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Chapter 59
At the very moment Regiana was dying from the poison, Renia was in the old Troxia estate confirming something important: the sleeping dragon was connected to Regiana Troxia.
This was the moment that proved their theory right.
Regiana had to get close to death for this. They never planned to kill her—just to “confirm” the truth.
When Regiana collapsed from the poison, the emperor surely thought someone was trying to steal her treasure. Adrian saw the greed shining in his mother’s eyes when she confirmed Regiana.
The poison attempt made the emperor furious.
She must have believed the treasure was hers alone and now someone else was trying to take it.
Adrian knew from the start that the maid Milon’s will wouldn’t be believed. His role was to act obediently and confuse the investigation beside his mother until Renia killed Regiana, took the dragon’s power, and gave him the throne.
“But I still don’t know what Duke Hertrio is thinking.”
The duke, who was expected to leave the palace as soon as Regiana woke up, strangely stayed put, hesitating for some reason.
‘He wouldn’t suddenly stop caring after acting so tender.’
Adrian had already heard rumors through Renia about the duke and the woman he brought. He knew the duke visited her bedroom daily, they spent all day together, and even ate meals together. They looked inseparable.
Renia then said,
“That woman knew I was Milon’s closest friend and came looking for me. I wonder how she found out.”
Adrian answered casually,
“She must have used magic.”
Renia nodded. “I heard other maids worried about ‘Prin.’”
‘Prin’ was another name for Renia. When they first met, she called herself Prenia but said only close people could call her Renia, so Adrian could use that name—not because she trusted him.
Other maids called her Prin. If even they used Renia’s name, Regiana must have figured out the maid who framed Milon was Renia immediately.
‘She probably realized it when they met today.’
Adrian had no regrets toward Regiana, but he wondered what she thought seeing Prin—Renia—in front of her. Did she fear her? Was she angry?
He recalled how Regiana faced him bravely at the party, despite knowing he wanted to kill her. She even seemed confident about trusting the emperor’s greed.
‘Still don’t understand why the duke is so crazy about her.’
Adrian didn’t care about their sad love story. Whether they fought or loved didn’t matter to him. His only interest was the throne.
He allied with Renia because she wanted to kill the emperor. If she succeeded, he would inherit the throne naturally.
What happened to Renia afterward was none of his concern—whether she died as a regicide or fled.
He had told her to take the dragon’s power and grow stronger—especially to steal what the emperor wanted—because it was useful.
Adrian was indifferent and impatiently awaited the day he would sit on the throne.
The possible death of Regiana Rohello Troxia was regrettable but inevitable. She should have died five years ago. It didn’t matter if she died now.
“When will you visit Regiana Troxia?” Adrian asked lightly.
Renia waved her injured hand.
“After a while. As you can see, I’m still healing.”
Adrian agreed and warned,
“Don’t attract attention. Do it outside the palace.”
“I know what I’m doing,” Renia replied confidently.
Adrian thought about what he’d have to deal with once he was emperor—starting with Renia’s bad attitude.
The greenhouse party hosted by the emperor was nearing its last day. Although it was paused after a serious incident on the first day, people soon got used to the festivities.
The woman who nearly died from poison was talked about whenever people met. The story was even in the newspapers. After all, poisoning someone on the opening day of the emperor’s new greenhouse party was a big deal.
When the woman returned alive a week later, everyone was curious. But she barely stayed an hour once the party resumed. If anyone approached, the duke’s knights would interfere.
People bet on whether the duke would officially make her his mistress.
When news came that the culprit who tried to poison the woman left a suicide note blaming jealousy, everyone buzzed. It was shocking that the duke brought a commoner woman, and someone tried to kill her out of jealousy.
Love triangles were always the most entertaining gossip, regardless of truth. Everyone talked about how the duke cared for her or fought for her.
But as the party neared the end, the stories faded. Neither the duke nor the woman was seen again. Rumors grew, but the subjects vanished. They were definitely in the palace, but no one had seen them. Servants sometimes spoke of attending them.
Everyone eagerly planned to spread these stories once the party ended and they returned to their estates.
The greenhouse party, planned for three weeks but lasted over a month, finally ended amid countless rumors.
Now, I am peacefully sitting by my window, watching outside. Winter had fully arrived; some mornings the snow lay thick. The cold kept me from opening windows, but magic kept the room warm.
‘Is it okay to be this peaceful?’
I had been tense all this time, ready for something big to happen at the palace. But the party ended without incident.
Tan never brought news about the prince or Renia. Calix didn’t kill the emperor. I never met the prince again.
The last week of the party flew by. On the final day, Calix packed early and left the palace with me.
We were now idly staying at the Hertrio estate in the capital.
I blew on the window, making fog. I played as a child would, drawing a smiley face that quickly vanished. I revived it again with a quick breath.
‘I have nothing to do but this.’
I had been so tense at the palace that my body hurt, but now that tension felt almost ridiculous.
The moment I left the palace and reached the estate, I relaxed immediately. I even got a mild cold from the stress release.
