Chapter 75: The Eyes of Someone Who Loves
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 75: The Eyes of Someone Who Loves
“W-who is it?”
Rosette asked in a voice trembling with terror.
The cell she occupied in the Imperial Palace underground prison was a space isolated from the other prisoners. While she had been separated because the guards could not place a high-ranking noble like Rosette among common criminals, she hadn't felt grateful for that fact for even a single moment.
Whenever she was trapped alone in the pitch-black cell without so much as a single candle, the only thing that disturbed her ears was the sound of rats gnawing on something.
It felt like she was going mad. Rosette, who occasionally suffered from auditory hallucinations, was utterly consumed by fear.
“Oh, you poor thing.”
“Ugh.”
“Your beautiful hair is a mess.”
Long, pale fingers stroked Rosette’s hair. Rosette hunched her shoulders and pressed her body against the wall to avoid the touch.
“Do not be so afraid. I have come to save you.”
“You are…”
Though most of the person's face was hidden by a robe, Rosette felt a sense of familiarity from the figure before her.
The gentle voice and the kind tone. Rosette called out in a shaking voice.
“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager?”
“Hehe.”
As the robe was pulled back, the Empress Dowager’s beautiful face was revealed. It was a beauty that seemed to radiate light even within the dark dungeon.
“Why are you… here…”
It wasn't inherently strange for the Empress Dowager to be in the Imperial underground prison. Aside from the Emperor, she was the most powerful person in the Imperial Palace.
But why would the Empress Dowager come to see her? The Western Region and the Empress Dowager had been at odds for a long time—ever since she turned a blind eye to the desolate West and sent the young Crown Prince there, where war never ceased, in an attempt to have him killed.
“Now that I think about it, there were quite a lot of demonic beasts in the West. My goodness, I’ve been wasting my efforts because I failed to recognize such talent.”
“What do you…”
Rosette looked up at the Empress Dowager with uneasy eyes.
The woman’s very existence was out of place in this prison. Her actions and speech were exactly as they always were, but that was precisely why she felt so jarringly mismatched with a place like a dungeon.
Perhaps that was why Rosette felt a sense of dread toward the Empress Dowager. Her body, which had been exposed to the cold air for so long, began to shiver violently.
“Wouldn't it be a shame to die like this? Hmm?”
“I, I…”
“I will help you get revenge on that bitch, Veronica.”
“…!”
Rosette’s eyes widened at the Empress Dowager’s whisper.
Veronica, Veronica!
The face of that woman who had looked down on her with such arrogance flashed through her mind. How she had wanted to gouge out those red eyes that shone like rubies.
The look in Rosette’s trembling eyes gradually turned venomous.
“I knew I had an eye for people.”
The Empress Dowager looked down at Rosette and smiled with satisfaction.
She, too, had no intention of getting involved with someone from the West, but she had changed her mind after seeing the sheer malice in Rosette, who had been bold enough to try and harm Veronica.
“I happen to have a very good role for you.”
“…”
“Will you come with me?”
The Empress Dowager wore a benevolent expression as she reached out her hand. Rosette stared blankly at it.
Normally, she wouldn't have even dreamed of joining forces with the Empress Dowager.
But having failed to kill Veronica, she was destined to die soon, and her family had already abandoned her. Rosette flashed a twisted smile.
“I will.”
Rosette lifted her arm and took the Empress Dowager’s hand, nodding with a look of grim determination.
Behind the Empress Dowager, who wore a satisfied smile, a dark shadow flickered.
*
“As you can see, the color and texture of this fabric are more…”
“And as for this ornament…”
For several days now, a constant stream of people had been entering and exiting the Empress’s Chambers.
Thanks to Veronica, who had been working tirelessly since the first day, the Empress’s Chambers were being transformed day by day.
I sat there today as well, watching the merchants who were passionately pitching to Veronica with cold eyes.
“Dia, this is delicious. Try some.”
“Okay.”
Abel scooped up a spoonful of cold ice cream and held it out to me. I ate the lemon-flavored ice cream and glanced out the window.
The weather was starting to get warm. It had been chilly until recently, but now spring was approaching.
It had been so cold when I was in the North. The Capital was warm, so it wasn't that cold even in winter, but I realized just how much time had already passed.
“Now that I think about it, I also have an accessory that would suit our future Imperial Princess.”
“For our Dia?”
“Yes, indeed.”
At that moment, the merchant who had been bowing and scraping before Veronica must have decided I was his next target, as he began to creep toward me.
Then, he pulled something out.
“A ribbon?”
“Isn't it just darling and cute? I set it aside because I knew at a glance it would suit the future Imperial Princess.”
“Hmm.”
Veronica looked closely at the purple ribbon.
The purple ribbon, which looked like it would be perfectly pretty on a young child, certainly seemed like it would suit me.
A yellow gem, the symbol of the Imperial Family, was embedded in the center of the ribbon. The merchant had likely attached the gem on purpose.
‘But a purple ribbon, of all things.’
My eyes were essentially a massive source of insecurity for me. It was because they were the exact same color as the eyes of my biological father, Cedric.
Everyone pretended otherwise, but they surely thought of Cedric every time they looked at my eyes. Veronica, who had divorced him, would be no different.
And yet, to proudly pull out a purple ribbon in front of Veronica and me—this merchant’s salesmanship left much to be desired.
“Yes, it will look good on our Dia.”
“…?”
Contrary to my thoughts, however, Veronica spoke with an unfazed expression.
I wondered if she was just acting for the merchant’s sake, but Veronica took the ribbon and pinned it directly onto my hair herself.
“You’re so pretty, my Dia.”
“U-ung.”
“Do you like it too, Dia?”
“Ung.”
I nodded reflexively. At that, Veronica gave a breathtakingly beautiful smile.
‘Veronica really doesn't care about Cedric anymore.’
Veronica was so happy now that she didn't even think of Cedric when she saw a simple purple ribbon.
Realizing this, I beamed back at her.
Just then—
“Oh my, the atmosphere in the Empress’s Chambers has improved quite a bit.”
“Y-Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
The surroundings became frantic due to the sudden appearance of the Empress Dowager.
As Veronica hurriedly stood up to show her respect, the Empress Dowager waved her hand.
“I came here unannounced, so please, don't. It only makes me feel more apologetic.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty. Please do not say such things.”
The relationship between the Empress Dowager and Veronica was currently awkward. Rumors had spread far and wide that the Empress Dowager was displeased because Veronica had been given the Empress’s Chambers before she was officially made Empress.
Because of this, when Veronica had gone to visit the Empress Dowager to pay her respects, she hadn't even been received. To think she would suddenly show up here so shamelessly.
“I had some pressing business when the Ducal Lady visited last time. I hope you weren't upset by that?”
“Of course not, Your Majesty.”
Had Veronica ever experienced being turned away at the door by someone in her life?
Aside from Cedric, she likely hadn't suffered such an insult from anyone.
Come to think of it, there were two people in this room who had insulted Veronica in her life: the Empress Dowager and Cedric.
“It’s awkward to talk standing up like this, so could you bring some tea? Cedric, you sit down as well.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“…Bring the tea.”
The Empress Dowager was definitely doing this on purpose. Cedric, the Empress Dowager’s guard knight, sat at the table with an expressionless face.
“Oh my, that ribbon the child is wearing is quite lovely. Did you just buy it from that merchant?”
“I did.”
“The merchant has good taste. Make sure to stop by the Empress Dowager’s palace sometime as well.”
“I-it is an honor, Your Majesty!”
The merchant looked like he was about to die of joy. I looked at him with eyes as cold as ice.
“The ribbon looks even prettier because it matches the child’s eye color.”
“…”
“Don't you think so, Cedric?”
At the Empress Dowager’s question, Cedric glanced at me. It was a look as if he were staring at an inanimate object.
“It seems so.”
“Hehe, oh Cedric. Are you feeling shy because the child’s eyes are the spitting image of yours?”
The Empress Dowager was the only one laughing happily here. No one else was smiling. She was a truly shameless woman.
“I also think Dia’s eyes are very beautiful, Your Majesty.”
But then, Veronica, who had taken a sip of her tea, spoke up calmly.
“And her black hair, her peach-like cheeks, and her small hands—everything about her is lovely.”
Her eyes, brimming with affection, turned toward me. It was the gaze of someone who loved me for exactly who I was, without seeing anyone else in me.