I Became the Emperor’s Sleeping Pill - Chapter 69

Schedule: Tuesday and Friday

Chapter 10 – Misunderstanding

“Bring Nyxna to the Imperial Palace and double the guard at Rose Palace. Send Trey as well.”

Zerga’s face registered surprise at Edin’s abrupt command to bring Luigia to the Imperial Palace.

“Miss Luigia? But the security here isn’t sufficient yet to have her stay…”

“The Duke of Theor has agreed to send his personal guard to the Imperial Palace.”

“Theor?!” Zerga’s eyes widened. “He sought you out yesterday immediately upon his return. What wind blew him this way…?”

“Ten days,” Edin said to Zerga, who was muttering to himself. “He promised that if nothing happens at Rose Palace for ten days, he’ll never again utter the nonsense about taking Sei.”

“…What…?”

“In exchange, if Sei is in any danger within those ten days, Theor gets to take her.” Edin met Zerga’s gaze. Zerga blinked, taken aback by the seriousness in Edin’s expression.

“What kind of wager are you two making…?”

“It’s not a wager. It’s a way to get my old friend to give up on my woman.”

“…But wouldn’t it be better to keep Miss Lysei by your side rather than at Rose Palace?”

“No. Until my tainted divine power returns, it’s best that Lysei and I remain apart.”

“Ah.”

“And if Nyxna is by Lysei’s side, the guards at Rose Palace can’t focus solely on her protection. The only way to ensure their full attention is on Lysei is to bring Nyxna here.”

Zerga nodded in understanding. “So, make sure not even an ant can get into Rose Palace.”

At Edin’s words, Zerga stared at him silently before letting out a deep sigh and pressing a hand to his forehead.

***

Misunderstandings, once begun, only deepen. Lysei’s face paled at Trey’s words: only Luigia was to be taken to the Imperial Palace.

“What about me? Aren’t Luigia and I supposed to stay together?”

“Miss Lysei, you will remain at Rose Palace.”

“…!”

“Don’t worry. Security at Rose Palace has been maximized. And I will remain with you.”

Lysei forced a smile and a nod at Trey’s reassurance, but her face quickly hardened. She recalled Edin’s immediate rejection when she’d reached out to him. That same Edin had now summoned Luigia to the Imperial Palace, leaving her behind.

Anyone would think he had abandoned her for Luigia. Yet, a part of her clung to the belief that there was a valid reason, striving to trust Edin.

That evening, as if mocking her faith, she received a letter during dinner—or rather, she discovered one. Finding it hidden beneath a plate at the edge of the table, Lysei instinctively opened it. Inside, a short, chilling message declared that she would be abandoned and that the Emperor would embrace Luigia. Lysei’s face drained of color.

Trey, standing across the table, noticed her distress. “Are you alright?”

“…Who… who put this here?”

“What is it?”

Trey approached her. With trembling hands, Lysei offered the letter, and Trey took it.

“…What is this?”

“I should be asking you. Who wrote this?”

“Written…? There’s nothing written here.” Trey unfolded the letter, displaying its blank surface for Lysei to see.

“What…!”

Lysei shot to her feet. The letter in Trey’s hand was undeniably empty. The words she had read had vanished without a trace.

What was this…? She wondered if she was losing her mind, driven to such thoughts by her anxieties. Lysei pressed a hand to her temple, a soft moan escaping her lips.

“I need to rest.”

“Perhaps you should eat a little more…”

“I want to be alone.” Lysei cut Trey off, heading towards her room.

Trey stared at the blank letter, lost in thought for a moment, before swiping a finger across its surface. A grey residue coated his fingertip. It was written with a special ink used during wartime, visible only to the intended recipient. The words disappeared upon contact with anyone else.

Trey tucked the letter into his pocket, determined to uncover its contents and its sender.

Back in her room, Lysei replayed the letter’s message in her mind. Though the words had vanished for Trey, she had clearly read them.

Someone was playing a cruel trick, or perhaps this was the Empress’s scheme. She tried to quell her suspicions of Luigia and Edin, but the words echoed in her mind. Unconsciously, she began to gnaw on her thumb, finally drawing blood.

“Ah…”

A single drop of blood fell to the floor. Disgusted with herself, Lysei sighed and wrapped her bleeding thumb in a handkerchief.

Should she ask Edin? Perhaps that was best. It would be better to confront him, to understand why he had only summoned Luigia, rather than suffer in silence.

With that resolve, she activated the communication device, but Edin didn’t answer. He was a busy man, especially during the day. She decided to wait until evening.