Chapter 58: Be Clear, Valeria

“Make it clear. For whom is this for?”

It was evening on a day when winter rain fell. In the emperor’s bedroom, unfamiliar knights and aides were waiting for Valeria. The emperor’s gaze demanding the truth from her was more brutal than ever. Valeria peeped at the rising sun held by the emperor’s confidants with trembling eyes. She couldn’t open her mouth with fear. The emperor said,

“Heirs who will become heads of the family develop immunity to poison from birth. For those of you who are ignorant, let me tell you… The imperial family is the cradle of the empire’s longest-running poison researchers. The same goes for me, who grew up with them.”

The Emperor, who finished speaking, smiled more kindly than ever before.

“Valeria. I want to trust you. You are the purest and most beautiful child I have ever seen. I don’t think you were willing to hurt me. So tell me the truth.”

The emperor’s calm voice and expression gave Valeria a sense of relief. It flashed into her mind that it was now. It was an opportunity from heaven. A chance to gain confidence and start a new life as the emperor’s mistress! Valeria, lying on the floor, uttered after squeezing out her voice.

“Susan…”

“Speak louder!”

At the shouts of the confidante, Valeria raised her head carefully and opened her mouth. She carefully took out the glass bottle she had always carried in her arms and held it out to the emperor.

“There is a gypsy named Susan who lives in the Imperial Castle. The woman gave me this. But I’ve never heard that it was poison before. She said it’s just one of the ingredients to make alcohol….”

A man standing nearby took the glass bottle and checked the liquid. The man, who was carefully examining the smell and form, turned his head toward the emperor with an ambiguous expression.

“It’s like blood, Your Majesty.”

Blood? Unable to comprehend the man’s judgement, Valeria hurriedly intervened.

“It’s not blood! She told me…!”

Everyone’s eyes turned to her, but Valeria was speechless. What did she say to me? Has she ever mentioned what that liquid was? While Valeria was speechless, the emperor’s interest faded, and soon his gaze fell from her.

“Lord. How long will it take to find out the ingredients?”

“Two days is enough.”

As the aides left, Valeria had to spend two days trapped in a secret space inside the emperor’s bedroom. The emperor didn’t visit her for two days. Valeria spent two days with fear that she could lose the emperor’s favour at this rate.

‘I have to stress that my heart is sincere. I wanted to see his majesty again. I-I really didn’t know anything? So it’s definitely not a lie….’

No matter how cold-hearted the emperor might have been, he would not let go of a woman he has had a short relationship with. There was still an opportunity to restore the trust. Yes, if only she could do this right.

***

But the following night came. The composure that she had been trying to hold on to was broken by the man’s insistence on discussing the liquid in the glass bottle.

“It’s pure blood. No other impurities were found.”

At first, her mind froze white. She felt like her breathing was blocked because of the fear that she could lose her life there. Valeria cried in a tearful voice.

“T-that can’t be true, Your Majesty! I added that liquid to the glass I offered to Your Majesty every day. She told me herself! I heard it clearly. She’ll bury you quietly after it has eaten Your Majesty to the bone!”

There was no agitation from the emperor, and the more that happened, the more anxious Valeria was. Soon the emperor called her out in a low voice.

“Valeria.”

“Yes, yes, Your Majesty… I will never….”

“If your life is precious, I will give you one more chance. All you have to do is come up with an answer that satisfies me.”

“I will do anything for you.”

The emperor’s gaze on her was not the same as before, but Valeria felt fortunate that he had given her a chance. Then the emperor leaned back on his seat and asked Valeria.

“What did that woman named Susan gain by sending you to me?”

“…that…”

She knew nothing. Shockingly, the fact that there was nothing choked Valeria’s throat. Susan was a guest of Prince Wilhelm, and that was it. Her life was all about enjoying luxury in the Imperial Palace, surrounded by luxurious food and beautiful scenery. Was there any reason for Susan to harm the emperor? When she failed to answer properly, the emperor ordered the chieftain.

“Bring the gypsy named Susan.”

Regardless of the order, it was only a few minutes after that that the chieftain returned.

“Your Majesty.”

Surprisingly, Susan was not alone. There was a woman with ecstatic beauty beside her that would make you blind just by looking at her.

“What’s the matter with you, Vivianne?”

It was the unexpected appearance of a character. Vivianne replied with a charming smile.

“Is there any work? I was having a good time with my friend… Your Majesty said you were looking for her, so I followed to introduce her myself.”

“You have been a kind-hearted and tolerant child since you were a child… It looks like you have time for gypsies now.”

“Your Majesty, please do not insult Susan with such impure words. Although my close friend has wandered for a long time, she is of a bloodline worthy of respect.”

“Huu, that’s a funny story. A gypsy from a family worthy of respect…… I thought there was no such thing.”

Contrary to the answer, the Emperor did not seem very interested. He asked Susan quietly.

“What’s your name?”

There is no way for a gypsy to have a last name. But the name that came out of Susan’s mouth was a very strange name to Valeria.

“It’s Agrane Karold.”

There was a strange long silence in the room. Recognizing the strange atmosphere, Valeria flinched and lowered her gaze.

“Ah. These are the faces.”

Because everyone was holding their breath, Susan’s small voice sounded clearer than ever. What do you mean by these faces?

“I see.”

The Emperor’s reply was nothing more than a brief exclamation. The emperor, who glanced at her, had a very strange face. His eyes were deeply engrossed in something. With a hardened expression on his face that he had properly accepted the situation in front of him.

“Yes, that’s right. Something like that happened. I know Wilhelm brought you here. Right?”

Susan replied.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I was working as a maid, and his Highness called me Nui. His Highness Wilhelm said this was my home.”

“It’s not wrong. Where have you been all this time?”

“Triviache and Ingord.”

The second longest silence lingered. It was such an uncomfortable and long silence that Valeria, who was listening foolishly to their conversation, bit her lips. It was the emperor again this time that broke the icy silence. His voice was tinged with obscure emotions that were hard to read.

“You don’t seem to remember me.”

“Yes. I lost all my memories two years ago.”

“Oh, dear.”

The emperor, who clicked his tongue briefly, didn’t seem to feel any regret. But it seemed certain that he was surprised.

“Do you know why I called you?”

“To give you my personal opinion, I don’t think it’s for a very good reason.”

“It hasn’t been long since then. It was at dinner. I remember the scene where you talked to me. Remember?”

“Of course, Your Majesty loved the rising sun. At the time, I told you that if you liked it, you could call Valeria Malta, the maid who was making the drink.”

Princess Vivianne, who had been sitting behind her for a while, interrupted with her cheerful voice.

“Oh, that’s a very romantic name. The rising sun. I wonder what it tastes like.”

“You don’t have to be curious, Vivienne. Your friend has recommended a very nasty person to me.”

Princess Vivianne wrinkled her round forehead lovingly at the stern denial.

“What do you mean, nasty? Your Majesty? Hmm….”

The frightened Valeria cried out as if her voice was torn apart

“There is not a shred of falsehood in my testimony, Your Majesty!”

“It doesn’t matter, Valeria. The only answer I want is the answer to the last question.”

Valeria swallowed her dry saliva. Among the nobles who looked down on her with her oppressive gaze, she realized again. The fact that her position was only that of a maid. She had been locked up in the room for two days, contemplating what to do, but she had no thought of the imminent crisis.

“Soon… She will soon be threatening his Majesty, so she will…”

Her surroundings were silent, but she felt like no one listened to Valeria’s voice. Valeria was once again in despair.

“I’m sure she will hurt Your Majesty….”

“Who’s going to hurt me? Make it clear.”

Valeria, who had only rolled her eyes, reached out her arm and pointed to Susan. Everyone’s head turned to Susan, and Valeria was able to catch her breath for a moment. But Susan’s response was surprisingly calm. She tilted her head and burst out laughing in a bewildering manner.

“This is a very sudden flow. Your Majesty, may I speak with Valeria if it is okay with you?”

Even in front of the emperor, the ruler of the empire, Susan’s momentum was dignified. However, it wasn’t an arrogant tone or posture, so no one pointed out her attitude. As the emperor nodded lightly, Susan came close to Valeria. She felt even more confusion in her head, which was blank. Valeria couldn’t look into her eyes with the guilt and fear that came.

“Why do you think I will harm his Majesty?”

If she responded foolishly again this time, she would have a terrible ending.

‘I’m only telling the truth. It’s not me who’s at the disadvantage, it’s her.’

Valeria replied.

“The lady once gave me a glass bottle with the red liquid.”

“Oh, yes. I’ve definitely done that.”

Valeria plucked up her courage in the affirmative answer.

“And she told me to mix the liquid with the alcohol and give it to His Majesty.”

Susan, who was staring down at her, said.

“You’ve got something wrong, Valeria.”