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Scarlet Rose [ABO] - What Happens When the Villain Dies at the Beginning? (17)
The next morning, the bell tower in the palace rang seven times. The Empress, Cassia, had already woken and was sitting in front of her dressing table in a luxurious silk nightgown as her maids helped her wash up.
Although she was already the mother of an eighteen year old, the Empress still had an outstanding appearance.
Payne had inherited a lot of the Empress’s beauty.
Especially their eyes, which were the same dark blue that matched the hue of the boundless night sky and the vast sea, both full of mysterious charm.
“Empress, his Highness is seeking an audience outside.” A maid came in to report.
Cassia couldn’t control her happiness when she heard that her son returned safely and hurriedly stood up. “Quickly show him in.”
Payne was able to enter the Empress’ room very soon and paid his respects as per customs.
Cassia went forward and joyfully hugged her son, “My child, you’re finally back. It’s good that you’re not hurt.”
Payne only patted his mother’s back and didn’t give a very enthusiastic response.
Cassia looked up at Payne, her blue eyes filled with hurt, “How have you gotten so thin after only a few days?”
Payne calmly replied, “Because I’ve been trapped in Scarlet Rose’s prison for the past few days, and almost couldn’t return.”
The blood drained from Cassia’s face as she checked over Payne, agitatedly asking, “How did this happen? Were you hurt?”
“No, someone sacrificed himself to save me, so I’m fine.” Payne said, “Mother Empress, I have something to tell you.”
Cassia pulled Payne over to sit on the sofa, kindly asking, “What is it?”
“The reason this operation failed was because someone sold me out.” Payne got straight to the point, “That person is his Majesty.”
Cassia widened her eyes and was about to ask something when Payne cut her off, “You don’t need to be suspicious. I’ve already captured the person he sent. That spy confessed everything.”
Cassia’s face blanched, and her breathing became heavier.
“How could this be?” Cassia muttered in disbelief, “He clearly promised to not hurt you, he swore that . . .”
Payne sneered. “He didn’t harm me directly, but wanted to use someone else’s hand to get rid of me. That way, he wouldn’t be breaking his vow to you.”
Cassia still held a bit of disbelief. She tightly grasped Payne’s hands, “Is there a misunderstanding? I know you’ve always been discontent with him, but he’s always been good towards you . . .”
“Mother Empress, do you still not want to face the truth?” Payne coldly pulled his hand away. “His spy was Rondon, who is quite well known in the military. I handed him over to Neptune already. If he hasn’t been disposed of, you can question him yourself.”
Payne had already taken it this far. Even if Cassia didn’t want to believe it, she had to, and she could think of no excuses for what Neptune had done.
One was her husband, the other was her child. Cassia didn’t know what to do. “How could this be . . .”
“Mother Empress, I’ve always wanted to ask you something.” Payne suddenly stood up and said.
Cassia looked up at her tall son in a daze. She suddenly felt a bit panicked, “W-what?”
“I was young when Father Emperor passed away, so you didn’t explain much to me.” Payne had a cold expression, solemnly asking, “Later, I looked into it. The propeller of his aircraft encountered a failure when he was visiting the south so the aircraft crashed, right?"
Cassia lowered her gaze. “Yes.”
Payne looked down at her, continuing to ask, “But what made it strange was that when Father Emperor went to visit the south, the Empress should’ve gone too. So why didn’t you go with him?”
Cassia’s face blanched. She looked at Payne in shock, her voice becoming higher pitched.
“What do you mean?! Are you saying that it’s more reasonable for me to have died with your father on that aircraft?”
“Of course not.” Payne calmly stared at the Empress. “I just want to know the reason you weren’t with Father Emperor then.”
Cassia opened her mouth to say something, but then hesitated, “It’s been too long, I’ve forgotten . . .  Maybe I was sick . . . ? Or maybe I was delayed by something else . . .”
“So it turns out that Father Emperor’s death isn’t important in your heart after all, so you’ve forgotten?”
“Payne, my child, are you suspecting your mother? That I plotted to harm your father?”
“Of course it’s not you, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be someone else.” Payne’s lips coldly hooked up. “Do you still remember a maid named Olivia? I remember she served you for a long time, but I haven’t seen her since Father Emperor passed. Coincidentally, someone sent her to my manor a couple days ago.”
“O-Olivia?” Hearing that name, Cassia’s face turned gray, “She’s still alive?”
“What, should she be dead?” Payne sneered, “Should she die just because she knew you had an affair with Neptune?”
Cassia burst into tears and tried to grab Payne’s hand again, but was dodged by Payne. The pitiful Empress fell to the ground, off balance, her waist length golden hair messy enough to cover the expression on her face.
Payne’s voice was very cold. “Father Emperor found out about your affair with Neptune. He had planned on dealing with you two after he finished visiting the south, but Neptune acted earlier and did something to the engine to kill him, while at once stealing the throne! Tell me, is that what happened?”
Cassia sobbed bitterly and covered her face in shame.
“Please, stop talking . . .”
This was the secret Cassia hid deep inside her heart, as well as the nightmare she could never escape.
Eighteen years ago, she fell in love with Neptune Derain, but they were split apart by Payne’s father.
He was the Emperor back then, so Cassia couldn’t disobey and married Neptune’s older brother with reluctance.
But after marriage, she and Neptune couldn’t control the attraction they felt toward each other and often snuck together in the back palace when her husband wasn’t there.
But fire could never be wrapped up in paper, so their affair was discovered in the end.
Payne’s father was furious, but out of consideration for the Imperial family’s face and his pride as a man, he didn’t publicize it.