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Chapter 84 …………………………………—
Crushed Ambition
Humiliated in front of the lobby, Hailey was burning with rage; the moment she returned she let the Black Knights have it properly.
“If you’re going to do something, do it right. If you don’t have the stomach for it, get out. Understand?”
“We’re sorry!”
“One more mistake and I’ll tell His Majesty and see to it that you’re finished — understood?!”
After venting for a long time, she didn’t return to the Empress’s quarters until quite late. The palace maids were anxiously waiting for her in the sitting room.
“Your Majesty the Empress, why have you only just returned?”
“Why? What’s the matter?”
“The Crown Prince has been waiting for an hour.”
“Without any notice?”
Annoyance flashed across Hailey’s face for an instant and then faded.
When she entered the bedchamber, the Crown Prince — clearly in a foul mood — was alone in the empty room, drunk and drinking.
She hurriedly changed her clothes, put on a bright smile, and approached him.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, what brings you here without letting me know?”
“Where were you until now?”
The Crown Prince scowled and snapped the moment he saw Hailey.
“I went to the Crossroads to have a dress fitted and get some fresh air. If I knew you were coming I would’ve returned straight away — I’m so sorry.”
She flashed an adorable smile and poured him another drink. Still sullen, the Crown Prince accepted the liquor she offered and drained it.
Hailey pulled his face into her chest and gently smoothed his hair.
“Tell me. What has you so angry?”
“Sigh — nothing goes right because of that incompetent Emperor!” he grumbled, frowning, but burrowing closer into her embrace.
“Because of His Majesty?”
“Remember the Shadow Guard who joined my command two years ago?”
“Of course. They’re the most secretive of the palace guards, aren’t they? Your Highness put a lot of effort into them.”
“But that old fox stole them away. He’s issuing secret missions I don’t even know about.”
As he spoke, the Crown Prince’s anger rose and he snatched up a bottle and blew off steam by shouting.
“I went to confront His Majesty about it, determined to get answers. And you won’t believe what he told me — that he plans to send the daughters of the Marquess House Huairan and the Count House Munakon to King Pritan?”
The Crown Prince flung the bottle he had been drinking from. It smashed against the wall in shards and the remaining liquor splattered everywhere.
Hailey felt irritation creep up but forced herself to maintain her composure.
“His Majesty told me he intends to take my younger sister back to Haren, and to placate the King of Pritan — who was robbed of his queen — he will send the empire’s greatest beauties.”
“To give the queen of a warmonger blood-fiend away… what kind of sensible thing is that? That we tremble before the prophecy of some stupid High Priest…”
“…A prophecy of the High Priest?”
Hailey frowned at the Crown Prince’s words.
The reason the Emperor had set his covetous eye on Lea had been the result of Hailey’s careful machinations. Yet the Crown Prince was saying something different.
“Didn’t you know? The High Priest prophesied that because you sent your sister to Pritan, Pritan will prosper like never before and the Haren Empire will fall. And the Emperor — of all people — is acting on such nonsense.”
The Crown Prince poured a fresh drink and filled his cup.
“And to placate the King of Pritan, the empire is sending beauties — and of all people, he chose the daughters of House Huairan and House Munakon. What does that old fox know to do this?”
Hailey watched the Crown Prince mutter to himself and empty his cup with a strangely mixed expression. In truth, she herself had been the one to recommend those two families to the Emperor.
“Those two houses will be the most reliable pillars when I become Emperor,” she thought. “Choosing only their daughters to send to Pritan — it feels off.”
“Is it because you’re upset that favored maidens are being sent away?” Hailey said before she realized her tone had sharpened. Everyone in the palace was discreet, but it wasn’t a secret that the rakish Crown Prince had been involved with the young ladies. Having extracted a promise from him that he would make her Empress when he became Emperor, Hailey had removed potential rivals in advance.
“Don’t be too upset. The empire is vast — there are many beauties.”
She took the cup from his hand. After draining it herself, she kissed him deeply.
“Once you become Emperor, even if you take several beautiful consorts, I won’t be jealous. I’ll be a magnanimous Empress.”
“What?”
The Crown Prince, who had been greedily exploring her mouth, stared at her dumbfoundedly — repeating the words as if to make sure he’d heard them right.
“You promised to make me your Empress, remember? The promise you made to me the first night you came to the Empress’s bedchamber — you haven’t forgotten that, have you?”
When Hailey teased him with a smile, the Crown Prince finally seemed to understand and nodded emphatically. Then, finding her exceedingly lovable, he playfully pinched her nose and laughed loudly.
“Oh, Your Highness the Crown Prince…”
Hailey’s coquettish pleading made him look down at her all over again.
“You’re cleverer than any strategist, yet sometimes you behave so innocently — it’s amusing.”
“Innocent? Care to see just how innocent I can be?”
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Hailey bared her teeth and started playfully nibbling at the Crown Prince’s nape.
“Heh, Hailey. It tickles.”
The Crown Prince twisted and laughed, pulling her closer.
“To believe so wholeheartedly in a promise made by a man swept up in passion — if that isn’t innocent, what is? No matter how much I have, how could I possibly take the former Emperor’s consort and elevate her from mistress to Empress… ugh!!”
As he relaxed and stroked her, he suddenly became violent when she bit his nape hard and flung her aside.
Hailey’s dress tore with a loud rip, but he clutched his own nape and glared fiercely. Blood welled where she had bitten him.
“What are you doing?” he snarled.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I misjudged my strength.”
Half stunned, Hailey murmured from the floor. She had clung to the Crown Prince’s promise so absolutely that it felt like a hollow echo now — she couldn’t accept the reality in front of her.
“Get up.”
He hauled her up roughly and, as if to punish her, began to kiss her harshly. But everything about him disgusted Hailey now, and she turned her face and pushed him away.
The Crown Prince, enraged, grabbed her jaw with one hand and forced her to meet his eyes.
“I’m the next Emperor of Haren. I’m the one who will rule Haren. How dare you refuse me?”
Pressed hard, Hailey fought back desperately.
“I was the one who drew a sword and stood up to His Majesty just a while ago. How dare you—”
Already unhinged, the Crown Prince dragged Hailey to the bed and pinned her down tightly.
Hailey dug her fingernails into his face in resistance. As drops of blood formed along the long scratch marks, the Crown Prince grew even more emotionally aroused.
“How dare you scratch the Crown Prince’s face? Shall I have your crimes dealt with under imperial law?”
At that moment there was a loud bang — the bedchamber door threw open.
“Imperial law… How should we deal with a Crown Prince who dared touch the Emperor’s woman?”
Startled, both the Crown Prince and Hailey turned to the doorway. The Emperor stood there, resplendent, flanked by the Imperial Guard.
“Your Majesty — kill me, I beg you.”
Hailey pushed the Crown Prince away with all her strength, threw herself before the Emperor, and began to wail in sorrow.
Late that night, through a steady, drizzling rain, I was quietly leaving the capital in a carriage driven by Freddy and Millie, who sat with me.
My heart thumped as if someone were squeezing it — I was sure Hailey’s followers could appear from anywhere. Millie looked ashen-white, tense.
I reached out and squeezed Millie’s cold, trembling hand.
“Don’t worry, Millie. Everything will be fine.”
“My goodness, Your Majesty the Queen — your fingertips are like ice.”
Millie brought my hand to her cheek.
“Wait a moment.”
I pulled her close and hugged her. Sharing body heat calmed some of the anxiety.
“Once we get out of the capital, Sir Freddy says we’ll pick up speed. Then we can ride straight to Pritan Castle without stopping.”
Listening to Millie’s brave words, I managed a faint smile.
“You’ve become so positive.”
“I believe it. Your Majesty will go safely to Lord Miklok, and I’ll return safely to Sir William. It must happen.”
“You’re right, Millie. You’re absolutely right.”
I straightened my hunched shoulders and back; somehow the tension eased. Then, with a sudden clatter of hooves, the carriage came to an abrupt stop.
“Ah!!”
I lurched forward and a sharp pain shot through me.
Something terrible seemed to have happened. Even as I reeled, I fumbled under my skirt for the dagger I had hidden there.
The carriage door was flung open and a cold wind roared in.
“I’ve found them!!”
A stranger’s voice called out, and someone yanked me roughly to my feet.
Helmets covered the faces of the knights who had surrounded not only the carriage but the area around it. I tried to steady myself.
“Oh my, you cut your hair and changed color.”
“…Who are you?”
“Insignificant people for someone of your pedigree to bother learning about,” came a mocking reply.
“The game of hide-and-seek is over. Come along quietly.”
“Sent by Hailey hyungni?” Millie asked.
“…Who can say? You’ll see when we get there.”
“What of the driver?” I pressed. Just before the carriage stopped I’d heard Freddy’s scream — I worried for him terribly.
“If he’s not dead, he’s still breathing,” one of them said.
As they tried to drag us from the carriage, I pushed back and climbed out on my own to check the driver’s seat.
Freddy had been struck down, bleeding profusely. His breath was shallow, but his eyes burned with murderous resolve.
“If you want us to come quietly, allow me to tend to him,” I said.
“That’s not possible. That would be beyond orders.”
Anger made my body tremble, but I kept calm.
“He’s lost so much blood he won’t last long anyway. So come with us quietly.”
“Give me two minutes. Just two minutes. Let me close his eyes with my own hands.”
“Why should we grant such a favor?” they sneered.
I drew my dagger and pressed it to my own throat. Their leader glared at me with fierce disapproval.
“What are you doing?” he barked.
“Choose. Either give me two minutes, or carry my corpse to your master.”
He glared at me for a long moment, sighed, then stepped aside.
“Two minutes. If you pull any tricks, I can’t guarantee that servant’s safety.”
“Fine.”
I nodded at Millie, who had been seized, and hurried to the driver’s seat. The men didn’t notice as I drew healing energy to my fingertips.
Freddy’s breathing was weak. Tears filled his eyes when he saw me.
“Please forgive me… Your Majesty entrusted me with my heart… the mission…” he murmured.
“Shh…”
I covered his eyes with my hand, then placed my other, glowing with healing energy, near his heart.
His body twitched violently.
