Chapter 5.4

“I wish to be alone. All of you, leave.”

As soon as the command was given, the maids assisting Consort Florese with her dressing retreated, backing away. Since the ball had ended, the Consort was in an extremely sour mood, causing a tense atmosphere to hang over the Flowers Palace.

The Consort was never particularly generous to begin with. She didn’t physically harm her subordinates, but she would torment them with words until she was satisfied. Because of this, the top priority for her maids and servants lately was to not displease her.

Now alone, Consort Florese stared at her reflection in the dressing table mirror. She fixed a crooked hairpin and brushed away a stray strand of hair. After tidying herself up, she walked toward the portrait hanging on the wall.

It was a portrait of her from when she was first appointed as an Consort.

At that time, she had no doubt that she would soon become the Emperor’s wife. But time had flown by, and it had been more than 20 years since she became an Consort.

The Empress had died as soon as she gave birth to Jeras, yet she was still an consort. The Emperor could not escape the ghost of his late wife, and the only thing she had left behind was growing day by day, blocking her path.

“Patefa.”

With a short incantation and a touch of her hand on the frame, the wall where the portrait hung opened like a door. It was a passage leading to a secret chamber. Consort Florese’s steps as she entered the dark opening were very familiar. As soon as her back was completely swallowed by the darkness, the wall closed without a sound.

Only Consort Florese’s portrait remained, staring serenely at the room.

In the pitch-black darkness where she could not see an inch in front of her, Consort Florese’s footsteps echoed. Her footsteps went deeper inside and then stopped at a certain point.

“Lord Agtatius.”

As if in response to her voice, a black, purplish flame shot up from all sides, illuminating the area.

Consort Florese bowed her head toward the front. In front of her was a wall, and on the wall hung a black, round mirror. Soon, a hazy figure emerged in the mirror. Immediately, the air turned bone-chillingly cold. A biting wind, like a blizzard in the middle of winter, swept through the space.

– Did you fail?

“I am mortified. I successfully cast the curse, but a girl suddenly intervened and ruined my plans…”

– I do not wish to hear excuses. Was she a servant of Aletheia?

“Given that she purified Lord Agtatius’s curse, it seems so.”

– So that’s it…

The figure in the mirror flickered like smoke.

Consort Florese swallowed hard. There was no way to know what this inhuman and distant being was thinking or feeling, so all she could do was bow her head.

She lowered her body even more and moved her dry lips.

“I will find a way to eliminate the girl and Jeras at once. If you just give me a little more time…”

– You who cannot even properly do what you are told, dare to command me?

“I am sorry.”

The ground shook violently. The Consort quickly lowered her body.

A sharp wind swept past, leaving a long cut on her neck. Drops of blood dripped from the torn skin, staining her dress.

– Empty the vessel. I shall perform the ritual soon.

With those words, the figure in the mirror and the flames went out. Consort Florese took out a handkerchief and pressed it against the wound on her neck. Her expression, which had settled into a coldness, was more emotionless than the portrait in the frame.

She went out of this space, which let no light or sound in, as naturally as she had entered. She wrapped a shawl around herself to hide the wound and the bloodstains, sat at her dressing table, and called for her head lady-in-waiting.

The lady-in-waiting rushed in and bowed.

“You called, Your Majesty?”

“Has His Royal Highness the First Prince started his work?”

“I believe he has not yet come to his office.”

“That’s good. I need to see him before he starts his work.”

“Yes. I will inform His Highness.”

A maid who received a nod from the head lady-in-waiting scurried away. Consort Florese touched her throbbing neck with an annoyed hand and stood up.

***

“Young miss, young miss! What on earth is wrong! Please open the door!”

Siliya huddled at the edge of the bed, trembling.

The worried voice of her nanny knocking on the door couldn’t reach her. The extreme fear of not knowing when or how she would die was strangling her.

‘No… No! I don’t want to die like this! I did as I was told. I gave the Second Prince the drink! The rest isn’t my business!’

“Maybe… maybe I should just…”

Maybe it would be better to die first before being killed.

With her mind paralyzed by fear, rational thought was impossible. Her mind was filled only with Consort Florese, whom she had briefly met at the ball. The Consort had whispered to her with a beautiful, yet chillingly cold, face.

‘If you fail, I will kill your entire family. Very painfully. So make sure you complete your task without a mistake.’

Siliya opened the top drawer with a trembling hand. Inside was the poison Consort Florese had given her. It was a poison that would let her die painlessly, as if falling asleep.

Yes, this is better than being caught and dying a horrible, painful death.

And if I die… if I take all the blame and die, maybe my family will be spared. She was still a blood relative, after all. She couldn’t let her innocent family die because of her foolishness.

With a dazed look, like someone possessed, Siliya opened the vial.

“Young Miss Siliya!”

The nanny, who had opened the door with a key, called out her name in a scream. But a few drops of the poison had already landed on Siliya’s tongue.

“N-Nanny…”

The nanny held Siliya, who was muttering in a weak voice. Siliya’s eyes, which had been blinking slowly, soon closed completely. Her body, drained of all strength, went limp in the nanny’s arms.

The vial in her hand rolled out and clattered onto the floor.