Episode 68. Can't Catch What You Know
The night was deep. Candlelight was lit in the study of the Duke of Valois. Martha had documents spread out, but she wasn't reading them. Her hands rested on the papers, while her eyes gazed out the window. The garden was shrouded in darkness. The lavender flowerbeds were visible dimly in the shadows. Lucy sat beside her, holding a notebook. She wrote something in the notebook, then stopped, then wrote again. It was not that she had nothing to write; rather, her face showed she didn't know where to begin because there were so many things to record.
Maxim refilled the tea for the third time. As Martha accepted the tea, she said.
"Maxim, you go inside and get some sleep."
"The Princess is here"
"I am fine."
Maxim looked at Martha. It was a look that he had seen for over forty years of people claiming to be fine when they were not. Those eyes glanced at Martha for a moment before averting their gaze.
"I will bring more when the tea cools."
Maxim left. Lucy looked at Martha.
"Princess, when do you think we will hear from them?"
"I don't know."
"Are you worried?"
Martha asked, holding her teacup.
"Of course I'm worried. But they'll do well. It's Prince Leon and my brother, after all."
Lucy said, clutching her notebook.
"I think this is the first time you've said you're worried, Princess."
Martha looked at Lucy. Lucy said.
"Usually, you do something. You seem like you'd be worried, but you just do it anyway."
Martha said, looking out the window.
"Because there is nothing I can do right now."
Lucy took her words and opened her notebook. Today, Lucy realized for the first time that waiting is the hardest thing to do. It was past midnight when the news arrived. Maxim knocked on the study door.
"Princess. Prince Edward and Prince Leon have arrived."
Martha rose from her seat. Leon entered. His attire was different. It was not the neat attire he had worn when he stopped by the Imperial Palace. He looked like someone who had been out for a long time.
The night air had soaked into his coat. His face was a little dark. It wasn't fatigue. It was the face of someone who had carried something heavy.
Martha and Leon's eyes met.
"Sit down."
Leon took his seat. Edward, saying he would report to his father separately, exchanged brief greetings with Martha and left immediately. In the meantime, Lucy brought out fresh tea.
Leon looked at Martha as he took the teacup.
"I have captured the Captain of the Guard."
Martha looked at Leon.
"Did he confess?"
"He is being interrogated."
Leon said as he set down his teacup.
"But..."
Martha waited.
"He won't say anything."
The study fell silent. Leon placed his hand on the table and spoke.
"The soldier confessed. He said he received orders from the Captain of the Guard. But the Captain won't mention who he received instructions from."
As she listened, Martha thought. She felt she understood. The reason the Captain of the Guard wasn't speaking. It wasn't fear. It wasn't that his family was being held hostage. Martha said.
"He is loyal."
Leon looked at Martha.
"To Her Majesty the Empress. Sincerely."
Leon was silent for a moment. Martha picked up her teacup and spoke.
"He is someone who would protect Her Majesty the Empress even if it meant death. People like that exist. They are rare, but they do."
Leon looked at Martha.
"How do you know?"
"Because I saw them in the Imperial Palace for sixty years."
The words came out naturally, but Martha paused briefly. Leon seemed to be deep in thought as he responded. Martha continued naturally.
"Her Majesty the Empress must have kept people by her side for a long time. And over that long period, she must have made them truly loyal."
Leon looked out the window as he listened.
"Then, does that mean Her Majesty the Empress ultimately won't be caught?"
"Not this time."
Lucy listened to their conversation while clutching her notebook tightly. Martha said.
"If even the Captain of the Guard is captured, Her Majesty the Empress's right arm will be severed. That is no small matter."
Leon looked at Martha.
"Do you think that is enough?"
"It's not that I think it is enough."
Martha said as she put down her teacup.
"It means we can't catch him right now. There is no evidence. Unless the Captain of the Guard speaks up. But everyone knows."
Leon clenched his fist as he heard those words. Martha looked at him and said.
"Young Master."
Leon looked at Martha.
"You worked hard today."
Leon looked at Martha. The words were brief, but to Leon, they did not sound short. Martha's "You worked hard" was different from when others said it. It wasn't just a casual remark. It meant she knew. It meant she knew where Leon had been and what he had done all day.
Leon picked up his teacup and said.
"Go to sleep. You must hurry back and get at least a little sleep."
It was the next morning. It was after breakfast that the news arrived that the women of the Empress's side were gathering. Maxim entered the study.
"Young Lady, I hear that the ladies who follow Her Majesty the Empress are gathering at Her Majesty's quarters. They say they are gathering out of concern over the Captain of the Guard being taken away."
Martha thought as she listened to those words. Ugh, I don't want to go. I genuinely didn't want to go. I had stayed up late last night and hadn't slept much, so my body felt heavy. It was exhausting having to stand in the Empress's chambers and take her side with a worried look on my face, but I had to go.
Martha stood up from her seat and said.
"Get ready."
Lucy blinked and spoke.
"Are you going?"
"I have to gauge the atmosphere. It would be stranger not to go to a gathering like this. I am, in my own way, Her Majesty the Empress's closest confidant right now."
Lucy said, taking out her notebook.
"My Lady, you barely slept last night"
"Sleep for the rest of your life, even after you die."
Martha muttered to herself as she walked out. Oh my, this wretched woman. Why did she have to cause trouble? I'm exhausted to death.
It was the Empress's chambers. As Martha entered, people had already gathered. Countess Hartmann was sitting near the Empress. Marchioness Deberg was also there. In addition, several noble ladies who followed the Empress occupied the seats. Everyone wore worried expressions. Some were genuinely worried, while others were pretending to be. Martha could tell the difference.
The Empress was sitting in her chair. She was different from usual. She was someone who always sat upright, but today her shoulders were slightly slumped. She was tired. Or perhaps she was showing signs of exhaustion for the first time.
Her face was pale. It seemed she hadn't slept well last night. As Martha entered, the Empress looked up. Their eyes met. Something flashed through the Empress's eyes. It was joy and gratitude. It seemed sincere. At least to Martha, it seemed sincere.
As Martha settled into her seat, she looked at the Empress.
"Your Majesty, I came because I was worried."
The Empress looked at Martha.
"Your Majesty, you are absolutely not that kind of person, to think something like this would happen."
Martha thought to herself as she spoke You brat. Are you aiming an arrow at your husband?
"How wronged and heavy-hearted you must feel."
The Empress remained silent for a moment as she listened to Martha. Then she slowly looked around the chambers. Countess Hartmann. Marchioness Deberg. And several noble ladies, including Martha. They were all looking at Her Majesty with worried expressions.
Something welled up in the Empress's eyes. She was a cold and hard person. A person who never showed her emotions. But today was different. It seemed as though a tiny crack was forming in that firmness. At the fact that so many people had come out of concern for her.
The Empress opened her mouth.
"Thank you, everyone."
Her voice was different. It was not the voice she used in her chambers. It was a voice with the mask lowered slightly.
"The fact that you came out of concern so many of you."
Marchioness Deberg said.
"Your Majesty, how could we not come? You are suffering such an injustice."
Countess Hartmann said.
"As someone who has served you for a long time, I know better than anyone that Your Majesty is not the type to plot such a thing."
The other ladies also spoke up one by one. The Empress nodded as she listened to their words. Martha watched the scene and thought. Your Majesty. How many people here truly worry about you? Countess Hartmann seemed sincere. It was the sincerity of someone who had served for a long time. That was regrettable. That she had served with sincerity, yet the object of her loyalty was someone like this.
Marchioness Deberg was not worried. She had come to confirm her position. Because if the Empress wavered, she wavered too. The rest were somewhere in the middle. And Martha. Martha muttered to herself as she picked up her teacup.
"I came to gauge the atmosphere, Your Majesty."
The teacups passed around. The conversation continued. Words of comfort for the Empress filled the chambers. As she accepted those words, it was evident that the Empress was gradually finding stability. Her shoulders rose slightly. Her gaze hardened a little. Then, Her Majesty the Empress looked at Martha.
"Serena."
Martha looked at the Empress. The Empress spoke as if she were being wronged.
"His Majesty the Emperor suspects me."
The chambers fell silent. The Empress continued speaking while holding her teacup.
"Because he knows that the Captain of the Guard is my man. He suspects me based solely on that."
Her voice was calm. It was a voice filled with a sense of injustice. However, Martha could not tell whether that sense of injustice was genuine or not. Even from the standpoint of someone who already knew everything, the fact that the Empress's true intentions were so mysteriously unknowable demonstrated once again just how terrifying a person she was.
Marchioness Deberg said.
"His Majesty is being too harsh. He has no evidence."
Countess Hartmann said.
"You must feel wronged, Your Majesty."
The Empress looked at Martha. Martha met that gaze and thought to herself, "I must add something, as if I were one of your people."
Martha set down her teacup and said.
"Your Majesty, you would never do such a thing. You are such a warm and gentle person."
Martha continued.
"I have known Your Majesty up close, and I could never have imagined that you would plot such a thing. I cannot even fathom how wronged you must feel that His Majesty suspects you."
Something flashed through the Empress's eyes. The way she looked at Martha changed. It became warm. It was the moment when something resembling warmth entered her cold and calculating eyes for the first time. It seemed as though she was genuinely opening her heart, at least to Martha.
The Empress said.
"I feel a bit relieved that Serena said that. Have you made any progress with the Crown Prince? I feel like it would be nice if we grew a little closer."
Martha smiled and nodded. She thought to herself, "Oh my, you idiot, trying to link me with the Crown Prince again in the midst of all this."
As she left her chambers, Martha walked down the hallway. Her back began to ache slightly. It was only after leaving that she realized she had been tense the entire time inside the Empress's quarters. She knew how much energy it took to smile while receiving the Empress's gaze.
She met the Crown Prince at the end of the hallway. The Crown Prince was walking down the hall. He had a bandage wrapped around his shoulder. His face was still pale. Yet, he was able to walk. The Crown Prince stopped as he looked at Martha.
"Are you coming out of Mother's chambers?"
"Yes."
The Crown Prince looked at Martha.
"Is she alright?"
"Yes. And Your Highness?"
The Crown Prince said, shifting his shoulder slightly.
"It is still a bit uncomfortable, but I am fine."
A brief silence followed. The Crown Prince spoke.
"How is the atmosphere in Mother's chambers?"
Their eyes met. Martha knew what the Crown Prince was asking. She knew what condition the Empress was in. Whether he was worried or something else. Martha said.
"Many have gathered here. Out of concern."
The Crown Prince nodded in response.
"I see."
"Your Highness, is your shoulder alright? You shouldn't overexert yourself."
The Crown Prince looked at Martha. His gaze was different. The way he looked at Martha in the hallway was the same look he had given her last night while she was lying in bed.
"A Princess's concern is medicine. Please continue to worry about me. So that I can recover quickly."
Martha looked at the Crown Prince for a moment, then averted her eyes. Did the Crown Prince read a lot of romance novels? Why are his lines so cheesy? Although she said this, Martha's heart was pounding at every single word the Crown Prince spoke.
"Get well soon."
The Crown Prince looked at Martha and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
"That again."
"I have nothing else to say.
The Crown Prince looked at Martha, then at the other side of the hallway. It was the direction of his mother's quarters. His gaze lingered there for a moment. He was about to take a step, but stopped again. Then he spoke to Martha.
"You worked hard today, Princess. I know how difficult it is to say those words in Mother's quarters."
As Martha received those words, she thought to herself. He knows. What I had been doing there. Martha replied.
"You worked hard too, Your Highness. Today."
The Crown Prince looked at Martha.
"What did I do?"
"It is hard to pretend not to know when you do."
The Crown Prince remained silent for a moment as he accepted those words. Then he smiled. It was a short, heavy, bitter smile.
"That is correct."
The Crown Prince began walking down the corridor. It was in the opposite direction from his mother's quarters. Martha watched his retreating figure. A bandage was wrapped around his shoulder. It was the shoulder that had blocked the arrow sent by his mother.
Martha thought to herself. Every single one of his actions doesn't feel like that of a mere child. I realize now that it doesn't feel like watching a little kid's antics. Though I don't know what I should do about it. Ah, it's a day that makes me want a drink.
It was that night. A letter arrived from the Imperial Palace. It was sent by Leon.
The interrogation of the Captain of the Guard has concluded. He did not speak until the very end. However, everyone knows. His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince. His Majesty the Emperor is scheduled to make an official announcement tomorrow. The Captain of the Guard will be punished on charges related to treason. The Empress is safe this time. However, she will no longer be able to exert influence over the military within the Imperial Palace. Just as you said, Serena, the Empress's right arm has been severed.
Martha looked out the window as she read the letter. The night was deep.
"Your right arm was severed."
That single line lingered in her mind for a long time. She recalled the scene from earlier today in her chambers, where the Empress had found peace of mind while listening to Martha. The moment her gaze warmed. Martha thought to herself. Your Majesty. I don't know how long this delusion will last, but the day will come when it awakens. When that day comes, what kind of face will you wear?
Martha called out to Lucy as she folded the letter.
"Lucy."
"Yes."
"You may sleep tonight."
Lucy said, putting down her notebook.
"What about you, Princess?"
"I should sleep too. If you happen to have some wine at home, would you like a glass before you go?"
Lucy looked at Martha. Martha stood up and said.
"Are you going to drink alone? What about me? I'm craving some too."
"Skip out today. A beautiful woman who thinks deeply needs a night alone to soothe her heart with alcohol as she goes through life."
"What are you talking about? You just feel the wine you're offering me is too precious to waste, don't you? I'll have it before I go. You worked hard today."
Lucy said, clutching her notebook to her chest.
"You've worked hard, Lucy."
The candle in the study went out.
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal - Episode 68]
They say the Captain of the Guard was finally captured. The Princess was talking about the Empress, then started to speak, saying, "On the way here, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, no," but then clamped her mouth shut. And she asked for alcohol. Something smells fishy here.
Today has been a long day. I should also secretly sip just one glass of the wine the Princess is drinking in the bedroom before going to sleep.
As the Princess said, a beautiful woman needs time to enjoy her solitude.
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