I Didn’t Ask For Villain’s Obsession! Chapter 37

Chapter 37. He Looked Like He Was About to Cry

Several days had passed since the trial ended.

Now fully recovered, I sat by the window.

Thanks to Cedric’s devoted treatment, the poisoning symptoms had almost completely disappeared.

But my mind still felt hazy.

— It was the first time.

— For the first time, I felt fear… Fear of losing someone.

Leonard’s words echoed in my ears.

Even after he left.

For several nights, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

His desperate gaze, filled with concern for me.

The warmth of his hands that had held mine so tightly until the very last moment.

Everything had been so vivid, so sincere that I almost wanted to believe it was real.

They say this isn’t a romance novel, yet everyone is handsome and says unnecessarily heart-fluttering things.

I shook my head, trying to push thoughts of Leonard away.

During my unconscious state, the Imperial Palace had undergone significant changes.

It was natural for the palace to be thrown into chaos—after all, not only had the Imperial Consort collapsed, but I, the Empress, had as well.

“The atmosphere was unbelievably tense while they were searching for the culprit.”

When only the Imperial Consort had been poisoned, I had been the prime suspect.

But when I, the Empress, collapsed as well, the situation took an entirely different turn.

“There’s a rumor that someone is targeting the imperial family. I heard several criminals’ names are already being mentioned.”

At Countess Chloe’s words, I smiled inwardly.

I wondered if innocent people were being dragged into this because of me.

At least the intense scrutiny I had been under had lessened, which was a relief.

Of course, suspicions against me hadn’t disappeared completely.

There were still those who doubted me, but compared to before, it was as if things had returned to normal.

“Do you have any idea how terrified we were when Your Majesty collapsed?”

Marie was among the people most relieved when I woke up.

After Leonard left, Marie happened to find me sitting up in bed and had burst into loud sobs, as if she had seen a ghost.

“I’m fine now, so don’t worry too much.”

“Please don’t ever get sick again.”

“I promise.”

It was no easy task to calm her down as she cried in my arms.

Without realizing it, I reached out and stroked the back of her head.

That’s when I realized—I had grown comfortable with her.

Her childlike nature must have made her feel like a younger sister to me.

“I’m really fine now, so stop crying.”

“Yes. But… can I stay like this just a little longer?”

Marie must have felt a sense of closeness to me, too.

She whined slightly, as if seeking comfort.

Such behavior was certainly improper for a maid toward the Empress, but did it really matter?

I don’t belong in this world anyway.

“I heard you take care of your younger siblings all on your own. But you sure do cry a lot.”

“I only cry like this in front of Your Majesty. Really, I’ll never forget what happened that day.”

Marie sniffled as she added,

“When His Majesty carried Your Majesty here, we were all so shocked…”

“Wait. Who carried me?”

“His Majesty did.”

Jerome?

Then… the last image I saw before losing consciousness hadn’t been a hallucination?

He carried me? Why?

He had been itching to condemn me for the entire trial.

My mind was filled with endless questions.

“He brought me here himself?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Personally.”

“…!”

My jaw nearly dropped.

Imagining Jerome carrying me and running through the palace was a shock in itself.

“And while Your Majesty was asleep, he visited several times.”

He even came to see me?

Marie lifted her head from my embrace and smiled brightly.

“It seems His Majesty was more concerned about you than he let on. Everyone said they had never seen him so flustered before.”

“That’s… surprising.”

“Without a doubt, His Majesty was worried about you.”

“…I see.”

Marie’s words barely registered in my mind.

Jerome was worried about me?

What a ridiculous thought.

— In the end, no matter how I think about it, the only person capable of such a scheme is you.

I still vividly remembered our conversation in the Imperial Consort’s chambers.

The person who had suspected me more than anyone was none other than Jerome.

And now I was supposed to believe that same Jerome had carried me all the way to the Empress’ Palace?

It must have been one of those strange, uncharacteristic behaviors of his.

But really, whether he had carried me or not, it didn’t matter anymore.

It’s finally… over.

I clenched my fist in secret.

The benefit I gained from this incident wasn’t just ‘freedom from suspicion.’

It was something far greater.

No, perhaps I had achieved my ultimate goal.

A justification and an excuse.

It had been an incredibly long and arduous battle.

Internally, I shed tears of joy.

It had been such a grueling time.

But now, I could finally bid farewell to those anxious, suffocating days.

Well done, me! Misery is over, happiness begins!

“What’s making you so happy?”

Marie asked, noticing my expression.

“Hmm, I guess I just feel good now that I’ve recovered.”

“If Your Majesty is happy, then so am I.”

As the two of us shared a smile, Countess Chloe entered the room, carrying a medicine bottle.

“It’s time for Your Majesty’s medicine.”

I took the bottle she handed me and drank it.

A fragrant floral scent spread through my mouth.

“But weren’t the poisoning symptoms completely cured? Didn’t the High Priest say yesterday that I was fully recovered?”

“This isn’t an antidote.”

“Then what is it?”

If it wasn’t an antidote, then what exactly was I drinking?

“The Sage specially made it for Your Majesty. I heard it was created using some incredibly rare flowers and medicinal herbs.”

“Cedric?”

I suddenly recalled his worried expression when I collapsed.

He looked like he was on the verge of tears.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen him around.”

“Well…”

Countess Chloe and Marie exchanged uneasy glances.

Something was up.

“Did something happen to him?”

“Well… that is…”

After hesitating for a moment, Countess Chloe let out a sigh and began to speak.

***

The Empress’ Palace Garden

Nestled in a secluded corner, surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees, stood a small house covered in rose vines.

It was the laboratory of Cedric, the mysterious magician known as the Guardian of Verdure and Sage of the Forest.

At first glance, it seemed narrow and unremarkable, but I had heard that beneath it lay a rather large underground research facility.

This laboratory had been one of the conditions he had demanded before agreeing to become the Royal Magician.

I understand why he wanted a private research space…

But why did he build it in the garden of the Empress’ Palace?

Cedric had claimed it was mere coincidence.

But wouldn’t it have been more convenient to place it closer to where the Royal Magicians actually worked?

It was quite a distance from their usual quarters.

I made a mental note that if he ever complained about the inconvenience, I would have the lab relocated.

Knock, knock.

I rapped gently on the quiet laboratory door.

“Are you in there?”

I knocked again and called out, but there was no response.

“…Seems like he’s not here.”

I had come after hearing worrying things from the maids, but…

Where could he have gone?

— The Sage hasn’t come near the Empress’ Palace since Your Majesty collapsed.

— When Your Majesty fainted, I’ll never forget how pale his face turned.

The news from Countess Chloe and Marie about Cedric’s condition had been deeply concerning.

It seemed that my poisoning had been a great shock to him.

“…Where could he have gone?”

As I searched around the Empress’ Palace and the gardens,

I found him!

At last, I spotted Cedric.

He was trudging toward his laboratory, carrying a small bag on his back, as if returning from a long journey.

He looks so serious…

In just a few days, his face had grown noticeably gaunt.

He wore the expression of someone carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“Cedric!”

Overjoyed, I momentarily forgot my status as the Empress and ran toward him, waving my hand.

He had been walking with his head down, but at the sound of my voice, he looked up.

“…!”

His eyes widened in shock when he saw me.

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you.”

I smiled brightly as I approached him.

But then—

“The bag in your hand, what is… huh?”

Cedric suddenly turned his back to me—

And bolted!

—

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