I Possessed The Immoral Empress - Chapter 37

‘Chills, high fever, vomiting.’

‘Diarrhea, cough with blood, loss of consciousness.’

These painful symptoms, along with dates, were written next to Ermedeline’s name. 

The handwriting at first was not Ermedeline’s but changed to her own at the age of seventeen.

It seemed that someone other than Ermedeline had been recording this journal until then.

Feeling an unpleasant flutter in her heart, as she read through the journal, it became evident that, as expected, it was her father who had administered the poison to young Ermedeline.

‘So that’s why she survived being stabbed with a poisoned dagger.’

What a truly cruel household.

One might consider that they trained their daughter from a young age to avoid any chance of assassination due to their many enemies. However, from my experience, Duke de Françoise is not that kind of person.

Since he couldn’t administer poison to a son who would inherit the family, he experimented on his defenseless young daughter instead.

In reality, the severe symptoms were recorded with steady handwriting and a dry tone that seemed to reflect no emotional fluctuations.

‘Such a miserable childhood, although it doesn’t completely justify her wicked deeds, is still truly pitiful.’

A hidden son, mistreatment from family members, and the question of why a woman with noble status, a dazzling appearance, and even magical talent would go astray—all seemed to have a reason now.

‘Could there have been some circumstances I’m unaware of concerning Valliere?’

She made up her mind to stop thinking about it, but Ermedeline couldn’t help but be preoccupied with her.

She found herself wanting to give the now twenty-year-old woman inside Valliere another chance.

Ermedeline had felt a slight headache as a result of the aftermath of their reunion with the densely packed letters.

So, before dinner, she decided to take a stroll through the garden where the slanting, feeble sunlight was casting its final rays.

While walking alongside Rooney, she saw Valliere appear from around a corner.

There’s only one path, and there’s nowhere to turn back.

Since they were meeting, Ermedeline decided to congratulate Valliere on the approval of her Foundation Day event proposal.

“Your proposal was approved. Congratulations!”

Even though she was the Empress, Ermedeline spoke first, but Valliere didn’t even offer a casual acknowledgment. 

In truth, Ermedeline herself didn’t care whether Valliere greeted her or not, but this insolent behavior was witnessed by Rooney, Valliere’s maids, and the garden guards standing nearby.

‘Oh, if only she’d behave a bit smarter,’ Ermedeline thought.

She couldn’t help but pity Valliere, who couldn’t adapt to her new status and seemed to continuously undermine her own reputation.

However, Ermedeline had decided to maintain her dignity regardless of the other person’s rudeness.

“Opening up culture to the people is a splendid idea. Everyone must be delighted…”

“Yes, my proposal is meant to bring joy to everyone. But, Your Majesty, didn’t you make a rather bizarre proposal?”

“Bizarre?”

“Improving sewage systems and water rescue projects are one thing, but masks? It’s not just about covering your eyes, but your nose and mouth too, isn’t it?”

Is she serious?

Other people could openly voice their opinions, but Valliere couldn’t afford to do the same.

Isn’t at least one of them familiar with basic infection knowledge in modern times?

Valliere, sensing Ermedeline’s incredulous expression, muttered under her breath.

“Why not just force the common people to wear them? Why insist on the nobility, too?”

“Because we don’t know who’s infected. Isn’t that common sense?”

“There’s no way I could be infected in the palace, right? It’s just that I don’t want to stand in front of the people wearing a mask by your side, isn’t it?”

“Ah…”

Ermedeline couldn’t find words to respond sincerely.

‘Is it possible to think like this? Who on earth corrupted her like this?’

After a moment of bewilderment, Ermedeline managed to find an appropriate response.

“Even the heir of the Ilyenian Dukedom died from the epidemic. So, the palace isn’t entirely safe.”

“Let’s assume I’m infected a hundred times. Since the common people are wearing masks anyway, what’s the issue?”

“So, you’d force it on them while not wearing one yourself?”

“Yes. I intend to make that request to Her Majesty.”

“Very well. Do as you please.”

Valliere’s audacious response further diminished any remaining goodwill Ermedeline had for her.

Not wanting to engage any longer, Ermedeline ultimately raised both hands in surrender.

A few days later.

Ermedeline set out to meet the mask craftsmen that Félio had recruited.

While she could have summoned them to the palace, being confined within the palace walls felt stifling, and she also wanted to visit the orphanage construction site on her way.

Félio had rented a small shop to gather them all so that Ermedeline wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of visiting each of their workshops.

“By the way, Your Majesty, masks usually cover the entire face or just the eyes. Why did you request covering the nose and mouth?”

Félio seemed not to have explained the reason while recruiting the craftsmen.

A shadow crossed Ermedeline’s face in response to one craftsman’s question.

“It’s because of the epidemic. Since we couldn’t cancel the event, I thought we should at least try to prevent infections.”

The room, which had been bustling just moments ago, fell silent in an instant.

‘Well, they probably won’t believe it. To think I’m worrying about this when I’m accused of causing the epidemic as a witch.’

Thinking that their silence was a mockery directed at her, Ermedeline turned her gaze toward the masks placed in front of her.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

At that moment, applause could suddenly be heard from somewhere.

“Hmm?”

Wondering what was happening, Ermedeline looked up and saw an older craftsman clapping in the corner.

“You are truly remarkable. We’ve seen many nobles who show mercy after falling ill, but it’s the first time we’ve seen someone who takes precautions from the beginning to avoid getting sick.”

The concept of prevention wasn’t entirely absent in this place.

It’s just that even if they use the same budget, it’s more noticeable to use it for treating those already sick than for prevention when you don’t know if someone will get sick or not.

As a result, the epidemic response of nobles and aristocrats mostly took place as a mere formality after the disease had already spread.

“To invest in preparing for a risk that’s not even visible. Your Majesty the Empress, you truly are wise and compassionate.”

Other craftsmen, agreeing with him, began to join in the applause. The faint clapping soon grew loud enough to fill the shop.

“Oh, I didn’t do this for that reason…”

Ermedeline, feeling uncomfortable with the attention, lowered her head and awkwardly clasped her hands together.

Rooney was so excited that she was jumping up and down while clapping the loudest.

And then, there was Félio.

Félio had never imagined that a moment when he would be happier about something happening to someone else than to himself would come.

At this very moment, his heart swelled with such emotion that he felt tears might burst forth.

Ironically, Félio, who was feeling embarrassed and thought he couldn’t cry, clenched his fists tightly and struggled to hold back his tears.

And in that moment, deep in the darkness where not a single ray of light could penetrate, a sense of guilt toward his mother slowly emerged in the corner of his heart.

He wanted to openly celebrate and clap his hands like Rooney.

But that thin guilt was deep and strong enough to bind Félio’s hands tightly.

While Félio struggled between guilt and joy, Ermedeline was becoming increasingly distant from the applause that filled her ears.

Even though she had possessed the body of the Empress, Ermedeline had not fully grasped her position until now.

It was understandable since, despite living in the palace and enjoying fine clothes, delicious food, and the service of maids, she had limited influence as the antagonist in the story. Besides surviving, she hadn’t really thought about doing much else.

Of course, she had felt compassion for the suffering people afflicted by the epidemic, but she hadn’t thought about taking a more active role.

The idea for these masks had come from her just as a common-sense citizen of South Korea, and as someone who knew that she was the original perpetrator of the events, she had suggested it out of a sense of unease.

Her husband, the Emperor, ignored her, and her father, the Duke, wanted to kill her. The maids treated her as an enemy, and most of the people saw her as a witch.

Until now, no matter where she went or who she met, it had been difficult for her to truly feel that she had taken over the body of an Empress.

Rooney and Félio were individuals she felt grateful to personally, and that made it even more real.

However, in this modest shop that Félio had rented, which seemed to be a tavern, Ermedeline finally felt the reality of being the Empress of the Trivian Empire for the first time.

Because she had been oblivious, the applause of the craftsmen made her feel awkward, and her face flushed.

At the same time, an indistinct but unsettling sensation began to churn in her heart, making it difficult to define precisely.

She had always lived a life of resignation.

As an orphan, she knew very well that there were things she couldn’t have, things she couldn’t do, no matter how much she wished for them.

But not anymore.

She now possessed immense wealth and the formidable power of being the Empress.

She might be a half-hearted Empress who didn’t have the Emperor’s favor, but she now had the power and wealth to turn her thoughts into reality.

‘Yes, I can change things. I can’t undo what I’ve done in the past, but I can certainly try to make amends.’

Overcoming her embarrassment and lifting her head, she saw some people applauding with bright smiles, while others gazed at her with reverence.

‘Yes, my people. Those whom I must protect.’

Let those who once despised her in the past do so to their heart’s content.

Those who must be protected become stronger.

Ermedeline slowly stood up from her seat, wearing a satisfied smile as she looked around.

In the small shop, a place that couldn’t be described as particularly grand, where the craftsmen were busy making masks, Ermedeline finally became a true Empress.

***

On this dark night, the surroundings of what seemed to be a completed construction site for the orphanage were eerily quiet. There was only one duty-bound guard watching the gate, and no one else in sight. After all, there was no need to station a strong guard around an orphanage that hadn’t been built yet.

With caution, Duke François approached the guard and cast the curse of slumber behind the Southern soldiers. They would remain unconscious for a couple of hours, oblivious to the world.

After another quick look around, the Duke drew his dagger and slashed his palm without hesitation.

A fair amount of blood dripped to the floor.

The Duke smiled an eerily beautiful smile as he saw the ground soaked in his own blood.

A smile that bore a striking resemblance to Ermedeline’s, but was cold and sinister.

***

“Oh, not again.”

Rooney, who had been napping beside Ermedeline, got up and soaked a towel in lukewarm water.

As she wrung out the water and wiped the sweat from her brow and the tears from her cheeks, another familiar word came out of Ermedilin’s mouth.

“I don’t want…… to…… Kyeongs…….”

‘Kyeong? What the hell is that word, and why are you crying while mumbling these words?’

Sometimes when Ferdant’s name comes up, I think maybe it’s because she’s his mom, but she has no idea what the word means.

Rooney was very curious about the meaning of the word, but she couldn’t ask because she felt like if she told the truth and asked what it meant, she would be ordered to go back to bed.

‘Your Majesty, what dreams do you have that make you cry every night?’