I Killed My Husband - Chapter 24

The rumor that Mercedes was a woman favored by the Emperor had already spread throughout the Empire.

The only person who could call a woman favored by the Emperor a “murderous wench” to his face would be the Empress Dowager.

“Are you not weary from your long journey? Please, come inside for now.”

The Empress Dowager’s criticism of Mercedes was soon directed at Carlos, but Carlos escorted her with a relaxed smile.

“Indeed. The imperial palace is far, far away. It wasn’t originally this distant.”

The Empress Dowager clicked her tongue and placed her hand on his arm, subtly implying, “You stole my son’s place, so I had to go far away.”

The two walked with great elegance. From afar, they might have looked like an affectionate mother and son.

“I’ve prepared a room in the imperial palace. Or would you prefer to go to the palace where you used to stay? It has been cleaned.”

“I’d prefer to go to the palace. Though it will be troublesome for you, as your eyes are there too. Still, it was originally my palace.”

Of course, to those who knew that both were harboring daggers within, it would have appeared a most threatening sight.

* * *

The Empress Dowager, who had left in a rage after her son lost the throne, had returned.

That alone was enough to stir up the social circles. When the Empress Dowager resided in the capital as the Empress, and later as the Dowager Empress after the late Emperor’s death, lavish parties were held several times during each social season.

There, the Dowager would match lovers and present them as the stars of the party. With her blessing, these couples would often become the focal point of social circles.

The focal point of social circles. What a fine title. One receives the attention of all and favorable deals are made.

As a result, the Dowager’s parties were always crowded, and she was able to solidify her position in society each year.

Now that such a person had returned. Even though it wasn’t the social season, all the fabric shops and tailors in the capital had to scream with joy.

Not only young ladies but also young gentlemen were coming and going to have clothes made. Though the Empress Dowager hadn’t yet announced that she would hold a party, there was no harm in being prepared in advance.

It was common knowledge among young ladies in society that if one caught the Dowager’s eye, one would marry a fine young gentleman.

“Did you say she’s holding a party?”

Carlos took off his outer garment and sat on the desk in his shirt. No one scolded him for this un-emperor-like casual behavior.

It was a natural sight for the aides who served him.

“Yes. The grand ballroom has begun renovations. I also took the financial management aide to handle the receipts.”

Carlos had no objection to the considerable expenditure on maintaining imperial dignity, apart from feeling a bit sick about it. It was an unavoidable aspect, as people focused on appearances.

But even to Carlos, who understood this, the Dowager’s parties always seemed excessively, terribly luxurious.

That money could probably cover a year’s living expenses for a small territory. It gave him a headache.

“And, um…”

“What else is there?”

At Carlos’s sharp voice, the aides only exchanged glances. Finally, Leopold stepped forward.

“She’s been going around pressuring people to hand over Mercedes.”

While staying in the Dowager’s palace, the Empress Dowager moved constantly and sent out the maid she had brought to catch the servant girls. There was only one question.

Where is Mercedes staying? That was all.

“By now, she must have figured out where she’s staying, damn it.”

Carlos muttered roughly.

No matter how vast the imperial palace was, the time the Empress Dowager had lived here couldn’t be ignored.

Rather, Carlos had spent fewer days in the imperial palace, and if anyone didn’t know about the palace, it wasn’t her. So the Empress Dowager must have already found out which separate palace Mercedes was staying in.

Yet she was intimidating the maids, pretending not to know Mercedes’s location, in an attempt to regain control over the palace. It was an obvious tactic.

In fact, most of the palace servants were so frightened that they ran to the aides to complain.

They seemed to think that the Emperor, who was implementing good policies and protecting Mercedes, would at least pity them more than the strict and arrogant Empress Dowager.

“I knew this would happen. Tsk.”

It was good that he hadn’t told anyone the exact location when moving Mercedes to the separate palace.

Even if the maids wanted to answer the Dowager’s people, they couldn’t have.

“What about Mercedes?”

“She seems to be living quite comfortably.”

Leopold said, slightly wrinkling his face.

“And it’s my guess, but I think the Dowager intends to make Mercedes attend the party.”

Carlos agreed with Leopold’s words.

“Yes. She plans to make her a laughingstock and leave a scar on me as well. She’s determined to bring her down somehow.”

“Does she think that will work?”

“She knows it won’t. Still, keep a close watch. I’m quite curious to see how she plans to bring Mercedes down.”

“Hmm. What if the Dowager officially requests it?”

“What do you mean, what if? I won’t hand her over.”

Carlos said firmly and got off the desk. He moved with wide strides to sit in a chair and ordered indifferently.

“For now, follow the Dowager’s words. But keep Mercedes hidden.”

“…I don’t quite understand.”

Leopold made an ambiguous face.

“Whether I love her?”

“Even if you love her, why go this far?”

“Is keeping her from the Dowager’s eyes really ‘going this far’?”

“She’s still a murderer, isn’t she? You’re the one who said that even love is politics. Do you really need to embrace such a disadvantageous person?”

“Ah.”

Carlos smiled like a devil.

“Does it make sense for a strong emperor like me to be shaken by one small, disadvantageous being?”

“…”

“Think of me as a blind emperor. Think of me as a fool mad with love. But you’ll still be loyal to me, won’t you? You’ve seen enough so far.”

Carlos said confidently, and Leopold, though displeased, kept his mouth shut.

It was true. He was a flawless emperor.

That was why the Empress Dowager had rushed over at the news of Mercedes.

It was an opportunity to attach a scandal to the flawless emperor who had conquered the continent in two years and placed the empire at the top of the world.

But the people of the empire couldn’t criticize Carlos over one romantic affair. After all, their lives had definitely improved over those two years.

So right now, when even the slightest rumor was circulating. At the moment when he was wobbling ever so slightly.

She clearly wanted to do something.

“She must have come with a firm resolve. As someone with solid support from social circles, she must be confident in advertising Mercedes as a major flaw.”

Honestly, the First Prince, the Empress Dowager’s son, completely lacked the qualities of an emperor.

The Second and Third Princes were adequate, but their qualities fell short when compared to Carlos, who had the demeanor of a perfect hegemon.

That was a fact known to all in the empire.

Perhaps unless Carlos were to die suddenly, the other princes would never ascend to the throne.

And the chances of ‘Blood Devil’ Carlos dying suddenly were extremely low.

Nevertheless, the Dowager rushed over as soon as she discovered even the smallest possibility.

To use her strength in social circles to corner Carlos.

It was something to be wary of.

She was someone who could start with a single flaw and manipulate things to shower Carlos with all sorts of slander.

Moreover, most nobles harbored at least some negative feelings towards Carlos, who had revised laws to impose taxes according to wealth and pressured them relentlessly.

It was truly a headache.

Carlos’s predictions were accurate.

The Dowager, having settled into her palace after a long time, was sharpening her knives. She was angry, hating Carlos.

She desperately wished that the late emperor, already dead, could see from the afterlife. That the emperor he had chosen was not perfect.

That he could be easily swayed by a mere woman. That without someone like the Empress Dowager supporting him in social circles, he was only oppressing the nobles’ hearts and failing to earn their loyalty.

Thus, your choice was a mistake, she thought.

The Dowager was spending a languid afternoon in such thoughts.

“Has a reply come?”

Letters poured in for her. They were from the Dowager’s friends who had long been major pillars in social circles.

“Yes, Your Highness the Dowager Empress.”

“Read them to me.”

The Viscountess Valliere, the Dowager’s longtime maid and companion, smiled and put down the letter opener. All the letters had been opened.

“They all say they’re delighted, and that they’ll discuss that woman as Your Highness the Dowager Empress requested. They say it’s a very important matter.”

“I see… For the sake of justice, it’s unacceptable to have a murderous wench clinging to the imperial palace.”

Justification is important in everything. The Dowager smiled and sipped her afternoon tea.

* * *

Mercedes had been hiding in the separate palace since before the Dowager arrived. Time had passed, and it was already approaching ten days.

Since coming to the separate palace, she had been living a regular life and immersing herself in reading books. She studied hard and enjoyed peace, as there was nothing constraining her.

Rhonda and Patricia didn’t like her studying late into the night, but seeing that she had gained a little weight and her complexion had improved, they didn’t scold her too much.

It was endlessly peaceful. So peaceful that she thought it might erase her desire for revenge and anger.

But the more she read books and learned about the world, a certain flame grew within her.

She needed to know. It wasn’t just for revenge.

Mercedes knew too little.

So she grappled countless times with thick books. Some parts were explained too briefly, making her see the trees but not the forest, while other parts were explained in such detail that she saw the forest but not the trees.

Learning is difficult, she thought.

The books she had picked up in Shaim were truly elementary. They only dealt with that small country.

Thinking that the history and political situation of the continent were so vast and difficult, in the early dawn, she was about to sit at her desk, habitually taking a large candle to light.

That’s when.

“…What’s that?”

She sensed a presence.

It was a very small, unfamiliar presence that she could sense due to her sensitivity to people.