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CHAPTER 45:
A Comfortable Lie
Erpia paced nervously back and forth inside her room.
“Your Majesty the Empress, please don’t worry too much. I’m sure His Highness will understand your sincerity,” her maid said gently as she served tea.
“Right? The Duke must’ve explained everything well to Jeremy, right?”
“I’m certain he did.”
“But where on earth is that bastard Ben? No matter how much I look, I can’t find him.”
Erpia bit her lower lip. Even tearing Ben limb from limb for cornering her like this wouldn’t soothe her pent-up frustration.
Unbeknownst to Erpia, Jeremy had completely blocked all information about the Empress’s palace from reaching her.
“If it’s troubling you so much, why don’t you go see His Highness right away?” the maid suggested.
“…”
But the thought of facing him in person filled her with instinctive repulsion.
No matter that he was her own son, Jeremy’s ruined face was horrifying to behold.
In that moment, Dietrich’s face flashed across her mind.
Red eyes beneath well-defined brows. A sharp jawline and a high-bridged nose. Broad, square shoulders and a large, solid build, with a lower body like that of a wild stallion…
Erpia’s breath became ragged.
She still couldn’t believe he had betrayed her.
At this point in time, he should be kneeling at her feet like a dog, barking in obedience.
Everything falling apart—her plans unraveling—was all because of Seliya. That wretched witch must’ve flirted with every notable man in the Empire.
There was no way someone as experienced as Erpia could be driven into a corner otherwise.
Just thinking about Dietrich being with Seliya made her feel like she was drowning in filth.
He was the perfect embodiment of her ideal man. There was no way she’d allow some lowly woman to ensnare him.
He had to remain untouched and pure, to be molded to fit her perfectly.
She had planned to wait until Jeremy took the throne, but her patience had reached its limit due to the growing stress.
Blinded by desire, Erpia shook her head and told her maid:
“No. Let’s go to Dietrich’s estate.”
The maid looked puzzled but nodded.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I’m just… curious how he’s doing.”
Erpia put on a red dress with a plunging neckline and painted her lips a matching crimson. Tightening her corset, her waist appeared slim and her chest voluptuous.
She admired her reflection in the mirror with satisfaction, then left the palace with her maids.
However, the knights stationed outside the palace blocked her way.
Erpia looked at them in disbelief.
Some of them were familiar faces—knights from Jeremy’s palace.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“…His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered that Your Majesty not be allowed to leave the palace.”
At the knights’ firm words, Erpia’s face went pale.
“Jeremy said that?”
“Yes. He ordered us to ensure you don’t take even a single step outside.”
“…!”
Erpia’s hands trembled violently.
“I’m Jeremy’s mother! He wouldn’t do this to me. And even if he did, do you really think you can stop me? I am not just the Empress—I’m from the Grand Duke Gredrick’s house!”
The knights glanced at each other uneasily.
“We’re sorry, Your Majesty. But we can’t let you pass.”
Erpia tried to force her way out, but the knights physically blocked her path.
“Aren’t you afraid of angering Duke Gredrick?”
At the mention of Illeon, the knights flinched.
Even Erpia herself felt a twist in her gut at her own words.
She might hold the title of Empress, but it felt as though Illeon held the real power in the palace.
Then, a deep voice rang in her ears.
“Your Majesty the Empress.”
Erpia looked up at the source of the voice.
Standing there was Balth—of House Portman.
“…Why is the Duke of Portman here at the palace?”
“There’s no place in Avalon I cannot go,” Balth replied with a faint smirk.
It was a bold statement, but no one dared refute it.
To defy one of the Three Grand Dukes was akin to defying a god.
And how could a mere knight hope to defeat a Swordmaster?
“I heard you’ve been abandoned by your son,” Balth said casually.
Erpia’s bloodshot eyes glared at him.
“Who started that nonsense? It’s nothing but a ridiculous rumor!”
“Well, then. Cheer up.” Balth raised his clenched fist.
“Fighting!”
With that, he walked away, disappearing into the distance.
Thud—
Erpia collapsed to her knees, her legs giving out beneath her.
Seliya had a dream.
In it, hundreds of tiny snakes emerged.
Colorful snakes flicked their tongues and coiled tightly around her body.
To escape, Seliya used her psychic power.
A scent of hyacinth spread, and the snakes wrapped around her body fell limp and lifeless.
Just as she shook them off and tried to stand, a massive shadow fell over her.
A giant black snake, dozens of times larger than her, loomed before her.
Its jet-black scales shimmered, and its bright yellow eyes gleamed with menace.
Seliya summoned every ounce of her strength to use her ability.
Her stomach churned, and blood gushed from her lips.
Hiss… hiss…
The snake hissed, flicking its tongue at her.
It then grinned grotesquely, stretching its mouth wide.
And in a human voice, the snake spoke:
—Princess Anastasia.
Seliya jolted awake.
Bright sunlight pierced the darkness in her eyes.
Her body was drenched in sweat.
It had been an intensely unpleasant dream.
Surely it was caused by all the recent misfortunes.
She splashed cold water on her face and looked around.
Dietrich wasn’t in bed.
‘Looks like he woke up early.’
From the open window, a commotion outside the estate reached her ears.
“I heard what happened. My brother caused you a lot of trouble. Let me apologize on his behalf.”
The unfamiliar female voice prompted Seliya to lean on the windowsill to see what was going on.
A young noblewoman with wavy pink hair was talking to Dietrich at the front gate.
“There’s no need to apologize,” he replied.
“Why can’t you understand how I feel? I came here because I was worried about you.”
“I don’t understand why you’d be worried about me.”
“Why do you hate me so much?! Don’t tell me… you actually have someone you like?!”
The young lady looked heartbroken and on the verge of tears. It was a little pitiful, yet strangely comforting to Seliya.
‘…Comforting?’
She tilted her head, puzzled by the emotion she had just felt.
Then, Dietrich’s eyes met hers on the third floor.
His gaze, so soft and tender—so different from how he had looked at the young lady.
“Yes. There is someone I like,” he said clearly. “So please, don’t come see me anymore.”
As his words—spoken while looking up at her—reached her ears, Seliya’s earlobes turned crimson.
‘Is he insane? How’s he going to handle the fallout from that?’
She shook her head and yanked the curtain closed.
Reina, stunned by Dietrich’s words, followed his gaze up to the third floor, but Seliya had already disappeared from view.
“Is it Seliya Brillion? Is she the one you like? Is she here in the mansion with you?”
Dietrich simply smiled—a quiet, gentle smile as if just thinking of her made him happy.
“I don’t want my woman to get hurt.”
“…”
“That’s all. Goodbye.”
Dietrich turned and walked back into the mansion.
Reina stood there in a daze, then stormed off in frustration.
Inside, Seliya confronted him.
“What were you thinking, saying something like that?”
“…”
Dietrich looked at her for a moment before speaking.
“Isn’t it better than telling people you and I are like a dog and its master?”
“That’s not the point. I’m still the crown prince’s mistress. If anyone finds out you said that…”
“Don’t worry,” he interrupted, gently wiping the sweat from her brow.
“I have the power to protect you.”
And it wasn’t an empty promise.
Dietrich was a Swordmaster, and the current royal family had lost the people’s favor.
Jeremy might be royalty, but Dietrich commanded immense military force.
Among his knights were men like Anderson—those who wanted to crown him the next emperor.
Of course, with the Three Grand Dukes still standing strong, becoming emperor was unlikely.
But deposing a troubled crown prince? That was very much possible.
“They say the crown prince’s madness worsened after his face was disfigured. He slaughters his knights and maids on a whim.”
“…”
“Before Illeon has him dethroned, I’ll make my move first.”
His eyes gleamed sharply.
“But to pull off the perfect plan, I need your help.”
Seliya didn’t hesitate—she nodded. After all, Dietrich had helped her countless times.
“Tell me what to do. I’m even willing to use my powers.”
“No need for that,” he said.
Seliya tilted her head, puzzled.
Then Dietrich leaned in and whispered low into her ear:
“…Can you do it?”
