Chapter 100
Just as Sylaria was about to turn around without hesitation, Grizelle’s desperate cry echoed through the underground prison.
“Wait, wait!”
Sylaria acted as if she couldn’t hear Grizelle’s ear-splitting shout. She simply took a step forward with Cora and Marin.
Soon, as she was about to leave the prison, an anxious Grizelle hastily shouted.
“I’ll tell you! I just have to tell you everything, right!”
“……”
Sylaria looked back at Grizelle with cold eyes. Then Grizelle swallowed hard and her eyes gleamed.
“The poison! I just have to tell you who gave me the poison, right? Then you’ll spare me, right?!u”
“Let’s hear it.”
“The Empress, it’s the Empress!”
Even at Grizelle’s confession, Sylaria didn’t show surprise or confusion. She remained calm, as if it was a fact she already knew.
“Can you prove that before His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Th, that…”
“If you testify, I’ll make sure you avoid the death penalty.”
“I will, I can do it!”
After hesitating for a moment, Grizelle spoke hurriedly. Sylaria, who had been staring at her intently, curved her lips into an arc.
“I can hear the sound of you calculating which side to grab onto. If you want to live, you’ll need to conduct yourself well.”
“Just keep your promise.”
“Depending on what you do.”
Sylaria spoke coldly and turned away. Watching her walk away, Grizelle gritted her teeth.
It was humiliating. She felt dirty at the situation of being played by Sylaria.
Grizelle’s scarlet eyes took on a strange gleam.
Now that it had come to this, she couldn’t die alone. Even if she died, she would die together with Arendtert and the Empress.
* * *
The next day.
Sylaria had an audience with the Emperor together with Euclid. It was to report about what happened to Elenia. His reaction to hearing the news that someone had nearly died was unexpected.
“How fortunate that it wasn’t serious. It could have been quite a disaster, couldn’t it?”
At the indifferent Emperor’s words, Sylaria’s eyes narrowed.
Wasn’t serious? How could he remain so calm after hearing such a story?
Because he had taken her side when the engagement was broken, Sylaria had implicitly judged the Emperor as favorable to her. However, the Emperor, exhausted from his long battle with illness, was only lethargic.
No, perhaps the illness was just an excuse. It might be that since it didn’t greatly concern his own safety, he was trying to brush it off casually.
Allowing Sylaria and Euclid’s engagement was also, when you think about it, to wrap up a prolonged commotion.
‘This is why Euclid couldn’t reveal the truth until now.’
Sylaria suppressed her desire to protest and forced a smile.
Unfortunately, he was the only one who could punish the Empress. So she had to somehow persuade him to act.
“A disgraceful incident nearly occurred here where Your Majesty the Emperor resides. It must be handled seriously so such things never happen again.”
“…Hmm.”
The Emperor stroked his chin, lost in thought. He yawned long and lowered his hand.
“That makes sense. So?”
“We have identified the culprit, so please hand down punishment.”
Euclid bowed his head and spoke respectfully. At his son’s rare compliant appearance, the Emperor smiled broadly.
“That’s not difficult. Bring in the criminal.”
When the Emperor’s command fell, Euclid looked at Cyan. Cyan, who had gone outside the audience chamber, soon returned dragging Grizelle.
Perhaps life in the underground prison had been quite arduous, as Grizelle’s appearance was pitiful. Her excessively ornate dress was thoroughly wrinkled and covered in dirt, her hair was disheveled, and soot was smeared all over her face.
“I greet the Sun of the Empire. I am Grizelle Willoughby.”
Grizelle knelt and bowed her head before the Emperor. As she approached closer, the Emperor covered his nose and grimaced.
“What a terrible stench. Do you know your crime?”
“……”
At the Emperor’s question, Grizelle pressed her lips tightly shut. As if her sense of injustice hadn’t subsided, she took her time.
“I am wronged, Your Majesty.”
At the single statement Grizelle spat out after a long silence, Sylaria chuckled. Grizelle’s attitude of trying to evade her crime to the end was simply laughable.
“Why do you say you are wronged?”
The Emperor threw out the question solemnly. At his appearance of pretending to be quite fair, Grizelle lifted her head. And she opened her mouth with determination.
“Because the real criminal is someone else.”
At Grizelle’s statement, the Emperor’s eyebrows twitched. As he listened to her story, she smiled.
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