People began to sob one by one. The adults collapsed onto the floor and wept. 

The ministers groaned, with their fists clenched in their mouths. The ladies and knights held back their cries until their faces were red. Nevertheless, I couldn’t stand it anymore and cried.

I’m sorry but it was me that wanted to cry the most here.

At that moment, Lionel burst out laughing as if something inside him broke. He laughed and laughed with red eyes. Today, Lionel seems like an actual madman.

“It was like that.”

He suddenly stopped laughing and looked at me. I got goosebumps from his gaze that was fixed on me. Then he said,

“You always told me that you had a lot of enemies. And you said that you would protect me. You’ve been saying that ever since you first met me.”

It was my wish to protect Lionel. It was an innocent girl who wanted to protect the boy she loved.

“And not long ago, you told me, there were no more enemies. So you said that I wouldn’t need you.”

It was just small talk. I have to leave, but I can’t say anything. So it wasn’t necessary to take my words so seriously.

“Is this what you meant?”

Lionel’s lips were blue.

“If you died for me… Did you think I would be grateful?”

Tears fell from Lionel’s eyes. But he still stared at me without blinking.

“Who is it? Who did this? If you were cursed for me, if you knew everything from the very beginning, you’d know who the culprit is. Right?”

The Emperor pressed fiercely. He was ready to find anyone with the name that came out of my mouth and tear them apart.

But of course, I had nothing to say. I didn’t know such a curse. I’ve never received a curse.

Instead of me, who was at a loss of words, another goddamn priest stepped forward.

It made me uneasy that he came forward amongst the many many people.

“The late Empress had a sorcerer by her side.”

“The Empress.”

The Empress was the previous Emperor’s Empress.

She hated Lionel to death, who was born from the belly of a maid and not a concubine.

In fact, there was a history of trying to kill Lionel several times through assassinations or through the people around him.

Furthermore, it was true that Lionel cared about the people around him.

I could now predict what was going on in their heads without being told anything.

They’ll think I’m dying under a curse of the late Empress.

“I didn’t expect her to be so cowardly!”

The general cried out and slammed the floor impatiently.

“The Former Empress has already been killed by my own hands.”

Lionel had the desire to kill in his eyes.

Before becoming the emperor, Lionel had survived to the very end and killed the Former Empress with his own hands.

“The sorcerer is also dead.”

“The curses that have accumulated over time did not disappear even after the sorcerer had died. Since it was aimed at Your Majesty, it must have been strong.”

“What can you do? If you found the cause, you would have found the cure as well.”

* * *

I came back to my senses late. But it was too late!

“No! This is all a misunderstanding!”

Translator Corner:

This update is short because it was a good place to stop. The next part will be doubled in length though.