I Possessed The Immoral Empress - Chapter 45

Throughout her three years in high school, Valliere, who had never once taken her eyes off her inferiority complex, ultimately had no idea how to seduce a man.

If the internet had been connected here, it would have been a tremendous help, but naturally, there was no such thing.

As for asking the maids, it hurt her pride, and she was afraid that if she asked Ermedeline’s maids, the word might get out.

So, the place she ended up was in front of a conventional bookstore.

She deliberately switched to a modest carriage on the way here and concealed her face deeply beneath the hood of her cloak.

While Valliere, feeling embarrassed to ask the bookstore owner anything, was rifling through the books in the corner, a murmuring voice reached her ears.

“This one, buy this. This novel is incredibly interesting.”

“Really? What’s the story about?”

“Well, the plot is pretty ordinary, a love triangle. But here’s the twist: the main characters look exactly like Emperor and Empress.”

“What?”

“You remember that incident where the Empress saved a baby, right?”

“Yeah, I heard about it.”

“On that day, the two of them were a perfect match, like they’d stepped out of a painting.”

“You saw them?”

“Yeah! I went with my father that day. When they were sitting side by side, they didn’t seem like ordinary people from this world. And the author of this novel must have been there that day too, because the description is spot-on. It’s so much fun to read, imagining the main characters.”

“Well, does that woman appear in the story too, that mistress thing?”

At the mention of the word “mistress” coming from the unfamiliar woman’s lips, Valliere bit her lower lip hard.

“No, she doesn’t. I guess the author thought it would be a threat to their safety if they described her in the same way.”

Both women started giggling, wondering what was so amusing.

“But what was that woman like on that day?”

“Oh, she was beautiful. She’s already famous for her beauty. I guess if Empress gives off an overwhelming vibe that can make people feel small, that woman… she’s a bit…”

“What was I like?”

Valliere, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, stepped forward and removed her hood.

“What was I like? My appearance? Don’t I give off an overwhelming vibe like the Empress?”

Upon Valliere’s appearance, the two women were startled, and at the same time, expressions of disdain crossed their faces.

“Huh? You don’t know who I am? Don’t you understand what’s going on right now?”

Although they had expected her to bow and introduce herself upon her arrival, the women who had been talking simply stared at Valliere with cold eyes.

“What’s going on? We weren’t saying anything bad about the Emperor and the Empress. We were just talking.”

“What?”

“We only said that the two of them look good together. And we only said you’re pretty. What’s the problem?”

“You?”

Not only using informal language but also addressing Valliere by her first name upon their first meeting, Valliere’s face flushed in an instant.

“Did you just call me ‘you’? How dare you act like you know who I am!”

As Valliere exclaimed, this time the two women completely lost their composure.

“Laughing? You’re laughing right now?”

After laughing for a while, the woman turned to Valliere with an indifferent expression.

“Yeah, right. Who are you?”

“I, I am…”

Valliere couldn’t answer.

What more could she say besides being the viscount’s illegitimate child and the mistress of the emperor?

She was no longer the granddaughter of the founder of a major conglomerate.

*Thwack!*

“Ahh!!”

At that moment, Valliere threw a thick book between the two women.

It was a habit of hers to throw whatever she could get her hands on when anger built up inside her and couldn’t find its way out through her words.

And the thick book Valliere threw hit one of the women on the head.

“What do you think you’re doing, you despicable!”

Thanks to her large hat, she didn’t suffer a serious injury, but the woman, fueled by humiliation, shouted even louder than Valliere.

“What?”

More than the condescending remarks that she had heard from Felio not long ago, Valliere felt even worse now.

Back then, Felio had not called her ‘despicable’ because of her status, but these women were using her status to do just that.

“Wretch? I am a wretch? Even when I become a marchioness at the upcoming Foundation Day, will you still call me ‘wretch? You two won’t get away with this. I’ll stake everything I have on it; I’ll bring you both to ruin!”

In response to Valliere’s declaration, the woman who had been hit on the head raised her head firmly and looked down at Valliere with an intimidating gaze.

“Very well. We, Bellest Ilyenian and Liena Bianst remember this as well.”

With disdainful looks directed at Valliere, the two women left the bookstore, leaving Valliere trembling with anger.

‘Ilyenian?’

Bianst was a somewhat familiar but not exactly remembered name.

However, Ilyenian couldn’t be forgotten. Wasn’t it the prestigious Duchy? 

Valliere had only met Viella, one of Ermedeline’s ladies-in-waiting, but in reality, the Duke and Duchess had another daughter who had gone abroad at a young age and returned home after her husband’s death.

Although she had acted without thinking in the heat of the moment, Valliere slowly began to assess the situation more calmly as she thought about the name Ilyenian.

‘Could something really happen because of this? It’s not like she suffered a serious injury; it was just a minor incident…’

She had tried to forget, but the name Ilyenian was gradually increasing her unease. It was because she knew from her past experiences that this damn world operated strictly on class distinctions.

Valliere picked up the fallen book with a stern expression. The cover of the book boldly displayed the title, “The Art of Seduction: How to Seduce a Man.”

She had thrown it in anger, but she was relieved that the two women hadn’t seen the cover of the book.

‘Yeah, that’s right. I’ll try getting pregnant. Try bearing the heir to the Emperor. I won’t let those who have looked down on me get away with it!’

***

Now, Foundation Day was truly just around the corner.

The House de Françoise, which had been keeping a low profile, was now waiting near the capital, eagerly anticipating the day when they would make their daughter pay for her betrayal.

‘The orphanage grounds have already been contaminated. Now, I just need to be nearby on the day.’

Ermedeline’s orphanage had already begun basic construction, but they were planning to hold a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate Foundation Day.

Ermedeline had initially refused to gather so many people for the event, but due to Valliere’s remark about it being sensible to pass on the Empress’s achievements, the event was eventually scheduled.

‘You climbed to the position of Empress thanks to someone like me, and now you dare to defy me? Let’s see who falls apart this time.’

The Duke’s violet eyes, almost drained in the darkness, held a sinister gleam as he stared at the nearly empty wine glass before him.

***

“It seems things have become a bit complicated.”

Suddenly, the idea of a groundbreaking ceremony was quite disconcerting.

“Nobles and even the orphans are going to be involved? The children are going to personally take part in it? But construction has already begun, hasn’t it?”

The proposal seemed more and more absurd.

Of course, she understood the intentions behind it. It would provide the orphaned children with an opportunity to go outside, showcase the Empress’s benevolence, and enhance the dignity of the royal family in various ways. It would be a beneficial event.

However, the timing was terrible. She had hoped to avoid any events that would attract a large number of people, but now they were planning to gather people for the groundbreaking ceremony of the orphanage she was constructing.

“What do you think, Your Grace? Is this event really necessary…?”

“Who proposed this event?”

“It was Miss Valliere. I wonder why she suddenly planned such an event?”

Ermedeline couldn’t quite fathom the reason behind Valliere, who didn’t hide her animosity toward her, suddenly planning an event like this.

Although Ermedeline gave Felio a dubious look, his expression remained utterly composed.

“Let’s proceed with it. And please keep the document you just received safe.”

“Huh? This one? It’s just a proposal, isn’t it?”

She couldn’t understand why she was suddenly being asked to keep a simple proposal document safe.

“We will have the masks specially made for the number of children participating.”

“No, it’s not about the masks… Do we really need… this kind of groundbreaking ceremony? Wouldn’t it be better to just open the facility all at once?”

“No, Your Excellency. Foundation Day is the grandest of national holidays, and just the knowledge that you, the Empress, care so much for the people will bring them great comfort.”

“Is that so? Will it really bring them comfort?”

“Of course.”

“Well, then. Let’s keep it short and simple.”

Ermedeline still felt uncomfortable about going ahead with this event, but she decided to trust Felio’s confident expression and push forward with it.

Ermedeline signed the proposal with a sly look on her face, then glanced at Felio.

“I may not like it, but I’m signing this because of you.”

“?”

“You’re the smartest person in the Empire, and I’m bending my will to follow your advice, that’s what!”

Ermedeline looked at Felio with large, twinkling eyes, as if she were asking for praise.

Of course, her intention was partly playful and partly to show how much she trusted him.

However, Felio seemed to malfunction after just two blinks of her eyes.

His lips twitched oddly before he uttered a single word.

“Beau…”

‘Beautiful,’ was the word that seemed to be forming on Felio’s lips, but then they firmly shut.

‘What’s going on? I thought he was about to say something.’

Ermedeline interpreted that brief “Yes” as his response.

(TL/N: The words “yes” and “beauty” have the same 예 in the beginning)

But suddenly…

“Beautiful! Beautiful! Is it a crime to say someone is beautiful? Even I can see that you’re incredibly beautiful, Empress!”

Unable to stand the stifling atmosphere for even a moment, Rooney, who had a personality that couldn’t bear to keep silent, suddenly chimed in.

“When did I ever say something like that!!”

Flustered, Felio wore an expression of denial at Rooney’s words, but it was too late as he had already admitted it in the past.

“You did! You said before, that the Empress is the most beautiful in the Empire!”

“Oh…”

Felio remembered the embarrassing moment he had forgotten, thanks to Rooney’s reminder.

“That’s right. Your Grace gave me such a generous compliment. As the most beautiful woman in the Empire, I will make sure not to let my beauty shine too much in front of Your Grace.”

Contrary to the words coming from her lips, Ermedeline blinked her eyelids more intensely than before, her expression more refined.

Felio once again felt the urge to escape, but he bit down on his molars and quietly extended the next document.

Late at night, Henry was exhausted.

However, he hadn’t reviewed even half of the important matters that Count Hallstein had carefully selected.

“I can’t afford to pay. Is he not a lord who can’t protect his own territory? If I just hand over such a large sum, it would be like showing that the Trivian Empire cannot properly defend its territory.”

“But Lord Croant is connected to the royal family, isn’t he? Ignoring the situation altogether could provoke resistance from nobles in other border regions.”

Henry reluctantly signed the payment document for the marquess’s ransom, after performing a perfunctory facial wash.

“How many troops can be replenished?”

“Not many, sir. Most of the soldiers sent to the border…”

“I see. I see. I understand. They must have gone after Leopold. Have you at least found out where he is?”

“While the soldiers are keeping a close watch to prevent them from leaving the border, there have been reports of many of them joining various groups…”

“So, you couldn’t even find an approximate location?”

“He’s not within the country. We couldn’t find any traces. It seems like he’s gathering support abroad.”

A deep sigh escaped from Henry’s red lips. He had shed much blood, driving away his half-brothers. 

Of course, Henry felt no remorse for killing them. However, most of the late Emperor’s mistresses were noblewomen. 

So, Henry ascended to the throne, receiving both fervent support from the Imperial faction and resistance from the aristocratic faction entangled with the deceased half-brothers.

Henry was well aware that he began his rule having lost half of the political support. He had spent the past four years putting aside all personal time and dedicating himself solely to government affairs, in order to gain the support of the remaining half.

As Henry worked to bring order to the still unsettled border regions and replenish the depleted treasury due to the extravagance of his predecessor, he spent nearly every night burning the midnight oil.

His chief advisor, the Count of Hallstein, had aged ten years in just four years of intense efforts. 

Furthermore, in order to eliminate any potential threats posed by his surviving half-brothers, Henry had even joined forces with the House de Françoise.

Publicly, he solidified his position as Emperor through energetic administration, and privately, he discreetly removed opposition through methods that left no incriminating evidence, consolidating his imperial authority.

‘I thought I had it all taken care of.’

He thought he’d already taken care of the half-brother who was clearly a threat.

The Duke of Francois had reported that Leopold could never be alive.

A deep frown creased Henry’s smooth brow.