Chapter 55
55
While Gunther was fast asleep, Maria went out to the balcony. By now, the Lastonia Imperial Family must be in an uproar. It was obvious what choice Henry would make, but she was just frustrated that she couldn't see his face contorted with embarrassment in person. Just then, a soft silk blanket wrapped around Maria from behind, and she felt a warm breath on her neck.
"Why are you out here without me?"
Gunther was upset that Maria had left his side while he was asleep. Since some time ago, he could distinctly feel whether she was next to him even in his sleep.
"I just came out for some fresh air."
Maria turned around and kissed Gunther lovingly. Then, she said something she wouldn't be able to say otherwise.
"Gunther, I might not be able to have a child."
She never wanted to say it, but in Lastonia, people called her a Barren Woman.
"Might?"
"The Court Physician clearly said I'm not a Barren Woman, but..."
"It doesn't matter."
"It does matter. I was the Queen Consort for ten years and couldn't conceive an Imperial Heir, and that's why I was deposed. Of course, that's only a small part of the reason."
Maria was anxious. Men instinctively desired to see their descendants. Moreover, a King of a nation would need a child to pass on the throne to. There was no guarantee that Gunther wouldn't become like Henry. The feeling of passionately liking someone had an expiration date, so no one knew how long Gunther would be crazy about her. Everyone got tired of things eventually.
"I don't need a child unless Maria bears it."
"Does that mean I absolutely have to have a child?"
Maria's expression flushed. Was Gunther no different from other men after all? Suddenly, Henry's words to her came to mind.
[I don't care if the Queen Consort isn't young or if she's a Barren Woman. I don't need a child unless Laurent bears it.]
Disappointment towards Gunther filled Maria's lungs like smoke.
'Men are all the same.'
Maria turned away from Gunther and looked into the distance. But soon, Gunther's large hand turned her face back to him.
"The essence isn't the child."
"Are you talking about me?"
If what he said was true, Gunther would be no different from Henry at all.
"No."
"It's that I don't change."
"?"
"My obsession with you."
"Should I believe you?"
"Don't you know yet? I don't lie."
Lying to avoid a crisis was a disgrace to him. Soon, their lips met passionately, without either of them knowing who initiated it first.
* * *
Nancy, unable to watch Laurent continue to deny it, stepped forward. She couldn't miss this golden opportunity; she had to drive Laurent out of the Imperial Palace this time.
"Your Majesty, you can't hide the sky with your palm."
Henry's face sharpened at Nancy's sudden remark.
"Look at this."
She handed Henry the letter that Ramona had obtained, and Laurent's face turned white at the sight. Laurent hurriedly got up and tried to snatch the letter from Henry's hand, but he wouldn't let go. He remembered Laurent crying while looking at this letter before. He had been suspicious then, but it had been glossed over because she hadn't shown it to him. But if this letter held the answer to the problem, he had to check it.
"You thief! Did you break into my room and steal it?"
"Laurent, you can insult me as much as you want. The safety of Your Majesty and the Imperial Family is more important to me."
"Both of you, shut up!"
Henry roared at the two women who were fighting noisily in front of him. Henry's hand holding the letter trembled. He glared at Laurent.
"Laurent, how could you?"
"Henry, I'll explain. There's a reason."
"I told you so clearly, but you couldn't wait and committed such a terrible act."
Henry had told Laurent about Maria's hidden wealth to reassure her, who was severely wary of Nancy. He had persuaded her to be patient, saying that he would drive Nancy out of the palace once he had that in his hands, but she had brought things to this point. Above all, Laurent wasn't the one who could kill Maria recklessly. She was still his wife, so he had to give permission even if she was to be killed. At that moment, Henry was overwhelmed with disappointment towards Laurent.
"Well, it seems like you guys have roughly talked things out, so I'll convey our Great King's intentions."
Taman, who had been silent until now, rose from the throne and walked towards Henry.
"?!"
"Our Great King is very angry that Maria was almost killed by those Seradu bastards. So, the Emperor of Lastonia must take responsibility."
"What responsibility are you talking about?"
He roughly expected it, but he couldn't bring himself to hear it from his own ears.
"Choose."
"Choose?"
"First, immediately repay the principal of 10 million Gold with a 70% interest. Second, extradite the criminal Laurent Seradu to Helland. Third, gouge out the Emperor's right eyeball and bring it."
"What?"
Henry couldn't say anything for a while, his mouth agape. Then, Taman drove in the wedge.
"Choose. If you don't like any of these, then our Great King will personally lead the Red Army here. If that happens... well, it's better not to imagine it."
At that moment, Monica's sharp voice was heard from behind.
"The person who caused the trouble should solve it. What are you hesitating about? Send Laurent Seradu to Helland."
"Former Empress Dowager! How can you do this to me?"
Laurent cried out, wailing.
"You're the one who completely deceived us, aren't you? How could you think of killing the deposed Queen Consort with that innocent face? And a mistress can't just do that. Your reckless actions have put our Emperor in trouble."
If they had just stayed still in the situation where Maria was sent as collateral, they could have postponed the repayment of the debt again. What was the reason for creating trouble? She was blinded by the position of Empress and committed foolish acts without seeing an inch ahead. So, it was only natural for Laurent to take responsibility.
Henry lowered his head and mulled over the situation he was in. He had only loved Laurent, but why was the situation only getting worse?
'I'm disillusioned.'
He didn't have the money to repay the debt. But Laurent wasn't so precious that he would gouge out his own eyeball for her. What Emperor in the world would sacrifice himself to deal with the actions of a mistress? It would only be a laughingstock to others. He wished he could reject everything and have the military power to wage war against Gunther's army, but currently, Lastonia was an empire in name only, and its condition was so poor in every aspect that it was worse than a small Duchy.
"I will send Laurent Seradu to Helland."
"Henry!"
* * *
Maria and Gunther learned about the situation in Lastonia by reading the letter sent by Ramona.
"The woman of the Seradu family will be thrown into the desert as soon as she arrives in Helland."
Gunther's decision was firm. But Maria's thoughts were a little different.
"Leave it to me."
"She's the woman who ordered you to be killed. I can't even forgive her for breathing."
Gunther was still tormented by the memory of Maria's last moments as she fell off the cliff. Even in the midst of these happy days, he sometimes had nightmares about it. How could he let that impudent woman live when she had tried to trample on the milestones of his life?
"I want to let her know."
"What? What she did wrong?"
Gunther shook his head. No matter how hard he tried, such efforts were useless for a human who didn't even know that sin was wrong.
"No. I want to give her back the same pain I suffered. It's not too late to hold her accountable after that. So, please leave it to me."
Maria pleaded with Gunther with an earnest face. Surely, no matter how difficult he had been, it couldn't have been as hellish as Maria's experience. She had been out of her mind, her memories had been erased, and her hair color still hadn't returned to normal. She was only now slowly recovering, so it wouldn't be a bad thing if it helped Maria's healing.
"Do it that way. Maria is now the Queen Consort of Helland."
Gunther gently kissed Maria on the forehead. While Gunther was dealing with state affairs with Aiden, Maria called Ero and Nora.
"Ero, you have to go to Lastonia soon."
"Oh my! Is it my turn now?"
Ero raised his voice in excitement.
"Can you do well?"
"Of course."
"Ramona will be waiting."
Ero had lived as a woman all his life, so he had started practicing to live under a new identity some time ago. In particular, he made a lot of effort to speak and act like a man. He learned how to become not just any man, but a noble man with culture and intelligence. He had to play a fictional character like an actor in a play. But the problem was that he had to deceive them perfectly.
"When you go, don't say that 'oh my' thing."
Nora nagged, worried.
"Don't worry. Actually, I've always wanted to be an actor in a famous theater troupe. Now is the time to fulfill that dream."
"You're talking about being an actor. Your neck will be cut off if you're not careful."
It would be great if it was a play where it didn't matter if he gave a bad performance. Nora's face was dark with worry for Ero. At that moment, Maria spread several portraits on the table. She had been diligently drawing them whenever she had time.
"They're all pretty boys."
Nora muttered to herself.
"Right? This is the former Queen Consort's taste in men."
"Your Majesty, our Ero is much more handsome than the guys here."
"That's right."
Maria looked at Ero with worried eyes. Then, Ero held Maria's hand tightly and said.
"I can definitely make the former Queen Consort a puppet, Your Majesty."
Ero promised Maria with a determined face.