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~Chapter 35~
“What… what is this supposed to mean?”
Aisha’s face turned pale as she checked Til’s note.
“The Empress Dowager has been investigating you for the past few days.”
Well, she had already guessed as much.
And the note said exactly that:
Report on Aisha Ashton
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Left her family estate a few months ago after conflict with her father. Since then, her whereabouts remain unknown.
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Cut ties with Rohan Ashton completely, but continues to exchange letters with her younger brother, Leoric Ashton.
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Currently investigating whether Aisha Ashton is connected to Sunday’s Exposé. However, no clear reason can be found for her to help or work with them. In addition, Aisha Ashton’s past behavior—avoiding books, indulging in luxury and pleasure like a typical foolish noble daughter—makes it unlikely she is related to Sunday’s Exposé.
…Was this supposed to be good news?
“Don’t worry. She hasn’t realized you’re the publisher or writer of Sunday’s Exposé. In fact, it seems she hasn’t even considered it. That’s lucky for you.”
Til’s words weren’t wrong.
But the note went on:
“However, it seems true that Sunday’s Exposé is connected to the underground guild, Rune. Without their help, there’s no way such a large magazine could be printed and distributed within the Drakxion Empire.”
That part was still fine.
But then came the problem.
“Concerning the future disposition of Killian Winters.”
“Using the war with the Aldrosian Empire as an excuse, they intend to settle everything once and for all.”
Aisha remembered Roselia’s words:
“In the future as well, the Imperial Family will expect much from Duke Killian. In the next war, and the one after that, surely the Duke will return in triumph again.”
The note continued:
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The Aldrosian Empire is currently divided between the Former Emperor’s faction and the Current Emperor’s faction, with growing internal strife.
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The Drakxion Empire has promised to send a number of private soldiers to the Former Emperor’s faction.
“What…?”
And Roselia had even said:
“The new Emperor is gathering private soldiers from all over. Inevitably, it will affect our Drakxion Empire too. Our two empires have been hostile for hundreds of years.”
Ridiculous. She had lent soldiers to the Former Emperor’s faction herself!
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The Former Emperor’s faction promised to quickly crush the Current Emperor’s rebels.
Til had even added a note in his messy handwriting:
“I checked this part myself. I saw letters exchanged with high officials of the Former Emperor’s faction. They even bore official seals. No doubt about it.”
“Damn it. If only you had stolen those documents.”
Aisha sighed, but she knew the truth. If Til had stolen them, Roselia would have realized immediately and set up another plan.
Her eyes returned to the note.
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When the Former Emperor’s faction regains power, the moment Killian’s engagement ceremony ends, the Aldrosian invasion will begin.
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They promised to use every soldier to kill Killian Winters.
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Supplies for this war will come from Baron Crawford’s house and the Duke of Dilsen’s house.
“What…?”
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After disposing of Killian Winters, they plan to punish Aisha Ashton, the Winters family, and all of Killian’s followers as well.
Aisha was speechless.
This wasn’t even in the original novel His Majesty the Emperor Cannot Live Without Prisoners.
In the story, Roselia’s death happened after the Aldrosian war, right before the heroine Hilda Everett arrived in Drakxion. But here… Roselia was plotting something far worse.
And Baron Crawford’s house, along with the Duke of Dilsen’s house—both were close allies of the Empress Dowager.
No wonder. Aisha, as the publisher of Sunday’s Exposé, knew the details of nearly every noble family in the empire.
The Dilsen family in particular had always supported the Emperor’s faction. They sent soldiers, resources, and money whenever there was war. And why? Because they held the monopoly on weapons production.
Roselia must have promised them incredible wealth to make them commit to this treason.
“But just the fact that she contacted the Former Emperor’s faction is already treason.”
Aisha muttered with a hardened face.
“The Drakxion and Aldrosian Empires have been enemies for over a hundred years. And yet the Empress Dowager herself is doing this?”
Impossible. Unthinkable.
Still, she couldn’t just publish all of this. Tomorrow’s article was already planned, and even if she tried to write about Roselia, Killian would stop her for sure.
After all, she had promised to show him the article before publishing it.
So Aisha clenched her teeth and sat down at her desk. She began furiously writing.
Hours passed.
By 3 a.m., Aisha had finished and edited the sixth special feature on Killian Winters for Sunday’s Exposé.
She had asked Killian to bring Leoric by 7 a.m.—still plenty of time. But she couldn’t sleep, her anger toward Roselia burning too hot.
“Who knows? Maybe Killian will let me publish it. And if he doesn’t… I’ll just scrap it.”
Her eyes glinted sharply as she picked up the pen again, writing as if possessed.
Meanwhile, Leoric arrived at the Winters estate exactly on time.
‘Ugh. I swore I’d never come back here again…’
Walking nervously through the halls, Leoric felt small and uneasy. Last time, he had been dragged here like a dog with Aisha.
“Lady Aisha is waiting in her bedroom. Please follow me,” said Sien.
“Yes.”
Ah, my sister. Still hasn’t fixed her habit of sleeping late, huh? And now, even as a guest, I’m called straight to her bedroom. She’s unbelievable…
Thinking such nonsense, Leoric followed Sien until he reached Aisha’s door.
