“No. That would be great, but that’s not the immediate priority.”
“Then what is it?”
“Let the Empress Dowager who sacrificed her children be exposed.”
It was time for cider*.”
(T/N: This is a Korean slang for novels that is used to describe the satisfying feeling after a long, arduous situation that the characters had to go through)
I entered the grand hall, just in time to see the Empress Dowager shouting at the top of her lungs.
“To make the Emperor and Crown Prince wait, as well as the nobles, what is this if not an insult to the imperial family! Let the guilty man of Palesdon, who has committed such a great sin…………!”
“No, let me speak.”
I stepped forward, and all eyes were on me.
“The guilty party who insulted the Imperial Family is Her Majesty the Empress.”
The Empress’s face contorted in anger.
“H, how could I have insulted the Imperial family! The Duchess of Palesdon will be held accountable for her words!”
“Yes, of course.”
Just then, a notification popped up.
[Your pet wants to communicate with you. Would you like to use the skill ?]
“What’s wrong with Calix?
I glanced over to see Calix staring at me with a worried expression on his face.
I can tell by his body language that he wants me to use the Communication skill as soon as possible.
[Skill will be activated!]
-Rose, are you sure you’re okay?
-What?
-I’ve been working hard on my crown prince training. The Empress Dowager doesn’t like you, but it’s a different story when you’re insulted in front of so many people. It’s an insult to the entire royal family.
-Calix, you don’t know me very well yet, do I strike you as someone who would let myself be stepped on?
-I don’t. I’m worried about you………….
Calix stammered, his expression grim.
I quickly added, thanking him for his concern.
Seeing his face brighten a bit, I thought.
‘It is the Master who knows me better than anyone else.’
The Master, who had given me the news from the Grand Hall earlier, naturally trusted me to handle the situation well.
He encouraged me, saying he would wait for news.
“Really? If you’re so confident, tell me. How did I insult the imperial family?”
At the sound of the Empress Dowager’s voice, I stopped using the skill and walked forward.
“February 11, 4984 Imperial Year. I have failed again today to receive the sacrifices.”
“What’s that out of the blue?”
“Sacrifices?”
The nobles who heard me narrowed their eyes.
I looked straight at the Empress Dowager, unperturbed, and walked over to her.
“September 15, 4984 imperial year. I narrowly failed. At this rate, I may be relegated to the back of the line.”
The Empress Dowager’s face contorted as I continued.
“June 13, 4985 Imperial Year. After repeated failures, He finally placed me ‘on hold’. It is truly hopeless.”
“Why is the Duchess of Palesdon suddenly saying something different? What the hell does that have to do with me!”
“Really, are you sure you don’t mind if I tell you what this has to do with Her Majesty?”
“Wait…………!”
I ignored the outstretched arm of the Empress Dowager and pulled something out of my bosom and unfolded it.
I opened it to the side I’d already marked and read.
“March 17, 4986 Imperial Calendar. The day of the appointment has arrived. I have kidnapped Prince Felix and offered him as a sacrifice. I know I have no power, but if I were not the Empress Dowager, this would not have been possible.”
This was the Empress Dowager’s diary entry.
“How could you do that!”
“How dare you approach my daughter-in-law with such a vile gesture?”
The Empress Dowager approached me and tried to snatch the diary away, but Catalina stopped her.
“You……!”
“My daughter-in-law, do whatever you want!”
The Empress Dowager struggled, but she couldn’t overcome Catalina’s strong body.
Thanks to her, I was able to continue my revelations.
“The power of Felix, with the blood of the Duke of Blake in his veins, may be of some use to our great God. When our great god descends, the captured Helios will be consigned to the fires of hell. Perhaps that will bring some comfort to my poor children who died first.”
I swallowed hard, afraid to finish my sentence.
‘It’s no wonder.’
Though he no longer was, Felix had once been a crown prince.
Kidnapping the crown prince, or attempted murder of the crown prince, was blasphemy. The Empress Dowager would not be spared.
“Duchess of Palesdon, do you mind if I take a quick look at the thing?”
“Of course. I was about to give it to you now.’
The Emperor was quick to respond.
I coldly handed him the Empress Dowager’s diary.
The Emperor emitted an energy that only royalty can give off and touched the diary.
Objects that are in constant use by the royal family have their own aura, and he wanted to see how it would react.
Soon, the Empress Dowager’s diary glowed with brilliant light.
It was authentic.
“Ugh. It’s real…………!”
The Empress Dowager glared at me with bloodshot eyes as someone exclaimed.
“The Duchess of Palesdon has just admitted to stealing from me, and she deserves to be punished for stealing from the royal family without knowing that the sky’s the limit!”