Chapter 46
Ā Ā Unlike the Duke, who kept widening his eyes in shock, Rasilia remained calm.
“I hope the punishment ends with dethronement. I would like to avoid getting my head cut off.”
“Thatās… no, that wonāt happen. It wonāt! Your name is Fielion! No one but the Emperor can take your head!”
“Then thatās fortunate. Can I settle the verdict in advance with the judges by pleading guilty?”
“That can be done, but… no, it canāt.”
The Duke suddenly grabbed Rasiliaās shoulders.
“Carti, my dear daughter. Dethronement must not happen.”
His fingers dug into her shoulders, leaving behind pain.
He was that desperate.
“Thereās no other way, Your Grace.”
“No, there must be. Iāll postpone the trial. Weāll come up with something. Iāll even build a new temple if I have toāanything to smooth things over. But dethronement… no.”
“You wonāt be able to keep deceiving His Majestyās eyes forever.”
“Why not!”
Duke Fielionās voice grew agitated.
“The spell was flawless. The sorcerer confirmed it multiple times! If the spell had gone wrong, there wouldāve been backlash. But both the sorcerer and you are fine. The mark will return. Wait… have you checked the mark?”
“There was no need to.”
Because there was no way the mark would return. Because Iām not the real one.
“What do you mean by that?”
“The temple has put forth the Marchioness of Pashad as a witness. You know what that means. She used to dress me.”
“Ah… No way.”
The despairing duke collapsed to the floor.
Rasilia quietly sat in front of him.
“There is no way other than dethronement, Your Grace. But we can still protect the name of Fielion. As long as Iām the only one who steps down.”
“But… can you really do that? Carti, youāve lived your whole life to become the Empress. Can you truly give it all up now?”
In that moment, she felt a pang of pity for Empress Cartagena. It was genuine.
She wished the Empress had truly been the Emperorās fated companion. If the mark hadnāt disappeared, the two couldāve become a pair that loved each other dearly like the first demon and their consort.
Seventeen court ladies wouldnāt have died in vain.
It was truly a shame.
“I must. Itās better than the whole house being branded traitors and beheaded, isnāt it?”
“I… right, in that case… Iāll go see the High Judge.”
“You must hurry.”
“…Right.”
The Duke stood with a dazed face. His once-handsome face, even in age, seemed to have aged five years in just a day.
“Youāre here again.”
Although he had been demoted to a low-ranking knight, Serben was still assigned to guard the Empress.
She had called the Duke to the North Tower, hoping to avoid Serbenās watchful eyes, but she had known it was a compromised location and she would soon be found.
Still, it was fortunate that Serben had discovered her after the Duke had left.
What was surprising, though, was that it wasnāt Serben but the Emperor himself who had appeared.
“I like it here.”
Rasilia calmly met Lescalās gaze.
Just in case, she observed, but today there were no signs of transformation on the Emperor.
The influence of the Blue Moon seemed to have completely disappeared.
“This place?”
“Yes. It feels like going out. After all, this land belongs to Duke Shuraiden, doesnāt it?”
“If thatās what you say.”
Lescal furrowed his brow briefly, then asked:
“Would you like to visit another territory?”
“Iām not sure… I donāt remember any.”
“We can go now if you want.”
The thought of leaving the palace made her heart flutter a little. But Rasilia quickly reined herself in.
āIf I go, Iāll be stuck to the Emperor the whole time. Thatās not a good thing.ā
She deflected the question and changed the topic.
“Why are you here?”
“I came to find you.”
“How did you know Iād be here?”
“I could smell you.”
“…What?”
“Iāve grown used to your scent. Itās easier to find you now.”
“…”
That statement reminded her again that the Emperor wasnāt like an ordinary humanā
and that the feelings he had for his consort werenāt ones she could understand.
“Itās like having someone always watching me. But thatās not what I meant. You had something to say, didnāt you?”
“Yes.”
Lescal glanced around. Even though his eyes were aimed elsewhere, it felt like he was still staring at her.
“But I think another place would be better. There are no chairs here.”
“Is it going to be a long conversation?”
There wasnāt much to ask. The complaint had arrived. It was only natural that the Emperor would want to verify its contents.
Rasilia carefully observed Lescalās expression.
There didnāt seem to be any particular agitation.
āIs that even possible?ā
Shouldnāt he have come rushing in, demanding answers?
“Not really.”
But Lescal simply shook his head lightly, as if it were nothing.
“You said we needed a seat.”
“Oh, thatās because I need to sit next to you. Itād be weird to just stand beside you.”
“…”
It was strange.
Despite the disappearance of the mark, the Emperor hadnāt changed at all.
“Thenā”
As Rasilia nodded, Lescal extended his arm as if heād been waiting.
When she placed her hand on it, the two created a picture-perfect movement that could have been featured in an etiquette guidebook on how an Emperor escorts an Empress.
“What do you want to do about the complaint?”
As expected, that was the topic.
She was glad she had prepared in advance. Otherwise, she wouldnāt have been able to hide her surprise.
“Complaint?”
Feigning ignorance, Rasilia asked, and Lescal raised an eyebrow beside her.
“Didnāt that half-grown bird say anything?”
“No. I didnāt hear anything.”
Rasilia had been hiding the fact that she could understand Pipiās speech. So if she admitted that Pipi had told her about such a complex matter, it wouldnāt make sense.
“Unbelievable. It flew off saying it would deliver the message.”
“…”
She had inadvertently made Pipi look like a liar.
āSorry, Pipi. Iāll apologize later.ā
Rasilia turned her head slightly to avoid the Emperorās overwhelming gaze.
“What accusation is it?”
“…That you killed seventeen court ladies.”
His golden eyes narrowed slightly, as if he couldnāt believe what he was saying himself.
But she couldnāt take it back.
“I have nothing to say. I regret that I donāt remember it.”
She closed her eyes and offered a short prayer of peace for the dead, her fingers clenched in her skirt.
“Thereās no need.”
Lescal placed his hand over hers. She hadnāt realized how much strength sheād been using.
“No need to torment yourself over whatās in the past.”
Was that supposed to be comfort?
Even though he knew she killed them to hide the truth about the markāwas he still trying to comfort her?
“…Itās not easy. Since they say I killed them.”
“We donāt know for sure if thatās true.”
“But thereās evidence, isnāt there?”
As Rasilia bit her lip in anguish, Lescal pulled her hand gently.
“What do you want me to do?”
“…What do you mean?”
Lescal turned her hand over, interlacing their fingers. His dazzling golden eyes sparkled even more today.
“You donāt want a trial, do you?”
“Even if I donāt, can it be avoided? Besides, Your Majesty must be curious whether the complaint is true or not.”
“…”
Lescal looked at her for a moment, then leaned in, bringing their faces very close.
She couldnāt avoid him. Dodging at this distance would be too obvious.
“Iām curious.”
…Of course he was.
“Then wonāt you just tell me?”
Everythingāhis gaze, presenceāfelt too close.
The voice that shouldāve been interrogating her for her crimes reached her as a soft whisper.
“I… donāt remember. Why I killed them.”
“They say the mark of my consort was on your body. That it began to fade. And that you killed those who saw your body to keep it secret.”
“I see… Unfortunately, I do not remember.”
“Have you checked the mark since?”
“You know I canāt see it myself.”
“And none of the maids or court ladies who attended your baths saw it either?”
“…No. Since losing my memory, Iāve become uncomfortable with being touched by others.”
To her surprise, Lescal nodded.
“Thatās good.”
“…Pardon?”
She didnāt understand what he meant, and before she could ask, Lescal quickly changed the subject.
“If you donāt want a trial, just say so. If you donāt want it, there will be no trial.”
That made no sense either.
Why? The mark had vanished, which meant she might not be his consort.
Why was the Emperor acting as though it didnāt matter?
“What if the complaint is true?”
Without realizing it, Rasilia grabbed Lescalās sleeve. His gaze immediately dropped to the sleeve she clutched.
“Would you still say thereāll be no trial? How can you say that? A consort should have the mark, shouldnāt she?”
“I like when you act like this.”
Lescal moved the hand she had grabbed. For some reason, they were now holding hands with both hands.
“When you reach for me first. Back then, it felt like you only saw me.”
“Why say that now… No, please answer me. Do you not believe the complaint?”
Lescal chuckled quietly.
“I donāt.”
“Why not…?”
“Because I know you’re my consort. Whatever happens to the mark, it doesnāt matter.”
“But the mark exists to prove who your consort is.”
“It exists for the eyes to recognize.”
Meaning there were other ways to know, besides the eyes.
Like how he found her in the North Tower by scent.
“…”
Her thoughts became tangled.
Maybe losing the mark and being the Emperorās consort werenāt mutually exclusive.
āEither way, she was born as the consort… If thatās how the Emperor sees it, dethronement might not be easy.ā
Lescal gently pulled Rasiliaās hand.
“You should answer too. What do you want to do?”
“If there wonāt be a trial… what other options are there?”
“Iāll have to speak with the High Priest.”
“If just talking could solve this, why bother filing a complaint?”
“Then Iāll make it work that way.”
She didnāt know. Maybe the Emperor had another plan.
“…Would you consider that a favor Iām asking?”
But one thing was certaināhe wasnāt doing it for her.
“I hope you see it that way.”
“What will you ask in return?”
“…”
There was a sound of swallowing.
Rasilia realized Lescalās golden eyes were fixed on a specific part of her face.
“My lips.”
“…”
“I want to kiss you.”
