Chapter 101
“The real criminal, you say. Explain in detail how this came to be.”
When the Emperor pressed her, Grizelle spoke with an exaggerated expression.
“There is someone who handed me poison and urged me to kill Elenia Rainier. I was merely deceived by that person’s scheme, Your Majesty.”
“And who on earth would commit such an act?”
The Emperor asked, furrowing his brows. At that, Grizelle teared up and sobbed.
“Hic, Your Majesty. I’m so scared. If I accuse that person, they won’t leave me alive.”
“I will guarantee your safety. So speak. Who would dare plot a poisoning in the Emperor’s presence?”
When the Emperor spoke firmly, Grizelle lowered the tips of her eyebrows. Making herself appear as pitiful as possible, she said,
“Will you truly promise?”
“Hah, I have already said so!”
“If that is the case…”
Grizelle trailed off and hesitated. Then she looked at Sylaria and Euclid. Unlike when she faced the Emperor, she glared at them without a trace of tears before turning her head.
“Forgive me for saying this, but the one who handed me the poison was none other than Her Majesty the Empress, the Moon of the Empire.”
“What?”
At Grizelle’s accusation, the Emperor raised his voice. He glared at her sharply.
“Do you realize whom you have just slandered?”
“How could I not, Your Majesty. But this is the truth. Please believe me. Her Majesty the Empress—”
“Enough.”
The Emperor raised a hand, cutting off Grizelle’s words. Then he ordered a servant to bring the Empress at once.
Summoned by the Emperor, Cressida arrived swiftly as if she had been waiting. Wearing an unusually pure and elegant dress, she entered the audience chamber with a bright smile.
“Your Majesty, what brings you to call for me? Are you feeling better today?”
“Empress, do you know this woman?”
The Emperor pointed toward Grizelle, who was bound and kneeling. At his question, Cressida slowly approached and examined her carefully.
“I know her face. I believe she is Sylaria’s close friend. But why is she here in such a state?”
“This woman was caught attempting murder inside the palace. And she claims you were the one who gave her the poison.”
“Pardon…?”
Cressida’s eyes widened at the Emperor’s explanation. She lifted a hand to her forehead, then staggered weakly as if losing strength.
“Your Majesty the Empress!”
The ladies-in-waiting rushed to support her. They carefully seated the Empress beside the Emperor and hurriedly brought cold water. With their help, Cressida drank the water and took a deep breath.
“I am ashamed to have shown such an unseemly sight, Your Majesty. The accusation was so absurd.”
“Absurd, you say.”
“It has just come back to me. That young lady came to see me not long ago and said the most ridiculous things. The story was so frightening that I remember hastily using a projection stone. In case something like this happened.”
At the Empress’s words, Sylaria and Euclid exchanged a glance. She was indeed not someone to underestimate. To have prepared even for a situation like this.
“Aria, bring the projection stone.”
At the Empress’s command, a lady-in-waiting quickly left and returned with the projection stone. When she activated it, light spread through the air and the figures of two people appeared within it. The Empress and Grizelle.
‘Do you really need to go that far? Sylaria is still your friend, isn’t she?’
‘Do you think I can’t do it?’
‘I say this out of concern for you. Don’t do anything reckless.’
‘No! I’ll kill Ellie, you’ll see. I’ll make sure of it.’
Sylaria pressed her lips tightly as she watched the recording. She had suspected something, but the preparation was more thorough than expected. Judging by the projection stone’s conversation alone, the Empress appeared to be trying to stop Grizelle.
“This, this isn’t it, Your Majesty! There’s more to the conversation after this!”
Grizelle cried out, her face drained of color. She twisted her body to look at Cressida, then contorted her face in fury and screamed.
“You were the one who gave it to me! You said it was a highly effective poison and handed it to me!”
“I have no idea why you are doing this to me. If I’m guilty of anything, it’s trying to stop a young lady who wished to harm her friend.”
“Stop pretending!”
Grizelle screamed, her eyes bloodshot. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with the Emperor.
“Don’t believe her, Your Majesty. None of this is true. H-Her Majesty the Empress made me a promise. She said that if I killed Ellie, she would allow me to hold a formal wedding ceremony with Aren.”
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