Chapter 90
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90.
Fortunately, thanks to Cassian Artez moving me to his office, the incident of the unauthorized intrusion into my bedroom became a secret between the two of us alone.
And we carefully organized everything that had transpired that day, deciding on our course of action moving forward.
That night, after Cassian Artez sent me home, he effortlessly retrieved the evidence documents that Second Empress Trisha had hidden away.
For someone who could easily evade dozens of knights, deceiving the eyes of a few servants and knights at an ungodly hour was child's play.
And the positive news did not end there.
The following morning, a young Imperial Physician with dark circles under his eyes came rushing to the Winter Palace with urgent news.
"I—I found it! We can create an antidote! If you would only help us here at the Winter Palace!"
Among the rare medicinal herbs needed for the antidote's composition, there was one particularly elusive specimen that had to be located.
We immediately provided Samuel Motty with the most detailed description possible of the herb's appearance and instructed him to find it.
As for the Emperor's condition, it was neither utterly hopeless nor entirely promising.
Because we had immediately administered a standard antidote without panic, and His Majesty himself possessed a robust constitution, he was enduring well.
The problem was time.
Thus, the Imperial Physicians spent the entire night analyzing the poison's composition, guided by the hints Cassian Artez had provided.
Fortunately, that very evening, word came that Samuel Motty had discovered the herb.
The problem was....
"Even the most capable knights cannot make the journey in time."
The Emperor had roughly a week remaining before his condition became critical.
However, the Imperial Physicians warned that if treatment took that long, consciousness might return but permanent sequelae would inevitably follow.
Whether it would affect his sight, his hearing, or some other part of his body remained uncertain.
If a week passed, his life might be preserved, but whether he could open his eyes again would be left to fate.
"We must not allow the Temple any opportunity to intervene."
"Understood."
Therefore, the window in which the Emperor could awaken without severe complications was merely five days.
Currently, only two people could make the round trip within that timeframe: Cassian Artez and the Knight Commander leading the investigation.
He confirmed the location of the nearest herb source, then repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists, wrestling with the decision.
He understood better than anyone how much could unfold if he were absent for five days in such circumstances.
So I decided to push him forward.
Of course, I had always complained that the Emperor was a terrible father.
Which is precisely why I believed Cassian Artez must survive—so that he could harbor resentment toward the Emperor, curse him, wound him if he wished.
So that Cassian Artez would not suffer under the weight of guilt for failing to save him his entire life.
"Go. Please."
"But Roselita, right now Second Empress Trisha is also confined...."
"Do you not trust me?"
"You know that is not what I mean—not just you, but...."
I took Cassian Artez's hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it in encouragement.
"Do you truly believe I would simply sit idle waiting for Ian to return?"
"...No."
After a long pause, Cassian Artez exhaled as though releasing a sigh.
"I'll return within four days—three, if possible."
He grasped the hand I had been holding and drew me close with sudden intensity.
"I entrust you with my confidence. Show the First Empress just how extraordinary my advisor truly is."
"Of course."
After seeing him off, I remained alone in the office and drew a deep breath.
Was I afraid? Yes, I was.
If the First Empress truly cast aside all restraint and mobilized House of Jamoti along with their allied noble families and the Temple itself, she could seize control of the Imperial Palace with ease.
Yet it was precisely because of this that I had to send Cassian Artez away.
'If I sent knights, they could be silently eliminated en route.'
That would inevitably worsen the Emperor's condition, only encouraging First Empress Scarlett to resort to even more extreme measures.
So I had simply chosen the best path available.
High risk, but with it came absolute certainty.
The mere fact that Cassian Artez was personally retrieving medicinal herbs would force the Empress to account for the possibility of his success.
No matter how hard she tried to suppress it, all the countless times we had thwarted her would act as a brake upon her mind.
Then she would have no choice but to prepare for failure.
The more I forced her into a situation where she must reserve her strength, the more vulnerabilities would emerge in First Empress Scarlett Jamoti.
I tightened my resolve and exhaled slowly.
My thoughts were clear now—I had to keep First Empress Scarlett contained until Cassian Artez returned, and protect those who needed protecting.
I opened the office door and summoned the Winter Palace staff I could trust second only to Cassian Artez.
It would be quite a long four days ahead.
*
The afternoon Cassian Artez left, movement came swiftly.
"Salice Advisor, please follow me. The Empress wishes to see you."
First Empress Scaletti's attendant had come looking for me.
"Forgive me, but what is the reason?"
"Her Majesty the Empress wishes to hear more details. Of course, I understand the Imperial Knight Commander is doing his utmost to investigate."
This attendant used to look down on me whenever she saw me, but her manner was now quite respectful.
The trap was painfully obvious.
"However, as you well know, Her Majesty the Empress has always been deeply devoted to His Majesty the Emperor. She simply wishes to hear the account from the one who was closest to him at that time."
That day, thanks to the Second Empress's deduction and my voluntary body search, I had essentially been cleared of suspicion.
The straightforward Knight Commander's investigation had also determined there was almost no opportunity for me to have acted.
'Because I was the last one to arrive at that tea party.'
When I took my seat, the Emperor and Second Empress were already in conversation, and the teapot and desserts were already set.
Even the Chief Attendant, who had gone to fetch a toy for Coco, had already arrived by then.
Because of this, the First Empress could not now arbitrarily order my confinement.
Besides, I wasn't even the chief investigator of the poisoning case, so I lacked the authority anyway.
I rummaged through the pile of documents stacked high in my office and pulled out a file folder.
"Since Her Majesty is so concerned, how could I not consider her feelings?"
"As expected, the thoughtful Salice Advisor would say such a thing!"
In the past, this attendant had certainly mocked me as unsophisticated and ignorant of basic courtesy, using the excuse of teaching me manners in the Imperial Palace corridors—making me perform lunges, or rather, repeatedly bend and straighten my knees countless times.
Of course, she was a Countess and I was merely a Marquis's daughter, so I yielded and let it pass quietly.
'Though it did seem like Cassian subtly interfered with the Countess's merchant operations afterward.'
And he got scolded by me for it, Cassian did.
Because the First Empress had sent petty additional retaliation my way.
In any case, my entanglement with the Rose Palace was so thoroughly tangled that I had far too many debts to repay.
"So I will give you this document."
"...Pardon?"
"It is a detailed incident statement that I wrote about that day. I understand your frustration at being unable to review it since the case hasn't been concluded yet."
"That, no, Salice Advisor! Her Majesty the Empress doesn't just want an explanation of the incident—she also wishes to receive comfort...."
"Comfort?"
"Yes! You are the only one who will become the Imperial Prince's consort. She wishes to become like another mother to you. Please come."
In other words, if I didn't want to suffer after marriage, I should come quietly.
It was truly outrageous. Not my real mother, and not even a kind adoptive mother who had taken charge of my upbringing.
What was this talk of treating me like a son?
Whenever she saw Cassian, she ground her teeth wanting to kill him, yet she had the audacity to say such things.
"Countess, does the First Empress truly regret this situation?"
The moment I spoke thus and gestured with my eyes, a knight nearby deliberately opened the door.
Did she truly think I had sent Cassian out of the Imperial Palace without any countermeasures after all that?
Currently, the Winter Palace had many people from other palaces coming and going.
With the usual duties to attend to, plus the investigation into His Majesty's poisoning case, there was inevitably a large crowd from the advisor down to the servants running errands.
Of course, since she didn't know, she was acting this way—well then, she would have to face the consequences.
"Of course. Are you suggesting that Salice Advisor is now attempting to exploit the First Empress's sincerity?"
"If sincerity truly mattered, wouldn't you allow me to continue my duties?"
Was she planning to drag me away and have me silenced before Cassian Artez arrived?
"What do you mean? I merely suggested a brief conversation with the Empress! After all, the investigation into the Emperor's poisoning falls under the purview of the Imperial Knight Order, does it not?"
Yet the Countess, dissatisfied with my response, raised her voice with even greater fervor.
"Regardless of how demanding the Winter Palace's usual duties may be, can you truly claim you lack the capacity to console an Empress grieving her husband's critical condition?"
How thoughtful of you to fall for the provocation so perfectly.
In stark contrast to her, I opened my mouth with deliberate composure, all emotion stripped away.
"It appears you lack current information, Countess. I do not merely serve as the First Advisor of the Winter Palace."
The First Empress must have heard this as well—at the Marquis Clupea's title conferment ceremony.
"As of this morning, with the request of the Imperial Knight Commander and the approval of Prince Cassian Artez, I have formally assumed the position of Chief of Staff to the First Training Officer of the Imperial Knight Order."
Of course, that appointment was temporary then, so you might have assumed it no longer applies.
In an instant, the gazes of countless people moving through the Winter Palace converged sharply upon the office.
"However, Countess, if you still maintain that consoling the Empress takes greater precedence than my investigation into the Emperor's poisoning, I shall gladly do so."
*
At my proposal, the Countess took only the copy of the incident statement and hastily withdrew from the Winter Palace.
Of course, I harbored no illusions that the First Empress's games would end here.
And so I thought:
'The lessons you so relentlessly imparted to me upon my arrival at the Imperial Palace—I shall return them in kind.'
That proxy war at which you excel.
I have prepared my own version.
A most welcome guest was about to pay a visit to the First Empress.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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