Of course, aside from the situational reasons, there was a separate reason why Ermedeline felt drawn to the maids.

As she looked at them, memories of her tough and desperate teenage years, when she had to face the harsh world alone after leaving the orphanage, came flooding back.

‘At an age when one should be studying and dating.’

Of course, she was aware that her sense of age and the age concept here were different, but it had only been a few days since she had merged with this world. Ermedeline still retained much of her way of thinking as Hyeyoung.

“If I’ve done anything to make you feel uncomfortable all this time, I apologize. I don’t like it when the people around me keep changing either. From now on, I’ll try my best to be considerate, so let’s get along well.”

Actually, there wasn’t much of an age difference, but for some reason, Ermedeline felt a big sisterly affection and a kind smile appeared on her face.

“Her Majesty the Empress apologizing! It’s absolutely unnecessary!”

Rooney, the oldest among them, jumped up and clapped her hands.

Margo wore an indifferent expression, and Helen still had a fearful look in her eyes.

‘I guess being a bit more kind won’t suddenly change their thoughts about me. To alter the original image, I’ll need more definite changes. A gentle tone and actions are important, but for now, it’s about money. With money, I can carry out relief projects and change the people’s reputation. While cleaning up this dysfunctional family, I must make sure to get back the money I lent!’

Ermedeline, with Rooney eager to help in any way she could, drew up a complaint and found Duke Bastian, who was said in charge of legal affairs.

The Duke, who looked like he could be pierced with a needle and not draw a drop of blood could be found, stood tall and faced the Empress.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Your Majesty the Empress.”

His voice carried no emotion whatsoever, but it clearly contained a mocking tone, asking why she had come here for whatever reason.

After days of enduring such treatment, she no longer felt any anger.

Certainly, here’s the translation of the provided text:

“I’ve come to deliver the lawsuit papers.”

“Lawsuit? Whom are you suing?”

Instead of answering, Ermedeline handed the documents she had prepared to the Duke.

As he reviewed the documents with a skeptical expression, the Duke’s face became increasingly serious.

“If it’s Duke de Françoise… Are you telling me that Her Majesty the Empress is personally suing your own father?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t the Empress’s power derived from your family? If this happens, it would completely estrange you from the noble families. Moreover, since you haven’t produced an heir yet, wouldn’t this pose a problem for your standing?”

The Duke didn’t bother with pleasantries and straightforwardly pointed out Ermedeline’s situation.

‘Well, it wouldn’t make sense if I were clinging to the Empress’s position like in a novel, but the truth is, I want to get divorced quickly. I have no intention of relying on the power of my family or anything like that.’

But she couldn’t reveal the truth.

“It’s as written. The borrowed amount is astronomical, and even the budget allocated to me from the national treasury is included in it. Furthermore, he inflicted violence on members of the aristocracy multiple times, which is an unforgivable crime, isn’t it?”

“Indeed. Even if he repaid the borrowed money, the fact that he wielded a knife against Her Majesty the Empress is a serious issue. Are you really going to proceed with the lawsuit?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any witnesses?”

Certainly, here’s the translation of the provided text:

“The priest who treated me said that she will testify.”

“Louise said that?”

‘Louise? Is that the priest’s name?’

“Since she resides in the palace, hasn’t she treated me several times?”

Ermedeline intentionally gave a slightly evasive answer, but fortunately, it seemed that Louise was indeed the priest.

“If you have a credible witness with a confirmed identity, it’s worth a try. However, once the lawsuit is initiated, there’s no turning back. It’s a case involving the nobility, Your Majesty the Empress. Are you really willing to gamble everything you have?”

Once again, Duke Batistian’s question about her intentions made Ermedeline’s heart waver for a moment.

‘If I sever ties with my family, will I really have no one on my side?’

The ending of a novel came to mind for a moment.

In the novel, no one from Ermedeline’s family, not even a single person, offered any defense for her. Her guilt was so grave that it could be understood, but in the novel, it was written that not even the Empress’s supporters attempted to salvage her fate, and she became prey to scavengers and crows.

Suddenly, the scars on her throat, which had already been treated, throbbed once more.

‘My side? Family doesn’t necessarily mean they’re on my side.’

When she was in the orphanage, she longed for a family so much, but now that she had one, it turned out to be just as dysfunctional as any other. A father who casually wields a knife against his own daughter.

A resolute determination sparkled in Ermedeline’s purple eyes.

“Proceed.”

“Yes. Understood. But have you secured a lawyer?”

“A lawyer?”

A lawyer hadn’t even crossed her mind.

‘I should have watched legal dramas more diligently. Isn’t it the prosecutor’s job in the first place? Do I need a lawyer too?’

Duke Baptiste, noticing Ermedeline’s bewildered expression, let out a small sigh and then looked at her intently.

“Of course, as the plaintiff, Her Majesty the Empress, you can proceed with the lawsuit personally. However, there are quite a few people implicating you as the mastermind behind the current epidemic in the capital and the distribution of illegal substances that corrupt people. If you want at least a fair judgment regarding the unjust parts, it would be wise to secure a competent lawyer.”

‘So, in the end, everyone seems to dislike me, and no matter how many witnesses there are, it’s a story that suggests I might not get a favorable outcome?’

‘I wish I were just a proper antagonist. Why did you do such a thing? The previous owner of this body!!’

Being enemies with her family and the lack of competent lawyers made it seem impossible for her to secure one.

With no knowledge of the law and a lack of information about this world, representing herself wouldn’t likely yield favorable results.

“It seems I won’t be able to find a lawyer. It seems I was a bit hasty.”

In the end, just as Ermedeline was about to leave, clutching the documents once again, she heard the Duke’s soft voice.

“Shall I help you find a lawyer?”

“?”

Ermedeline stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

If her memory served her right, Duke Batistian was undoubtedly one of the people who persistently attacked Ermedeline during the final trial.

“I appreciate the offer, but why all of a sudden?”

The Duke, as if signaling her to come closer, lightly tapped his finger on the desk next to him.

Ermedeline, with a dignified expression, approached him, and said,

“I know very well that you dislike me. I have no intention of blaming you for it. But it’s hard for me to accept your kindness wholeheartedly.”

“Since Her Majesty the Empress was only half honest, I’ll be half honest as well. I dislike Duke de Françoise just as much as you do. No, if what’s written here is true, I’d find it revolting as a father with children. No child should ever endure such abuse from their father.”

If the response had been just about not wanting to witness the Empress being abused, it might not have inspired trust. But when the Duke used the word “children” instead of nobles, something about the feeling of being abandoned at an orphanage as a newborn made Ermedeline nod her head, even though she didn’t consciously understand it.

“I understand. Then, who do you recommend as a lawyer?”

“My own son.”

‘Son?’

Vague memories came back to her.

Félio Batistian.

In the original work, Félio was the palace’s lawyer who, throughout the trial, presented evidence to bring about Ermedeline’s downfall. Of course, behind him were Emperor Henry and his minister Valliere.

While Henry had a radiant and intense charm akin to the warmth of sunlight, Batistian’s son Félio was popular for his cool and chilling charm, much like moonlight.

In the novel, he was a supporting character whom Ermedeline had tried to win over several times but failed.

According to the novel’s description, Félio not only disliked Ermedeline but openly scorned her.

“You don’t mean Félio, do you?”

“Yes. He’s my son, but he’s quite clever, so he should be of help.”

“Uh… I… well…”

“Is there a problem?”

“The son of someone who dislikes me is going to represent me?”

Upon hearing that it was indeed Félio, Ermedeline’s voice gradually faded.

She didn’t want to experience the humiliation she would surely face, as depicted in the novel.

“He will.”

However, the Duke’s expression was resolute.

There was no sign of hesitation or doubt.

“He’s my son, but he’s got an impressive track record. He may have debts, but he won’t just let a case involving violence, especially a man wielding a knife against a woman, go unanswered.”

“Ah…”

Yes.

In the novel, the reason Félio had such contempt for Ermedeline was because she had tortured her maids and even used young babies in curses.

It seemed that Félio couldn’t stand physical violence that was unilaterally inflicted, but Ermedeline’s misdeeds had not been fully revealed yet. For now, she could still rely on his knightly abilities for help.

‘If he’s as impressive as they say, he could definitely be of assistance in a case where a woman has been subjected to unilateral violence.’

“I understand. I appreciate your kindness.”

She felt a glimmer of hope in the previously dim path ahead.

Ermedeline lowered her head slightly, conveying her gratitude sincerely. However, due to her gaze being directed towards the ground, she didn’t notice the subtle smile that formed at the corner of the Duke’s mouth.

“Aren’t you going tonight?”

Having finished her preparations and getting ready to lie down, Rooney asked.

“Go where?”

“Haven’t you asked for a lantern every night to go to the underground chamber?”

‘Oh, the underground chamber. That’s where Ermedeline used to make magic elixirs and torture her maids.’

“I was a bit distracted today, so I forgot for a moment. Can you bring it for me?”

“Yes, I’ve already prepared it.”

Rooney’s hand already held a lantern filled with oil.

“Thank you. I appreciate your consideration.”

With a happy expression as if she had the world in her hands upon receiving praise, Rooney left the bedroom.

The underground chamber was connected to Ermedeline’s bedroom. The existence of the underground chamber didn’t seem to be much of a secret since a small door right next to the bookshelf remained exposed to the outside. However, despite there being no locking mechanism, the door didn’t open.

‘Is it going to be another blood? Again?’

Ermedeline expressed her frustration and pricked her own finger with the needle she had secretly taken during the day.

Having experienced pricking her own fingers on her own before came in handy in times like this.

It was much faster and less painful than a fountain pen nib.

After applying her own blood to the door with her thumb, the door, with an ominous creaking sound, finally opened.

Inside the door was pitch black, to the point where her presence seemed to be completely forgotten.

Carefully shining the lantern, she revealed narrow stone steps that seemed to stretch endlessly.

*Gulp.*

She swallowed dryly and took a deep breath, but her heart pounded as if it were about to go wild.

‘If I get scared by something like this, what will I do? If I just stay here, I’ll turn into barbecue in a fire!!'”

Ermedeline clenched her trembling fist and took one step after another down the deep and dark stone steps, resembling a tomb.

After descending for a while, at the end of the stairs, there was another door. Once again, after applying her blood, the door opened on its own.

“Ugh. The smell.”

She wrinkled her nose, trying to block the nasty odor flooding in but to no avail.

She wondered if it would improve if she opened a window, but as she examined her surroundings, there was no sign of a small gap in the stone walls.

She lit a small fire on the placed torches here and there, and only then did the general appearance of the underground chamber come into view.

“That’s why it smells.”

A bizarre sight met her eyes, with all sorts of strange herbs and dried remains of small, unidentifiable animals hanging everywhere.

“Is this what they use to cast curses? It really does seem like something a witch would do.”

Suppressing the rising nausea, she carefully examined the underground chamber. Books were scattered throughout, and upon closer inspection, they seemed to contain recipes for making magic elixirs.

“Should I start reading them?”

Ermedeline picked up the thinnest book and focused on reading it for quite some time.

“Hmm? What’s this? Only foul magic here. Maybe it’s called Dark Magic for a reason?”

Disease, injury, decay, and even a curse that robbed one’s eyesight were detailed in the book.

‘No wonder nobody likes her. The person who distributed such medicine must be the mastermind.’

As she was about to shiver and close the book, a thump sounded, and a white lump fell.