Chapter 58: The Empress's Condition, and Its Reason
"I hope you'll treat the Empress. Her condition, and the reason for it."
"We welcome all of you who have come here to celebrate Thanksgiving with Us...."
As the emperor delivered his speech to the assembled nobles, my gaze remained fixed on the Empress. It wasn't a steady stare. In my mind, I kept imagining the tortures she might have endured at his hands. There were too many possibilities to pinpoint any one.
Clink.
The emperor's speech ended, and the nobles clinked glasses with those beside them. I did the same with the nameless noble next to me, then approached the emperor. To assess the Empress's condition, I needed to get close.
"Empire's Sun."
"Ah, Morris. You've come."
"How could I refuse a personal summons from Your Majesty?"
"Hahaha, true enough. Ah, do you see over there?"
The emperor pointed with a sly glint in his eye toward the group of young ladies gathered in the distance.
"The debutantes who just completed their coming-of-age this year. Aren't they exquisite?"
Daughters of viscounts, heiresses to massive trading houses, countesses, marchionesses—no matter their rank, the young ladies clustered in groups, chattering away. They chatted with those nearby, but their eyes chased me. A few who met my gaze flushed red and turned away.
"They're all eyeing you."
"Me, Your Majesty?"
"Of course. Who else in this room is the most eligible bachelor without a betrothal? The empire's greatest man might be Us, the emperor, but among the unmarried, it's you. The man who enjoys the emperor's favor."
Emperor Ryuclid von Vermut continued, looking at me.
"It's a shame you didn't end up with Solarion."
The emperor, head of the imperial faction, naturally wanted me betrothed to Solarion.
"She's someone I was once broken off from. My house's honor is at stake."
"Honor... Yes, it's vital. Isn't that what all the nobles in the world scramble for?"
His gaze shifted back to the young ladies.
"Take your time deciding. No matter who you betroth, you'll remain the empire's Magic Minister."
It was pressure. A reminder that I was the Magic Minister appointed by him—indirectly, that I was in his grasp. In polite terms, his man. But in truth...
Just the emperor's words, is that it?
It was a phrase that perfectly revealed the emperor's nature: trusting no one but himself.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
I bowed my head in response.
"If any among them catches your eye as a good match, tell Us. I'm always willing to stand as your witness."
The emperor spoke with a relaxed smile.
"I'm not thinking of betrothal yet. The Magic Department has mountains of work. No spare energy for anything else."
"Is that so?"
The emperor smacked his lips and leaned back.
"A pity."
After bidding the emperor farewell, I approached the Empress.
"Greetings to the Sun's consort."
I took her hand and kissed the back of it. She flinched sharply at my touch, turning her head toward the hand holding hers. Even for a stranger's touch, it was an overly violent reaction. She too must have been a possessor from 21st-century Korea, transmigrated into this world.
What is it?
As I puzzled over her intense response, the emperor spoke from beside us.
"Ah, I was remiss in mentioning it."
He finished with an innocent smile. My heart clenched at that voice—for no good reason. His mouth and voice laughed, but his eyes did not.
"The Empress can neither see nor hear right now."
"What do you mean?"
"Sigh, I meant to discuss it privately, but no helping it."
His face darkened, as if the smile had been a lie.
"About a month after our marriage, she told me. That she was a transmigrator fallen into a novel's world. That this world was a story from a book, and she'd thrown away a chance to return outside just to stay with Us."
A transmigrator. Right. The novel's heroine I'd read about was, like me now, pulled into the story knowing its future and the characters' behaviors. That made it easy for her to win their hearts; every action charmed the male leads. She stole their affections more readily and achieved a happy ending in this dark tale.
She'd revealed her secret. Probably thinking it had changed Ryuclid too.
"Insolent, isn't it? Daring to dismiss the world We rule as mere fiction?"
His tone was soft, but sharp blades hid within the words. His glass-holding hand trembled.
Crack!
The glass shattered in his grip, shards piercing his hand. Red blood flowed.
"Your Majesty!"
The attending butlers and maids cried out in alarm. The emperor ignored them, glaring only at me and Empress Cecilia.
"She kept begging Me to believe her. Said it was a secret she'd hide forever, shared only with Me... I had no intention of forgiving a challenge to My authority."
His fisted hand shook.
"So I cut out that insolent tongue mocking the emperor and toying with Us. I blinded those eyes that claimed to see beyond this world, deafened those ears that heard otherworldly things. Then I threw her in the palace dungeon."
Madness rose in the emperor's eyes. Was he recalling her screams of agony?
He chuckled intermittently as he spoke.
"......"
Was this why? The heroine who once braked the emperor's madness was gone.
"She screamed and wept, so I prepared countless tortures. Bound her limbs and flayed her flesh with whips, sliced it with sharp blades. Starved her for days. The most amusing? Tossing that wench to the Imperial Guard."
Recalling that day? The emperor snickered.
"Hah, Cecilia ravaged by the guards was truly beautiful. Even after insulting Me, seeing her as Empress again made My heart race. That's when I realized... how exquisite it is when something radiant crumbles pathetically."
The emperor gazed at her dreamily.
"Of course, I executed every guard who dared violate and torment My Empress."
"Then why bring her to an official event?"
"She can't skip these, or suspicions arise. So I specially pardoned her and brought her out."
"......"
I looked at the Empress. Her unfocused stare forward, forced smile—it must be from terror. Blind, deaf, mute, dreading another one-sided assault from the emperor.
"What would you have me do?"
"Simple. Treat the Empress. Restore her to normal."
"Changed your mind?"
"No. Her spirit's broken too—no reactions left, no fun. Fresh, lively toys are what amuse, no?"
The emperor's madness had no brakes.
"Possible? I know you healed Lady Solarion when even high priests gave up. They called it a miracle."
I knew it.
"...... It'll take time."
"However long."
"Impossible in the palace. Need my mansion or a recovery space."
"Fine."
"Problem: Rumors if the Empress leaves the palace..."
"Ways to quash such scandals."
"Understood."
I couldn't refuse. Nor did I want to. The heroine Empress needed restoring anyway. Grateful he asked, even.
"Reliable retainers make the heart steady."
The emperor's lips curved to the heavens.
Emily watched Morris converse with the emperor from his side.
He won't even look at me in the end.
The party greeting was their first and last exchange today.
He truly has no feelings for me.
Emily recalled Morris's words at the mansion gate. That he'd accepted her only for ties to Duke Solarion. At first, she denied it. He wasn't like that; there must be circumstances pushing her away. She thought her persistence and obsession drove him off. If she stayed away a few days, he'd seek her.
But no matter how long she avoided him, Morris never came first. So she sent letters. Worrying for his health, asking what he did, sharing her thoughts of him.
No reply. Letters returned unopened.
Then fever struck. Loss from abandonment by her love. Despair of never loving again. She refused food and water. Duke Solarion summoned priests for her, to no avail. She thought she'd die.
She fainted.
How much time passed? Emily awoke to a warm embrace. Duke Solarion stood before her, tears streaming. Morris was absent from her recovery.
I've been discarded. Pursued impossible love.
Despair. But she didn't collapse again. She ate simple fare, resumed light exercise. Health returned gradually, but changed.
Now she thought of Morris for another reason.
I'll make you regret discarding me.
Emily vowed once more. Become a finer woman, make him rue choosing another.
The party ended. I expected another day for imperial talks, but he sent me off without delay. All words exchanged, then.
The Empress wasn't beside me.
"I'll send her separately. Undetectably."
At the mansion, I soon understood his confidence.
"Master, a slave trader has come to the mansion."
"Slave trader?"
"Your ordered slave has arrived."
"......"
In the dark night, I saw a shabby carriage at the entrance. A slave trader waited, lantern lit.
"What's this?"
"Haha, Minister, sir... Your ordered slave."
"I ordered no slave."
"You'll see."
The trader grinned obsequiously, opening the door.
And there...
"Mmph."
A woman blindfolded, gagged. In ragged sackcloth. Chains on arms and legs.
Pink hair cascading down—I knew her instantly.
"Ha, so this was his method."
I couldn't help a hollow laugh at the emperor's way. Empress Cecilia wore a dog collar, a small note attached.
She's the patient for you to treat. Never reveal who she is. I sent her via slave trader—you'll handle him discreetly. If she's cured well by My arrival, do as you please.
His own wife, reduced to this. Chilling.
I eyed the trader. He grinned servilely.
"Payment?"
"Yes, sir."
"I see."
I placed a hand on his head.
"Better than death."
"Wh-what?"
Light flared from my hand on his head; foam bubbled from his mouth.
"Grrgh!"
I erased all memories of escorting the Empress here. Side effects would linger.
Better than dying.
The trader blinked blankly around.
"What brings you to my mansion?"
"Ah, uh? Huh? Wh-why am I here?"
"Get out. No place for trash like you."
"S-sorry!"
Confirming the retreating trader, I regarded the thoroughly bound Empress.
Need Emily's help.
I recalled the novel's sub-male lead, now woman, who loved Cecilia fiercely. What reaction seeing her like this?