The curse-like hypnosis that the Red Caterpillar had placed on Cecilia came to mind.
That hypnosis should have already been broken, so why?
Medeia showed a spiteful smile.
At that moment, from somewhere far away, a loud whistle sounded once.
‘Red Caterpillar!’
My heart dropped into my stomach.
The night we tracked the Red Caterpillar, when the creature whistled twice, the hypnosis on Cecilia had been broken.
If this single whistle had a different meaning…… If it was re-establishing the hypnosis?!
My fingertips trembled from the tension.
If Cecilia, under hypnosis again, spilled the name of the Northern Grand Duke…
The Empress and Emperor both looked down at Cecilia.
‘No!! Please……’
Cecilia sobbed with a dazed face.
“Sob. I don’t know…… But I remember the one who hypnotized me. It was someone with red hair and a southern accent.”
‘!’
Red hair, southern accent.
She’s talking about the Red Caterpillar.
‘The blind old man’s hypnosis beat the Red Caterpillar’s hypnosis!’
Medeia’s face turned pale.
The Empress recited.
“Someone with red hair and a southern accent. Are you saying your mastermind is a southerner?”
“Shut up! Cecilia, how dare you lie to some…”
“Has the Grand Duke’s daughter not learned courtesy towards the Imperial family? Or has she not learned courtesy towards the people?”
The Empress’s voice, which had been like a tranquil lake, suddenly turned to ice and fell upon Medeia.
A dazed Medeia looked up at the Empress.
[This is the timeline separator]Empress Francis Antoine had been continuously surprised since entering the hall.
‘Grand Duke Lahert, Lady Medeia. Why are you doing this?’
It was clearly a matter where the mastermind had to be uncovered. How could a fake commoner woman who claimed to be the Imperial Princess reach this position without someone behind her?
Nevertheless, someone who is a Grand Duke of an empire, instead of properly requesting an investigation, simply asked the Emperor to kill the woman.
He called it a request, but in reality, he was pushing the Emperor, who was barely holding on amidst despair, saying the answer was there.
The Grand Duke’s daughter, whom she had thought was simply cute in her childhood, was scolding the woman who said she remembered the one who hypnotized her, telling her not to lie.
While even cutting off the words of herself, the Empress, who was questioning that woman.
A chilling premonition brushed past the back of her neck.
‘Since when has the Imperial Palace changed like this, since when has His Majesty the Emperor…… collapsed to this extent?’
The smell of overflowing falsehoods from an unknown source.
The Empress looked at the Emperor, who was still standing dazedly, with sad eyes. She struggled to hold back the tears that seemed ready to burst at any moment.
Hiding emotions was something she had practiced to the point of being second nature since becoming a member of the Imperial family.
‘Northern Grand Duke, you may be right.’
The Empress looked down at Medeia, who looked ready to stab Cecilia with a sword at any moment.
“Has the Grand Duke’s daughter not learned courtesy towards the Imperial family? Or has she not learned courtesy towards the people?”
At those words, a dazed Medeia looked up at the Empress.
‘What? Courtesy?’
Then the Emperor defended Medeia in a powerless voice.
“Empress, the Grand Duke’s daughter spoke that way for my sake.”
But the Empress still opened her mouth with an unchanged face.
“Your Majesty, no one should casually speak about the tragedy of the Imperial family.”
“…… That is true.”
“Does the Grand Duke’s daughter have evidence that this woman’s words are false?”
Medeia could not respond at all to the Empress’s sudden question.
‘Evidence that it’s false? Of course not.’
She had just spouted whatever came to mind to pretend to be on the Emperor’s side.
Why nitpick words meant to support the Emperor?!
Medeia couldn’t understand at all why the Empress, who had suddenly appeared, was doing this to her.
Cecilia’s words are the truth. That’s why she’s trying to get rid of her. Why are you interfering?
The Empress, who should have been living as if she didn’t exist, squashed in a separate palace like before, why! How dare she stand in my way?
The Empress spoke sternly.
“I hope the Grand Duke’s daughter will only speak based on clear facts from now on. I fear your careless words may disturb His Majesty.”
“…… I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Medeia bent her waist.
‘To give me such humiliation in front of so many nobles.’
The humiliation she felt for the first time in her life burned Medeia’s heart red.
[This is the timeline separator]I can tell without seeing her downcast head, her eyes blazing with anger beneath.
‘Medeia, you dare try to insult Her Majesty the Empress?’
I must have unconsciously put my hand on my sword hilt. Arcadia lightly pressed down on that hand of mine.
“I’m holding back, so you hold back too.”
“?”
“That wench is trying to reach out to not only my father but also my younger sister. Still, I’m enduring it. I’ll make sure to drop that woman, the Southern Grand Duke, into hell properly, I’ll make her beg to be killed, so you endure it.”
‘Arcadia.’
…… Right, this person. He saw all the images from the image stone I brought.
I took my hand off the sword hilt. Then he also slowly took his hand off mine.
Her Majesty the Empress spoke to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty. How about entrusting the investigation of this woman and the Shumaels to the Belfast Grand Duke, who has not been involved with this matter at all?”
“…… To Belfast?”
The nobles began to stir.
“If you dislike it, Your Majesty can decide who to entrust it to later. In any case, uncovering their mastermind is important, so they must be safely protected until then.”
The Emperor, looking very tired, stared into the air for a moment.
“…… Do as the Empress says.”
“It is a merciful decision, Your Majesty. Grand Duke Belfast, can you protect them for now?”
“As a Grand Duke of the Empire, I shall duly take charge of the criminals.”
My Grand Duke answered.
The Emperor quietly said something. Then…… the Empress held out her arm.
The Emperor placed his hand on top of the arm the Empress held out. As if a lost kitten had found a place to lean on.
The Empress spoke to the nobles.
“The guilty will reveal themselves under the holy blade. Take His Majesty’s mercy shown today as your model.”
“We are immensely grateful! Your Majesty the Emperor! Your Majesty the Empress!”
The nobles chanted in unison.
It had become a situation that could only be called merciful.
The Shumaels prostrated themselves on the ground until their knees shattered. Cecilia cried out.
“Ah…… Your Majesty! Thank you for your mercy!”
“Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress! Thank you!”
Arcadia whispered.
“Then shall we go attend our Grand Duke?”
“Yes.”
The Grand Duke on the platform had already stood up and was looking my way.
[This is the timeline separator]Arcadia, by order of the Northern Grand Duke, summoned Bran and Count Emils who were standing by nearby to protect the Shumaels and Cecilia.
They were escorted to the prison inside the Imperial Palace where those whose sentences had not been decided stayed.
The sight of the Northern knights escorting the criminals together with the Imperial Guard was impressive.
Seeing this, the nobles added their words one after another.
“He made a wise decision even after it was revealed she wasn’t his real granddaughter.”
“If it were before, he would have killed them all as the serpent-tongued said.”
“The Southern Grand Duke will hear you! Watch your mouth.”
“Anyway, it was a divine move for His Highness the Northern Grand Duke to bring Her Majesty the Empress!”
Some time later, as the nobles left and the hall gradually emptied, the Grand Duke walked towards us.
“Your Highness, who made a divine move, are you alright?”
Arcadia showed a concerned smile.
“Good work, everyone.”
“Not at all. Your Highness did a truly great thing.”
I mean it sincerely.
At my words, the Grand Duke narrowed his long eyes and showed a smile.
Again, a cool breeze blows from him and recedes.
Running through the cold dawn air, how far did this person see?
How far did he think to be able to bring the Empress here?
With the strange relief that I no longer have to struggle alone, I rubbed my reddening eyes without realizing it.
Arcadia asked.
“Your Highness, how exactly did you bring Her Majesty the Empress? That recluse, bringing her back out into the world which no one has been able to do…”
“Before asking how I brought her, shouldn’t you ask how I thought to bring her, Arcadia?”
The Grand Duke grinned.
“Yes, yes, a brilliant decision, I applaud you. I commend you.”
Arcadia clapped sincerely while smirking.
The Grand Duke showed a faint smile.
“…… We made a deal.”
“What deal?”
Arcadia asked back in surprise.
‘A deal?’
“I swore I would find the real Imperial Princess for her. That is the deal between me and Her Majesty the Empress.”
‘!’
A vow to find the real princess.
My heart sank.
“Your Highness, you haven’t given up yet?”
“Yes. Because I haven’t found her yet.”
To Arcadia’s question, the Grand Duke replied as if stating the obvious.
I lowered my head without realizing it.
‘The real princess.’
“Your Highness. Do you believe…… the real princess is still alive?”
I asked without realizing it.
“What if she’s already passed from this world?”
The Grand Duke’s blue eyes turned to me.
“When I was very young, I met her once, although she may not remember.”
“!”
“Silver hair and sky-blue eyes.”
“!!”
“Like you.”
The Grand Duke’s eyes gazed at me.
‘We’ve met before?’
Is it true?
A memory I don’t have at all.
In my vanished memories…… there’s a young me who met a young you.
Why does the memory that disappeared suddenly ache so much?
Arcadia slightly frowned.
“Your Highness, is that true?”
The Grand Duke didn’t reply at all. Then Arcadia asked back in surprise.
“Have you really met her before? You’ve never mentioned it even once. If it’s true, if His Majesty knew……”
“It mustn’t happen. He’ll be more suspicious of Belfast.”
“Ah……”
Arcadia held his forehead as if he had a headache.
I had a question.
“Why would knowing that make His Majesty suspicious?”
At my words, Arcadia replied tersely in a lowered voice. Glancing at the Grand Duke.
“I’ll tell you quietly later. What you heard now must be kept secret. Really, if you want to live.”
“Yes, Vice Captain.”
Arcadia, I won’t say it even if you don’t tell me to. Because I can’t say it……
“I have no choice but to believe she’s alive. For the sake of this empire, and for the sake of Belfast.”
The Grand Duke spoke without taking his eyes off me.
I avoided his gaze and looked elsewhere.
‘Your Highness, please forgive me.’
That’s when it happened.
“Your Highness.”
Arcadia called the Grand Duke. At the end of Arcadia’s gaze was a noble I had never seen before.
That noble approached us.
A man who appeared to be in his mid-30s, with long dark brown hair tied to one side and an elegant mustache. He deeply bowed in front of the Northern Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke called his name.
“Count Jardin.”
“Yes. Jardin, Minister of Finance, greets Your Highness the Grand Duke. I received a summons from Lord Nugent last time and have been eagerly awaiting the day to see Your Highness.”
“For eagerly awaiting, it’s a late visit.”
“Your Highness’s actions today seem to prove that my expectations were not wrong…… I apologize for being late and wish to see you at a time you allow.”
“It should be a busy time when you have to plan the budget for the year soon.”
“That’s why even more so, isn’t that why you called for me?”
The Grand Duke showed a smile.
“I knew you would come, Jardin.”
“That’s right, Your Highness. I have much to tell you.”
The man called Count Jardin shone his intelligent and faithful-looking eyes.
__________
Men In The Royal Harem All Yearn For Her (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The men (young empress, young empress dowager, crown prince) in the harem all yearn to become her consort.
Synopsis:
The female protagonist is a wildly popular heartthrob with a natural halo.
The male protagonist is a crazily obsessed and self-abasing loyal dog.
Qiu Shu, the top scholar’s daughter, is pure, elegant and incomparably enchanting, captivating countless admirers.
Being favored by the eldest prince, the most handsome man in the capital, and becoming his wife in a single move is truly the pride of a poor student.
However, what they don’t know is that the seemingly bright and splendid female protagonist lives in a battlefield of jealousy every day.
The cute and adorable young empress is unusually attached to her.
The gentlemanly and upright young empress dowager has an ambiguous relationship with her.
Even her aloof and proud eldest prince is actually a gloomy and petty jealous husband.
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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