*Gulp.*

As Ermedeline observed Félio’s attitude towards people, treating them as if they were mere pawns, she found herself involuntarily swallowing hard.

‘What do you know? Born as a nobleman’s son and raised in privilege. Who are you to judge anyone? Have you ever lived as an orphan in a heartless capitalist nation? Do you even know how agonizing it is to have no money?’

Inside, she was seething with injustice and sadness, wanting to unleash a barrage of curses, but she couldn’t show it on the surface.

“Yes, I like money. Once I’ve collected all the money I’ve borrowed, I plan to live exactly as I want, finally.”

“The amount is staggering. Have you sent all the money you earned by selling elixirs and curses back to your family?”

‘What is this, an interrogation?’

She couldn’t stop here.

In any case, once he repays the borrowed money, that’s the end of it. She has no intention of falling into ruin with her father.

“Wouldn’t it be safe to assume that you, sir, have no business concerning my personal income? Furthermore, since I can’t touch the treasury without Valliere permission, I have never spent more than the allocated amount…”

Ermedeline deliberately put on an unpleasant smile.

Her lips curved upward, but her eyes showed no signs of amusement. 

Being seen as a villainess had its advantages in situations like this. There was no need to pretend to be good or humble.

After all, no one would believe her even if she explained herself, so she might as well brazen it out like this.

“Oh? I see. There’s no need for me to know about Her Majesty the Empress’s personal income.”

‘Indeed.’

Félio wore a deeply discontented expression but didn’t press further.

“Well then, let’s proceed with the lawsuit as it stands.”

Félio turned abruptly as if signaling for her to leave once the matter was settled.

However, Ermedeline hesitated for a moment before leaving.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“Well, um…”

It was truly peculiar.

With no memories to speak of, and even if there were memories, they didn’t truly belong to her, she couldn’t help but be bothered by that name.

‘Ferdant.’

Every time she mulled it over, that name stung a certain corner of her heart.

Ermedeline had considered asking about the name “Ferdant” several times but quickly gave up.

‘What’s the point of knowing? My nose is already bloody. In reality, everyone here has nothing to do with me, right?’

In a courtyard without memories, the future was already unsettling enough. She didn’t want to add more uncertainty.

“No, the matter is settled. Thank you for taking on my defense.”

“Huh?”

Despite her attempt to offer a polite greeting by slightly lowering her head, Ermedeline suddenly raised her head at the unexpected snort.

“So, Louise’s words were true. Her Majesty the Empress does indeed know the word ‘thank you.'”

It was an unmistakable tone of sarcasm.

‘Oh, really. What a terrible character. I genuinely said ‘thank you’ because I was thankful. How twisted can someone be?’

But blaming only Félio would be unfair, given Ermedeline’s notorious actions in the original work.

Moreover, she was currently in a situation where she was receiving assistance.

No matter how irritating, she had to endure it.

***

“You missed it?”

In a lavish chamber even more extravagant than the Empress’s palace, Valliere, dressed in a somewhat simple dress that didn’t quite suit the surroundings, was seated in a chair made of the finest velvet, her body sunk deep into it.

“Yes. It seemed like our maid here had quite a bit of experience in this area. We did our best to chase after her as well…”

Valliere’s anger had surged to the very top of her head, but she couldn’t show it in front of the others.

So, she let out a deep sigh inwardly and forced a strained smile.

“After meeting with Duke Batistian, what was she doing during her outing?”

“She was attending to her official duties as usual.”

“Is that so? Then…”

‘Could it be that she met with Félio? But Félio wants to eliminate Ermedeline right away… What could be the reason for their meeting?’

Valliere’s contemplative expression was enough to stir curiosity.

To ease Valliere’s mood, one of the men who had been kneeling spoke in a soothing voice.

“Doesn’t the Empress often go out? Well, this time, she must have gone to procure some unsightly materials necessary for the curse.”

“That’s not it… If she was going to a place that sells magical ingredients, she would have gone there openly, wouldn’t she?”

‘Ah, these incompetent and ignorant fools. Why did my brother choose to surround himself with such people? Well, considering he has nothing in his own head, can we really expect him to have any discerning eye?’

“Leaving that aside, what about the well? Have you found any evidence?”

“Oh… about that…”

“The Empress clearly cursed the well with the plague, and you still haven’t found any evidence?”

“Yes. The Empress is quite thorough. There are no witnesses or evidence.”

“Did the magical department find anything?”

“No. They didn’t. She regularly purchases rare ingredients, and large-scale curses like this are almost unheard of.”

Valliere bit her lip in frustration at the unhelpful responses.

‘This is getting tiresome.’

“Leave.”

As Valliere’s voice turned cold, the men promptly exited her chamber.

“Ugh… It’s so frustrating. Not a single capable person around.”

Valliere, staring at the ceiling, let out a deep sigh for a moment before calling the maids waiting outside her door.

“Request an audience with Duke Félio.”

***

“You have arrived?”

Félio, who happened to be staying near the palace due to Ermedeline’s affairs, was able to meet Valliere promptly.

“Why have you summoned me?”

Although his gaze was not as contemptuous as when dealing with Ermedeline, Félio’s attitude towards Valliere was still haughty and stern.

“I was curious if you happened to meet Her Majesty the Empress today.”

“Why should I report my actions to you?”

“Oh, it’s not like that… I was just wondering if it had anything to do with the outbreak of the epidemic…”

“I am investigating that matter separately.”

“Yes, I know. I just thought that, perhaps, Your Excellency might get involved in the Empress’s investigation…”

“I will handle matters in my own way. Have you managed to find any new evidence?”

“Oh… about that…”

“Very well. I didn’t expect much anyway.”

Félio turned and left without even offering a farewell, maintaining his cold demeanor.

In truth, there was no reason for him to bid farewell.

Valliere was nothing more than a bastard child of a wealthy noble, while Félio was the legitimate heir of the Duke’s family.

Furthermore, Félio, with his aristocratic temperament, had a favorable opinion of Valliere personally, but due to her status as a mistress of a married man, he didn’t hide his displeasure while cooperating with her as a public enemy.

He was truly an uncompromising man.

Valliere seethed with anticipation of revenge in response to Félio’s rude attitude.

‘Just wait until I become the Empress. I’ll start by crushing you first.’

***

“I’m tired of this! How is it that every person you send has no use at all!”

 

Valliere, known for her gentle disposition, was venting her frustration to her brother, Pierre.

Though his eye color was green, different from Valliere’s, his soft auburn hair and densely packed features bore a strong resemblance to his sister.

“It’s not that the people I send are incompetent. It’s that Ermedeline is cunning. And, are you still unable to fully capture Henry’s heart?”

“What are you talking about? Henry only has eyes for me. He wouldn’t set foot in the Empress’s chamber!”

“So what then? Have you ever been granted that title? Are you expecting him to be your childhood friend or something? Have we gained anything from you becoming part of the government?”

“The authority to manage the royal treasury lies with me…”

“Right. Well said. That grand authority? The one where you can’t spend a single extra penny from the allocated funds, and you have to report every expenditure? Ridiculous!”

Pierre slammed the table with his fist and shouted.

“Do you have any idea how many humiliating things we’ve heard during the years you’ve been involved in government? Aren’t you ashamed of being called mistress for how many years? Like mother, like daughter?”

In response to Pierre’s words, Valliere bit her lower lip firmly.

“Do you know how much money has been poured into you all these years? We even keep your mother around even though she should’ve been dealt with since a long time ago.”

As soon as the word “mother” came out of Pierre’s mouth, Valliere bit her lip hard.

She didn’t care what happened to that woman who had given her an unchangeable weakness like being a bastard child; she hadn’t become the Empress yet.

She still needed the financial support of these tiresome people.

Just managing to maintain her dignity with the allocated funds was already overwhelming. To continue building her image as the mother figure of the people, she needed the continued financial support of these incompetent individuals.

As Valliere bit her lip and trembled all over, Pierre, noticing her reaction, let out another taunting remark in a slightly sneering voice.

“Indeed, you should hurry up and get pregnant…”

Snap! At that moment, something inside Valliere broke.

“Get out! Get out right now!”

Until now, even when she was angry, she hadn’t raised her voice like this. But this time, she couldn’t bear it any longer.

As Valliere yelled almost like having a fit, Pierre fled from the palace to escape her.

‘Pregnant? Pregnant?? Me??’

Trembling all over, tears began to fall from Valliere’s eyes.

“Darn it! Darn it!”

Valliere managed to regain her composure after a struggle but soon felt queasy inside.

“Ugh…”

***

“So, has the Empress returned?”

Henry, deeply seated on the throne, exuded his usual solemn and beautiful presence. His dazzling blonde hair bestowed upon him the radiance of the sun, while his piercing blue eyes seemed to penetrate the souls and grant him earthly authority.

“Yes, she has. It was a very brief outing.”

“Are you sure about meeting Félio there?”

“Yes, Her Majesty has been monitoring Duke Félio ever since she met Duke Batistian yesterday.”

“Couldn’t you find out what it was about?”

“I don’t know the exact details, but there seems to have been an incident when Duke François visited the palace yesterday.”

“What kind of incident?”

“It appears that the Duke threatened Her Majesty the Empress with a blade and caused an injury.”

“Well, physical altercations aren’t exactly uncommon, are they? Is that all?”

“Oh, and it was reported that unlike usual, the Duke was attempting to take one of the maids with him, but Her Majesty intervened to stop him,” one of the maids added.

Henry, who had been listening to the report, lowered his gaze thoughtfully upon hearing of Ermedeline’s unusual behavior.

“Hmm. It does seem suspicious. She used to be indifferent even when several maids died at his hands, and suddenly, she confronts her Father?”

“We find that aspect suspicious as well.”

“Very well. Keep a closer watch on the Duke and the Empress. What is Valliere doing?”

“Her Majesty has summoned Duke Félio, who met with her earlier.”

“Félio?”

“Yes. She probably wanted to know what transpired between the Duke and Her Majesty the Empress.”

“And you say the surveillance failed?”

“Yes. It seems that the individuals Valliere employed vanished in the middle of the task. But isn’t she a clever one?”

“Indeed, quite clever. However, lately, I feel like I can’t quite grasp her movements.”

Henry sighed as if he was disappointed.

“What should we do?”

“For now, keep observing. We need to find out why she’s suddenly doing things she hadn’t done before.”

“Yes, understood.”

After the messenger left, Henry leaned against the arm of his chair and fell into deep contemplation.

“First Valliere, and now even the Empress. Why are both of them suddenly doing things they hadn’t done before?”