Chapter 32. I Regret Ever Trusting You
Roisen.
She was certainly a lady-in-waiting from the Empress’ Palace.
However, she was no ordinary lady-in-waiting.
Among the dozens of ladies-in-waiting, the reason I clearly remembered her name was…
‘She used to serve in the Imperial Consort’s Palace before transferring to the Empress’ Palace.’
The incident where the Imperial Consort’s ring went missing.
She had been a suspect in that case.
‘I should have dealt with her back then….’
There had been suspicious circumstances, but no conclusive proof.
So, I had decided to keep an eye on her for the time being…
“The person who supplied the tea to the Imperial Consort’s Palace was a man named Joseph. He has been supplying tea there for the past three years.”
“If it has been three years, then there must have been a change in suppliers.”
“Yes.”
At my words, Gabian nodded.
“It was changed upon the recommendation of a lady-in-waiting serving in the Imperial Consort’s Palace.”
“So, that lady-in-waiting was Roisen?”
“That is correct. Our investigation revealed that Joseph is Roisen’s brother.”
“So, she was simply helping her brother’s business.”
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
“But what does this have to do with me?”
“For the past three years, the tea that Joseph supplied to the Imperial Consort’s Palace had no issues whatsoever.”
Gabian added,
“Until Roisen was transferred from the Imperial Consort’s Palace to the Empress’ Palace.”
Having finished his explanation, Gabian looked at me.
His gaze was cold and emotionless.
“Do you have anything to say, Your Majesty, the Empress?”
“So, what you’re saying is… Roisen acted under my orders, had her brother supply poisoned tea to the Imperial Consort’s Palace—is that it?”
“…….”
Gabian remained silent.
That silence was an affirmation.
I sighed inwardly.
My chest felt tight.
“I did not do it.”
“…The truth will be revealed once the investigation is complete.”
No. I did not do it!
This was frustrating.
Why was I always being framed as the villain?
All I wanted was to live quietly.
It was so hard to stop being labeled as a villainess.
Then, a chilling thought struck me.
Could this be why Jerome had been avoiding me recently?
“…Don’t tell me. Does His Majesty also believe that I was behind this?”
“…….”
“That I sent poisoned tea to the Imperial Consort?”
At my repeated questioning, a calm voice finally responded.
“It’s worse than mere poison.”
It wasn’t Gabian.
I turned my head toward the source of the voice.
“…Your Majesty.”
It was Jerome.
The man who was Fay’s lover.
No. The man who had rejected my letters without a second thought.
Now, he was standing before me.
With a sword fastened at his waist.
But more than his sudden appearance, what bothered me was what he had just said.
“Worse than poison?”
Could there be anything worse than death?
As if answering my question, Jerome spoke again.
“A drug that makes it impossible to conceive for life.”
“……!”
An infertility… drug?
The revelation left me stunned.
I struggled to regain my composure and forced myself to ask,
“Are you saying… the poisoned tea the Imperial Consort drank contained a drug that prevents pregnancy?”
“How utterly vile.”
Jerome scoffed coldly.
“Were you so jealous of the Imperial Consort?”
His face twisted in fury.
“Did you hate her so much that you wanted to make sure she would never have a child?”
“No.”
I denied it firmly.
An infertility drug for the Imperial Consort?
I would never do something so cruel.
“I really wasn’t behind this. I’ve told you time and time again—I no longer wish to torment the Imperial Consort.”
“Yes, you have said that before.”
Jerome let out a bitter laugh.
“I almost fell for your convincing act.”
“…An act?”
“For a brief moment, I regret ever trusting you. It was all just a lie to put me at ease.”
“The words I spoke that day—they weren’t lies. Something is wrong here.”
I pleaded with sincerity.
“Enough. I don’t want to hear any more of your obvious lies.”
But he refused to see my sincerity.
He only glared at me with eyes filled with hatred.
“I should have known you would pull something like this behind my back.”
As if he had expected this all along, Jerome condemned me.
“From this moment on, the Empress’ Palace will be sealed off. No one will be allowed in or out, neither people nor supplies. If anyone disobeys, I will personally see to their punishment.”
With an air of finality, he turned his back to me.
“Empress. I cannot simply let this matter go. You… should prepare yourself.”
And just like that, I was locked inside the Empress’ Palace.
***
As the moonlight illuminated the evening,
I stared blankly out the window before lowering my gaze.
Dozens of knights and soldiers surrounded the Empress’ Palace, ensuring no one could leave.
“How ridiculous, isn’t it?”
“Your Majesty, the Empress…”
“Not long ago, I didn’t even have a proper guard. And now, I’m surrounded by over thirty knights.”
“…Your Majesty.”
Hearing the wavering voice laced with tears, I turned my head.
Countess Chloe, Marie, and the other ladies-in-waiting were in tears.
I smiled at them.
“There’s no need to cry. I haven’t done anything wrong, so why are you all crying?”
“But… Your Majesty…”
“This is unfair.”
“Your Majesty, you never ordered any poisoning.”
“That’s right. I didn’t do it. But they all firmly believe that I did.”
A wave of sadness washed over me.
It felt like standing in front of a wall that refused to listen.
“Roisen. Have you found her whereabouts?”
At my question, Countess Chloe answered.
“She hasn’t entered the palace in two days. The knights are tracking her movements, so we should have news soon.”
“Yes. She needs to appear quickly.”
She was the one who had put me in this situation, yet she was also the only one who could prove my innocence.
But for some reason, I had a feeling they wouldn’t be able to find her.
It was just a hunch.
“I’m tired. I’d like to rest now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The ladies-in-waiting immediately withdrew.
Left alone, I turned back to the window.
“…What is all this?”
Haa, a sigh escaped me.
I already had enough to deal with, just with the Duke’s strange behavior.
And now, I was being falsely accused of attempting to poison the Imperial Consort.
I had no idea where things had gone wrong.
Suddenly, I thought, Helena must have been a very lonely person.
I had believed she had only been abandoned by the Emperor.
But in truth, she had been used by her father as well.
“…If I were in her shoes, I might have turned out bitter too.”
I muttered quietly.
“Your Majesty.”
A low, deep voice called out to me.
Startled, I turned sharply.
How long had he been there?
In a corner of the dimly lit room, bathed in the moonlight…
A strikingly handsome man stood there.
“Sir Leonard?”
“Your Majesty, are you alright?”
Surprisingly, it was Leonard Hilbert.
How had he gotten in here?
No, that wasn’t the issue right now.
I hurriedly spoke.
“You can’t be here. His Majesty has forbidden anyone from entering or leaving this place. If you’re caught—”
“It doesn’t matter.”
He shook his head.
Instead, he stepped even closer to me.
“As long as I can see Your Majesty’s face, I’ll gladly take the risk.”
“…You really are—”
I felt strange at his unwavering determination.
“A peculiar man.”
“It is Your Majesty who makes me this way.”
“Even in this situation, you say such things?”
“Only because it is Your Majesty standing before me.”
“People always say you’re too serious. I suppose no one knows this side of you.”
“There is only one person in this world I show this side to.”
“…Stop saying things like that.”
By now, I should have gotten used to his playful remarks.
And yet, I was still the one left flustered.
A brief silence fell between us.
But strangely, it wasn’t awkward.
Just looking at each other somehow made me smile and feel at ease.
“Your Majesty. Do you know who is behind this?”
…I hadn’t even said anything yet.
Even though I hadn’t explained anything.
He knew it wasn’t me. No—he believed it wasn’t me.
That simple trust was so touching.
“I don’t know. Or rather, I should say, not yet.”
“Do you have any suspicions?”
“Sir Leonard. May I ask something of you?”
“Anything.”
His voice was calm and composed.
It was as if no matter what I asked, he would do it without hesitation.
That unwavering trust made me smile.
“You look like you’d even help me escape from here if I asked.”
“…Is that what you wish for?”
He naturally took my hand in his.
“If that is what you desire, I will—”
The slanted moonlight illuminated his face.
His deep blue eyes shimmered like a galaxy.
“I will go anywhere with Your Majesty.”
Thump.
For a moment, my heart skipped a beat at his words.
No. Stay calm.
I must not forget who he is.
Or what kind of man he will become.
And yet, for this one fleeting moment, I wanted to trust him.
Wouldn’t it be better if I just ran away from all of this?
But…
I shook my head.
I didn’t want to run away.
No—I wouldn’t run away.
If I fled now, I would forever be seen as the one who poisoned the Imperial Consort.
No matter the truth, people would believe what they wanted.
I was too angry to let that happen.
“Of course, I was joking. Where would an Empress even run? I did nothing wrong.”
“…Your Majesty.”
“Sir Leonard. I have a request.”
“Please, tell me.”
A name slipped from my lips.
“Roisen.”
The lady-in-waiting accused of acting under my orders to poison the Imperial Consort.
“Find the missing Roisen.”
He looked at me for a moment before dropping to one knee.
Just as he had once knelt before me, asking to become my knight.
As he gazed up at me, his voice was unwaveringly loyal.
“I will carry out your command, Your Majesty.”
—
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