Chapter 74: Don't You Want Revenge?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74: Don't You Want Revenge?
I blinked, wondering if I had misseen it. But no matter how many times I looked, it was definitely a bloodstain. Unless red pepper paste existed in this world, there was no mistaking it.
Where did he get that on him?
Then, Desmond’s nonchalant voice echoed in my head.
[That scary Sword Master was torturing a woman until just a moment ago.]
Torture?
[Yes. This Great One was also in the dungeon for a short while with that woman. The one who sent the demonic beast as a gift.]
Ah, Rosette?
Unlike Desmond, Rosette would have been locked in the Imperial Palace’s underground prison this whole time.
Since Veronica hadn't said a single word to me about her, I had almost forgotten.
Come to think of it, it was about time for a verdict to be reached regarding Rosette’s sentence.
Rosette will probably die.
She had openly tried to kill the future Empress, so she wouldn't be allowed to close her eyes in peace.
However, since Veronica wasn't a member of the Imperial Family yet, Rosette would likely be punished for the simple crime of assaulting a noble. If that were the case, the Chernoke Ducal Family—part of the Imperial Faction—wouldn't face total annihilation.
But if that happens, Duke Chernoke will despise Dantalion.
Chernoke was a noble family representing the Western Region. In the original novel, Duke Chernoke wasn't a particularly significant character, but now that Dantalion wasn't a tyrant, there was no telling how things would change.
If he killed Rosette, there was no knowing what kind of grudge the enraged Duke Chernoke might hold. I was truly worried about a great many things.
“Dia.”
“Yes?”
I looked up, trying my best not to let my thoughts show. Dantalion’s kind face came into view.
“What would you like to eat first?”
“Umm.”
I scanned the table, pretending to deliberate. A truly diverse spread of food was laid out before us.
Should I start with meat to be safe? A person needs to eat their meat well, after all.
I pointed at a large steak with my finger.
“Dia wants to eat that!”
“I see.”
At Dantalion’s nod, an attendant quickly moved a portion of the steak onto a plate. Dantalion himself sliced the steak with effortless elegance.
“Here, eat up.”
“Wow!”
I took the steak into my mouth like a baby bird. The meat was exquisite, practically melting on my tongue. The sauce, neither too sweet nor too salty, was perfectly seasoned and delicious.
“Is it good?”
“Yes!”
“Since Dia is eating so well, bring more of this steak.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Dantalion smiled warmly, busily ferrying steak into my mouth. Eventually, Veronica, unable to watch any longer, spoke up.
“Your Majesty should eat as well.”
“I’m fine. I feel full just watching the child eat.”
“Still...”
Veronica seemed at a loss, looking worried as Dantalion continued to feed me. Dantalion gave a playful smirk.
“If you’re that worried, Berry, you can feed me.”
“Pardon?”
“Come on, say ‘ah.’”
“Your—Your Majesty!”
How could he do something so shameless in front of others!
Veronica looked horrified, as if she were shouting those very words. For someone who had lived her entire life as the Ducal Lady of Winston, such an act was unthinkable. It went against all etiquette.
Still, you should give it a try while you have the chance.
I hid a smirk as I watched the flustered Veronica. While her haughty appearance as a Ducal Lady suited her, seeing her flustered like a normal young lady her age was also nice.
“Ahhh.”
“...Ugh.”
Ultimately, biting her lip, Veronica picked up a small piece of steak with her fork.
Her hand trembled as she brought it to Dantalion’s mouth. Everyone in the dining room held their breath as they watched.
“Mmm, it’s delicious.”
“Sigh.”
Dantalion beamed as he chewed the steak. Veronica let out a sigh, her face flushed red.
Tomorrow’s newspapers will be quite a sight.
The two weren't officially married yet, but for the past few days, news of their impending marriage had plastered every newspaper.
With a new Imperial couple appearing in the palace that the Empress Dowager had practically occupied, public interest was astronomical.
And because of that, much news would leak out to the public from now on. Dantalion likely staged this situation knowing exactly that.
He really is smart.
I glanced at the bloodstain on the hem of Dantalion’s uniform.
In the original story, Dantalion was a legendary tyrant. Right now, he wore the face of the kindest man imaginable, but I was likely the only one here who knew his true nature.
I’m so glad he’s on our side.
Far from being afraid of him, I found Dantalion incredibly reliable.
I really did make the right choice by bringing him over to our side. I smiled contentedly and finished the cozy meal with my new family.
*
The dark underground prison exuded a chilling atmosphere.
Squeak, squeak.
Rats scurried unbothered through the filthy cell. Rosette followed them with bloodshot eyes.
At first, she would have had a fit just seeing a dirty rat, but now she didn't even have the energy for that.
This makes no sense.
Rosette muttered to herself. Her lovely pink hair was a tangled, messy nest, and she was wearing rags instead of a magnificent dress.
Her face and body were already a wreck from repeated torture. Rosette couldn't believe she had fallen this far.
Something went wrong.
She was one of only two Ducal Ladies in the Empire. Although there had been a power struggle in high society because people refused to recognize the Chernoke family’s late elevation to a Ducal House, Rosette had endured it all.
She had never doubted that one day, she would crush that fox-like Lady Veronica and become the Empress.
But reality was a gutter. Rosette recalled her conversation with Dantalion from just a moment ago.
‘Your Majesty, please. Please spare me!’
‘My Lady, I warned you. Do not covet what you cannot have.’
Dantalion had spoken in a cold, firm tone.
In fact, looking back, it had always been that way. Dantalion always maintained a boundary, even while wearing a seemingly kind face.
Even when he stayed in the West, Rosette had shown her sincerity and sent passionate letters every time they met, but she had never received a single reply. Not a single promise for the future.
Nevertheless, Rosette believed she was the only one fit to be Empress. Lady Veronica was already a married woman, after all.
Having adored Dantalion for a long time, Rosette had noticed he liked Veronica faster than anyone else. Still, she thought she would have more opportunities.
But all of it had been nothing more than an illusion.
‘Tell me, My Lady. Did anyone help you? Was Duke Chernoke involved as well?’
‘N-no. I... hic, I did it alone.’
Rosette had said through her tears.
Originally, the mana bomb placed inside the demonic beast was so small and sophisticated that it was supposed to vanish without a trace upon exploding. She thought it would be the perfect crime, as the beast’s body would also be destroyed.
However, not only was the explosion smaller than expected, but she hadn't known a child born with divine power would be right there.
Because of that, even the evidence—the demonic beast—had been revived, and she had been caught.
But she had planned and executed this task entirely on her own. She could never bring shame upon her father and the family that had only just celebrated their rise to the rank of a Ducal House.
‘P-please forgive me. Your Majesty, please...’
‘I’m afraid I can’t do that. You tried to kill the person most precious to me.’
‘Sob, why... why her? Why...’
‘Do you want to know why?’
Dantalion leaned down and smirked. Despite the excruciating pain from the torture, Rosette stared blankly into his deep blue eyes. Those eyes that she had fallen for hundreds, thousands of times.
‘Because Berry is perfect. I’ve wanted only her since we were children. The reason I became Emperor was to have her and protect her.’
‘Ah...’
Rosette felt a profound sense of despair as she looked at Dantalion, whose face had momentarily become that of a shy boy. It was an expression she had never seen when he was with her.
It really wasn't meant to be for me. It was impossible from the very beginning.
Letting out a hollow laugh, Rosette gritted her teeth and forced the words out.
‘My father... my father won't... ugh, stand for this.’
‘Ah, Duke Chernoke?’
However, upon hearing Rosette’s words, Dantalion straightened his back and chuckled.
‘The Duke said that what his daughter did has nothing to do with them. He claimed he knew nothing about it.’
‘Ah...’
‘He begged me to please leave the family alone.’
Rosette’s face contorted. Her expression, a mix of despair and rage, looked almost grotesque.
“Aaaaah!”
Dantalion watched the collapsing Rosette with satisfaction before turning to leave the dungeon.
Time passed, and Rosette stared at the filthy floor of the cell, completely despondent.
“Don’t you want revenge?”
“...!”
At that moment, a soft, mellow voice pierced her ears.