Chapter 16
16. What a Truly Splendid Love Poem
“That can’t be… No.”
His hand is gripping something with force, considering he's denying it.
'How cute.'
The reason, or rather the culprit, behind the original Leonarda's increasing confinement to her chambers was none other than Derek.
He loved Leonarda, so he must have wanted to possess her.
He probably wanted her to live as a fragile, delicate, easily breakable glass doll.
More loyal than anyone, yet simultaneously the person who desired change the least. He was helpful to Leonarda, but paradoxically, he was a massive mountain preventing her from changing.
I gently tickled his stiff jaw like soothing a cat. Immediately, his neck flushed red, and his gray pupils trembled.
He looked just like sleet, fluttering this way and that with a single gesture of the wind.
“How lovely.”
But it was then.
A low, chilling voice echoed in my ear. It was a chillingly cold tone, as if frost had settled.
Derek flinched, but I calmly straightened my posture and smoothed my clothes.
Enrique's eyebrows twitched minutely at my relaxed attitude, as if I didn't care whether he was the Emperor or the Emperor's grandfather.
“I wonder why you came to my Empress Palace so hastily without even contacting me.”
So, you think you're the only one who can speak coldly?
I crossed my arms and directed my gaze at Enrique, not hiding the meaning that 'you are an uninvited guest.'
“I wasn't aware that I needed to schedule an appointment to see the Empress.”
“I hope you will be aware from now on. Don't I also schedule time with Your Majesty?”
I spat out the words with a sarcastic tone, and I could feel Derek tensing up. The Imperial Knights standing behind the Emperor had ambiguous expressions.
Honestly, anyone would react this way if they witnessed their husband rolling around with his mistress in the conference room.
“I also didn't know the Empress was so eloquent.”
“Getting to know someone isn't easy. Life is such that you can know the ten streams of water, but not a single person's heart.”
Enrique's lips twisted at my pointed words.
I have no idea what Leonarda did wrong to be hated so much.
I snorted and stared straight into Enrique's eyes. This time, Enrique had no choice but to meet my gaze.
“I am busy preparing for the banquet, so I wonder if I may pass now.”
“Do you think I would have come all the way here if I had nothing to say?”
“Then please hurry. I don't have much time to give to Your Majesty, so you must speak quickly.”
As I urged him with a dry expression devoid of any smile, the temperature in the entire hallway seemed to drop below freezing.
Enrique probably had never seen Leonarda act this way.
She must have always been at a loss in front of him.
I could tell just by looking at the records left in her diary.
Leonarda was the one in love, and Enrique had no feelings. So, Enrique could easily gain the upper hand in the relationship.
That very point was extremely irritating.
“The Saintess almost had a major incident because of the food provided by the Empress Palace, but the Empress Palace has not offered any apologies regarding that.”
“I don't know why I should apologize. I heard the story and it was unfortunate, but didn't she eventually recover safely with Divinity?”
“What if she hadn't recovered?”
“Such assumptions are merely useless arguments. As a result, the Saintess is fine. All that needs to be done is to be careful with peaches in the future. Or are you saying that I should have anticipated in advance what Your Majesty's mistress can and cannot eat and been careful?”
Mistress.
One of the Imperial Knights gasped at that blatant word.
From that reaction, I could tell that Leonarda had never once called Helene a mistress.
It's absurd. She is a mistress, but why can't I call her a mistress?
“I don't know what kind of misunderstanding you have, but I have said many times that Helene is not a mistress.”
“If you insist on that, then yes. Then what did I hear in front of the conference room door?”
“I was simply massaging her shoulders.”
“I hope you know that's a lame excuse. I'm really tired.”
This situation, where the two highest-ranking people in the Imperial Palace are occupying a hallway and arguing, is too ridiculous.
But I absolutely did not want to offer Enrique a seat somewhere in the reception room.
Why should I?
Why?
'I feel nauseous. That damn Divinity…'
It wasn't a lie that I was tired.
Even though I'm in a human body, my soul is a demon.
The shuddering Divinity that Enrique is emitting is negatively affecting me every moment.
It's only because I'm wearing the bracelet, the Ancient Magical Artifact that the boy gave me back then, that I'm only having this much of a reaction; otherwise, I would have collapsed from dizziness long ago.
“What more can I say to someone who has branded me as untrustworthy?”
“Then why did you bother coming? If you had remained indifferent as you have been, there would have been no reason to hear such unpleasant words.”
As I stubbornly retorted without yielding a single word until the end, cracks appeared on Enrique's cold face.
Eventually, he sighed softly and quietly opened his mouth towards me.
“Helene has been taking care of the Imperial Palace in the Empress's stead. If you have even a little gratitude for that, you must not completely cast her out at this banquet.”
“Ah, gratitude…”
Ah, I want to strangle him.
My vision blurred with anger. The swirling hatred in my turbid mind tried to suppress my reason.
'No, I have to endure. I have to endure.'
So, he came all the way here to say that.
He never came when Leonarda begged so much, he turned a blind eye even right before that poor woman jumped from the tower.
Now that Helene is about to lose her undeserved rights, he has taken a heavy step.
“What a truly splendid love poem.”
But when have I ever lived suppressing myself?
In the end, ridicule burst from my lips and fell at Enrique's feet.
Before he could say anything, I continued speaking without taking a breath.
“Let's get the words right. The Saintess has been ignorant of her place until now. The only reason I tolerated it was because I loved Your Majesty.”
“……”
“But now I must reclaim my rightful authority. If you don't want to see it, the easiest way is to cast me out of this position and bring in another sacrifice. Or seat Helene in the Empress's seat. Feel free to do so as much as you want.”
“…Empress.”
“Because I no longer love Your Majesty.”
Ah, yes.
I wanted to say these words.
I wanted to say these words so much until now.
I no longer love you.
I, no longer!
Of course, there was no change in Enrique's expression. He didn't regret it, nor did he ask why.
He doesn't even have that much interest.
Still, I felt like something that had been blocked was slightly cleared.
I wanted to look him straight in the eye and say it.
“So. Even though I am saying it directly, you are saying that you cannot entrust any work to Helene. Is that what you mean?”
“Yes.”
“I didn't know the Empress… disregarded the Saintess this much.”
“You must know that from now on as well.”
“You don't yield a single word.”
“I suppose Your Majesty couldn't have had the magnanimous thought of yielding first?”
Since I had already crossed the line, I decided to be sarcastic until the end.
The Imperial Knights were already pale and dying like unripe tomatoes, but there was no reason for me to worry about whether they would be scolded by the Emperor later.
“Go and tell the Saintess. To fulfill her own duties.”
After snapping those words, I turned my body away without a greeting. I could feel Enrique's gaze persistently following me, but I ignored it.
Now that I had said everything I wanted to say, I couldn't bear to breathe the same air in the same place any longer. It was too disgusting.
In the place that was left behind.
“The Empress…”
After being silent for a long time, Enrique slowly parted his lips.
“Was she… originally of such a temperament?”
It was a question, but there was no one who could answer.
The Imperial Knights were all former Holy Knights who had been with Enrique for many years.
All they had seen of Empress Leonarda over the past five years were a few times on important ceremonial days, including the wedding and the New Year's party.
And Leonarda's impression was always vague.
She was beautiful, but she had an image like a flower that had already been broken and had no vitality.
“That can’t be.”
Enrique, muttering quietly, stroked his lips with a stiff expression. It was a habit he had when he was very embarrassed.
Unable to move as if nailed to the spot, Enrique thought for a long time.
'Why does the image of that person… overlap with the Empress?'
Has it already been five years?
Since I took that person's life with this hand.
After that, Enrique lost his joy.
He gained a solid reason and a cold heart that would not waver in any moment, but at the same time, he was not happy with anything.
But just now, he felt as if a feeling he had forgotten for a long time was awakening.
Deep in his heart… joy, excitement, pleasure, and the like awkwardly revealed themselves.
As a result, Enrique even felt regret at the sight of the departing Empress.
I want to talk more. Then I think I will remember what I had forgotten.
It was strange that he was not at all displeased that the Empress was being aggressive.
Just… today's Empress seemed like a different person.
“Let’s go back.”
She told me to make an appointment and visit, so I should do as she said.
Enrique tried to recall if there was any free time in his schedule, but he was slightly disappointed to realize that there was no gap at all until the banquet.
I want to know why the Empress has changed.
It was the first day since the wedding that he had any interest in Leonarda.
