CHAPTER 102
Imperial Palace Dungeon
“It’s almost time for the shift change, so you need to hurry. If you’re late, we’re all in trouble.”
“I’ll just deliver the medicine and come out quickly. Thank you so much, Ruth.”
“No matter how you’re imprisoned as a criminal… one should repay their debt to Lady Bridgette.”
Ruth, the guard on duty at the women’s dungeon, sighed lightly.
Lady Bridgette, the head maid, had long been a generous benefactor to the orphanage where Ruth and his sister had grown up. She had helped many orphans, including Ruth’s siblings, find proper employment after reaching adulthood, providing both financial and personal support.
It was unimaginable that Bridgette, who was renowned for her integrity and principles, would commit a grave crime and end up in prison. And the crime she had committed was an attempt to defame Arabelle, a candidate for the Empress position, who was soon to be crowned.
She had reportedly tried to tarnish Arabelle’s honor to aid Grace, the niece of Duke LeSang, in her quest to become Empress.
The honor of Bridgette, who had once been held in high esteem by the palace staff and even the revered Empress Natalia, had now fallen into disgrace. People spoke as though they had personally experienced her malevolence and deceit.
However, Ruth had known Bridgette since childhood and knew she was not the kind of person described.
Though strict and demanding, Bridgette abhorred lies and factions. She wasn’t the type to trap or slander others. Instead, she had always been someone who helped the vulnerable from behind the scenes.
Ruth believed she must have been falsely accused, but surprisingly, the charges were true. Bridgette had confessed to all accusations, lost her titles and honor, and had been imprisoned.
The Emperor's affection for Arabelle was known even to the children in the market. Bridgette, although she avoided the death penalty, would never experience the fresh air of the outside world again.
“I’ve left a lamp by the stairs, so please take it with you.”
“Thank you…”
At Ruth’s words, Lauren, the head of the Imperial Bedchamber, hurriedly descended the stairs, her voice choked with emotion.
Lauren had been like a daughter to Bridgette, having served her for over twenty years.
Bridgette, who had conspired with Grace in her sordid scheme, never revealed the names of the maids who had assisted her despite severe torture.
When Bridgette’s right-hand aides, Lauren and Mina, were suspected, Bridgette fiercely defended them, cursing those who doubted her and protecting her loyal helpers.
What Bridgette had done was… inexcusable.
Lauren descended the narrow, steep stone stairs in silence, her spine chilled by the sounds of women weeping on each floor.
Bridgette, if she were the person Lauren knew, would never have been involved in such horrendous acts.
No, Lauren was certain that even if a sword were at her neck, Bridgette would never have aided the wicked Grace and Caroline, Duchess of LeSang. Instead, she would have supported the virtuous Arabelle from behind.
Whenever Lauren saw Arabelle at the palace, she noticed Bridgette’s eyes were pained, as though her skin was being torn apart by something sharp.
Ruth knew that Bridgette had spent sleepless nights while using her influence. Since the day she became involved in this matter, Bridgette had neither eaten properly nor slept well.
Bridgette had once betrayed her principles and allied with evil. She had done so to uncover the truth about the death of her true friend and mentor, Empress Catherine. She had resolved to descend into hell for this purpose.
Caroline, the Duchess, had promised that if Bridgette helped Grace become Empress, she would reconsider the investigation into Empress Catherine’s death.
Bridgette knew how treacherous and cruel Caroline was, but Caroline was the daughter of the late Empress Catherine.
Bridgette believed that if Grace did not become Empress, the opportunity to uncover the truth about Catherine’s death would never come again.
In the end, Bridgette never revealed that Caroline was involved in the matter. She hoped that Caroline, who had been spared, would investigate her mother’s death safely.
However, from Lauren’s perspective, Caroline seemed uninterested in reopening the investigation into the decades-old case. Caroline had expelled Grace from the family to avoid any trouble that might come her way.
Caroline would never allow any investigation into her mother’s death if it could harm her. Therefore, she had remained silent about any truth-finding efforts.
As the dim stone stairs came to an end, a chilling, foul-smelling air seeped into Lauren’s skin.
“Lady Bridgette…”
Lauren peered into the dungeon through the narrow bars in the stone door. She held up the lamp she had brought from the stairs, illuminating the small, dark cell.
An old woman sitting in the corner came into view. The once immaculate Bridgette, who had never tolerated even a single stray hair, now wore filthy prison garb and had unkempt hair.
One thing that had not changed was her posture—still sitting upright as if measured by a ruler. Her gaunt and emaciated appearance seemed as though it could extinguish like a dying candle at any moment.
“I’ve brought… medicine and food…”
Lauren’s voice trembled as she choked back tears.
Bridgette, who had been sitting with her eyes closed in the darkness, opened them and looked at Lauren. Her small but firm voice came through the bars.
“I told you never to come back.”
“This is truly the last time. So please, accept this medicine and food. Please…?”
Lauren passed the bundle she had hidden in her arms through the small food slot in the stone door.
Bridgette looked at the cloth bag containing the medicine and food that had been pushed in.
Every time Lauren came, she said it was the last visit. Eventually, she would be caught. There are no secrets in the palace. Ruth and a few maids and guards who had helped her gain access would face severe punishment.
Bridgette turned away from Lauren, repositioned herself, and sat with her back to her.
“Do not bother me anymore, and do not come again.”
“Lady Bridgette…”
Despite Lauren’s desperate attempts to call out, Bridgette continued to ignore her.
Lauren knew well that Bridgette would not touch the medicine and food brought. It was said that prisoners refused the food provided in the dungeons. Bridgette would have preferred to face the death penalty.
Bridgette was inflicting a harsher punishment on herself than what was given to her. She could not forgive herself for attempting to trap innocent Arabelle for her own selfish desires.
Understanding Bridgette’s decision to protect her, Lauren swallowed her tears. Clenching her fists tightly, she spoke as though challenging Bridgette.
“Then are you giving up on the investigation into the death of Empress Catherine?”
Seeing Bridgette’s silence, Lauren continued.
“Do you know what happened to the note you gave to the Duchess? The Duchess threw it into the hearth. She was afraid she might face trouble. Not a single page of the note survived; it all burned up.”
Though Bridgette kept her eyes closed, her expression slightly shifted. Encouraged, Lauren gripped the bars with both hands.
“When you threw the note into the fire, you told me not to come again for such matters. The Duchess has no intention of revisiting the investigation into the death of Empress Catherine.”
Hearing Lauren’s words, Bridgette lowered her head wearily.
**Underground Prison of the Imperial Palace**
"Change of shift is coming soon, so you need to hurry. If not, all of us will lose our heads."
"I'll be out quickly after delivering the medicine. Thank you so much, Luce."
"No matter how much you’re a prisoner, a debt of gratitude to Lady Bridget must be repaid."
Luce, the guard stationed in the underground prison holding female prisoners, sighed deeply.
Lady Bridget was a long-time benefactor of the orphanage where Luce and his sister had grown up. She had helped not only the Luce siblings but many orphans find proper careers once they reached adulthood.
It was unimaginable that the renowned paragon of integrity, Lady Bridget, would end up in prison for committing a grave crime, especially one involving slandering the future Empress Arabelle.
It was said that she conspired to tarnish the reputation of Arabelle, who was the future Empress, to assist Lady Grace, the niece of Duke Lussan, in ascending to the throne.
The honor of Lady Bridget, once revered by the imperial household and even by Empress Natalia, had fallen into disgrace. People spoke as if they had personally experienced her malevolence and cunning.
But Luce, who had known Lady Bridget since childhood, knew she was not like that at all.
Though strict and demanding, she detested deceit and factionalism. She was not the type to entrap or slander others. Instead, she was someone who helped the weak from behind the scenes.
Luce believed she had been framed, but shockingly, the accusations were true. Lady Bridget confessed to all charges and lost her titles and honor before being imprisoned.
The Emperor's love for Arabelle was well-known even among market children. While Lady Bridget avoided execution, she would never again see the light of day.
"There’s a lamp by the stairs, so please take it with you."
"Thank you…"
Luce’s words choked as she hurriedly descended the stairs.
Lauren, in charge of the imperial bedroom, had been Lady Bridget’s ward for over twenty years.
Even under severe torture, Lady Bridget never revealed the names of the maidservants who helped her. When suspicion fell on her right-hand maids, Lauren and Mina, she defended them fiercely, even cursing them to protect them.
What Lady Bridget did was inexcusable.
Lauren descended the steep, narrow stone stairs, her spine chilling at the sound of women’s sobs echoing from each floor.
Lady Bridget would never have participated in such dreadful acts.
No, even if a knife were at her throat, she wouldn’t have assisted the wicked Grace and Duke Lussan’s wife Caroline. Instead, she would have supported the virtuous and noble Arabelle from behind.
Every time Lauren saw Arabelle in the palace, she noticed the pain in Lady Bridget’s eyes, as though they were being torn apart by something sharp.
Lauren knew how Lady Bridget had suffered sleepless nights when she had been forced to use the relics. Since she joined the plot, Lady Bridget had hardly eaten or slept.
Lady Bridget had betrayed her beliefs only once, joining forces with evil to uncover the truth behind the death of her true master and friend, Empress Catherine. She had chosen to fall into hell for it.
Lady Caroline had promised that if Lady Bridget helped Grace become Empress, she would reinvestigate Empress Catherine’s death.
Though Lady Bridget knew how devious and cruel Caroline was, she was the daughter of the deceased Empress Catherine.
If Grace did not become Empress, the opportunity to investigate Catherine’s death would never come again.
Lady Bridget never revealed that Caroline was involved in the plot, hoping instead that Caroline would survive and continue the investigation into her mother’s death.
However, Lauren saw that Caroline had no intention of reopening the investigation into a case over thirty years old. She was the woman who had expelled Grace from the family to avoid any trouble falling on herself.
She would never allow anything that might harm her. That’s why she had remained silent on the matter.
As Lauren reached the end of the dim stairwell, the cold, foul air clung to her skin.
"Lady Bridget…"
Lauren looked through the narrow bars in the stone door, holding up the lamp she had brought from the stairs to illuminate the tiny room inside.
An old woman sitting in the corner came into view. The meticulousness that had once allowed no strand of hair to be out of place was nowhere to be seen now. Her filthy prisoner’s clothing and disheveled hair were a stark contrast to her former self.
One thing that had not changed was her posture—still as upright and unyielding as ever. Her frail and haggard appearance seemed as if it might vanish at any moment like a dying candle.
"I’ve brought some medicine and food…"
Lauren’s voice trembled as she fought back tears.
Lady Bridget, who had been sitting with her eyes closed in the darkness, opened them and looked at Lauren. Her small but resolute voice came through the bars.
"I told you never to come back."
"This is truly the last time. Please accept this medicine and food, won’t you?"
Lauren slipped the bundle of food she had hidden in her arms through the small food slot in the stone door.
Lady Bridget looked at the cloth bundle containing the medicine and food that had been pushed in.
Lauren had said every time that it would be the last visit. Someday, the truth would come to light. There were no secrets in the imperial palace. Lauren and the few maids and guards who had helped her would face severe punishment.
Lady Bridget turned her gaze away from Lauren and adjusted her posture, turning her back.
"Don’t bother me anymore, and don’t come again."
"Lady Bridget…"
Lauren called out to Bridget sorrowfully several times, but Lady Bridget continued to ignore her.
Lauren knew too well that Lady Bridget would never touch the medicine or food brought to her. She had heard that prisoners in this cell refused to even look at the food provided. She would rather have faced execution.
Lady Bridget was imposing a harsher punishment on herself than any she had received. She could not forgive herself for trying to entrap the innocent Arabelle for her own selfish desires.
Swallowing her tears, Lauren clenched her fists and spoke with determination.
"Then, are you abandoning the investigation into the death of the late Empress Catherine?"
Seeing Lady Bridget’s unresponsive stance, Lauren continued.
"Do you know what happened to the notebook you handed to the Duchess Caroline? She threw it into the hearth, afraid she might face trouble. Not a single page of the notebook survived the flames."
Although Lady Bridget’s eyes remained closed, her expression slightly changed upon hearing Lauren’s words. Encouraged, Lauren tightened her grip on the bars.
"I will definitely meet with the future Empress and beg her to reopen the investigation. Soon, the responsibilities of the Imperial Household Department will belong to Arabelle."
***
As the gondola arrived at the dock, the Imperial Guard's 4th Squad lined up in two rows to welcome the Emperor. The sight of the bundle in the Emperor’s arms made their eyes widen briefly, but they quickly composed themselves and bowed their heads to the Emperor.
Milly and two maids from the palace who were waiting with an umbrella also briefly faltered in their composure but quickly looked down and hurriedly followed the Emperor’s party.
The new maids, with their eyes blinking and faces flushed, wondered what they imagined might be happening.
The Emperor had previously returned from Lake Innis holding Arabelle in his arms.
And that day, he had abolished the competition for the Empress selection. No one questioned Arabelle's qualifications as the Empress despite her prominence in the competition.
Still, the sight of the Emperor carrying the sleeping Arabelle like a precious treasure up the palace stairs was enough to ignite the hearts of the women.
The maids chatted animatedly, speculating on what could have happened the previous night for Arabelle to return to the palace sleeping in the Emperor’s arms.
The expressions of two maids, who had been exchanging glances and smirking, suddenly stiffened.
Milly’s fierce gaze made them swallow nervously.
Her hard gray eyes were a stern warning that they should never think ill of their young mistress.
Milly was younger than them but acted with such maturity that they found it hard to be disrespectful. Her devotion to Arabelle was evident in every aspect, to the point of being startling.
It wasn’t just Milly. Vera, who had already been appointed as the future Empress’s headmaid, and her direct subordinates, Rosa and Dina, were all highly loyal to the future Empress.
Just three days ago, they had been formally appointed as the future Empress’s exclusive maids. Those who had not yet had a chance to properly serve Arabelle were amazed at how the maids’ reactions to anything concerning the future Empress were so dramatic.
Despite having served high-ranking noblewomen for a long time, they had never cared so deeply for anyone before.
The two maids quickly wiped their secret smiles from their lips, glancing at Milly.
***
In the Emperor’s bedroom.
"Oh, where did you get all these wounds?"
Sir George’s eyes trembled in horror as he treated the numerous small and large wounds covering the Emperor’s body.
Having spent a night at Lake Innis and returned today, the Emperor’s body looked as if he had just come back from a battlefield.
The wounds appeared as though he had been cut by dozens of sharp swords and spears or had been savagely attacked by wild animals.
Though he shook his head at the implausible thoughts, he couldn’t fathom where so many wounds came from.
Sir George, who usually avoided questioning the Emperor about his injuries, had been treating him since he turned twenty. The Emperor often appeared with unexplained injuries, and Sir George would discreetly treat him.
It seemed best to pretend
not to know where the wounds came from, as confronting the Emperor with such a significant secret would be overwhelming.
So he kept his mouth shut and focused on the treatment, being extra cautious to avoid arousing suspicion about the Emperor’s condition among the palace’s hidden eyes and ears.
The Emperor’s brow furrowed slightly as he felt pain from the treatment.
Upon returning to the human world, the Emperor’s body was in a state of agony that he had been unaware of. His sole focus had been on saving Arabelle’s light.
The healing of the blood and deeply torn flesh from Esparal had alleviated the pain, but the remaining wounds were ones Sir George could handle.
However, it wasn’t a lie to say it was painful.
If it were someone else, they would be screaming after downing a whole bottle of strong liquor before undergoing treatment. Yet, the Emperor watched the stitches being sewn without uttering a single moan.
Sir George’s tongue hung in amazement at the Emperor’s fortitude.
"Are there any restrictions on strenuous exercise or need for rest?"
"There are quite a few deep wounds, so it would be best not to overexert yourself. Moving your limbs could be quite painful. Are you alright?"
Sir George answered seriously, confused by the Emperor’s sudden question. The Emperor, stroking his sharp chin, replied.
"Not for me, but for Arabelle."
"What? Oh, no. I assure you, the future Empress is in excellent health. Especially after a good rest, she will be even more energetic."
Sir George confidently assured, which brightened the Emperor’s expression a bit.
The Emperor looked at Sir George and quietly asked.
"Let’s say, hypothetically, if the lady were to wake up due to external influences, would it harm her health?"
"Uh…? No, no. There would be no harm to her health if she were to wake up. Given that she has slept for quite some time, she will likely wake up naturally tonight."
Sir George, not realizing the intent behind the Emperor’s question, answered with a naive expression.
The Emperor’s red lips curved into a gentle smile.
Despite his injuries, the Emperor’s still-handsome face shone with an inexplicable sense of anticipation and excitement.
Wondering if he would receive a horrifying answer if he asked the Emperor directly, Sir George quickly finished the treatment.
The Emperor shifted his gaze from Sir George to Kyle, who was reporting on today’s festival.
"Arabelle and I will not be attending the birthday party or the fireworks at the lake. Kyle, use your exceptional intellect to come up with a plausible excuse for our absence."
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