Episode 32

Episode 32. I Regret Ever Trusting You

Roizen.

She was undoubtedly one of the maids serving in the Empress’s palace. But she wasn’t just any ordinary maid.

Out of the dozens who served me, I remembered her name so clearly because…

She used to work in the imperial concubine’s palace before transferring here.

She had been a suspect in the case involving the disappearance of the imperial concubine’s ring.

I should have removed her back then…

There were suspicious circumstances, but no proof. So I decided to wait and keep an eye on her.

“The person who supplied the tea to the imperial concubine’s palace is someone named Joseph. He’s been providing tea there for the past three years.”

“For three years? Then it must’ve changed hands at some point.”

“Yes,” Gabian replied with a nod. “Apparently, the change was made on a maid’s recommendation.”

“So, that maid was Roizen?”

“Correct. Our investigation revealed that Joseph is Roizen’s brother.”

“So she helped her brother’s business.” My eyes narrowed. “And what exactly does that have to do with me?”

“There was no issue with the tea Joseph provided to the imperial concubine’s palace… until Roizen transferred to the Empress’s palace.”

Gabian finished his explanation and looked at me. His expression betrayed no emotion—his gaze was utterly indifferent.

“Do you have nothing to say, Your Majesty?”

“Are you suggesting that I ordered Roizen to have her brother deliver poisoned tea to the imperial concubine’s palace?”

He remained silent. Which was answer enough.

I sighed internally. My chest felt tight.

“I didn’t do it.”

“…The truth will be revealed as the investigation proceeds.”

No. I didn’t do it!

It was maddening how everyone kept casting me as the villain. All I wanted was to live quietly. But it seemed retiring from villainy wasn’t so simple.

Suddenly, a terrifying thought crossed my mind. Could Jerome’s recent avoidance of me be because of this?

“Don’t tell me… does His Majesty also think I did it? You think I gave poison to the imperial concubine?”

As I pressed the question, a calm voice responded—but it wasn’t Gabian’s.

“Worse than poison.”

I turned toward the source of the voice.

“…Your Majesty.”

It was Jerome.

The same man who’d rejected my letters without hesitation. The same man who wouldn’t see me, no matter how often I asked. He now stood before me, sword at his waist.

But more than his presence, it was his words that left me shaken.

“What do you mean ‘worse than poison’?” Could there be anything worse than death?

As if answering my unspoken question, Jerome opened his mouth.

“A drug that makes a woman unable to bear children.”

“…!”

Infertility…?

The words stunned me. My thoughts scattered. I barely managed to gather myself enough to ask:

“Are you saying the tea the imperial concubine drank contained something to make her infertile?”

“How revolting,” Jerome sneered. “Were you so jealous of her?”

His expression twisted with disgust.

“Did you hate her that much—that you wanted to keep her from ever having children?”

“No.” I answered firmly.

Me, give Fay an infertility drug? There was no way I could do something that cruel.

“I didn’t do it. I’ve told Your Majesty time and again—I no longer wish to torment her.”

“Yes, I remember.” A bitter smile crossed Jerome’s face.

“You nearly fooled me with those desperate eyes of yours.”

“Fooled…?”

“I regret ever trusting you. It was all just lies to put me at ease.”

“What I said that day—it wasn’t an act. It was sincere. Something’s not right. There’s clearly a misunderstanding.” I spoke with genuine conviction.

“Enough. I won’t listen to any more of your empty excuses.”

He didn’t see my sincerity. All he saw was what he wanted to see—resentment, betrayal.

“So you schemed behind the scenes again.” Jerome’s voice was laced with scorn, as if this outcome had been inevitable.

“From this moment on, the Empress’s palace is under lockdown. No person, no goods, nothing goes in or out. Anyone who violates this order will be severely punished.”

With that cold declaration, he turned his back on me.

“Empress. This time, I won’t let it slide. You’d better prepare yourself.”

Just like that, he imprisoned me in the Empress’s palace.

Moonlight had begun to rise by evening. I sat in silence, staring out the window.

Dozens of knights and soldiers had encircled the palace in a tight formation.

“Isn’t this ridiculous?”

“Your Majesty…”

“Until just recently, I didn’t even have proper escorts. Now I’m surrounded by over thirty knights.”

“Your Majesty…”

Countess Chloe and the maids—Mary among them—were crying. Tears fell freely from their eyes.

I turned and smiled at them.

“There’s no need to cry. I’ve done nothing wrong. What is there to weep about?”

“But… Your Majesty.”

“It’s not fair.”

“You never gave an order to poison anyone!”

“Exactly. And yet they’re convinced I did it.”

My chest ached. It felt like talking to a wall that didn’t care what I had to say.

“Roizen. Has her whereabouts been determined?” I asked.

“She hasn’t returned to the palace for two days. The knights are tracking her—her location should be revealed soon.”

“She needs to be found quickly.” Even though she’d dragged me into this disaster, she was the only one who could clear my name.

Still… I had a bad feeling they wouldn’t find her.

Just a hunch—but a strong one.

“I’m exhausted. I think I’ll rest.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The maids quietly withdrew. Left alone, I looked out the window again.

“How did it come to this…”

A long sigh escaped me.

It was already enough trying to figure out my father’s strange behavior. And now I was being accused of attempted murder?

I didn’t even know where things had started to go wrong.

Suddenly, I thought of Helena. She must have been an incredibly lonely person.

I’d thought she’d only been abandoned by the Emperor. But in truth, she’d been used by her own father too.

“No wonder she turned out the way she did.” I muttered softly.

“Your Majesty.”

A low voice called out to me. Startled, I turned.

When had he arrived? In the corner of the room, bathed in slanted moonlight, stood a handsome figure.

“Sir Leonard…?”

“Are you all right, Your Majesty?”

It was Leonard.

How had he gotten in? No—there were more urgent matters.

“You shouldn’t be here. His Majesty has forbidden anyone from entering. If they catch you…”

“It doesn’t matter.” He shook his head, stepping closer.

“If I can see Your Majesty’s face, I’ll gladly bear any risk.”

“You really are…” His stubbornness brought on a strange, fluttery feeling.

“A strange man.”

“It’s Your Majesty who makes me that way.”

“You still say things like that at a time like this?”

“Only because I’m standing before you.”

“Everyone says you’re terribly serious, but I guess no one’s seen this side of you.”

“Because I only show it to one person in the world.”

“Enough. Stop saying things like that.”

By now I should’ve been used to his teasing. But no—blushing was still my default reaction.

A quiet silence settled between us. Oddly, it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Just looking at each other was enough to make me smile—and strangely, feel reassured.

“Your Majesty. Do you know who did this?”

I hadn’t said a word. Yet he already believed I wasn’t the one. No—he knew I wasn’t.

That unwavering belief filled me with quiet gratitude.

“I don’t know. Or rather, I should say… not yet.”

“Is there anyone you suspect?”

“Sir Leonard. May I ask you for a favor?”

“Please do.” His voice was calm, resolute.

He looked as if he would accept any request, no matter what it was. That expression made me laugh without meaning to.

“You look like you’d agree even if I asked you to run away with me.”

“Is that what you want?” He gently took my hand.

“If that’s your wish… I will gladly go with you.”

The moonlight lit up his face, glinting in his blue eyes like a galaxy.

“I will follow wherever Your Majesty leads.”

Thump.

My heart gave a sudden jump.

No—calm down. I couldn’t forget who he was. What kind of man he would become later.

Even so… For this moment alone, I wanted to believe in him.

Maybe running away together would be the happier ending.

But… I shook my head.

I didn’t want to run. No—I wouldn’t run.

If I fled now, it would only cement everyone’s belief that I was guilty. Whatever the truth was, people would take my escape as an admission.

I couldn’t let that happen—not when I was innocent.

“I was joking. Where would the Empress run off to? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“Sir Leonard. I have a favor to ask.”

“Say the word.”

A name slipped from my lips.

“Roizen.”

The maid suspected of poisoning the imperial concubine under my orders.

“Find the girl who’s gone missing.”

Leonard looked at me for a moment, then slowly knelt on one knee. Just like the day he’d asked me to make him my official consort.

Looking up at me, he answered with a loyal voice.

“As you command, Your Majesty.”