CHAPTER 070
The Emperor spoke about his curse in his usual manner, as if narrating someone else's story, with a straightforward and concise tone.
Not a trace of emotion could be heard in his voice.
Even Count Coral, who had spent over half a century dealing with countless monsters and black magic on the continent, found it difficult to grasp the pain and weight of the curse the Emperor was experiencing.
However, the Emperor, who didn't even twitch an eyebrow while talking about his curse...
The keen eyes of Count Coral noticed the slight tightening of the Emperor's jawline the moment he uttered the name "Arabelle."
As the Emperor recounted events from their first meeting up until the events of last night, he appeared tense.
The Emperor had never lost his arrogant composure, even while creating a stifling tension around him.
This was the first time.
It was the first time Count Coral had seen such an unfamiliar expression on the Emperor's face.
The desperation to find an answer to protect someone precious, rather than himself, was conveyed through the slight trembling of the Emperor's fingers.
It overlapped with the memory of himself, desperately crying out when he realized he couldn't find a way to save his wife, paralyzed by a monster's poison after following him into a deep mountain valley.
The conversation that began as the sun started to set ended with the rise of the white moon in the night sky.
The white moonlight filtering through the glass ceiling cast shadows on the Emperor's face, making his expression even colder.
Returning to his usual cold and controlled self, the Emperor leaned back in his chair.
Throughout the conversation, his red eyes never left Count Coral's blue ones, as if reading his thoughts beyond his gaze.
Count Coral, not avoiding the Emperor's sharp red eyes, slowly began to speak.
"First, there's a place I need you to accompany me to. I need your permission to go there."
The Emperor smiled for the first time that day, a genuine smile playing on his lips.
"As expected, Count. You begin the special investigation without the slightest emotional disturbance. That's why I chose you."
It would be a lie to say he wasn't surprised.
But the emotions swirling in his heart right now weren't merely surprise.
Count Coral clenched his fists on his lap, trying to calm his pounding heart.
Perhaps...
This might be the chance to solve the mystery that had plagued him for over twenty years.
The mere thought of it was a greater crime than treason, and he had to push the swirling questions from his mind.
"There's no reason to delay, so let's go now. Somewhere I need your permission to enter?"
The Emperor stood from his chair, and Count Coral looked up, replying quietly.
"Please grant me permission to meet the prisoner in the tower."
The Emperor's brow furrowed, and his red eyes twisted for a moment.
***
The door to the first VIP room in the palace opened, and Arabelle's three maids, along with Millie, followed the head maid of the palace's bedroom staff inside.
Arabelle, overjoyed, sprang up from the sofa to run to them, but Vera's subtle gesture of raising and lowering her hands at her waist caught her eye.
Seeing Vera urgently signal her to stay seated, Arabelle sat back down.
The head maid of the bedroom staff and the two maids who assisted her bowed their heads before quietly exiting the room.
As soon as the door closed, Vera, with her large frame, pressed her ear to the door, curling her body up to listen.
"What's the matter?" Dina asked, tilting her head. Vera quickly brought her finger to her lips, signaling for silence.
For a moment, Vera remained by the door, listening intently, while the other four women held their breath, watching her.
"Phew, they're all gone now. Only the guards are outside."
Vera straightened up her sturdy frame, more reliable than any guard, and smiled broadly.
"My lady...!"
"Vera, Dina, Rosa, Millie...!"
Arabelle opened her arms and ran to embrace the three maids and Millie standing by the door.
Of course, it was impossible for her small arms to encircle all four women, but they didn't care as the five women hugged and jumped around in a circle.
Despite only being apart for two days, they were so happy to see each other that they couldn't contain their excitement, jumping up and down for a while. Vera then suddenly came to her senses and calmed the others down.
"Oh dear, we were just so happy..."
Vera shook her head as if in repentance, gently detaching Arabelle from the group.
"Why, Vera...?"
Arabelle's round eyes trembled in confusion, making her look so cute that Vera almost hugged her tightly on the spot.
Vera shook her head firmly again and carefully seated Arabelle on the sofa.
"From now on, my lady, you mustn't act so familiar with us."
Vera spoke in a slightly stern tone, looking at Dina, Rosa, and Millie in turn.
"The same goes for you all. From now until the wedding, we must be cautious not to give the palace staff any reason to criticize our lady. Until she takes her place as Empress, we must all serve her as if walking on thin ice."
The three maids nodded vigorously with determined expressions, understanding Vera's words.
Being favored by the Emperor and recognized for her abilities in the competition was one thing, but gaining a foothold in the palace was another matter entirely.
The power struggles for the highest authority didn't just happen outside.
Vera, who had been a head maid in a powerful household even recognized in the capital, knew well how fierce the power struggles among women could be.
No matter how talented and intelligent a woman was, compared to her brothers, noblewomen were often restricted in their social activities, and their family's position determined their worth.
Therefore, new mistresses who married into a family could not avoid conflict with the women who had been there long before them to become the true mistress of the household.
It was a battle between new forces trying to gain power and old forces trying to retain it.
"But why did you press your ear to the door? The head maid of the bedroom staff will soon be under our lady's management."
Innocently asking the question, Rosa was answered quietly by Millie, who had worked as a maid in the palace for several years.
"We don't know whose person she is. The Empress' position has been vacant for a long time."
The three maids looked at Millie, surprised that she had spoken up since she wasn't usually very talkative.
Vera nodded and added,
"Millie's right. The Emperor ascended to the throne early, and with the Empress' position vacant for so long, power in the palace must have split into several factions. They're all likely watching our lady closely."
Dina, Rosa, and Millie exchanged serious looks, whispering as if someone might overhear.
"From what I've seen, it seems like the Empress Dowager and the Grand Duchess Lesang have been handling many responsibilities in the palace. And we need to find out if there's anyone else. There's always another hidden force in situations like these."
"Then we should also identify which high-ranking maids are acting on behalf of those individuals."
"It's also important to make allies as soon as possible. There are many things that can't be done without the maids' cooperation. Until our lady becomes Empress and has ladies-in-waiting to assist her, we need to play our roles properly."
While the three maids and Millie exchanged looks and whispered, the woman who would soon take the highest position could not easily join the conversation.
Her clear face was filled with confusion, her slightly puffy lips quivering.
Honestly, from the moment she woke up after returning to the palace from Lake Innis, she had been in a state of bewilderment.
***
That morning.
"Do you remember breaking your promise to me?"
The Emperor's words as he blew hot breath over Arabelle's lips this morning.
The large hand gently caressing her waist over the thin chemise left her dazed. Arabelle could only nod slightly, unable to respond.
The Emperor's red lips nibbled teasingly at her plump earlobe as he whispered,
"So, I'm thinking of breaking a promise to you... do you allow it?"
Under the covers, with his hands becoming increasingly bold and something hot and wet teasing her ear, Arabelle had no energy left to ask what promise he was referring to.
She could only nod, her eyelashes fluttering.
A satisfied smile spread across the Emperor's lips as he kissed her, warming her mouth.
Before heading to his office, the Emperor took Arabelle to the adjoining drawing room of the bedroom.
A short while later, Chancellor Kyle entered and reported an important matter to the Emperor and Arabelle.
"The opinion of the Tournament Committee has received unanimous approval from the royal family and the elder nobles. The abolition proposal for the Empress Selection Tournament they submitted is awaiting Your Majesty's signature."
Startled, Arabelle turned to the Emperor with wide eyes. The Emperor also looked somewhat shocked before he spoke.
"If the royal family and the council of elder nobles are so inclined, I must indeed sign the abolition proposal."
The Emperor was... quite brazen. He looked at Arabelle with a surprised expression as if he hadn't expected this outcome at all. Chancellor Kyle seemed a bit taken aback but quickly composed himself and continued.
"With the abolition of the tournament, Lady Arabelle, who has won the most competitions so far, will automatically ascend to the position of Empress. Even if that were not the case, with the tournament abolished, Your Majesty can select the candidate of your choice as Empress... Lady Arabelle, you are now the Empress-to-be."
Arabelle's wide eyes grew even larger in disbelief. Her lips trembled slightly, unable to form words.
Her hands, cold as ice, trembled uncontrollably until a warm, large hand enveloped them, transferring a comforting warmth. The clear eyes met hers, the crimson gaze soothing her anxious heart.
The Emperor raised an eyebrow playfully and said, "I was looking forward to your performance in the remaining two rounds, but it's a pity we won't see that now. However, what can I do? As a benevolent Emperor, I must respect the will of the people."
The Emperor subtly glanced at Chancellor Kyle, who, catching the cue, began to speak as if reciting from memory.
He reported with enthusiasm how many people believed that only Lady Arabelle was qualified to become Empress and how the committee insisted that the tournament was a waste of time since no other candidate could match her abilities.
Kyle detailed how overwhelmed by Lady Arabelle's talent, the other candidates had voluntarily withdrawn, rendering the competition meaningless, among other points.
Listening to his words, Arabelle felt as if he was praising another lady, not her, and couldn't hide her bewilderment and confusion.
The Emperor, meanwhile, nodded along, praising the acumen of those who recognized Arabelle's talents, as if he had not written those very words himself. Chancellor Kyle couldn't help but feel slightly amused by the absurdity of praising someone for recognizing his own sentiments.
"Once Your Majesty signs the document, it will be officially announced tomorrow morning. A team of secretaries will be appointed to assist Lady Arabelle, and the lady-in-waiting candidates will present themselves the day after. Subsequently, the preparations for the wedding will formally begin, and Lady Arabelle will start her lessons on imperial protocol and administration."
Chancellor Kyle swiftly exited after finishing his 'unofficial' report.
Meanwhile, in the VIP room of the imperial palace...
"Can I really do this?"
Arabelle muttered, staring into the warm firelight from the fireplace.
Honestly, she still couldn't believe it.
To become Empress.
She had only done her best every day because she wanted to be with His Majesty.
It seemed absurd to think of sitting in the most revered position in the Empire out of mere desire to be near him.
The position of Empress carries the heavy responsibility of supporting the Emperor and managing the imperial household.
Even with her limited knowledge, she knew that much.
Unlike other candidates, she hadn't received the education of a lady, nor did she know much about the imperial laws and etiquette...
Suddenly, she felt a wave of fear wash over her.
She was afraid that her lack of knowledge might cause harm to the man she loved and to others.
As she lowered her head and clasped her hands to control the growing chill, a firm voice reached her ears.
"I believe that just as you have brought a miracle to us, you will bring a miracle to the people as their Empress. That's why I've prayed every night that you would become the Empress."
Looking up, Arabelle saw the face of Millie, her age-mate, looking at her with tear-filled eyes.
I think you don't realize just how brilliantly you shine while discovering and protecting the light within everyone."
Vera said with a smile, while Rosa and Dina nodded, overwhelmed with emotion.
Arabelle, looking at the four women, clenched her hands into fists and nodded firmly.
Her rounded nose flared slightly with determination.
"I... I'll study hard. I want to become a true Empress who suits our kind and benevolent Emperor."
The three maids and Millie wiped their tears with the back of their hands, nodding vigorously. They all shared a thought, though unspoken, that the word 'kind and benevolent' didn't exactly suit the Emperor they knew.
A tall and narrow stone tower situated midway up the mountain behind the imperial palace.
Once used for watchkeeping and lighting signal fires, it was now a prison holding the Empire's greatest criminal.
The prison held only one prisoner, incarcerated by the previous Emperor, the grandfather of Maxwell, with the order never to be released.
The Emperor had shown no interest in the tower's prisoner, abiding by the will of the previous Emperor.
The prisoner was Derrick Che Beoreur, the continent's top-five sword master and former captain of the crown prince's guard, as well as the swordsmanship instructor to Crown Prince Luca.
It was said that Crown Prince Luca was closer to Derrick than to his own father, the Emperor.
Therefore, when Derrick failed to protect Crown Prince Luca from the Black Panther and hid instead of fighting, the disappointment and criticism directed at him were even harsher.
Derrick, who had protected Crown Prince Luca at the cost of losing an arm on the battlefield, had reportedly cowered in fear when facing the Black Panther, failing to fulfill his duty.
The Emperor’s lips curled into a sneer as he ascended the narrow, steep stairs of the stone tower.
"What was he doing... Oh, right, he was hiding behind a curtain, trembling in fear while the Black Panther devoured my father's flesh. He couldn't even pick up the sword he dropped or follow the beast that kidnapped my mother."
He was nearing the moment of seeing the infamous prisoner for the first time.
"Open it."
The Emperor, reaching the top of the tower with Count Coralde, commanded curtly. A guard quickly unlocked the door and opened the iron gate, barely wide enough for a grown man to pass through.
The rusted iron door, which hadn't been opened in 25 years, creaked open, emitting an eerie sound.
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