I Became the Emperor’s Sleeping Pill - Chapter 45

Schedule: Tuesday and Friday

“There’s trouble at the Rose Palace? What’s happened?” Edin’s eyes, which moments before had been lazily scanning documents, turned to ice.

“Lady Lysei was attacked last night…”

“What?!” Edin shot to his feet before Zerga could even finish.

“I’m going to the Rose Palace immediately!”

“Your Majesty!” Zerga had anticipated this. He’d known Edin would rush to Lysei’s side without a second thought, which was precisely why he’d checked on her condition first. He quickly caught Edin’s arm as the emperor made for the door. Edin’s eyes, a maelstrom of fury, bewilderment, concern, and the stark terror of potentially losing her, darted wildly.

“You’ll only see her sleeping face if you go now. She hasn’t awakened yet.”

“…What…?”

“Her throat was… cut. Not deeply, but the shock…” Zerga’s words trailed off, silenced by the chilling expression on Edin’s face, an expression of such terrifying iciness that Zerga had never witnessed before. Edin stared at him, then, in a voice as glacial as his gaze, asked, “Who?”

“….”

“I asked you who dared to lay a hand on my woman, Zerga.”

“The Empress’s knight.”

“…!!”

“So please, calm yourself, Your Majesty. This isn’t a matter to be handled with your usual… impulsiveness.”

“Weren’t the Empress’s movements supposed to be restricted?”

“…I didn’t anticipate the Empress sending her own knight. My oversight.” Zerga bowed his head in apology. Edin fought to contain his seething rage, growling low in his throat.

“Bring me this knight.”

Zerga bowed again and exited the imperial office. Perhaps this was for the best. Seiren had been with the Empress since before she arrived at the palace. He was a friend, family, and his most trusted protector. If Edin harmed him, the Empress would undoubtedly go to any lengths to defend him. This incident, Zerga mused, might just be the leverage he needed to finally acquire the exclusive northern trade routes, a prize the Duke’s family had long coveted.

Edin would surely try to execute Seiren, and the Empress would fight tooth and nail to protect him. It was an opportunity, a dangerous one, but an opportunity nonetheless. He would need to manage Edin’s fury until the emperor was capable of rational thought, but the potential reward was worth the risk. Zerga anticipated the Empress’s refusal to surrender Seiren and began formulating his next move.

***

Raz’s face hardened at the news of Seiren’s summons. She’d anticipated this when Seiren had returned with his arm mangled. But for Edin to summon her knight directly, bypassing her entirely, indicated a far more serious situation than she’d initially thought. Raz gnawed at her thumbnail, agitated. It was all because of that incompetent shadow. She’d stressed repeatedly the importance of restraining Trey, yet the fool had failed, costing Seiren an arm. She’d paid the idiot enough gold to buy three mansions for such a simple task. What was she to do…?

“His Majesty has decreed that Seiren Buteorn be brought to the Imperial Palace immediately.”

“I must see His Majesty first.” Edin would undoubtedly kill Seiren. She couldn’t hand him over without intervention.

“Inform His Majesty.”

Raz was determined to keep Seiren from Edin’s sight, but her resolve crumbled when Edin arrived at the Empress’s Palace in person.

“…Your… Your Majesty?!” The imperial sword in Edin’s hand left no doubt as to his intentions. He’d come to execute Seiren himself. Edin’s actions were all orchestrated by Zerga. Just as Zerga had predicted, the Empress had hidden Seiren and sent word that she would meet with the emperor. This had enraged Edin, prompting him to storm the Empress’s Palace, sword in hand. It was all part of Zerga’s plan, and Edin, fueled by genuine fury, was playing right into it.

“Where is she? The Empress’s knight.”

The Empress, her face ashen with shock, stared at the sword-wielding emperor.

“Your Majesty! Please, let us discuss this…!”

“Do I appear to have the time for idle chatter? Bring the knight before me, Empress.”

The sheer, unyielding coldness in Edin’s voice forced Raz to prostrate herself before the emperor.

“Your Majesty!”

“…What are you doing, Empress? Rise.” Edin’s face was a mask of barely controlled fury. The flat, chilling tone of his voice left Raz in no doubt as to the emperor’s wrath. What was she to do…? Raz squeezed her eyes shut.

Her hasty decision had put Seiren’s life in grave danger. She’d planned to eliminate Lysei first, then gradually undermine Edin and claim the throne for herself. Losing one of her key players this early in the game was unacceptable. Furthermore, Seiren’s death at Edin’s hands would create a host of complications. He was a knight of the Beneretti family, loyal since his childhood. Executing him would be a blatant act of hostility towards the powerful Beneretti clan.