Episode 3

Episode 3. Just What Does the Empress Do All Day?

“― I was worried when you said strange things the other day. I’m glad you appear to be better now.”

Those parting words from Jerome echoed in my mind as I returned from the imperial dining hall to the Empress’s Palace. We had just shared a meal, but my thoughts were too tangled to recall the food.

A strange remark? Glad to see I’m better now?

The phrasing was subtle, but the undertone unmistakable. It didn’t make sense. He had looked at me with clear suspicion, his sharp eyes full of cold scrutiny. I’d braced myself, thinking I’d be scolded or dismissed. But instead, once we were alone, his expression shifted completely. Almost as if he were relieved.

Why would he say that? Why would he look at me like that?

The contradiction gnawed at me. The Jerome I remembered from the original story was emotionally closed off, always distant from Helena, and utterly devoted to the female lead.

This Jerome was different. He spoke to me. He noticed me. He watched me.

What’s going on in that head of his?

But the more I tried to reason it out, the more muddled it became.

No point overthinking it. I’ll just confuse myself.

I pushed the thoughts aside and decided to find a better opportunity to talk to him directly—if that chance ever came.

Before I could even finish sorting through those thoughts—

“Hand over that young maid right this instant!”

A shrill shout pierced the air from outside the window.

“We already know everything, so there’s no use lying!”

The voice carried loud and clear, unmistakably aggressive. I frowned instinctively. My temples throbbed.

What now?

I reached for the bell cord and gave it a firm tug.

Not long after, Countess Chloe entered, her usual composure still intact, though her brow twitched ever so slightly at the noise.

“It’s so noisy outside. What’s going on?” I asked.

“Someone from the Imperial Concubine’s Palace has arrived,” she replied.

“From the Concubine’s Palace?”

That was Helena’s rival’s domain—where the Emperor’s favored consort lived. The female lead.

“And they’ve come here yelling like that? Why?”

Chloe hesitated for a beat before replying, as if weighing how much she should say.

“It seems they’ve discovered that the person who tore one of Her Highness the Imperial Concubine’s dresses is here… in your palace.”

“Ah.”

So that was it.

It hadn’t taken long.

They were demanding a culprit—and from the way they were shouting about “a young maid”, they’d apparently already chosen one.

So now they’re going to pin this on one of mine.

“Looks like I’ll need to go out there myself.”

I rose from my seat, mentally preparing myself for another headache.

At the Empress’s Palace gates

The scene outside was already in full swing.

A middle-aged woman—stern-faced and unrelenting—had one of my younger maids by the wrist. She was flanked by imperial guards, using their presence to cow my staff into submission. None of the other palace maids dared to interfere.

The girl in question was trembling violently, her head down, lips quivering.

Mary.

Of course it’s her.

The older woman’s voice was sharp as she reprimanded the girl:

“How dare you lay a hand on Her Highness’s belongings! This is a serious offense!”

Mary didn’t reply. She only trembled harder.

I stepped forward, my voice clear and cold:

“That’s enough.”

The woman looked up in shock, then quickly bowed low.

“Your Majesty!”

Her voice quivered now that she realized whose presence she was in.

I gave her a once-over.

“I don’t recognize you. Who are you to be causing a commotion at the gates of the Empress’s Palace?”

“I am Jasmine, head maid of the Imperial Concubine’s Palace, Your Majesty,” she said. “I serve the Viscountess of Parrington.”

A formal title. A lofty position—but still beneath mine.

“And why has the head maid of the Concubine’s Palace come here shouting like a market vendor?”

“Forgive me. I came to identify the culprit behind a very serious crime,” she said, bowing again.

“Crime?”

“Yes. One of Her Highness’s dresses was slashed and shredded. A precious gown. We were told the person responsible is here.”

“Is that so?”

I turned my eyes to Mary, who looked like a leaf about to blow away in the wind.

Poor girl.

“You’re saying this maid is the culprit?”

“Yes. Multiple witnesses saw her. Several maids in our palace have confirmed it.”

Mary winced at the accusation. Her hands were shaking visibly now.

“Mary,” I said gently.

She slowly looked up.

Her face was white as a sheet, her lips pressed tight to keep from sobbing. When she spoke, her voice was barely a whisper.

“I’m sorry… Your Majesty…”

Then her head dropped again.

So she’s not denying it.

She didn’t look like someone falsely accused. She looked like someone wracked with guilt.

Still, she was my maid. I couldn’t abandon her.

Not like this.

If I were the old Helena, I’d probably slap her for making me look bad in front of the Emperor. Then toss her aside to preserve my image.

But I wasn’t that woman anymore.

She might have torn and cut the dress—but that didn’t give this Jasmine woman the right to treat her this way.

Especially not on my grounds.

I straightened, letting a chilly arrogance settle into my posture—one Helena had mastered in her past life.

“You say you have several witnesses.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. They all recognized her.”

“Is that all the evidence you have?”

“Pardon?”

“Are you basing this whole accusation on gossip and mistaken identity? Where’s your proof?”

“W-we planned to question her directly. If we press her, I’m sure she’ll—”

“You think she’ll confess under pressure? That’s hardly credible.”

Jasmine faltered, caught off guard. She clearly hadn’t expected me to question her so directly.

Did she assume I’d be too embarrassed or fearful to push back, since it’s the Concubine’s palace?

Not today.

“There’s been a mistake,” I said firmly. “Your witnesses are wrong.”

“B-but—”

“I did it.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Jasmine blinked, stunned.

“I tore the dress.”

Her mouth dropped open.

“I—I didn’t mean to suggest—!”

“What’s wrong? Are you saying I don’t look like someone who’d do it?”

“N-no, I just… They said it was a short maid, so I thought—”

“Then clearly they were mistaken. I saw the dress and, out of jealousy, I ripped it.”

I shrugged with a cool smile.

“I am the culprit.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

The guards looked at one another, clearly unsure what to do. Jasmine’s face was frozen in disbelief.

“So,” I continued, “if you’re looking to arrest someone, it should be me.”

“Y-your Majesty, I—!”

“Well?” I said, arching a brow. “Should I come quietly?”

Jasmine looked like she was about to faint. One of the guards stepped forward hastily.

“We… We apologize, Your Majesty. We’ll investigate this matter further.”

He bowed deeply. Jasmine, too, muttered a stammered apology before retreating as quickly as she could.

Once they were gone, I exhaled slowly.

That was close.

I’d had no idea if bluffing would work—but there was no way they’d arrest the Empress over a torn dress.

The political fallout alone would make it impossible. And clearly, no one wanted to risk it.

Mary was safe now. That was what mattered.

“Your Majesty…”

I turned to see Mary, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Because of me… hic… because of me, you…”

“It’s all right. You must have been so scared.”

I reached out and gently wiped her tears with the sleeve of my dress.

“Y-Your Majesty! You’ll stain your—!”

“It’s just fabric. It’ll wash.”

She sobbed again, burying her face in her hands.

“If His Majesty finds out… what if he misunderstands…?”

“You’re worried about that?” I smiled gently. “I’ve told you—I’m not interested in His Majesty’s attention anymore.”

It was true. I’d stopped trying to gain the Emperor’s favor.

“Besides, this isn’t even the worst thing I’ve done in his eyes. One more offense won’t make a difference.”

I gave her shoulder a reassuring pat.

“Let’s just make sure nothing like this happens again.”

I turned to Countess Chloe.

“Countess, gather everything related to His Majesty still stored in this palace.”

“You mean the daily reports?”

“Yes. Every last one.”

A short while later, the palace maids returned carrying towering stacks of papers—detailed imperial briefings, letters, and reports. They were piled up beside the fireplace, nearly as tall as I was.

Without hesitation, I tossed them all into the fire.

The flames roared to life, crackling hungrily as page after page turned to ash.

Gasps rose around the room.

“As you can see,” I said calmly, watching the bonfire burn, “I have no interest in His Majesty anymore.”

I turned to the gathered maids and staff.

“From now on, I want you to stay completely uninvolved in anything concerning the Emperor. I don’t care what happened before, or about previous orders.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, as you command.”

The staff bowed low.

It had taken a lot of effort, but I’d finally sent a clear message. I was done chasing the Emperor. I was done playing the villainess.

Or so I thought.

The Next Day

I chose to dine alone in my quarters.

The palace chefs, clearly nervous from the previous day’s events, went above and beyond in preparing the meal. The food was beautifully arranged, an elaborate spread fit for a feast.

Just as dessert was served, something caught my eye on the tray: a small glass vial filled with bright green liquid.

“And this is…?”

I picked it up, turning it curiously in my fingers.

“Ah,” the chef began, suddenly speaking in a hushed voice.

He glanced around, making sure no one was listening.

“A little something from the black market.”

“The black market?”

“Yes. Very hard to come by. Just one drop is all it takes.”

He leaned in even closer, eyes gleaming with meaning.

“A single drop in His Majesty’s food… and your wish will come true.”

“…What?”

I froze mid-breath.

“Heh. Leave the rest to him,” the chef added with a sly smile.

No. No way.

Did Helena go so far as to recruit even the kitchen staff for her schemes?!

I was stunned into silence.

This is worse than I thought.

Countess Chloe later confirmed my suspicions.

“It wasn’t just the maids?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

Apparently Helena had handpicked agents from all departments: the kitchens, the seamstresses, the guards—even the scribes.

This is a full-blown conspiracy.

If I wanted to change anything… I had to act quickly.

“Countess Chloe,” I said gravely. “Bring me everyone involved in this. Now.”

“The Empress is acting strangely?”

Jerome turned from the window, where the sunlight caught the silver strands of his hair, and faced Marquis Niclad.

The marquis, ever composed, gave a small nod.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jerome narrowed his eyes slightly.

“So she’s scheming again.”

He turned back to the window, staring at nothing in particular.

“What’s she doing this time?”

The marquis opened a report with crisp precision.

“This morning, Her Majesty the Empress summoned her personal maids and gave strict orders.”

“She probably just doesn’t want another mistake,” Jerome muttered.

“Then she called the chefs and gave them instructions during her meal.”

“Didn’t like the food, perhaps.”

“She also summoned the tailors, the wardrobe attendants, and gave detailed directives.”

“So the dress didn’t suit her either.”

The marquis paused.

“After that… she called in the diplomatic corps, the scribes, the finance officers, the royal painters, several guards, and even the prison staff.”

Jerome’s brow furrowed at last.

“Just what… does the Empress think she’s doing?”