Chapter 135
“Now then, everything should be settled, shouldn’t it?”
Once Grizelle had been dragged out, Cressida clapped her hands lightly as if trying to refresh the mood, smiling pleasantly.
Just moments ago she had been stunned by Aria’s death. Now she was smiling as if nothing had happened, even with the corpse lying right in front of her. She was truly a remarkable person.
“I’ll report today’s events to His Majesty the Emperor myself later. It’ll be better to wait until he wakes and recovers some strength, then I’ll speak to him at the right moment.”
“A fine idea, Mother. If His Majesty learns of the dreadful things Grizelle did, he might faint again.”
Arendtert immediately echoed her with a look of pure relief. Of course. Having been forced into an engagement with Grizelle, he must have felt like he was dying inside.
He was probably planning to wait a while until things cooled down, then bring in a new woman. Someone of noble blood who suited his status, someone obedient.
But Arendtert’s plan would never come to pass. Before he ruined another innocent person’s life, he would be crushed.
“We’re not ending this here.”
Euclid cut sharply into the cheerful chatter of the mother and son. At his refusal to let matters slide, Cressida and Arendtert froze.
“And if we don’t, what exactly will you do?”
Arendtert snapped irritably. Cressida sighed and said,
“Let’s leave it at this for today. I’m tired.”
“A lady-in-waiting died. That doesn’t absolve Your Majesty of responsibility.”
Still sounding languid, Cressida rubbed her forehead, but her eyebrow twitched at Euclid’s accusation. She quickly smoothed her expression and spoke again.
“You have a point. That lady-in-waiting acted recklessly, but she was still my person, so I do bear responsibility. Then what would you have me do?”
“I will report everything directly to His Majesty the Emperor. I can’t predict how Your Majesty might frame it. And from now on, no one from the Empress’s palace will be permitted to enter my palace.”
“If that is truly what you want.”
“Yes, it is.”
Euclid stared straight at the Empress as he spoke. Cressida’s lips twitched, as if she had intended to pressure him with subtle signals, only to be forced to swallow it back. She pursed her lips, then gave a benevolent smile.
“Then do as you wish.”
With that, Cressida immediately turned her body to leave. Her voice and manner seemed relaxed, but her footsteps as she exited Arendtert’s room carried clear unease.
Right after she returned in this life, Sylaria had seen only Arendtert and Grizelle as the targets of her revenge. But living again with a new perspective had revealed a hidden villain.
The one who contributed the most to Arendtert growing into trash, and who committed vile crimes without blinking.
The Empress, Cressida Balthazar.
She had been waiting for an opportunity to kill Euclid, and she had also aimed her arrows at Sylaria, who had become his fiancée.
Cressida rotated Grizelle and Arendtert in the palm of her hand, manipulating them to orchestrate every tragedy in the palace. As long as she existed, incidents would never cease.
‘Of all things, the Empress.’
Sylaria bit her lip. The Empress was the second-most powerful figure in the Empire, beneath only the Emperor. Bringing her down would require an effort incomparable to dealing with Grizelle.
“I need to rest too. See you later, Sillie.”
As Sylaria watched the Empress’s retreating figure, Arendtert spoke to her in an easygoing tone. He surveyed the room, which looked as if it had been hit by a bombardment, then called for his aide.
“Lionel, take care of this body first. You know where to dispose of it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Lionel ordered the attendants. They lifted Aria abruptly, not even bothering to close her eyes.
Sylaria frowned at how they handled the body like cargo. Their master had killed someone, yet they weren’t surprised or disturbed. They didn’t even hesitate to touch the corpse.
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