Previously
Mercedes Arontio rejoices when Giovinetta asks her to investigate Irenia's suspicious nighttime activities, viewing it as a divine mandate to protect Caesar. Mercedes follows Irenia into the night, fueled by a delusional, possessive love for Caesar and a desire to 'extirpate' the 'impure' princess.
The first woman had merely been an accident. She had been exceptionally timid, never ceasing to tremble as she stared at Caesar throughout the wedding ceremony.
What took place was purely an accident. The girl had been so terrified during the proceedings that her frantic worries drove her to slip into the wedding chambers to make sure of things, and that was where it occurred.
In other words, she had never intended it from the start.
In her sheer terror, she had stepped on something and stumbled backward. As misfortune would have it, the back of her head slammed hard against an object lying on the floor.
She did not die instantly, but her injuries were severe. Had someone been summoned quickly, she might have survived. Yet Mercedes thought to herself:
Could a woman who shivered in terror at the sight of her husband's true self, rather than in awe of his majesty, ever be worthy of being his wife?
The answer was simple. So she took hold of a nearby pillow and pressed it over the woman's face. The fluttering breaths ceased in an instant.
The second woman was even more insolent. She had flaunted her utter disregard and contempt for Caesar. Thus, she was summoned to the tower in the dead of night, where a shove from behind sent her over. The sound of her skull crashing against the ground had been deeply satisfying.
The third woman had shown her fierce insolence right from the wedding. Shamelessly, she had even attempted to drown herself by the riverbank. So she received a push. It was merely helping her achieve her wish; she ought to have been grateful.
With each woman's death, the deed became easier and easier.
The fourth woman had likewise been arrogant, incessantly whining and arguing just like the third. Yet disposing of her was simpler still, for divine providence intervened. One day, Mercedes found a small vial and a letter resting before her chamber door. The missive explained that the vial contained a deadly poison undetectable by any chemical reagent.
Mercedes believed it was a gift from the Sovereign, celestial aid sent to safeguard Caesar.
Though four women had perished, everyone believed it was the work of a curse, so no suspicions were ever aroused. Yet Mercedes viewed it as a blessing, not a curse.
“How could protecting my son ever be a curse?”
She had rid him of four prospective brides, and the fifth would pose no great obstacle. Yes, that insolent woman had to be excised.
“I must protect Caesar… my son.”
The fifth woman proved far more vexing than her predecessors. At first, her cold detachment toward Caesar had deceived Mercedes, but she was nothing more than a cunning pretender.
She had even dared to wedge herself directly between Mercedes and Caesar, carving a rift into their bond. That impudent wench had slithered right between them.
Mercedes ground her teeth. She clutched a dagger she had concealed for so long; all it would take was the gentlest touch…
“Heh… hehe…”
A strange, warped laugh escaped Mercedes. The end was near. The mountain's summit loomed into view, a path leading straight to bliss, no matter how thickly strewn with thorns.
Just a little more patience, and eternal paradise would await her.
For several days, I had known someone was watching me.
It was because the Insight of Fate had begun unraveling truths to me without pause. Ever since I grasped its underlying principle, the visions had only grown more frequent.
“Focus your mind.”
Richard reprimanded me in a stern voice. We were practicing together to master the Insight of Fate.
“But… this is too difficult.”
I possessed no magical talent, nor any aptitude resembling magic in the first place. I had no idea what he expected of me.
It was like asking someone to juggle three balls in the air while sprinting across a tightrope. It was an impossible task.
“Ah…”
A sharp ring pierced my ears, and dizziness washed over me. Clasping my aching head, a low groan slipped involuntarily past my lips.
“Your Highness, are you all right?”
Delfina gently laid a cool, damp cloth across my forehead.
The headache was a side effect of trying to invoke the Insight of Fate by deliberate will. Richard explained that casting such magic required mana, an energy I either lacked completely or possessed in the barest trace.
For me to wield this kind of power was like sending a child onto a battlefield without armor or a sword.
Richard sighed as he looked at me.
“As I expected, this exceeds your limits. Let us take a recess.”
His gaze and his tone both carried an underlying hint of condescension. Were all elves this haughty? Richard in particular was prone to being misunderstood—not merely because of his manner, but because he seemed to harbor no interest in humans at all.
Whenever Delfina or I spoke to him, he would take his time answering. And if anyone stepped too close, he would go out of his way to avoid them.
Caesar was the sole exception.
“Ren, are you in pain?”
“No, I am fine.”
Whenever I was beside Caesar, something distinct flickered in Richard's eyes.
Every time he looked at him, a warm glint softened his gaze, like someone savoring a honey-dipped confection. I had not noticed it at first, but it had always been there.
In time, I came to realize it was an expression of pure, heartfelt devotion, directed toward someone he could never bear to part with.
Noticing that I was staring at him, Richard turned abruptly aside and cleared his throat with a dry cough.
· · ·
· · ·
Silence hung between us. Perhaps because this had happened so many times before, my look carried a subtle reproach. After a moment's hesitation, he finally spoke.
“This is something that cannot be helped.”
“What do you mean?”
I asked, and he gave a firm nod as if having made up his mind.
“The Followers of Heberilium cannot resist an innate affection toward dragons.”
“The Followers of Heberilium?”
Heberilium was the name of a forest, and its followers were a clan of elves allied with the Asitria Empire.
It was said they were born of trees and spent their lives sequestered within the woods. Rarely did they venture into the mortal world, remaining cloaked in mystery, which was why his remark took me aback.
“Heberilium reveres magic as a sacred origin, and a dragon is the embodiment of pure mana. To turn away from one would be like refusing to draw breath.”
He added that since he was only half-elven, the influence did not overwhelm him completely, which was why he had been able to resist it this much. If a half-blood was like this, what of the others?
I remarked in a dry tone,
“Goodness, does that mean the rest of the elves are utterly mad about Caesar?”
Richard offered a chuckle, though a faint tinge of sorrow edged his smile.
“No one can say… Now then, if your rest is over, let us return to the training.”
“Ah…”
I let out a soft groan as I gathered my focus once more. Closing my eyes, I envisioned the scene I wished to see. They said I had to clear my mind and simplify my thoughts.
Shapes began to coalesce through the hazy veil of my vision. If my focus wavered, the impressions would scatter erratically or blur into incoherence.
I hoped I would succeed this time.
Bit by bit, the contours of truth grew clear… The spy, his grin flashing yellowed teeth, and the person who had hired him.
I saw the figure paying him in silver coins. That hand… I recognized it.
“Hah… hah…”
My eyes flew open as I panted for breath, cold sweat beading upon my brow.
It seemed I had succeeded this time. After several deep, steadying breaths, I snapped my head up.
“That hand belonged to Martha, Giovinetta's maid…”
I had suspected that whoever set a tail on me had to be either Mercedes or Giovinetta, and indeed it was.
At first, my suspicions had fallen on Elda, as she was the very first person who tried to kill me.
Yet only yesterday, Elda's corpse had been discovered. Through the Insight of Fate, I had witnessed her death as well.
Mercedes had summoned her, handed her a pouch of money, and then offered her a teacup. The tea was poisoned.
Mercedes was truly a terrifying woman. She was the one who had hired Elda to take my life, and she was the one who disposed of her once she outlived her usefulness.
And so, the grotesque reality laid itself bare.
As for the alliance between Giovinetta and Mercedes, I had no need for foresight to comprehend that.
In truth, the pairing of those two was an endless headache.
Yet I held a formidable weapon: the Insight of Fate.
To be cornered inside the Imperial Palace, knowing not a soul, and still wield such an ability was enough to tip the scales heavily in my favor.
Even so, there was a problem.
“I cannot simply speak of this power aloud.”
Uncovering truths through a peculiar, suspicious ability like this was not something one could openly declare to the world.
It could not easily be proven, nor was it recognized by the faith; it would likely be branded as divination or heresy. At worst, they would deem me mad or brand me a witch.
Therefore, what I had to do was lay the traps, one by one.
FADE OUT