Episode 33

Episode 33. Now It Begins

The next day.

The rumors spread fast.

Everyone in the capital quickly learned that the imperial concubine had been poisoned—and that I’d been named the culprit. That the Empress’s Palace was under lockdown.

This poisoning incident had happened in the original novel too.

But—

‘It’s far too early.’

This was supposed to take place in the second half of the novel, when Helena’s crimes had reached their peak. The incident would provoke Jerome’s rage, push Helena to trial, and eventually lead to her downfall. She didn’t even deny the charges in the original; she was dethroned and executed in the end.

“How’s the situation?”

Countess Chloe responded to my question:

“…It seems things are taking a turn for the worse.”

Her expression was grave.

“The problem is that all circumstantial evidence points to this place. Even the nobles who were favorable toward Your Majesty are holding their tongues.”

Those friendly to me… probably the anti-emperor faction, including Helena’s father, the Duke of Hastings.

Even they couldn’t defend me under these circumstances. Poisoning wasn’t something you could compare to dumping wine on someone’s head or tearing a dress.

‘Not that their support would make me especially happy anyway.’

After learning what kind of man the Duke of Hastings really was, even that faint hope had disappeared.

“How could they do this? Her Majesty isn’t the one who did it!” Mary shouted in frustration. “There’s no proof! How can they just accuse her like this?”

Exactly, I wanted to chime in with her.

But proof…

If the novel followed its original path, then a key testimony would appear soon: the culprit’s confession. Roizen would claim the empress was behind it.

In the original version, it had simply been described as a lady-in-waiting’s testimony. Turns out that maid was Roizen.

‘Leonard has to handle this well.’

Right now, he was the only one who might steer this away from its grim course. If he could find Roizen, we’d have a thread of hope.

Of course, I had no intention of sitting around and waiting for him to come back.

After gathering my thoughts, I lifted my head.

“Countess Chloe.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Is there any way to get outside the palace?”

Countess Chloe’s eyes lit up.

“Among the knights, there are still some who remain loyal to Your Majesty.”

“Good.”

I took a deep breath.

I had planned to lie low, but under these circumstances, there was no choice. Better to act than to wait around for a clean execution.

“Then let’s do it.”

Having left the palace, Leonard headed straight for the Hilbert Marquisate.

“It’s been a long time, sir.”

The aging butler Alfred welcomed him warmly.

“I won’t be staying long.”

“Master Isaac has returned.”

“Isaac?”

Leonard hesitated, halfway through changing out of his shirt. But only for a moment.

“It’s not the time. Don’t tell my brother I’m here.”

“He’s been eagerly waiting to see you…”

Alfred looked disappointed.

“He’ll be hurt.”

“I have urgent business. Please explain it to him for me.”

Changed into more comfortable clothing, Leonard headed for the stables. He emerged riding a tall, jet-black stallion—larger and more majestic than any other horse.

Alfred was clearly shocked. Leonard rarely brought that horse with him unless it was a serious matter.

And showing up unannounced was surprise enough.

‘He even brought Jackson… It must be urgent.’

Leonard galloped out from the estate.

About an hour away, far from the city center, he arrived in the outskirts—an unmarked alleyway—and stepped into a tavern called “Drink and Die.”

It wasn’t even sundown, but the place was packed.

A bearded drunkard was shouting obscenities about the empire, street musicians were playing a soft tune, and a dancer in red swayed beside them.

Leonard passed through the chaos and slipped out the back.

Down a narrow alley that barely fit one person, through a tunnel-like passage, he reached a dark crimson door.

“Welcome back, Master.”

A young man with an eyepatch bowed low.

Leonard gave a brief nod and took the head seat at the table.

Soon others entered and took their places beside him—the man who led him in, a silent gray-haired bartender, the bearded drunkard, and the dancer from before.

They all looked ordinary on the surface—but none of them were.

Leonard looked around and spoke.

“You’ve all been well?”

“Yes.”

“We’ve been waiting for your return.”

“It’s good to see you again, Master.”

“We thought you’d forgotten about us while playing knight.”

Leonard nodded as they greeted him, mixing warmth with grumbling.

“I’ve been busy. But I’m glad to see you’ve all been well.”

Years ago, Leonard had walked out into the world with barely a handful of coins, determined to learn business firsthand. His parents hired elite tutors, but he insisted on experience over theory.

In just a few years, he had earned enough to open several high-end shops in the city center.
It became a near-mythical story in noble circles—his meteoric rise.

But that public tale only scratched the surface.

What Leonard had really built was far greater.

The people gathered here—this was his true achievement.

“What about the task I assigned?”

The drunkard replied.

“We’ve started investigating. However…”

Though he looked drunk, his voice was crisp.

“However?”

“There are guards stationed along every path the maid might take. It’s hard to get close.”

Leonard nodded.

“That means they haven’t found the real suspect yet. A good sign.”

Then he straightened his back and spoke with resolve.

“From now on, we concentrate all efforts on finding the missing maid.”

His seriousness prompted his subordinates to sit straighter.

“Understood.”

“Leave it to us, Master.”

“Aaaagh, I’m dying!”

A sudden scream rang out through the quiet Empress’s Palace.

“What’s going on?”

Guards who had been posted with hawk-like focus rushed over.

I met them with a concerned look.

“She’s been complaining of nausea since morning… It looks like serious food poisoning.”

“Poisoning?”

The guards hesitated.

Illness required treatment—but this was under direct imperial order.

Countess Chloe clutched her belly and wailed in agony.

“Aghh, I’m going to die! Please, fetch a priest, quickly…”

Her realistic performance threw the guards into a panic.

“We understand. We’ll summon a priest or physician right away.”

Mary snapped at them.

“Can’t you see how pale she is?”

Pale?

In my disguise as a maid, I glanced at Countess Chloe.

She did look a bit sick… but “pale” was a stretch.

Actually, she looked surprisingly healthy.

Apparently, the guards thought so too.

“She doesn’t seem that pale…”

“That’s because you don’t know her usual complexion! It’s usually so rosy and radiant! Now look—she’s deathly pale!”

“…Is that so?”

“If anything happens before the priest arrives, will you take responsibility?”

“Then what should we do?”

“We’ll go to the priest ourselves. That’ll save time.”

“Th-that’s…”

If she died on their watch, they’d be in serious trouble.

After some hesitation, one of the guards turned around.

“Alright. I’ll carry her on my back.”

Mary smacked his shoulder.

“You don’t even know her condition—how dare you try to touch her?”

“W-what condition?”

“She’s… she’s…” Mary looked around, eyes darting.

Then she blurted it out—

“She’s pregnant.”

“…Pregnant?”

“With child?”

Not only the guards, but I and even Countess Chloe were taken aback.

Pregnant?

She already had three children. The oldest was nearly grown.

What kind of age gap would that be?

It was a chaotic claim—but it was already out in the open.

Countess Chloe gave Mary a sharp glare but then gritted her teeth and groaned again, clutching her belly.

“Ugh… my stomach… I think the baby…”

The guards panicked.

Not even an imperial order overrode an emergency from a pregnancy.

“A-alright. A short trip outside should be fine.”

“Then three of us will go.”

“Three?”

“We need someone on either side to support her.”

“Then we’ll assign two escorts.”

“Do as you wish.”

Mary and I each took one side of Countess Chloe, with two guards behind us.

When we arrived at the imperial hospital, the physician looked startled.

“What happened?”

“It’s urgent. Is the priest not here?”

“He stepped out just a moment ago. What seems to be the problem?”

“She has stomach cramps—” Mary began.

“Wait. Didn’t you say it was a baby earlier?” the guards asked.

“A baby?”

The physician looked baffled.

“Is it food poisoning or pregnancy?”

…I saw Countess Chloe’s eyes flicker for just a second.

A thousand thoughts must’ve passed through her mind.

Luckily, no one else noticed.

“I don’t care what it is—I’m dying!” she shouted.

“Alright, I’ll examine her now.”

“Ow, it hurts!”

“This pain is too much. I’ll need help restraining her to examine her properly.”

“But… she’s a maid…”

“This is an emergency. You—hold her arms. You—her legs.”

“AAAH!”

The guards reluctantly grabbed her as she flailed in “pain,” each one taking at least two hits in the process.

And in the midst of the chaos, I slipped out unnoticed.

“Phew. I made it out.”

Of course, Countess Chloe’s illness had been fake—a desperate performance to get me out of the palace.

We’d tried using connections first, but the palace was under such tight watch that this was our only choice.

Luckily, the guards were naïve enough to fall for it.

“Sorry, Countess Chloe.”

She had truly gone all out.

If I were a judge, I’d give her this year’s Best Actress award.

Soon, the palace would be in uproar over the mysterious case of the vanishing, nonexistent baby.

“Your Majesty.”

A whisper came from behind. It was Mary.

She must’ve escaped during the chaos as well.

“I’ll pray for your safe return.”

I nodded.

“You be careful too, Mary.”

“Leave it to me. No matter what, I’ll deliver this letter to him.”

She showed me the letter I’d written before leaving the palace.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

She gave a deep bow and disappeared down one of the many paths.

I turned back to the window.

The sun was setting.

Pulling my hood over my head, I whispered:

“Now it begins.”

Whoever the real culprit was—I wasn’t going to go down quietly.