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Chapter 12
“The Emperor’s eyes and ears, and her loyal sycophant.”
How long had it been since her coronation, and already a flatterer had secured the position of closest aide?
No matter how she thought about it, Mary deserved to be deposed.
Even setting aside her own revenge.
Compared to his slender frame, the man’s voice was surprisingly heavy.
“Miss Morian… Hatsuon.”
“How did it go? Can I take her there right away?”
Lilia didn’t know what had been discussed beforehand, but she quickly realized that the person being referred to as “her” was herself.
Slowly raising her head, she met the Head Attendant’s gaze.
The blatant scrutiny felt as though he could see straight through her thoughts, sending a chill down her spine.
“No. Take her directly to Her Highness.”
“Huh? To Her Highness? Not to you, Head Attendant?”
“…Do not make me repeat myself.”
“Ah, yes. Yes, sir! My apologies!”
As Mori hurriedly bowed, the Head Attendant gave Lilia one final look before leaving.
Once his footsteps disappeared down the corridor, Mori let out a long sigh and muttered under her breath.
“How am I supposed to keep up with these people…?”
“Miss Hatsuon?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Let’s go in!”
Avoiding the question, Morian knocked on the door.
“Your Highness! It’s Morian.”
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Stepping inside, Lilia bowed with perfect courtesy.
“Greetings, Your Highness Evelyn Vonmouth Strovana. My name is Lilia Grenzach.”
To the partner with whom she would achieve revenge.
* * *
“Head Attendant Wilcock Hopnagen requests an audience!”
At the servant’s announcement, the massive doors of the audience chamber swung open.
The room was intended for officials seeking an audience with the Emperor.
Yet Mary was not the only one present.
“…Count Edenbarker.”
“Head Attendant.”
Wilcock’s expression stiffened at the sight of Robert sitting there as though he belonged.
He was not seated directly beside the throne, but he occupied a position that would normally be reserved for a Crown Prince.
The sight irritated him immensely.
Even so, Wilcock maintained his practiced smile.
“I apologize if I am interrupting a private discussion.”
“It doesn’t matter. I merely keep him by my side.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At Mary’s indifferent reply, the Head Attendant bowed.
Not yet.
Especially not in front of the Emperor.
He could not afford to bare his claws at the Count.
After all, Edenbarker was undeniably the greatest contributor to Mary’s ascension.
The moment Robert came of age, he had rescued Mary from the monastery where she had been imprisoned.
Rumor claimed that he entered alone, slaughtered every guard, and brought her out.
By all rights, he should have been condemned as a religious criminal cursed by the Divine Lord.
He should have spent the rest of his life fleeing the Church.
Yet several years later, Robert suddenly appeared in the capital standing proudly at the side of Mary, who had manifested a Blessing.
No one knew where he had been, how he had survived, or when Mary’s Blessing had awakened.
But none of that changed the fact that Robert was her greatest benefactor.
I only need to build my influence gradually.
Manipulating those intoxicated by power was Wilcock’s specialty.
He always sought out whichever master offered him the greatest advantage.
He controlled them however he pleased, then discarded them without hesitation.
The fallen Epister Ducal House had been no different.
Once a vassal of Epister, Wilcock had immediately betrayed his former lord and offered him up to Mary the moment Emperor Edward died.
In return, he secured one important position after another.
His influence still fell short of Robert’s.
But before long, he intended to claim the position of closest aide.
To do that, I need to keep the Princess suppressed.
Recalling the reason for today’s visit, he finally spoke.
“Your Majesty, the Princess wishes to appoint a new attendant. However, the woman lacks the necessary qualifications, so I have come seeking your judgment.”
“Evelyn has taken in a new attendant?”
“Yes. They apparently knew each other beforehand, but she is a commoner and bears the surname Grenzach.”
Both Robert and Wilcock turned their eyes toward Mary.
Normally, the Emperor showed little interest in affairs of state.
“Handle it yourselves.”
She cared only for purges that strengthened imperial authority and for stimulating amusements.
Most administrative matters were settled through agreements between Robert and the Head Attendant.
And Wilcock was extremely satisfied with that arrangement.
He only hoped the Emperor’s attention would remain elsewhere.
In the current situation, Princess Evelyn was the perfect sacrifice for that purpose.
“Your Majesty, may I offer a word?”
“Speak.”
Bowing deeply, Wilcock deliberately raised his voice.
“Even a Princess must obey the sacred laws of the Empire! To invoke Your Majesty’s authority for personal convenience is nothing short of reckless! How can she already be using Your Majesty’s name to wield power? As your loyal servant, I fear greatly for the future!”
“Hm.”
“And was she not imprisoned in the tower for treason only recently?”
His dramatic voice echoed through the grand hall.
“This matter must never be overlooked!”
The dazzling chandelier illuminated Mary upon her throne.
The golden crown atop her crimson, blood-red hair reflected the light brilliantly.
Tapping her temple with an indifferent expression, Mary finally spoke.
“Leave it be.”
“…Your Majesty?”
For the first time, a crack appeared in Wilcock’s composure.
Caught off guard, he immediately bowed lower.
“Your Majesty. It is only natural that someone as insignificant as I cannot comprehend Heaven’s will. Yet might you grant me enough mercy to understand even a fraction of your reasoning?”
Robert’s lips twisted upward at the sycophantic display.
Mary, however, seemed pleased by his humble attitude.
So she decided to indulge him.
“Head Attendant. Do you enjoy hunting?”
“I regret to say that I do not particularly enjoy it.”
“How unfortunate. Then do you know the difference between hunting and survival hunting?”
“Survival hunting is done for sustenance. Hunting is done for recreation.”
“Correct. When hunting for food, one kills the beast the moment it is found. But hunting for enjoyment is different.”
Leaning against her hand, Mary slowly rose from her throne.
“The primary purpose of hunting is pleasure. Do you know when humans feel the greatest excitement?”
“I await Your Majesty’s wisdom.”
“When they have played with their toy to their heart’s content and finally throw it away.”
The Emperor’s eyes, which had remained lifeless until now, suddenly gleamed.
Her dark green pupils widened.
The darkness receded, replaced by a faint light.
“The more the prey struggles, the greater the enjoyment.”
“…”
“Let the Princess struggle as much as she can. Even that is nothing more than entertainment to me.”
Mary turned away from the throne.
Behind the gilded seat stretched a barren wall that looked strangely out of place within the magnificent audience chamber.
Portraits of past Emperors had once hung there.
By her command, they had all been removed and thrown into storage.
“I’m already looking forward to seeing her face when she cries out in despair.”
Her laughter echoed through the hall.
When she turned back around, her expression had returned to its usual cold indifference.
“You may leave. I’ve grown bored.”
* * *
Walking along the crimson carpet beneath the arched ceiling, Robert finally spoke in a mocking tone.
“Head Attendant, I must say, I’m surprised.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“The way you opposed the Princess over a single attendant was quite memorable. Your loyalty to Her Majesty truly runs deep.”
“Of course, I—”
“Or perhaps your courage is simply lacking.”
“…”
“If so, I recommend fixing that. Her Majesty doesn’t think highly of people like that.”
Wilcock remained silent as Robert continued to sneer.
Anger boiled inside him, but his habitual smile never faltered.
“I suppose I still have much to learn from you, Count. Especially when it comes to understanding Her Majesty’s intentions.”
“Ah. You should give up on that.”
Robert suddenly stopped.
The Head Attendant, who had already walked several steps ahead, turned around.
“The place beside Her Majesty will always belong to me.”
Robert’s lips curled upward.
It was obvious he had never intended to hear a response.
His muttering continued unabated.
“So you’d better hide those rotten ambitions more carefully. Don’t try reaching for a position that doesn’t suit you and end up becoming my prey.”
“…”
Killing intent seeped into the air.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Wilcock’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily.
For a moment, it felt as though an invisible blade hovered at his throat, ready to sever it at any second.
His breathing stopped.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
“Well, as long as you know your place.”
The instant Robert withdrew his pressure, Wilcock’s lungs finally began working again.
“Ghk…!”
As Robert brushed past him, he added quietly:
“And don’t touch the Princess either.”
His voice lowered further.
“She’s mine.”
The moment Robert’s presence disappeared, Wilcock bent over and sucked in desperate breaths.
“Haa…! Haa…!”
Sweat streamed from his forehead, down his temples, and off his chin.
A moment later, he lifted his head.
His face was twisted beyond recognition.
“Edenbarker…”
Rage.
Inferiority.
Competitiveness.
All of it churned violently within his eyes.
