In the hearing room, he had ordered the removal of Viscount Leorode.

‘Hmm.’

He, who had lived his whole life like a puppet, was now issuing commands on his own, not under anyone else’s orders.

Is this a good sign, or is it ominous?

The Empress, who had been staring at him as if trying to see through him, finally stopped her meaningless exploration. She would ask if she was curious.

“At the hearing room, the Viscount covered up his crimes.”

Ilay, wiping the teacup, raised his head at the voice. Then, an extremely awkward expression crossed his face.

“There’s nothing we can do. The evidence that the Viscount distributed Botox is so clear.”

“So, are you saying you will exile my bloodline from the Empire?”

In response to Ilay’s firm attitude, the Empress’s voice became resolute.

“The Viscount is our family. Surely, you haven’t forgotten how he ascended to the throne?”

For a brief moment at the Empress’s continuation, a sardonic smile flickered on Ilay’s lips.

Forgotten? He could never forget. The throne he sat on was stained with blood, much like his mother’s.

‘Family.’

The Emperor had never felt the warmth of family like other noble houses. He was merely another puppet created to be the Empress’s second.

But he grew up.

There was no longer the young one hiding behind the Empress. He no longer had any intention of considering the Empress’s long-term plan.

“Yes. How could I forget? But, Empress Mama, you must step back now. Trying to save the Viscount will only harm you.”

“Hmm. We underestimated Akhia too much, it seems.”

The Empress, after hearing Ilay’s words, touched her forehead in apparent agreement.

“It’s clear that Ruisel Youngae went to Akhia. I heard she died from poisoning, but what is happening here?”

Ilay’s expression remained impassive at the Empress’s words.

The one who poisoned Youngae to death was Ilay himself. He had someone kill her, disguising it as the side effects of Botox.

‘There’s one reason.’

Under the Empress’s protection, to deal with the reckless Viscount Leorode. And to extend his influence beyond the Empress’s embrace.

If Ruisel Youngae died, the Empress would naturally suspect Akhia.

And if, for some reason, a problem arose, and Akhia won at the hearing, the Viscount would bear the punishment.

Ilay had nothing to lose.

But then…
‘Ruisel Youngae didn’t die.’

The fact that Ruisel Youngae didn’t die was an unexpected variable. Ilay immediately thought of a certain woman. A woman who was even more tempting because she was unattainable.

Surviving a deadly poison meant undoubtedly that the woman had saved her.

“It must be Bellarus Youngae who saved her.”

The smile on his face, as he thought of Lea, became even deeper.

‘It would have been better if she had willingly become my woman.’

Although her potential was somewhat disappointing, it would be better to cut her off and let her become a greater threat.

“It would be dangerous to leave them as they are. Those two.”

Simultaneously with the eerie resonance of his voice.

“Deal with them.”

The Empress’s eyes, facing Ilay, flashed fiercely.

It was inside the carriage on their way back after the hearing.

“When did you know?”

“About what?”

Akhia, seemingly looking out the window, tilted her head at Lea’s voice.

“That Trigger person was a spy.”

“Ah, those who come up to the top are closely monitored by Likell. Trigger knew that Viscount’s people were already in the upper ranks.”

Lea widened her eyes at the fact that he already knew.

“Did you let it happen, knowing?”

“I learned that something was being plotted during the commotion at the party. Besides, many in the empire bear grudges against Viscount Leorode.”

Especially those at the top in Parchia had many resentments.

“If someone has enemies all around, there’s a high chance that the person by their side also carries a knife.”

Lea sighed softly.

‘So that’s why he told me to just wait.’

Akhia had told Lea not to retaliate but deliberately show vulnerabilities. Soon, she would understand the reason.

“And as expected, Trigger became a double agent on our side.”

“…”

“Everything went as we thought.”

He straightened his body, which had been leaning slightly forward, and looked at Lea with a direct gaze.

“Except for the Ruisel Viscount Youngae incident.”

The only thing. What Akhia didn’t predict was the sudden collapse of Ruisel Viscount Youngae one day.

‘Unknown poisoning.’

If they had not kept an eye on Ruisel Viscount Youngae and forgotten about her, she would undoubtedly have lost her life.

‘But who on earth tried to kill Ruisel Youngae?’

Initially, Akhia thought it was Viscount Leorode’s scheme. However, when rumors spread that Ruisel Youngae had fallen into a coma, the Viscount showed a bewildering reaction.

The person with a motive to kill Ruisel Youngae was on the Empress’s side. And it was only Akhia and Lea closely related to the side effects of Botox.

Neither Lea nor he had tried to harm Ruisel Youngae.

‘If it’s not the Viscount’s doing……’

Akhia organized his thoughts. Perhaps, this incident might involve more complex relationships than initially thought.