Episode 34

Episode 34. Perhaps It May Not Even Be Your Doing

“Did you hear?”

“About the imperial concubine? Of course I did. Who in the palace doesn’t know by now?”

“Then you must’ve heard this too: that at His Majesty’s request, the Grand Chamberlain is coming to the palace.”

“The Grand Chamberlain? Don’t tell me they’re actually going to hold a trial?”

In a dim corner of the labyrinthine palace, hushed voices of servants spilled out.

“Is Her Highness the imperial concubine really in that bad a state?”

“Apparently the poisoning symptoms aren’t that severe. She spends most of the day unconscious, but they found out early enough that her life’s not in danger.”

“Well, that’s a relief. Still, if His Majesty’s so furious he’s calling in the Grand Chamberlain…”

“It’s understandable. It’s the imperial concubine of all people—everyone knows how much His Majesty cherishes her.”

“But…” Their whispering dropped even lower.

“Honestly, I can kind of see where the Empress is coming from.”

“What?”

“I mean, think about it. He dotes on one woman so openly. Even a saint would get jealous.”

“Hey, there’s still a line you don’t cross. No matter how jealous you are, how could you use poison?”

“Well, sure, but… How do they even know it was the Empress?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Who else would do it?”

“Anyway, who are we to guess at the affairs of nobles? They’ve got their own twisted reasons for everything.”

“Do you think there’ll really be a trial? Things were so quiet for a while… What a mess this is.”

Indeed. What a mess.

Listening from the shadows, I nodded slightly. I wanted to know too—what was really going on.

As the Countess Chloe had said, it seemed the entire palace believed I was behind it. Objectively speaking, I was the most suspicious person.

There was no point hoping quietly that the truth would clear me. I’d have to act.

I started moving again. I needed to see Jerome. I needed to explain, even if he wouldn’t believe me. At least I might learn the truth about what really happened.

And I needed to tell him about the Duke of Hastings. It should have been a calm, private conversation, but I couldn’t risk waiting any longer.

I crept through the palace corridors like a stray cat.

Dark clouds swallowed the moonlight; distant thunder rumbled.

‘It’s going to pour soon.’

I used the deepening shadows to approach the imperial concubine’s residence. Jerome would be there; if he loved her as deeply as the story suggested, he’d never leave her side tonight.

So this was the only way.

I scanned the gardens nearby. According to the novel, there was a hidden passage here, known only to Jerome and Fay. She’d used it countless times to slip away whenever trouble struck.

Sorry, protagonist. I’m borrowing it tonight. It’s an emergency.

Found it.

In a secluded corner of the garden stood an old, dry well—just as described. Long unused, but hiding a secret.

I carefully lowered myself inside. Feeling along the crumbling base, I pressed at one spot until it gave way with a muted click.

A narrow side door swung open.

“Yes!”

I quickly slapped a hand over my mouth before the exclamation echoed. I peeked outside, holding my breath.

Silence.

Relieved, I crawled into the tunnel.

It was painfully narrow; elbows and knees scraped against damp stone. My limbs went numb quickly, and my neck and back began to ache.

‘How on earth did Fay use this so often? Was she made of rubber?’

Annoyed and uncomfortable, I crawled on, thinking how useful it would be to have such a tunnel in the Empress’s quarters. Then Chloe wouldn’t have had to put on that grand performance for me to escape.

Eventually, I reached the end.

Pushing the small door open, I found myself in a cramped room behind the imperial concubine’s bedroom.

Candles flickered on a desk stacked high with books. Their soft glow revealed everything exactly as the novel had described.

I pressed my ear to the bedroom door.

No need to wait long.

“I want some time alone with the imperial concubine.”

Jerome’s voice was low and calm, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

The door closed with a soft thud.

I listened. No voices. Just slow, deliberate footsteps. Then the scrape of a chair.

Of course. The imperial concubine was still unconscious. Jerome was probably sitting at her side, reviewing reports.

Good. That meant I wouldn’t have to wait.

I cracked the door open and slipped into the room. Candlelight stabbed at eyes accustomed to darkness. I blinked until my vision cleared.

There she was—Fay. Pale as death on the extravagant bed.

“Empress.”

I froze. My head turned mechanically, like a broken doll.

Jerome stood nearby, watching me with an icy stare.

He frowned.

“A maid’s uniform? Are you planning to poison her yourself this time?”

I exhaled silently. Another pointless misunderstanding.

“I know it looks bad. But I want you to believe me—I didn’t do it.”

“What exactly are you denying? Sneaking in? Or the poisoning?”

He mocked me at first but soon went quiet, studying me without emotion.

“Impressive. The guards are thorough tonight, but you still made it here.”

“I only pushed myself this far because I needed to see you.”

“…You needed to see me?”

He raised an eyebrow.

I nodded.

I’d wanted to say this for a long time, but he’d kept avoiding me.

“I have something to tell you. Once again: I didn’t do this. I’ll prove it.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“Roizen.”

I met his gaze firmly.

“If we find that maid, she can clear me.”

I’d meant to beg for time.

“You really think that will work?”

His voice turned strangely unreadable.

Meanwhile, deep in a remote forest where wild beasts roamed freely and humans rarely ventured, the rain poured down in sheets.

Leonard pressed through the downpour without flinching.

“Master. We found the maid.”

He halted when they reached the spot.

At his feet lay a young woman with freckled cheeks and long hair braided to her waist. Roizen, the Empress’s maid.

Leonard’s eyes narrowed.

“We’re too late.”

Roizen’s body sprawled in the mud, lifeless. The rain washed over her like she’d been abandoned, leaving her cold and alone.

“They made it look like an animal attack,” muttered the one-eyed man beside him.

He scowled at the grim scene.

“If some local found her, they’d bury her quietly in some dry patch of dirt. Not that anyone really comes out here.”

Another man clicked his tongue.

“Poor thing. Must’ve had debts or something. How does someone end up like this?”

Leonard didn’t respond, just stared at Roizen with an unreadable expression.

The one-eyed man turned to him.

“This wasn’t an amateur job. Who would do something this vile?”

Leonard was silent for a moment before answering in an even voice.

“…I have one guess.”

His thoughts flashed to someone waiting in the palace.

His eyes darkened.

“We’re going back immediately.”

Back in the imperial concubine’s bedchamber, Jerome’s voice cut like ice.

“What did you say?”

So dismissive.

“Whatever you’re planning, give it up. It’s pointless. Don’t waste my time.”

“I’m telling you the truth. The other things they said I did—I didn’t. I didn’t orchestrate them.”

I told him everything about the Duke of Hastings. What kind of person he was, the things he’d forced me to do to Fay. I explained in detail.

“Maybe this poisoning is his doing too. I know it sounds crazy, but my father… he doesn’t like you very much.”

Jerome’s face barely changed. He listened without surprise, as if he’d expected it all.

When I finished, he asked quietly:

“Is that all you have to say?”

“What…?”

“That’s it? You went to all this trouble just to tell me this?”

“Wait. Did you even hear me? My father—”

“I know.”

He cut me off sharply.

“I already knew.”

My heart sank.

He let out a cold, humorless laugh.

“Perhaps you didn’t do it. Perhaps it’s not even your doing. But so what?”

Jerome’s lips curved in a chilling smile that sent shivers down my spine.

“In the end, you’re still the only one I can imagine would do something like this.”