From the moment he heard the report that Rosena had fallen, nothing else came into his ears.
Yerhan ran as hard as he could, blaming his legs for failing to move faster.
He almost fell again and again, but he couldn’t slow down.
Leaving the garden, Yerhan immediately headed for the Third Prince Palace.
And when he reached the entrance of the palace, he began to hear a lot of voices coming from the inside.
His footsteps, which had only been running frantically, slowed down.
As he entered the palace, he heard cries and screams.
With the feeling as if the world was shaking, Yerhan managed to straighten his steps.
The sound of footsteps resonated loudly, and he was finally able to reach the room where the crowd gathered.
“Your Highness….”
Everyone raised their heads and looked at Yerhan.
The images of those crying felt very unrealistic.
“Her Highness…:.”
Ella, who was crying, could no longer speak.
Yerhan approached with a staggering step.
As the employees left bit by bit, the view that had been blocked unfolded.
“Mom…!”
Illian was crying and calling for Rosena.
Yerhan looked at Illian as such and turned his head very slowly.
He could see Rosena lying on the white sheet.
Her pale face, without any color, was like a ceramic doll. The dress she was wearing was full of blood and he couldn’t identify its original color.
Yerhan was at a standstill. He couldn’t believe the situation, and he couldn’t do anything about it.
He didn’t feel it was reality, it was as if everything would break if he moved a finger.
“Rosena…?”
Yerhan called Rosena after a long time. But no matter how long he waited, Rosena didn’t open her eyes.
Only then did reality touch him little by little.
Yerhan reached out, his hand trembling, and touched Rosena’s cheek.
There was no warmth on the soft but cold cheeks.
“What about the doctor…”
Ella answered Yerhan’s question.
“He left just before you came. Although it is the slightest… amount of poisoning… but Her Highness continues to bleed… and we never know when Her Highness will…”
Ella replied with a stuttering cry.
The doctor said she may never wake up. But Ella couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud.
“Poison…? Who…?”
Yerhan, who was listening to her in silence, slowly looked up.
His face, which seemed to have completely lost his mind, was slightly shadowed with emotion.
Then Isaac, who was standing behind, took a step closer and answered.
“Based on the circumstances, it is likely Countess Estarot, who met Her Highness today.”
“Estarot…?”
The name came late into his head.
Countess Estarot is Rosena’s sister.
She showed hostility towards Rosena over and over again.
Rosena wanted to take matters into her own hands, so he had only been watching until now.
Yerhan gripped Rosena’s wrist with trembling hands.
He shouldn’t do that. He should’ve solved it himself even if Rosena blamed him…
His lips trembled mercilessly. He couldn’t hear his voice because his throat was clogged as if he had swallowed a piece of iron.
“…Save her.”
His voice trembled inexorably.
“It doesn’t matter whatever, how much it will take.”
He could even give up his life if it was necessary.
If he couldn’t wake Rosena up even if he put everything out, then…
Yerhan dropped his head. Looking at her pale, bloodless lips, a lot of emotions rushed in at once.
The first thing that came over him was regret.
If he had let go of Rosena earlier, or if he hadn’t brought her to the Imperial Palace, if he’d let her go the way she was when they first met.
All of this happened because of him.
Because the third prince had no power, Rosena was embroiled.
He wanted to turn back time.
If he could go back in time, he would let go of all his greed and let Rosena go.
When she asked for a divorce, he should just let her go.
Yerhan swallowed his breath tightly. He couldn’t breathe because his chest hurt.
The fact that Rosena was like this because of his selfishness, the thorn of guilt stuck in his mind.
“Get… the best doctor in the empire.”
Yerhan, who barely spoke, finally slowly rose to his feet.
There was nothing he could do for Rosena, even though he was next to her.
He just couldn’t see her face while in a sober state.
Because looking at Rosena made him want to cut himself with a sword.
Yerhan barely swallowed his desire to die. And spoke to Isaac with a calm, subdued face.
“Now, I’m going to Countess Estarrot.”
Isaac bowed instead of answering.
Standing up from his seat, Yerhan saw Illian’s face, which had swollen eyes.
His hand reached out to the pitiful figure. But Yerhan could not put it into practice.
Does he deserve to hug Illian?
When Yerhan looked down with a cloudy face, Illian, who was crying, reached out to him.
Standing silent, Yerhan hugged Illian.
Illian, who was crying, quickly closed his eyes as if he had fainted. Yerhan held Illian still and left him to the servants.
He slowly left the palace without any expression on his face.
The serene figure looked like a man facing a storm.
***
A woman’s voice echoed for a long time in the dreary dungeon.
Rania, who had been screaming for a long time, sank to the floor.
It was usually a dirty floor that she would never sit down on, but now she didn’t have the strength to stand properly.
The dungeon had a bleak chill. It was humid and cold because there was no sunlight or wind.
Rania embraced her trembling body. She still didn’t understand how she ended up stuck here.
Rania saw Rosena fall down with her own eyes.
Rosena, coughing up blood, looked like the dead.
“Why….”
Asilia apparently said that it’d take a few days later for the poison to react. And that she’d not die, but just couldn’t open her eyes, so how…..
Rania bit her nails one after another. She wondered if she had been betrayed by Asilia.
Since the circumstances were so clear, anyone could tell she was guilty.
Her whole body trembled like crazy.
Anyone who tried to assassinate the imperial family would face the death penalty.
Regardless, Rosena is the wife of the third prince without power.
“No way, that can’t be true… No…”
Rania heard the sound of iron creaking in her ears, who had been madly denying it.
The sound of old rust squeezed into a dark and wide space.
Slowly, the sound of footsteps on the stone floor resonated quietly.
Rania jumped out of her seat thinking that a person had entered.
Rania, who clung to the bars, cried out.
“Help me!!”
Her hoarse voice rang badly. But Rania raised her voice as hard as she could, as if she had the last lifeline in her hands.
The sound of footsteps grew closer and Rania breathed a sigh of relief.
Anyone was fine, as the priority was to get out of here.
And the person finally stopped walking in front of Rania.
It was none other than the third prince, Yerhan Herbet, who emerged from the darkness.
“Haaa….”
Rania hesitated without realizing it, and then her butt hit the floor.
Yerhan, illuminated by the feeble light of the torch, looked as beautiful as if he popped out of a painting.
But the feeling underneath that gaze was plain murder.
Rania gasped for breath. She couldn’t breathe just looking at him without saying anything.
“You, Your…”
Rania stuttered again and again. She couldn’t even say the words ‘Your Highness’ properly.
She sat down again and backed away.
Then she heard the creaking sound of the steel bars opening.
Yerhan did not mind his fine leather shoes getting dirty in the dust, thus he strode in.
Standing tall, Yerhan looked down at Rania.
Rania looked only at the floor, shivering as if she was going to faint.
“Who’s behind it?”
As the cold voice fell, Rania couldn’t breathe properly. But he did not rush, he waited for Rania’s answer.
A long time later, Rania barely spoke out.
“I don’t know…”
His feet were seen taking quiet footsteps.
Rania looked up in dismay.
Yerhan, with a terrible face, was looking down at her.
She felt like a bug in front of the pressure that seemed to weigh on her body.
“You don’t know?”
“It’s not me!”
What courage was it? She felt like she lost her mind for a while because of fear.
Upon Rania’s cry, Yerhan slowly bent over and made eye contact with her.
“Would you say that even if you were hanging outside the Imperial Palace?”
Rania’s eyes got bigger. With a pale complexion, she realized he wasn’t just saying it.
Rania, who had a distant spirit, uttered in a voice mixed with tears.
“There’s, no evidence… that I did it. So why…?”
Yerhan’s lips crept up. But the eyes weren’t smiling at all, so it was creepy.
“No evidence? Even though the teacup was poisoned?”
Rania was stunned. Asilia said there would be no trace left, so why… then Rania realized that she had been exploited by Asilia.
She intended to turn a blind eye after killing Rosena with Rania’s hands.
Rania, who belatedly realized her stupidity, knelt on the floor.
Now there was no one she could rely on.
The moment she committed the crime of assassination of an imperial family member, not only herself, but also the entire Estarot family would perish.
“You, Your Highness…”
Rania begged as she had grabbed Yerhan’s pants, but Yerhan still had a cold face.
It wouldn’t be strange if he cut off her head at any moment.
Rania breathed in and then squeezed her voice.
Death seemed to be sitting on her head.
Rania immediately fell onto the floor to survive.
“Save me, please. I was ordered to do just as I was told.”
Her stuttering voice was filled with tears. Even if she didn’t want to cry loudly, she couldn’t help but cry because she thought the sword would fly anytime.
“As ordered?
“The second princess…”
Yerhan slowly rose to his feet. He thought he could check what was going on.
As Yerhan moved, Rania looked at him in disbelief.
Is he really saving her life just like this?
“Isaac.”
“Yes.”
“Attach someone to watch her day and night.”
Yerhan looked at Rania.
She could see him holding back the feelings of wanting to cut her down at any moment.
But he couldn’t kill her yet.
Rania’s testimony was needed to bring out Asilia on trial.
He turned his head before leaving prison and left Rania with these last words.
“If Rosena doesn’t wake up like this….”
He whispered, suppressing anger that seemed to be bursting out.
“You’ll be the same.”
***
Rumors spread throughout the Imperial Palace that Rosena had been poisoned.
She had not died yet, but the doctor said that she may not be able to wake up like this.
And when it was revealed that it was Rania, the younger sister, who had assassinated the princess, the whole palace was turned upside down.
Everyone paid attention to this case to the extent that the monster case subsided for a while.
And last night, Asilia sneaked into the Empress Palace.
Asilia proudly said she was the one who poisoned Rosena. She added that Rania was guilty of everything, so there was no fear of being caught.
The empress did not know if the Asilia had completely concealed evidence, but left a word of praise.
Yerhan was about to be kicked out due to the monster incident.
At that time, she also tried to get rid of Rosena with all sorts of excuses, but it wasn’t bad that it turned out to be like this.
After Asilia had accomplished the cause, she returned to her triumphant descent, and the empress was preparing to go out early in the morning.
It was the Crown Prince Palace where she headed to.
The crown prince, who was hurt by the monster, did not budge from his palace, probably because his pride was firmly hurt.
All the plans went awry, and he even gave Yerhan wings.
The empress took precious medicinal herbs to the crown prince.
It’d be troublesome for him to get hurt anywhere because he was a precious body who would later become an emperor.
As she entered the Crown Prince Palace, the attendant immediately guided the empress.
After sitting and waiting for a while, the crown prince, who had not been out of his room for days, appeared.
“Long time no see.”
Zigrit nodded slowly at the empress’ words. His face became pale in these few days, he was deeply wounded in his shoulder and was bandaged.
When Zigrit sat down, the empress pushed out a box of medicinal herbs.
“It’s a medicine that cleanses the wound.”
The empress whispered, looking at Zigrit’s face for a while.
“Don’t worry about it. Because His Majesty arranged everything.”
“What do you mean?”
Zigrit asked, not understanding immediately.
The empress relaxed and answered, picking up a teacup.
“We’d put everything on the third prince.”
“….!”
Zigrit looked up in surprise.
“It was concluded as a self-made play by the third prince, and there will be a trial in a few days.”
Zigrit clenched his fist. His pride was hurt.
The empress rebuked Zigrit for such a thing.
“That’s why you should have done it right.”
Cold eyes fell on Zigrit. The eyes were quite different from the stare of a mother looking at her son.
When Zigrit couldn’t say anything, the empress put the teacup down.
The clattering sound of the tableware came quietly, but it felt very heavy to Zigrit.
“Have you heard the news?”
“What news….?”
The empress said calmly, as if she was talking about the weather today.
“The third princess had been poisoned.”
“!”
Zigrit sprang to his feet. He rarely lose control of his emotions, and so the empress asked with a look of incomprehension.
“Why are you so worked up?”
“…Is she dead?”
“It looks like she hasn’t died yet. But the doctor said she may not wake up, so it’s as good as dead.”
The empress turned the subject around as if she didn’t want to comment on Rosena anymore.
“By the way, when are you going to show the young lady you told me about earlier?”
Zigrit, who became even paler, looked up.
This was the first time Zigrit had been so agitated, the empress had also hardened her face.
Zigrit soon calmly opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty already knows her.”
“…Who is she?”
Anxiety struck.
And her guess was exactly right.
“That person is Rosena Estarrot, the Third Princess.”
The empress said nothing for a moment. Sitting there wondering if she heard it wrong, she scolded him as if she was displeased.
“Crown Prince, does your head hurt now, instead of your body?”
“She’s no ordinary woman.”
Zigrit became calm.
Realizing he wasn’t joking, the empress closed her mouth.
“She’s the one I’ve been looking for.”
“….!”
The empress’ eyes expanded beyond measure.
Zigrit had been secretly searching for a presence that would strengthen the power of divinity.
He did so for a very long time, too.
“I felt it when I first came into contact with her.”
Zigrit murmured, filled with conviction. His eyes were already colored with the light of desire.
The empress had long known that Zigrit must have what he wants.
“Once I have the Third Princess, I don’t need Yerhan or the indirect lines anymore, because I will have the same power as the first emperor.”
As if he had already been intoxicated by the power she could give, Zigrit’s voice was exhilarated.
“So I need to have her.”
Zigrit looked straight at the empress and whispered.
“Help me, Mother.”
From the moment he heard the report that Rosena had fallen, nothing else came into his ears.
Yerhan ran as hard as he could, blaming his legs for failing to move faster.
He almost fell again and again, but he couldn’t slow down.
Leaving the garden, Yerhan immediately headed for the Third Prince Palace.
And when he reached the entrance of the palace, he began to hear a lot of voices coming from the inside.
His footsteps, which had only been running frantically, slowed down.
As he entered the palace, he heard cries and screams.
With the feeling as if the world was shaking, Yerhan managed to straighten his steps.
The sound of footsteps resonated loudly, and he was finally able to reach the room where the crowd gathered.
“Your Highness….”
Everyone raised their heads and looked at Yerhan.
The images of those crying felt very unrealistic.
“Her Highness…:.”
Ella, who was crying, could no longer speak.
Yerhan approached with a staggering step.
As the employees left bit by bit, the view that had been blocked unfolded.
“Mom…!”
Illian was crying and calling for Rosena.
Yerhan looked at Illian as such and turned his head very slowly.
He could see Rosena lying on the white sheet.
Her pale face, without any color, was like a ceramic doll. The dress she was wearing was full of blood and he couldn’t identify its original color.
Yerhan was at a standstill. He couldn’t believe the situation, and he couldn’t do anything about it.
He didn’t feel it was reality, it was as if everything would break if he moved a finger.
“Rosena…?”
Yerhan called Rosena after a long time. But no matter how long he waited, Rosena didn’t open her eyes.
Only then did reality touch him little by little.
Yerhan reached out, his hand trembling, and touched Rosena’s cheek.
There was no warmth on the soft but cold cheeks.
“What about the doctor…”
Ella answered Yerhan’s question.
“He left just before you came. Although it is the slightest… amount of poisoning… but Her Highness continues to bleed… and we never know when Her Highness will…”
Ella replied with a stuttering cry.
The doctor said she may never wake up. But Ella couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud.
“Poison…? Who…?”
Yerhan, who was listening to her in silence, slowly looked up.
His face, which seemed to have completely lost his mind, was slightly shadowed with emotion.
Then Isaac, who was standing behind, took a step closer and answered.
“Based on the circumstances, it is likely Countess Estarot, who met Her Highness today.”
“Estarot…?”
The name came late into his head.
Countess Estarot is Rosena’s sister.
She showed hostility towards Rosena over and over again.
Rosena wanted to take matters into her own hands, so he had only been watching until now.
Yerhan gripped Rosena’s wrist with trembling hands.
He shouldn’t do that. He should’ve solved it himself even if Rosena blamed him…
His lips trembled mercilessly. He couldn’t hear his voice because his throat was clogged as if he had swallowed a piece of iron.
“…Save her.”
His voice trembled inexorably.
“It doesn’t matter whatever, how much it will take.”
He could even give up his life if it was necessary.
If he couldn’t wake Rosena up even if he put everything out, then…
Yerhan dropped his head. Looking at her pale, bloodless lips, a lot of emotions rushed in at once.
The first thing that came over him was regret.
If he had let go of Rosena earlier, or if he hadn’t brought her to the Imperial Palace, if he’d let her go the way she was when they first met.
All of this happened because of him.
Because the third prince had no power, Rosena was embroiled.
He wanted to turn back time.
If he could go back in time, he would let go of all his greed and let Rosena go.
When she asked for a divorce, he should just let her go.
Yerhan swallowed his breath tightly. He couldn’t breathe because his chest hurt.
The fact that Rosena was like this because of his selfishness, the thorn of guilt stuck in his mind.
“Get… the best doctor in the empire.”
Yerhan, who barely spoke, finally slowly rose to his feet.
There was nothing he could do for Rosena, even though he was next to her.
He just couldn’t see her face while in a sober state.
Because looking at Rosena made him want to cut himself with a sword.
Yerhan barely swallowed his desire to die. And spoke to Isaac with a calm, subdued face.
“Now, I’m going to Countess Estarrot.”
Isaac bowed instead of answering.
Standing up from his seat, Yerhan saw Illian’s face, which had swollen eyes.
His hand reached out to the pitiful figure. But Yerhan could not put it into practice.
Does he deserve to hug Illian?
When Yerhan looked down with a cloudy face, Illian, who was crying, reached out to him.
Standing silent, Yerhan hugged Illian.
Illian, who was crying, quickly closed his eyes as if he had fainted. Yerhan held Illian still and left him to the servants.
He slowly left the palace without any expression on his face.
The serene figure looked like a man facing a storm.
***
A woman’s voice echoed for a long time in the dreary dungeon.
Rania, who had been screaming for a long time, sank to the floor.
It was usually a dirty floor that she would never sit down on, but now she didn’t have the strength to stand properly.
The dungeon had a bleak chill. It was humid and cold because there was no sunlight or wind.
Rania embraced her trembling body. She still didn’t understand how she ended up stuck here.
Rania saw Rosena fall down with her own eyes.
Rosena, coughing up blood, looked like the dead.
“Why….”
Asilia apparently said that it’d take a few days later for the poison to react. And that she’d not die, but just couldn’t open her eyes, so how…..
Rania bit her nails one after another. She wondered if she had been betrayed by Asilia.
Since the circumstances were so clear, anyone could tell she was guilty.
Her whole body trembled like crazy.
Anyone who tried to assassinate the imperial family would face the death penalty.
Regardless, Rosena is the wife of the third prince without power.
“No way, that can’t be true… No…”
Rania heard the sound of iron creaking in her ears, who had been madly denying it.
The sound of old rust squeezed into a dark and wide space.
Slowly, the sound of footsteps on the stone floor resonated quietly.
Rania jumped out of her seat thinking that a person had entered.
Rania, who clung to the bars, cried out.
“Help me!!”
Her hoarse voice rang badly. But Rania raised her voice as hard as she could, as if she had the last lifeline in her hands.
The sound of footsteps grew closer and Rania breathed a sigh of relief.
Anyone was fine, as the priority was to get out of here.
And the person finally stopped walking in front of Rania.
It was none other than the third prince, Yerhan Herbet, who emerged from the darkness.
“Haaa….”
Rania hesitated without realizing it, and then her butt hit the floor.
Yerhan, illuminated by the feeble light of the torch, looked as beautiful as if he popped out of a painting.
But the feeling underneath that gaze was plain murder.
Rania gasped for breath. She couldn’t breathe just looking at him without saying anything.
“You, Your…”
Rania stuttered again and again. She couldn’t even say the words ‘Your Highness’ properly.
She sat down again and backed away.
Then she heard the creaking sound of the steel bars opening.
Yerhan did not mind his fine leather shoes getting dirty in the dust, thus he strode in.
Standing tall, Yerhan looked down at Rania.
Rania looked only at the floor, shivering as if she was going to faint.
“Who’s behind it?”
As the cold voice fell, Rania couldn’t breathe properly. But he did not rush, he waited for Rania’s answer.
A long time later, Rania barely spoke out.
“I don’t know…”
His feet were seen taking quiet footsteps.
Rania looked up in dismay.
Yerhan, with a terrible face, was looking down at her.
She felt like a bug in front of the pressure that seemed to weigh on her body.
“You don’t know?”
“It’s not me!”
What courage was it? She felt like she lost her mind for a while because of fear.
Upon Rania’s cry, Yerhan slowly bent over and made eye contact with her.
“Would you say that even if you were hanging outside the Imperial Palace?”
Rania’s eyes got bigger. With a pale complexion, she realized he wasn’t just saying it.
Rania, who had a distant spirit, uttered in a voice mixed with tears.
“There’s, no evidence… that I did it. So why…?”
Yerhan’s lips crept up. But the eyes weren’t smiling at all, so it was creepy.
“No evidence? Even though the teacup was poisoned?”
Rania was stunned. Asilia said there would be no trace left, so why… then Rania realized that she had been exploited by Asilia.
She intended to turn a blind eye after killing Rosena with Rania’s hands.
Rania, who belatedly realized her stupidity, knelt on the floor.
Now there was no one she could rely on.
The moment she committed the crime of assassination of an imperial family member, not only herself, but also the entire Estarot family would perish.
“You, Your Highness…”
Rania begged as she had grabbed Yerhan’s pants, but Yerhan still had a cold face.
It wouldn’t be strange if he cut off her head at any moment.
Rania breathed in and then squeezed her voice.
Death seemed to be sitting on her head.
Rania immediately fell onto the floor to survive.
“Save me, please. I was ordered to do just as I was told.”
Her stuttering voice was filled with tears. Even if she didn’t want to cry loudly, she couldn’t help but cry because she thought the sword would fly anytime.
“As ordered?
“The second princess…”
Yerhan slowly rose to his feet. He thought he could check what was going on.
As Yerhan moved, Rania looked at him in disbelief.
Is he really saving her life just like this?
“Isaac.”
“Yes.”
“Attach someone to watch her day and night.”
Yerhan looked at Rania.
She could see him holding back the feelings of wanting to cut her down at any moment.
But he couldn’t kill her yet.
Rania’s testimony was needed to bring out Asilia on trial.
He turned his head before leaving prison and left Rania with these last words.
“If Rosena doesn’t wake up like this….”
He whispered, suppressing anger that seemed to be bursting out.
“You’ll be the same.”
***
Rumors spread throughout the Imperial Palace that Rosena had been poisoned.
She had not died yet, but the doctor said that she may not be able to wake up like this.
And when it was revealed that it was Rania, the younger sister, who had assassinated the princess, the whole palace was turned upside down.
Everyone paid attention to this case to the extent that the monster case subsided for a while.
And last night, Asilia sneaked into the Empress Palace.
Asilia proudly said she was the one who poisoned Rosena. She added that Rania was guilty of everything, so there was no fear of being caught.
The empress did not know if the Asilia had completely concealed evidence, but left a word of praise.
Yerhan was about to be kicked out due to the monster incident.
At that time, she also tried to get rid of Rosena with all sorts of excuses, but it wasn’t bad that it turned out to be like this.
After Asilia had accomplished the cause, she returned to her triumphant descent, and the empress was preparing to go out early in the morning.
It was the Crown Prince Palace where she headed to.
The crown prince, who was hurt by the monster, did not budge from his palace, probably because his pride was firmly hurt.
All the plans went awry, and he even gave Yerhan wings.
The empress took precious medicinal herbs to the crown prince.
It’d be troublesome for him to get hurt anywhere because he was a precious body who would later become an emperor.
As she entered the Crown Prince Palace, the attendant immediately guided the empress.
After sitting and waiting for a while, the crown prince, who had not been out of his room for days, appeared.
“Long time no see.”
Zigrit nodded slowly at the empress’ words. His face became pale in these few days, he was deeply wounded in his shoulder and was bandaged.
When Zigrit sat down, the empress pushed out a box of medicinal herbs.
“It’s a medicine that cleanses the wound.”
The empress whispered, looking at Zigrit’s face for a while.
“Don’t worry about it. Because His Majesty arranged everything.”
“What do you mean?”
Zigrit asked, not understanding immediately.
The empress relaxed and answered, picking up a teacup.
“We’d put everything on the third prince.”
“….!”
Zigrit looked up in surprise.
“It was concluded as a self-made play by the third prince, and there will be a trial in a few days.”
Zigrit clenched his fist. His pride was hurt.
The empress rebuked Zigrit for such a thing.
“That’s why you should have done it right.”
Cold eyes fell on Zigrit. The eyes were quite different from the stare of a mother looking at her son.
When Zigrit couldn’t say anything, the empress put the teacup down.
The clattering sound of the tableware came quietly, but it felt very heavy to Zigrit.
“Have you heard the news?”
“What news….?”
The empress said calmly, as if she was talking about the weather today.
“The third princess had been poisoned.”
“!”
Zigrit sprang to his feet. He rarely lose control of his emotions, and so the empress asked with a look of incomprehension.
“Why are you so worked up?”
“…Is she dead?”
“It looks like she hasn’t died yet. But the doctor said she may not wake up, so it’s as good as dead.”
The empress turned the subject around as if she didn’t want to comment on Rosena anymore.
“By the way, when are you going to show the young lady you told me about earlier?”
Zigrit, who became even paler, looked up.
This was the first time Zigrit had been so agitated, the empress had also hardened her face.
Zigrit soon calmly opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty already knows her.”
“…Who is she?”
Anxiety struck.
And her guess was exactly right.
“That person is Rosena Estarrot, the Third Princess.”
The empress said nothing for a moment. Sitting there wondering if she heard it wrong, she scolded him as if she was displeased.
“Crown Prince, does your head hurt now, instead of your body?”
“She’s no ordinary woman.”
Zigrit became calm.
Realizing he wasn’t joking, the empress closed her mouth.
“She’s the one I’ve been looking for.”
“….!”
The empress’ eyes expanded beyond measure.
Zigrit had been secretly searching for a presence that would strengthen the power of divinity.
He did so for a very long time, too.
“I felt it when I first came into contact with her.”
Zigrit murmured, filled with conviction. His eyes were already colored with the light of desire.
The empress had long known that Zigrit must have what he wants.
“Once I have the Third Princess, I don’t need Yerhan or the indirect lines anymore, because I will have the same power as the first emperor.”
As if he had already been intoxicated by the power she could give, Zigrit’s voice was exhilarated.
“So I need to have her.”
Zigrit looked straight at the empress and whispered.
“Help me, Mother.”
