Chapter 31. Who’s Going to Eat You Up?
“Where exactly has His Majesty disappeared to again?”
At my question, the adjutant made a troubled expression.
“I understand that he left the palace early this morning due to urgent business.”
“He was absent yesterday, the day before, and even the day before that.”
Yesterday, he left saying he was going to inspect the drought damage.
The day before that, he was supposedly checking the celestial movements.
And the day before that, he had left the palace to meet with the newly rising nobles.
That’s right. Every time I came looking for Jerome, he was nowhere to be found.
“Did you properly convey that I was looking for him?”
“Yes. I definitely delivered the message.”
“And yet, he still claims to be busy and avoids me every time?”
Meanwhile, Fay always goes with him?
“I-I apologize.”
“No, it’s not your fault. Just make sure to deliver the message again. Tell him that I really want to see him.”
“I will make sure to do so.”
After confirming this once again, I turned away from the Emperor’s office.
Once I was a sufficient distance away, I asked Countess Chloe, who was following me.
“Is it true that he hasn’t left the capital?”
“Yes.”
Countess Chloe nodded.
“I confirmed it through a reliable ally.”
“As I expected… he’s avoiding me.”
Haa, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Ever since my father, Duke Hastings, visited, the Emperor had been strangely avoiding me.
At first, the excuse was that Imperial Consort Fay was ill.
And after that, he began rejecting our meetings for all sorts of reasons.
“Why is he avoiding me?”
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand why Jerome was avoiding me.
Before, he would show up unannounced and startle people.
Whatever the reason, the fact remained—he was avoiding me.
‘But I’m not someone who gives up so easily.’
Even if he didn’t want to see me, I had to meet him.
“If I can’t meet him directly, I’ll have to use another method.”
Upon returning to the Empress’ Palace, I immediately wrote a letter.
[Your Majesty, the weather is so lovely today. Wouldn’t it be nice to have some tea and chat?]
Oh my, even I had to admit that my handwriting was exquisite.
Before I possessed Helena, my handwriting was so bad that even I could barely read it.
Yet now, I was displaying a refined penmanship that anyone would admire.
“Alright, this should do.”
I selected the most well-written letter and placed it in an envelope.
I deliberately refrained from mentioning my father.
There was always a risk that someone else might see the letter.
Of course, who would dare peek at a letter from the Empress?
Still, there was no harm in being cautious.
Helena’s supposed allies were all people recruited by the Duke.
That meant the Duke could have placed someone in the palace to spy on me.
‘If word reached the Duke that I spoke to Jerome about him…’
It would be dangerous.
It was definitely best to talk to Jerome privately.
After stamping the letter with the Empress’ seal, I handed it to a nearby lady-in-waiting and asked her to deliver it.
Now, I just had to wait for a reply.
Aesthetic anticipation wasn’t a bad thing, was it?
That was my fleeting romantic thought—until the response came back much faster than expected.
The lady-in-waiting who delivered my letter returned with an answer.
This quickly?
Honestly, I was surprised.
Well, at least he wasn’t as outrageously rude as he had been in the original story.
With that in mind, I unfolded the letter.
[I appreciate the suggestion, but I am busy.]
“……?”
I flipped the letter over.
Perhaps he had written more on the back?
There was nothing.
The entire response consisted of that single line.
The epitome of indifference.
The sharp handwriting even made me imagine his cold voice.
It’s fine.
I hadn’t expected him to welcome my letter warmly anyway.
I quickly prepared another letter.
[I understand that you are busy. However, would you spare just a moment? There is something I must tell you.]
I wanted to talk about the Duke as soon as possible.
Good. This was a reasonable approach.
[Even if it’s only for a short while, please let me know a convenient time. I will wait for your reply.]
I would adjust to his schedule. I wouldn’t be a bother.
So could he at least tell me when he was free?
Again, the response came quickly.
[I am busy.]
“…Hmph.”
I flipped the letter over again.
Just in case, I even checked the envelope. But there was nothing else.
“I am busy.”
That was it.
Well, at least he’s replying!
I couldn’t let this discourage me.
There was no way I’d back down over something so trivial.
After all, my life was on the line.
[Oh dear, it seems your workload is quite heavy. Please take care not to overexert yourself.]
My goodness! He must be extremely busy if he doesn’t even have time to see me.
I started with some sympathy and understanding.
[A new tea blend, known for relieving fatigue, has recently arrived at the Empress’ Palace. Would you care to try it with me?]
Still, one should take breaks from work. After all, we work to live, don’t we?
“Your Majesty, the Empress, I have brought back a reply.”
“Already?”
“Yes.”
Strangely enough, his responses were always quick.
…To be honest.
You’re not actually busy, are you?
With suspicion in my eyes, I opened the letter.
[No.]
Jerome’s final reply was brutally short.
I see.
So, you just don’t like me.
Ugh, I shouldn’t have read this!
It only ruined my mood.
I crumpled the letter and—no, I wanted to throw it far away, but I held back.
“No, seriously. Why are you avoiding me like this?”
Who’s going to eat you up or something?!
Jerome had come to me first plenty of times before.
But now that I’m the one approaching, he doesn’t want to see me?
So, it’s fine if he comes to me, but not the other way around?
Something about this situation felt off.
Logically, as someone facing a death-ending scenario, I should have been the one avoiding the Emperor.
Obviously, right?
Who in their right mind would want to be around the man destined to kill them?
I should be avoiding him at all costs.
Yet, somehow, I found myself chasing after him instead.
Ugh, whatever.
At this point, I was done playing nice.
I had shown enough patience already.
I jumped up from my seat and called for Countess Chloe.
“Countess Chloe.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Please prepare for my outing. I need to meet His Majesty.”
“…….”
Huh?
Normally, she would respond immediately, but for some reason, she hesitated this time.
“Countess Chloe?”
“Your Majesty… That is…”
She stepped closer and, with a cautious expression, whispered,
“It would be best if you did not seek out His Majesty right now.”
Don’t go looking for Jerome?
This was unusual.
Normally, she was the one pushing for me to spend time with Jerome.
“Has something happened?”
“There are unsettling rumors surrounding the Imperial Consort’s Palace.”
The Imperial Consort’s Palace—where Fay resided.
“Was there another intruder targeting the palace?”
“No, it does not seem to be that.”
“Then what?”
“The truth is…”
The words she whispered next were shocking.
“Poison?”
My eyes widened in disbelief.
“You mean the Imperial Consort was poisoned?”
“Yes. The new tea that was recently brought in contained deadly poison. Fortunately, she did not consume much, so her life is not in serious danger….”
Could it be that when she claimed to be ill a few days ago, it was because of this poison?
‘Fay was poisoned?’
This incident had also occurred in the original story.
However, it was supposed to happen much later in the narrative.
And most importantly…
‘I was the culprit in the original.’
Of course, I had never actually poisoned her.
I had no interest in committing such villainous acts, nor did I want to get involved with Fay in the first place.
So then… who poisoned her?
This didn’t feel right.
‘I have to meet Jerome.’
I had to meet the male lead immediately.
“Countess Chloe, please prepare for my outing.”
“Your Majesty, but…”
“I understand. His Majesty is preoccupied, but I still must see him.”
“…I will make the arrangements.”
The ladies-in-waiting quickly began preparing.
But before I could leave the palace, we were interrupted.
A group of people arrived at the Empress’ Palace just as we were about to depart.
“Your Majesty, the Empress.”
At the front of the group, a white-haired knight bowed in greeting.
“I am Gabian.”
It was Gabian, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Guard.
“Sir Gabian.”
I gave him a slight nod in return.
Then, I scanned the dozen knights who had accompanied him.
They were all heavily armed.
Their expressions were uniformly grim.
The ominous feeling I had deepened further.
“You seem troubled. What brings you here?”
At my question, Gabian spoke with a somber expression.
“Her Highness, the Imperial Consort, has collapsed.”
I nodded.
“I just heard the news. How is her condition?”
“She was in critical condition at first, but she has stabilized now.”
“That is a relief.”
I genuinely felt relieved that Fay was safe.
After all, when I first read the original story, I had been a fan of hers.
Of course, the Fay in this reality was different from the one I had read about.
“But what does that have to do with you all coming here?”
“Unfortunately… there is a connection.”
My heart pounded.
Something was wrong.
“May I hear the details?”
“While investigating the cause of Her Highness’ poisoning, we discovered a suspect with suspicious circumstances.”
“…Who is it?”
“Roisen.”
A name I recognized.
“She was a lady-in-waiting from the Empress’ Palace.”
“……!”
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