the maids’ villa.]
‘So Maria forgot the empress’s order for a while and took out a notebook near Garnet, and Garnet took a close look at it.’
Maria, who knows Gelon’s temper well, must have wanted to hide her forgetfulness from the Empress and the Crown Prince and appear to be a competent person.
Because of this, only the relatively easy-going Garnet would have known of the notebook’s existence.
‘After the maid died, she started looking for a notebook that would become the empress’ weakness.’
It seemed that Garnet was also learning how to survive in the imperial palace.
Thanks to that, I was able to secure important evidence, but my heart was still heavy.
‘Shouldn’t I be happy that I have evidence to bring the Empress down, Mother?’
I had mixed emotions.
I supported my forehead with both hands and leaned against the desk for a while.
The reason why my mother died was explained in just a few lines of the note.
A garnish herb on the steak.
The poison of Gelon that leaves no trace.
I can’t believe the most frightening day was written so simply and neatly.
I bit my lip and stayed in the same position for a long time until I finally managed to get my voice out around the time my throat felt sore.
“Bring me some wine, because I have got….some important evidence and I’m going to celebrate.”
* * *
[“That wine, are you taking it to my wife’s office?”]
[“That is….”]
As soon as Daniel was informed of the situation by Lina, he headed to Frey’s office.
Daniel couldn’t go in and stood in front of the door, and he heard a sound from inside the office.
She poured the wine and drank it. Pick up the bottle again and fill the empty glass.
Frey continued to drink without saying anything.
There was a sadness in her movements, not like someone who had asked for a drink to celebrate.
Having never seen her drink too much, Daniel was worried.
Tok Tok–
“Frey. Can I come in?”
“Sure.”
As soon as permission was granted, he opened the door to the office and entered.
According to Lina, Frey’s aide, she was worried.
[“Shall we have a toast?”]
―When she asked, Frey smiled bitterly and said no.
She said she needed some time to be alone.
He felt strangely satisfied that she didn’t push him away, that she let him into her office.
“Frey. I don’t want you to drink alone.”
“I’m just glad I got this.”
Frey pointed at Maria’s notebook, which was neatly arranged on her desk.
Daniel picked up the water jug that was always in the room and filled her empty glass.
“You emptied more than half a bottle by myself in a short time, so this is the next glass.”
“…..”
‘Is it an illusion?’
It was because Frey, who was drunk and out of control, pursed her red lips.
He almost threw away the water and poured the wine again because Frey, who was protesting without realizing it, was cute.
When he smiled, Frey followed suit and raised the corner of her mouth. It seemed like it was because of drunkenness.
“If I drink all the water, just give me one more glass.”
There was a sweet scent of wine mixed with the murmur of her voice.
Daniel pretended to obey her request and accepted her words gently.
“Frey. If you have another drink, I think we should go to bed together and rest.”
* * *
