Seliya, who had been trained by Dietrich in swordsmanship throughout the dawn, fell asleep in her room filled with the smell of straw and floating dust, holding her dagger tightly in her arms.
The sunlight that came through the lattice window illuminated the sleeping Seliya. The feel of sunlight on her cheek woke Seliya from her sleep.
Sunlight patterns were embroidered on her retina, and soon the scenery of the small room was captured in Seliya's field of vision.
It was a room filled with nothing more than an old nightstand and a bed made of combs, which couldn't even be called a bed.
The room looked even more shabby now that the sun was shining than it did at night. But Seliya didn't hate this place.
There is an old and sick horse, but because she was once a famous horse, she cannot die or run freely and is locked in a stable.
She was once a Princess, but she was terminally ill and had to live with her identity hidden.
Seliya thought there was no difference between her words and her situation.
Not her self-pity. If she had done that she would have been frustrated and helpless and all she would have done was cry like an idiot.
No matter what she did, she was forgiven, like back in the old days, when she was a tomboy and a princess.
Witnessing her father's death, she saw her own royal subjects murdered one after another. She changed her body and used her powers, but she was not enough to deal with the thousands or tens of thousands of soldiers that were pouring in.
The only way to save her life was to run away.
It was only when the foolish Princess lost everything that she knew nothing about the world that she realized how helpless she was.
The reason she couldn't die honorably on the spot was because of her mother's last will.
- Asha, you will always be the Princess of the Shan Kingdom. Make sure to escape with your life and go to thr ally, the Principality of Inata. The King of Gong there will take care of you.
She rode her horse for three days and three nights until she reached Inata. However, when she arrived, she saw the palace already reduced to ashes and the sight of eagles pecking at the skeletal body.
Seliya's gaze, lost in where she should go, stopped at one place. In front of the palace, a large flag was planted. The emblem on the flag was one she also remembered seeing.
The emblem of Abelon, with two white snakes wrapped around a silver long sword on both sides.
Abelon even destroyed her ally, the Duchy of Inata.
Seliya slowly woke up from the past. If only she could destroy Abelon, Seliya could sell her soul to the demons as well.
It's just the soul. She could give away even this rotten body if she wanted to.
Seliya looked at the dagger that Dietrich had given her. Certainly, the dagger skills that Dietrich had taught her throughout the night seemed to be of great help.
It didn't matter at all what she was or what she knew about his abilities.
The important thing is to destroy Abelon. To achieve this, Seliya planned to use everything at her disposal.
- If you use this ability, your body will be ruined.
-Even if you don’t have to do anything, the Crown Prince will be dethroned. Because I will make it that way.
Seliya was not fooled by Dietrich's kindness.
- Don't go anywhere, just hide here until I come.
Hiding is something only people who have done wrong do.
What difference would it make if she ran away because she hated being the Crown Prince's mistress? If she runs away and gets caught later, it's clear that the situation will get even worse.
“...Ah."
Seliya sighed briefly. She belatedly noticed Dietrich's thoughts.
'The reason he sneaked into the Crown Prince's bedroom and brought me here was to make me have no choice but to rely on him.'
A considerable amount of disappointment washed over her. She found it funny that she had high hopes for Dietrich even for a moment.
'It's not even funny. What did I expect from that crazy man?'
Seliya taunted herself and put her dagger into her bosom.
- If you stay at ease, every last bit of your flesh will be bitten off.
Illeon, what that snake-like Duke said was right.
It is foolish to depend on others. Changing the situation ultimately depends on your own will.
Seliya opened the closed door. The blazing sun poured down on Seliya's whole body.
***
Empress Erphia smiled darkly.
“It’s just that she ingested a very small amount and her face melted horribly.”
She was back in her palace and looking for a while into the little vial with a black stopper containing a clear liquid.
However, she was very concerned about the conditions that Illeon suggested when he handed me the vial.
- Can I prepare for His Highness the Crown Prince's coronation ceremony?
A human who didn't even attend the Emperor's funeral would personally prepare for Jeremy's coronation ceremony as Emperor.
Even though he was much younger than herself, Illeon always had a smiling face, so it was impossible to read what he was thinking.
'How dare you do something in my imperial palace.'
Although he was born as an illegitimate child, he had the blood of his predecessor, Duke Gregrick, and Illeon is a direct descendant of Duke Gregrick's family and the current head of the family. Since he is from the same family, he would never harm her and Jeremy.
'Besides, the Duke has gotten his hands dirty on my behalf many times.'
Erphia shook her head, thinking it was a useless worry.
'Now that you have the items in hand, all you have to do is feed them to that lowly thing, Selly.'
She had a falling out with Jeremy because of Seliya.
Jeremy, who fell in love with Seliya at first sight, declared her as his mistress in his own banquet hall.
Jeremy obviously wasn't that bad, but he was so crazy about one woman that his judgment was clouded.
Erphia pursed her lips.
When Seliya's smooth visage turns ugly, Jeremy's attention will soon turn to contempt.
With her face horribly disfigured, the woman is thrown out in one fell swoop, and her son, Jeremy, becomes Emperor.
She was the Empress, and she would become the Empress, so she would be able to fully control this spacious imperial palace.
If that happens, she could have Dietrich, someone as hard as a rock, someone everyone covets, but who doesn't seem to care about anything.
'If you don't listen to me, I can strip you of all your titles and imprison you.'
Erphia felt her stomach grow warm as she imagined the perfect Dietrich lying at her feet and barking like a dog.
Erphia immediately called one of her favorite knights into her room.
“Ben, there is something I need you to do in secret.”
Ben, who had a long scar on his left cheek, nodded his head slightly.
He had been a loyal servant to Erphia since she became Empress.
Ben's once red hair has grown gray as evidence of the passage of time.
Erphia handed the poison to Ben and did her bidding.
“Feed this to her, Selly. It can be added to food or in drinking water. Doesn’t mind using coercive measures.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
“This is something only you and I know, so there must be no mistakes.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ben bowed and stepped away.
Erphia looked at the closed door with a satisfied face.
Now, all that remains is to wait.
“Where are you, Selly?”
Jeremy yelled at her.
The sensation of biting Seliya's collarbone last night was still vivid, and he seemed to have fainted, perhaps because he had drunk too much wine, before falling asleep.
When he woke up, he was lying on the floor of his bed alone.
Jeremy's angry cries caused the maids and knights outside to storm into his bedroom.
“What’s going on, Your Highness?”
“Shelly, my mistress is gone. She was definitely in my bedroom last night.”
The maid and the knight looked at each other and swallowed dry saliva.
They had been guarding the palace all night without paying attention, but they did not remember seeing Seliya come out.
Moreover, the Crown Prince's bedroom was on the third floor. It made no sense for someone to suddenly disappear.
Unless she jumped out of the window.
The knight narrowed his eyebrows and expressed his opinion.
“Maybe she's under the bed or in the room, Your Highness."
“That can’t be possible. I’ve already searched the entire room.”
Jeremy must have been nervous, so he started ruffling his hair roughly.
Last night he drank so much strong wine that his head hurt.
When he remembered Seliya leaving the banquet hall with Illeon without even looking back, jealousy filled him.
Jeremy muttered softly.
“I guess she could just run away.”
If it were a mistress, he would have been able to quietly receive pretty things like a mistress, but he wonders if she is trying to slip through the gaps like sand in his grasp.
Jeremy recalled the sight of the men in the banquet hall staring at Seliya.
A flower that was beautiful in his own eyes was also beautiful in the eyes of others.
A pitiful beauty that seems ready to break at any moment, an alluring and sublime atmosphere.
Jeremy felt like his throat was burning as he wanted to take Seliya at any moment.
What's wrong with the best male wanting to take the most beautiful female?
‘When I become Emperor, I will have to get rid of the three Dukes that are an eyesore. Dietrich, with that son of a bitch.'
How dare someone who is not a member of the royal family try to sit on top of the Emperor's head?
Jeremy gave his orders to his underlings who were watching him.
“Find my mistress right now. Since she couldn't have gone far, released someone to the imperial palace. No, first search through Dietrich’s mansion!”
At Jeremy's command, the knights and the maids moved quickly.
Jeremy sat down on his bed, letting out his anger alone.
How long has it been since then?
Knock knock.
A knock on the door made Jeremy raise his head.
“...Your Highness, I have been sent by Her Majesty the Empress.”
The deep voice with a heavy resonance was a voice that even Jeremy knew.
It was Ben, her mother's closest escort. Jeremy opened his mouth to him, his face not hiding his disappointment.
“Come in.”
The door opened and Ben came into the room. Ben had an object in his hand.
“What did your mother say when she sent you away? And, what is you holding?”
Ben placed the items on the bedside table.
With a thud, the identity of the object was revealed. A letter and a bottle of honey water came into Jeremy's sight.
“It has been on her mind all day that Her Majesty was unable to attend Her Royal Highness’s birthday banquet,” he said “As soon as she heard that you drank a lot of wine, she told me to give you honey water and a letter.”
Jeremy was lost in memories for a moment.
The day after he drank too much, his mother would always send honey water for him, like today.
Her precious honey water, which was said to have been sent directly from her mother's home, the Duke of Gregrick, was very sweet and very effective in treating hangovers.
He said he would take Seliya as his mistress, but his mother was very opposed to it, so she had a falling out, who was also his mother.
Her letter, written in Erphia's neat handwriting, said she was sorry for not attending the banquet and that he would drink honey water and have tea time as soon as he felt better.
“In this situation, the only person who cares about me is my mother.”
Jeremy grinned and drank her honey water without any hesitation.
He didn't leave a single drop behind.
Although he was born as an illegitimate child, he had the blood of his predecessor, Duke Gregrick, and Illeon is a direct descendant of Duke Gregrick's family and the current head of the family. Since he is from the same family, he would never harm her and Jeremy.
'Besides, the Duke has gotten his hands dirty on my behalf many times.'
Erphia shook her head, thinking it was a useless worry.
'Now that you have the items in hand, all you have to do is feed them to that lowly thing, Selly.'
She had a falling out with Jeremy because of Seliya.
Jeremy, who fell in love with Seliya at first sight, declared her as his mistress in his own banquet hall.
Jeremy obviously wasn't that bad, but he was so crazy about one woman that his judgment was clouded.
Erphia pursed her lips.
When Seliya's smooth visage turns ugly, Jeremy's attention will soon turn to contempt.
With her face horribly disfigured, the woman is thrown out in one fell swoop, and her son, Jeremy, becomes Emperor.
She was the Empress, and she would become the Empress, so she would be able to fully control this spacious imperial palace.
If that happens, she could have Dietrich, someone as hard as a rock, someone everyone covets, but who doesn't seem to care about anything.
'If you don't listen to me, I can strip you of all your titles and imprison you.'
Erphia felt her stomach grow warm as she imagined the perfect Dietrich lying at her feet and barking like a dog.
Erphia immediately called one of her favorite knights into her room.
“Ben, there is something I need you to do in secret.”
Ben, who had a long scar on his left cheek, nodded his head slightly.
He had been a loyal servant to Erphia since she became Empress.
Ben's once red hair has grown gray as evidence of the passage of time.
Erphia handed the poison to Ben and did her bidding.
“Feed this to her, Selly. It can be added to food or in drinking water. Doesn’t mind using coercive measures.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
“This is something only you and I know, so there must be no mistakes.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ben bowed and stepped away.
Erphia looked at the closed door with a satisfied face.
Now, all that remains is to wait.
***
“Where are you, Selly?”
Jeremy yelled at her.
The sensation of biting Seliya's collarbone last night was still vivid, and he seemed to have fainted, perhaps because he had drunk too much wine, before falling asleep.
When he woke up, he was lying on the floor of his bed alone.
Jeremy's angry cries caused the maids and knights outside to storm into his bedroom.
“What’s going on, Your Highness?”
“Shelly, my mistress is gone. She was definitely in my bedroom last night.”
The maid and the knight looked at each other and swallowed dry saliva.
They had been guarding the palace all night without paying attention, but they did not remember seeing Seliya come out.
Moreover, the Crown Prince's bedroom was on the third floor. It made no sense for someone to suddenly disappear.
Unless she jumped out of the window.
The knight narrowed his eyebrows and expressed his opinion.
“Maybe she's under the bed or in the room, Your Highness."
“That can’t be possible. I’ve already searched the entire room.”
Jeremy must have been nervous, so he started ruffling his hair roughly.
Last night he drank so much strong wine that his head hurt.
When he remembered Seliya leaving the banquet hall with Illeon without even looking back, jealousy filled him.
Jeremy muttered softly.
“I guess she could just run away.”
If it were a mistress, he would have been able to quietly receive pretty things like a mistress, but he wonders if she is trying to slip through the gaps like sand in his grasp.
Jeremy recalled the sight of the men in the banquet hall staring at Seliya.
A flower that was beautiful in his own eyes was also beautiful in the eyes of others.
A pitiful beauty that seems ready to break at any moment, an alluring and sublime atmosphere.
Jeremy felt like his throat was burning as he wanted to take Seliya at any moment.
What's wrong with the best male wanting to take the most beautiful female?
‘When I become Emperor, I will have to get rid of the three Dukes that are an eyesore. Dietrich, with that son of a bitch.'
How dare someone who is not a member of the royal family try to sit on top of the Emperor's head?
Jeremy gave his orders to his underlings who were watching him.
“Find my mistress right now. Since she couldn't have gone far, released someone to the imperial palace. No, first search through Dietrich’s mansion!”
At Jeremy's command, the knights and the maids moved quickly.
Jeremy sat down on his bed, letting out his anger alone.
How long has it been since then?
Knock knock.
A knock on the door made Jeremy raise his head.
“...Your Highness, I have been sent by Her Majesty the Empress.”
The deep voice with a heavy resonance was a voice that even Jeremy knew.
It was Ben, her mother's closest escort. Jeremy opened his mouth to him, his face not hiding his disappointment.
“Come in.”
The door opened and Ben came into the room. Ben had an object in his hand.
“What did your mother say when she sent you away? And, what is you holding?”
Ben placed the items on the bedside table.
With a thud, the identity of the object was revealed. A letter and a bottle of honey water came into Jeremy's sight.
“It has been on her mind all day that Her Majesty was unable to attend Her Royal Highness’s birthday banquet,” he said “As soon as she heard that you drank a lot of wine, she told me to give you honey water and a letter.”
Jeremy was lost in memories for a moment.
The day after he drank too much, his mother would always send honey water for him, like today.
Her precious honey water, which was said to have been sent directly from her mother's home, the Duke of Gregrick, was very sweet and very effective in treating hangovers.
He said he would take Seliya as his mistress, but his mother was very opposed to it, so she had a falling out, who was also his mother.
Her letter, written in Erphia's neat handwriting, said she was sorry for not attending the banquet and that he would drink honey water and have tea time as soon as he felt better.
“In this situation, the only person who cares about me is my mother.”
Jeremy grinned and drank her honey water without any hesitation.
He didn't leave a single drop behind.
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