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Chapter – 21.
Everyone Wants Him Dead
“Did you say it was for my sake?”
Josephine felt the back of her head throb tightly, a wave of anger surging within her.
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress. It was said that if Prince Siegfried wakes up, it would not be for Your Majesty’s good. They said the maids of the Empress’s Palace have a duty to ensure that.”
“Who said that?”
The emaciated maid flinched slightly at the Empress’s quietly furious intensity.
“Everyone said so, Your Majesty. Starting with Head Lady-in-Waiting Miss Haber.”
With that answer, her mind cleared in an instant. The headache pulling at her scalp also began to sting and then fade.
“I see. So Haber said to refuse all the medicine because none of it was necessary.”
To begin with, Josephine had never taken much interest in the maids and ladies-in-waiting of the Empress’s Palace.
Separate from having a good memory and learning their faces one by one, she had never been close to them, never opened her heart to them.
It couldn’t be helped. Even at the time Josephine was designated as Empress, due to the fact that she had been an orphan with no connections before being adopted by the Duke’s family, the nobility was reluctant to serve the new Empress.
Even when her adoptive father, Duke Artua, unable to bear it, forcibly brought daughters from families belonging to his faction to serve as her ladies-in-waiting, the looks they gave were still unfavorable.
Josephine knew what her role as Empress was.
To remain as their symbol, for the sake of her adoptive father, Duke Artua, who took her in, and for the political standing of his family.
She also knew that this made Henrieus uncomfortable, but she had no other choice.
For the House of Duke Artua, Josephine was merely a tool to make Henrieus Emperor and a watchdog to keep an eye on him, nothing more.
A tool only needs to perform its given role well. Her will or thoughts were not important to them.
That’s why, until now, she had never exercised or demanded the authority she held as Empress from anyone.
She even told her appointed ladies-in-waiting that they didn’t have to feign loyalty, and did her best to be considerate.
After all, there would be no noble young ladies who would genuinely want to serve and be loyal to an Empress who was originally an orphan.
Consequently, the only lady-in-waiting who could be called Josephine’s close confidante until now was Haber, the daughter of an insignificant knight’s family she met at the academy.
So much so that appointing Haber as the head lady-in-waiting of the Empress’s Palace was practically the only authority Josephine had exercised as Empress so far.
On top of that, she had even entrusted the personnel authority to Haber, whom she trusted, and then lost interest in everything else.
That was the case, right up until her previous life.
‘So everyone was watching someone else’s reaction from the start, not mine.’
If she had opened her heart and approached them earlier, would things have been different?
No. Josephine could confidently assert that it wouldn’t have.
They would not change.
It’s impossible to treat someone you once looked down upon as an equal overnight.
If they were the kind of people who would sincerely regret their actions, they shouldn’t have acted that way in the first place.
It was the same with those at the academy who said they looked out for her because she was Elizabeth’s friend.
She had never been their friend, not even for a single moment.
Perhaps even Elizabeth, who was behind all of them, was the same.
“The Head Lady-in-waiting is correct. The medicines the Prince needs were all brought by the Head Lady-in-waiting some time ago, so the medicine you brought must indeed be unnecessary.”
“…Pardon?”
The maid seemed quite taken aback by the unexpected reply.
“Before that, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”
In contrast, Josephine’s face softened considerably.
“Why did you disobey their request, even violate the Guest Seclusion Order, and bring this medicine to me?”
There, almost before her question finished, Josephine immediately changed her words.
“No, let me change the question. Like the others, aren’t you displeased that I am protecting the Prince of Norden?”
“Displeased, Your Majesty?”
The maid quickly parroted back as if surprised by the unexpected question. A momentary hesitation was visible.
“Yes. Most people of the Empire do not like Nordeners.”
Josephine gestured again, coaxing the maid’s hesitation.
This low-ranking maid risked the danger of insubordination to bring her the real medicine.
It was an act that would displease the ladies-in-waiting even before the Guest Seclusion Order; if caught, she wouldn’t get off lightly.
That’s why she was even more curious. For what reason did she show such reckless courage for a task that held no benefit for her?
“That is a needless question, Your Majesty. I have no reason to be displeased with whatever Your Majesty does.”
“And why is that?”
Josephine felt the dimples hidden in her cheeks itch and lifted the corners of her mouth slightly.
“Your Majesty the Empress is my mistress. If Your Majesty has decided to help the Prince of Norden, then I believe it is right for me to follow.”
“Even if he were the enemy of your family or brothers?”
“My feelings are not important. Any resentment towards him is my own problem, so I have no reason to resent Your Majesty.”
The maid answered calmly.
“So, you came here solely out of loyalty to me. For my sake, someone you’ve barely seen before.”
Josephine laughed as if it were absurd. Not that she was angry, though.
When she had opened and examined the seal on the prescription this maid brought earlier, she could be certain.
At the very least, everything this maid said was the truth.
Because all the medicinal ingredients and medicines written on that prescription were indeed those used as painkillers.
‘Cunning, and with the guts to match.’
Above all, this maid had used the timing of the Guest Seclusion Order to her advantage, coming here while avoiding others’ eyes.
She quite liked that bold and clever attitude.
“Quite insolent.”
Josephine smiled brightly and gave a murderous reply.
“I… I have committed a capital offense.”
Josephine quickly realized even that was just a habitual apology.
Her face, in truth, was like looking at a plaster statue, devoid of any fear.
“As punishment, you’ll have to trouble yourself with this task one more time.”
As much as she showed little emotion, she was a child with clear opinions and strong will. That’s why Josephine could be sure.
‘She clearly wants something else from me.’
Even considering that, this maid risked danger to come and expose the situation within the palace without any compensation.
Even if it was a calculation to gain Josephine’s trust, it was still a kind of loyalty that staked her life.
Josephine thought she should repay that uncompensated loyalty in her own way.
A hunting dog that doesn’t forget a favor will offer its loyalty once again next time.
“Just give the order.”
As guessed, the maid was quite perceptive.
Josephine personally took the medicine bowl the maid had brought.
And she threw it all into the hearth, where the oak logs were crackling and burning fiercely.
Following that, the other mysterious medicines placed by the hearth also disappeared one by one in the same manner.
Josephine’s actions didn’t end there.
She brought new paper, ink, and a quill pen and quickly wrote something down.
Then, she handed the paper to the maid, along with the empty medicine bowl she had brought.
“Go now and report to the medical wing. Say that Prince Siegfried has just taken painkillers and fallen asleep.”
“Understood.”
“And also…”
Josephine checked the contents written on the paper one last time before placing it in the maid’s hand.
“This is a new prescription I’ve written. I’ve listed the new medicines Prince Siegfried needs. Take this to Sir Dolkin of the medical wing.”
“Should I say I have come to see Sir Dolkin of the medical wing?”
Josephine quietly nodded.
The contents written on that prescription were none other than the recipe for the drug made from Alraune that Siegfried had requested.
“Yes. He is a close friend of my father, Duke Artua, and was the late Emperor’s personal physician. When he sees my signature on this prescription, he will know what to do.”
Another day passed.
Henrieus sent people to the Empress’s Palace at every opportunity.
It was the second day since Josephine had issued the Guest Seclusion Order under the pretext of mental recuperation after the tea party.
However, the news that arrived before Henrieus faster was not that Josephine had agreed to meet him.
“P-Prince Siegfried has just been taken from the Empress’s Palace and imprisoned in the underground dungeons!”
At the urgent news brought by the Emperor’s young chief secretary, Theodor, Henrieus shot up from his seat.
