I Possessed the Wicked Empress (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
“How much debt does the ducal house have? I wonder how much would be left after settling it all…”
No matter how much Pelio sneered, the money coming into his hands would soon become his lifeline.
Ermedilin didn’t care in the slightest about his irreverent attitude.
“How extravagant is the ducal residence? Selling just a few paintings on the walls would settle the debts immediately.”
Having expected the ducal house to be impoverished due to its enormous debts, Ermedilin struggled to hide her surprise.
‘They turned their own daughter into a beggar while spending that money on luxuries?’
At any rate, thanks to their extravagance, an enormous fortune had now come into her possession—fortunate indeed.
“Did you know His Majesty is protecting Ferdant?”
“I was the one who rescued the child Duke François originally had in his care.”
“You?”
“Yes. After all, he’s just a child with no part in adult affairs, isn’t he?”
‘What does he look like? How old is he? Did he ask for his mother?’
Suddenly, a flood of questions poured into her mind all at once.
“But why would His Majesty…”
“His Majesty isn’t someone easily underestimated. Of course, He already knew how either I or Your Majesty would act. Legally, as Your Majesty’s husband, He is also the child’s guardian. He couldn’t refuse the request to hand over the child’s custody.”
“Ah… I see. Thank you. I’ll pay your fee right away…”
“No need. His Majesty has already paid me.”
“His Majesty?”
Seeing Ermedilin’s surprised expression at this unexpected reply, Pelio recalled his conversation with Henri the previous evening.
“Isn’t Her Majesty the child’s birth mother? It would be right to transfer the child to her.”
Henri snorted, as if he’d expected Pelio’s firm response.
“Birth mother? Do you even know how fond that woman is of young children?”
“Pardon?”
“The younger they are, the purer their blood—perfect for use in curses, they say.”
“I’m aware such rumors exist, but isn’t he her own child?”
“Hmm. Then shall we make a wager? Whether she truly loves her child or not?”
“A wager?”
“Yes. If during the trial she chooses to abandon the lawsuit for the child’s sake, I’ll side with the Empress—and I’ll cover your fee myself. But if the Empress ignores the child’s welfare and insists on continuing the trial, you must refuse the fee. And then you’ll follow your father and work for me in the palace. What do you say?”
Pelio disliked betting over an innocent child, but to extract a firm promise from the inscrutable Henri that he wouldn’t harm the boy, he agreed to the wager.
“Very well. But if I win, I have one additional request. Truthfully, I’m more concerned about the child than Her Majesty. If I win, please promise me you’ll never harm him.”
“Haha. What would I even do with the child? He’s merely useful for keeping an eye on the Empress.”
He couldn’t return the child to his birth mother, but even this much was better than nothing.
Pelio believed he’d made the best choice possible, even without confidence that Ermedilin would be a good mother.
‘If that witch truly gives up the ducal fortune for her child’s sake… I’m curious to see what choice the Empress will make at tomorrow’s trial.’
“Yes. His Majesty has already paid, so Your Majesty needn’t worry about it.”
“Oh, is that so? But why would His Majesty…”
‘Didn’t He despise me?’
“Because Your Majesty is human.”
“What?”
“Not a witch—a human. That’s why He paid the fee.”
“What does that even mean…”
In truth, even while making the wager with Henri yesterday, Pelio hadn’t truly believed Ermedilin would halt the trial for her child’s sake.
He’d merely held a tiny sliver of hope for that small child trapped in the Emperor’s grasp.
Yet this witch—or rather, Empress—had genuinely tried to give up the ducal fortune for her child.
Pelio’s long-held certainty that Ermedilin was a witch deserving death began to crack little by little.
Startled by the fissure forming in his own heart, Pelio left without another word, abandoning the stunned, motionless Ermedilin and exiting the palace.
After Pelio departed, Henri approached Ermedilin closely.
His piercingly blue eyes briefly locked onto Ermedilin’s violet ones.
Though it lasted only a fleeting instant, Ermedilin felt as if he were peering into the very depths of her soul.
“So you’re human too, then?”
“Pardon?”
Ermedilin looked up at Henri with a puzzled expression as he suddenly loomed over her with an unreadable gaze, echoing Pelio’s words.
“You are human, after all.”
Valière stood nearby, glaring at her with eyes so cold they could freeze on the spot, but Henri paid her no mind. With delicate fingers, he tucked a stray strand of Ermedilin’s hair behind her ear.
Looking up at him from below, Ermedilin was momentarily breathless at Henri’s divine beauty—but in that instant, she understood his meaning.
He’d helped her not because she was a witch, but because she was human—a human whose heart wavered at the call of blood.
Humans with weaknesses were easy to exploit.
‘Of course. He wouldn’t help me without ulterior motives.’
For a moment, Ermedilin was overwhelmed by the urge to rush to Valière—who stood watching her with sorrowful eyes—and shout, “You take this man!”
A man born to be emperor seemed to judge everyone around him solely by their usefulness to him.
It was even doubtful whether he truly loved the lover standing behind him, burning with jealousy.
‘What do I care? Whether they truly love each other or not, I just need to get divorced quickly and escape this barbecue fate.’
Ermedilin was eager to use her newly acquired fortune to restore her reputation and secure a peaceful divorce.
Romance was a luxury for someone already sentenced to barbecue.
Ermedilin forced her reluctant lips upward into a smile.
Even standing before a breathtakingly handsome man adored and worshipped by the entire empire, producing a natural smile felt impossibly difficult.
“I am simply… grateful for Your Majesty’s generous consideration.”
At least her effort paid off—Ermedilin succeeded in smiling back at her husband.
To onlookers, the scene appeared almost saintly in its beauty.
The radiant Henri, the very sun of Trivian whose brilliance dazzled even in broad daylight, paired with Ermedilin, the solitary moon shining elegantly against the black night sky—their union, at least outwardly, exuded not just grace but the full dignity of imperial royalty.
Though the two harbored entirely different thoughts within, in that moment, the imperial couple truly were the most beautiful pair in the world.
Valière felt utterly drained.
She was too exhausted even to register her hurt feelings—but she still had to feel jealousy.
After all, Henri disliked insolence, yet subtly chided her when she failed to show jealousy, claiming it made her less alluring.
Seeing Valière scowl with forced petulance, Henri slowly approached and wrapped an arm around her waist.
“The dignity of the imperial couple must remain intact for the Trivian Empire to enjoy peace, wouldn’t you agree?”
Though spoken as an excuse, Valière only wished for Henri to let go of her.
Henri immediately sensed her subtle mood—he hadn’t spent over a decade with her for appearances alone.
“Are you still unwell?”
Valière weakly nodded in response to Henri’s question.
At least one thing was fortunate: Henri wasn’t the type to lay hands on someone who clearly didn’t want it.
Though he stood at the pinnacle of power, Henri had never been intimate with any woman besides Valière.
Sometimes she doubted whether this man truly loved her—but then he’d gently withdraw his touch and look at her with genuine concern, making her believe his feelings might be real after all.
“I should offer a prayer myself at the temple for your swift recovery.”
After the trial ended and her tension eased, Ermedilin secluded herself in her chambers for the rest of the day, seeing no one.
Though she’d acquired a fortune so vast she couldn’t even fathom its worth, she felt no joy.
She’d once resolved that if she ever became wealthy, she’d indulge in luxuries she’d never experienced here—but right now, she had no desire to spend a single coin.
She was only worried about the child, Ferdant, whom Henri was keeping.
She’d only seen his tiny photo inside a pendant—she had no memory of giving birth to him or raising him—yet the moment she realized he was her child, a strange longing and sorrow welled up inside her.
‘I’ve never even been married before… Now not only am I suddenly a married woman, but I even have a child?’
During the trial, she’d been terrified of her impending death, but at least her heart hadn’t ached like this.
‘I need to do something. Work! Yes—good deeds! As Empress, I’ll do some good, get a clean divorce, sort out my situation, and then provide my child with a proper upbringing as his mother!’
With this thought, Ermedilin began planning how to use her newfound wealth.
‘Right. First, an orphanage… Wait, do they call it a childcare center these days? But this place doesn’t even have the concept of childcare.’
Managing such an enormous sum was no small task.
Moreover, to avoid execution, not a single coin could be wasted.
Having never even seen such vast wealth in her past life, Ermedilin decided she needed professional help.
But the only person she knew was the lawyer who openly despised her.
With other matters to verify as well, Ermedilin had no choice but to send for Pelio.
‘He may be stubborn, but at least he seems like a reasonable person.’
She worried he might not come—but Pelio responded to her summons immediately.
“What is it?”
“I called you because I have a request.”
“What would that be?”
“Before that, there’s something I’d like to ask first…”
Seeing Ermedilin hesitate, Pelio answered before she could speak.
“Is it about Helen?”
“Oh! Yes! I was curious about what happened to her…”
Surprised that Pelio had instantly read her mind, Ermedilin frowned as she watched him grow even more astonished by her reaction.
“Is that so surprising?”
“I asked just in case, but I never expected Her Majesty to genuinely care about a maid.”
‘Ah, there it is again—that sarcasm.’
Ermedilin barely suppressed her rising anger.
‘If only I could punch him once—my life would be complete.’
“Anyway, she was under my care. Do you know what became of her?”
Not wanting to prolong the conversation, Ermedilin ended with a question.
“It seems that child stole the ducal signet ring and several valuables and fled.”
“Fled?”
“Though his title remains intact, all that’s left to the duke is a modest estate and a few family heirlooms. He’s furious, claiming the maid stole the ring—and insists Your Majesty orchestrated it.”
“Hah. So that’s how it is.”
Ermedilin recalled Helen’s tearful confession that she’d been a spy.
‘Hah… Do I still lack the ability to judge people?’
“By the way, what is this request you mentioned?”
Pelio, seemingly in no mood to linger, moved straight to the point.
“Oh, I’ve come into some money recently—something I dearly love.”
Wanting him to taste a bit of her sarcasm too, Ermedilin deliberately infused her tone with mockery.
“I see. That must please you greatly.”
“Yes. I’m in such a good mood I thought I’d do some good deeds.”
“Good deeds?”
“I’m considering establishing an orphanage for children who’ve lost their parents to the plague currently ravaging the capital.”
Such words sounded odd coming from a notorious villain, so Ermedilin felt oddly self-conscious as she spoke.
‘Please just believe I’ve genuinely reformed.’
True to expectation, Pelio froze on the spot as if witnessing a divine apparition.
He seemed utterly at a loss for how to respond.
“There’s no need to be so shocked. Everyone’s blaming me for the plague anyway—this is just to restore my reputation.”
She thought she’d given a reasonable justification, but Pelio seemed even more stunned at the mention of “reputation.”
“Reputation? Your Majesty? Were you ever the sort to care about reputation?”
“Well… I mean… I thought I’d start caring from now on.”
“Reputation?”
‘Seriously, why is he so shocked? This is actually kind of annoying.’
“Yes! Reputation! I care about my reputation too!”
“Huh?”
Pelio slumped into a nearby chair as if all his energy had drained away.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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Wait what the hell. I lowkey hate henri but i feel bad for her to have to suffer with a loser like him omgn