Episode 35

Episode 35. Simply Because I’m the Empress

Three days later.

In the end, the trial was held.

I walked calmly into the hearing chamber. The nobles seated at the front fell silent as they watched me enter. It was a scene I’d read about in the book.

Helena shed tears of injustice as she walked in here.

I’d thought I’d be scared and trembling like her.

But contrary to my fears, I wasn’t frightened or shaking at all.

The courtroom itself was quite small. It was an unprecedented event for an Empress to stand trial, but since there wasn’t clear evidence, it was proceeding as a summary trial.

That part’s different from the original.

In the novel, it had been a spectacle in front of hundreds of nobles, like a show trial. Throughout, Helena had been bombarded with insults.

And at the end, the verdict was her execution.

The timing and scale of this trial were both different from the original. I could only hope the outcome would differ too.

Seated in the defendant’s chair, I looked around. A dozen nobles sat in the jury seats; among them was a familiar face.

The Duke of Hastings.

Helena’s father—present as a representative of the nobility.

At the highest seat sat the High Chamberlain, regarded as God’s representative, who was surprisingly young.

“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”

The herald’s voice rang out, and everyone rose.

The doors opened to admit a man who looked as though the gods themselves had sculpted him. He drew every eye in the room as he took his seat at the head of the chamber.

Jerome, Emperor of the Pentrion Empire.

I looked at him, and he didn’t avoid my gaze.

That cold, unfeeling stare…

You want me punished here, don’t you? Just like in the original.

He turned away from my questioning eyes.

“Let the hearing begin,” declared the High Chamberlain, and so it did.

“There was recently an unfortunate incident in the imperial palace. Today, we will investigate the matter and determine the truth.”

His solemn voice opened proceedings.

Next, the Chief Counsel summarized the events.

“Her Highness the imperial concubine drank poisoned tea and was thus poisoned. The tea was supplied by a man named Joseph, brother to Roizen, a maid in the Empress’s household. Joseph had supplied tea to the concubine’s palace for years without incident. However…”

His tone sharpened.

“Once his sister Roizen transferred to the Empress’s palace, suddenly poisoned tea was supplied, leading to this crime.”

The High Chamberlain asked,

“What motive would Joseph have to supply poisoned tea?”

Motive.

The young Chamberlain pressed about what benefit Joseph might gain.

“We cannot say for certain, but it is presumed to be closely tied to his sister’s transfer to the Empress’s service.”

The Chief Counsel then called witnesses: maids and knights who worked in the concubine’s palace.

They described how the Empress had treated the concubine like a sworn enemy.

Then several noblewomen testified about events at banquets—how I’d humiliated the concubine, insulted her over trivial mistakes, even dropped candle wax onto her head or pushed her from a high platform.

All of these were things Helena had done before I possessed her.

Gasps spread among the nobles each time the Counsel recited another crime.

After finishing, the High Chamberlain turned to me.

“Your Majesty the Empress, do you wish to contest these testimonies?”

I swallowed a sigh and replied.

“Some were accidents, but most are true.”

What else could I say?

I hadn’t done them, but Helena had.

“But this poisoning was not my doing.”

“We will have to investigate that matter carefully,” the Chamberlain said before glancing at the Counsel.

“To explain the complexity of this case, we have invited an expert.”

The courtroom doors swung open.

A man entered with silver hair like moonlight, half his face hidden behind a white mask.

As he moved swiftly, the earring at his ear glinted.

Some nobles scowled; others gasped.

“A mask in a sacred court?”

“How disrespectful.”

“Wait—that mask… is it really…?”

“Do you know him?”

“If I’m right…”

“Silence.”

Order was restored with the Chamberlain’s firm command. He addressed the newcomer.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Cedric. I am a mage in imperial service.”

His voice was calm, but his name sent shockwaves through the court.

“Cedric?”

“The Guardian of the Green?”

“You don’t mean the sage—the great mage himself?”

“I’d heard the Emperor brought the Green’s Archmage into the palace. So it was true.”

The courtroom buzzed with renewed commotion.

Once it quieted, the Chamberlain gave Cedric a respectful nod.

“I did not expect to see the Forest’s Sage in such a place.”

“It is my honor to appear before you, Chamberlain.”

“Do you have insight to offer on this matter?”

“Yes.”

He turned slightly to look at me; in his golden eyes was worry.

I offered him a small, reassuring smile.

“I will explain the poison used on the imperial concubine. It was prepared from a flower known as ‘Rosaflo.’”

“Rosaflo?”

“It grows on perilous cliffs, making it rare and extremely difficult to harvest, let alone refine into poison. There are very few in the world capable of producing it.”

“So it is not easily made. Understood. Thank you.”

But Cedric did not leave.

The Chamberlain eyed him curiously.

“Have you anything more to say?”

“I heard rumors that Her Majesty the Empress is suspected of being behind this.”

“Well, there aren’t many others who would wish the concubine to infertile.”

“There is no clear proof of her guilt.”

“There is ample circumstantial evidence.”

“If we condemn someone on mere circumstance, shouldn’t I be arrested as well?”

Gasps rippled through the chamber.

“What do you mean?”

“Only about ten people in the world can make poison from Rosaflo. I am one of them. Should I not be suspected?”

“Surely you did not make it yourself?”

“I did not.”

“Then how can we suspect a man called the Sage of the Forest?”

“Then why suspect the Empress without any definitive proof?”

His quiet question fell like a stone in water.

The room hushed as everyone digested his words.

Though he hadn’t shouted, his meaning was clear: convicting the Empress on suspicion alone was unjust.

His logic spread like ripples through the nobles.

It was then someone’s voice thundered unexpectedly.

“All of this is because His Majesty is unfair!”

It was none other than the Duke of Hastings—Helena’s father.

As one of the Empire’s Three Dukes, he raised his voice, face flushed with indignation.

“Everyone here knows it. Even with an Empress on the throne, His Majesty dotes on another!”

The room buzzed with murmurs.

“Yes, the very woman at the center of this scandal—the imperial concubine!”

He nodded gravely.

“I understand. It is not wrong per se. Consorts and concubines are part of imperial custom for the sake of succession.”

He let out a pained breath.

“But… before being a subject of the Empire, I am a father.”

His expression twisted with anguish.

“Imagine it—your husband loving another woman. Who could bear it unscathed?”

His eyes reddened with tears.

“Think how much my daughter has suffered. As her father, my heart breaks.”

Silence fell as everyone watched this moving portrait of paternal love.

Many nobles’ eyes softened with sympathy.

Except for one person—me.

Remarkable.

I marveled at his acting skill.

Beating his chest, shedding tears…

Knowing his true nature made it feel downright revolting.

And his performance did me no favors at all.

“Who wouldn’t resort to such measures in the Empress’s place?”

Honestly, was this even a defense? It made me look exactly like the culprit.

Whose side are you on? Are you hitting me with your shield?

Did he actually think I’d poisoned the concubine?

Jerome’s cold voice cut through.

“I hear you, Duke. A father’s love is understandable.”

He gave the Duke a flat stare.

“But even if one feels wronged, it does not justify all acts. The Empress’s past crimes may be blamed on jealousy. But this is different.”

His chilly eyes fell on me.

“The Empress poisoned the concubine to prevent her from bearing an heir.”

The High Chamberlain spoke next.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

I met his gaze.

“All circumstantial evidence points to you as the mastermind. Do you have anything to say in your defense?”

“I do.”

I nodded, scanning the nobles with a steady expression.

“I am not behind this poisoning.”

“…Do you have proof?”

“In fact, I would like to ask you—where is the evidence I ordered the concubine poisoned?”

“There is more than enough circumstantial evidence…”

“I asked if there is definitive evidence.”

The Chamberlain glanced at the Counsel.

The Counsel’s face stiffened.

“The maid suspected of carrying out the crime, Roizen, was found dead days ago.”

“And her brother?”

“Joseph is missing. His whereabouts are unknown.”

The Counsel delivered this flatly, then turned cold eyes on me.

“It is a chillingly thorough crime. Such ruthless precision is beyond an ordinary person.”

Most of the nobles on the jury nodded solemnly.

“We must ask: who stands to gain if the concubine becomes infertile?”

That beneficiary was obviously me.

Even the Duke of Hastings’s face hardened.

I let out an inward sigh.

Really now.

You can’t convict someone on suspicion alone.

“I know no excuse will help. But I did not do this. On my name as Empress, I swear it.”

Jerome’s voice was cutting.

“Why not just confess?”

“Because I didn’t do it!”

I couldn’t help shouting, pouring all my anger and hurt into my voice.

“Even if I offered proof, you wouldn’t believe me.”

“…”

“It’s too cruel of you, Your Majesty.”

My eyes stung with tears.

Was it my imagination?

For just an instant, Jerome’s gaze wavered.

I must have imagined it.

That cold man wouldn’t soften. Nothing I said would reach them.

Simply because I’m the Empress.

Because of all I had done before. Because it was the imperial concubine who was harmed. Because the poison would make her infertile.

Even if the trial found me innocent, public opinion wouldn’t change.

I’d known this before stepping inside.

That was the role this world demanded of me.

But.

I won’t go down so easily.

I looked straight at Jerome and gave a faint smile.

“…”

He frowned, looking almost unsettled. I found that flicker of confusion strangely satisfying.

At that moment—

“Ah!”

A sharp pain stabbed my lower belly like a blunt weapon.

It spread through my whole body.

My head throbbed, my vision blurred, the world spun wildly.

Voices rose in alarm, but I couldn’t hear them.

My legs buckled. I nearly collapsed.

But strong arms suddenly caught me.

…Huh?

Through the fading light, I saw who’d rushed forward to hold me.

“…Empress. Stay with me!”

Jerome?

Why…

I tried to ask but my lips wouldn’t move.

Darkness closed in.

Faintly, Cedric’s frantic voice reached my ears.

“Gods… this poison is the same as the concubine’s…”

That was the last thing I heard.

I think I was smiling.

Explain this too, you bastards.