Chapter 277: Unwanted Plan (1)

I kept imagining throwing the Dragon Breath potion right into her face, but I knew I couldn’t do that.

Unaware of her place, Charlia began to talk once again as if she got the courage upon seeing me speechless for a moment. Of course, this was a stupid assumption on her part.

“I-I’m sorry for yelling. However, I wasn’t saying that for no reason, Lee Kiyoung-nim. No matter how big the problem is, I can fix it all.”

“What?”

“Until now, I was quietly cowering because I had no power, but not now. Look at the nobles gathered under my name. Compared to Charlotte, there is absolutely no shortage.”

‘What bullsh*t.’

“They are gathered under legitimate and authentic blood. They are the ones who will agree with me.”

‘It’s not that…’

“M-My dad must have seen me in a new light. If I become the Empress, everything will be solved. Yes. Absolutely. Perhaps, sooner or later, he will realize who really will take over the throne. It will definitely come. Lee Kiyoung, when that time comes…”

“Yes?”

“I will seat Lee Kiyoung as the prime minister of the Empire. I will do that.”

‘I never said I needed anything like that.’

Looking at her saying that as if it was even a great gift was laughable. It wasn’t even realistic.

Even if she had said that after being chosen as the successor, I would still say that it was not time to get excited.

However, it would be strange to believe her when she was saying that right after she ruined what we had built so far.

‘This is ridiculous.’

No wonder I had begun thinking about abandoning her.

Charlia’s ship was already sinking. I was on top of it and would feel it greater than anyone else.

Even if a miracle happened, it was impossible for her to ascend to the throne.

I always walked a single path, and it was the first time that my senses were screaming so much.

I thought that no matter how I persuaded Charlia or made a fuss, I couldn’t change her.

‘I have to get out, quickly.’

Of course, contrary to what I was thinking, my head had begun to unconsciously nod.

This was because I thought it would be more realistic to find a way to live just accepting, rather than saying, ‘Let’s stop with the open alliance.’

It was no wonder that Charlie herself looked slightly surprised.

Unlike the inside, where I was swearing all kinds of things, I had no choice but to maintain my usual appearance on the outside.

“Ohh. I see. I didn’t know you were thinking so far…”

“Yes. If you continue to help me, I will never forget your kindness, Honorary Bishop.”

“Of course, I’ll do it as I’ve been until now, but… it’ll be hard if today’s thing happens again.”

“Yes. I-I’ll admit that I was a little hasty. But Marlin, that crazy girl…”

“Yes. Yes.”

No matter what she would say, I wouldn’t listen. It would only further my anger.

She was talking as if I wasn’t angry anymore when she saw me nodding and thought that my anger was relieved.

Though I was laughing now, I would not see her for a few days afterwards.

If Duchess Catherine, Count Elise, and the Count of Castle Rock began to protest formally against the Emperor, the Emperor’s position was bound to punish her.

Right now, everything would be the way she was thinking, but in less than three days, she would realize that something had gone wrong.

Of course, my expectations had never been wrong.

The enraged Count Castle Rock knocked on the imperial city’s gates right before the next morning, got in a conversation with the Emperor, and remained locked out for hours.

He thought he couldn’t have neglected it even as an Emperor because she didn’t mess with a sub-noble that didn’t have anything, but this was the Count of Castle Rock, who had fought hard for the imperial family.

This was a situation that he couldn’t ignore, even though this was a sub-noble in the first place.

Still, as the Emperor was in a desperate situation that he had made the Eight Seats of the Empire strengthen his imperial power, he would have no choice but to accept Count Castle Rock’s protests sensitively.

I couldn’t hear what they talked about, but eventually, the Emperor ordered Charlia to be detained in her room.

Of course, the rooted evils side also took showmanship, such as apologizing to Marlin Young-ae. Still, it was impossible that Charlotte would do nothing during this situation.

Like a fish in water, she shook public opinion, proving how useless the legitimacy was.

Perhaps because of the last resistance of the rooted evils, Princess Charlia was allowed to meet with a minimum of people during her custody, which was not very pleasant news that I was included.

She had personally mentioned my name.

My position was a little more embarrassing because this was the time when I also instructed the Eastern aristocrats, including Duchess Catherine, to distance themselves from Charlia.

It didn’t matter if I distanced myself from other people, but because they were the ones that I could say were my most valuable contacts.

It seemed that they understood my political position, perhaps because I’d been good to them, but I thought it would have been hard for them to look only positively at me even if I were in their shoes.

The atmosphere changed afterwards.

Stocks, which had been rising well, suddenly plummeted.

“Have you heard the story? The Count Castle Rock’s Marlin Young-ae…”

“Oh. Of course, I heard. Princess Charlia poured the boiling tea on her face as it was… Are the rumors true?”

“Yes. I happened to see the Honorary Bishop running while holding Marlin Young-ae. At first, I wondered what was going on because I could not see in detail through the window. I didn’t even dream that that would have happened.”

“They said that if Honorary Bishop Lee Kiyoung weren’t there at the same time, she would have almost lost her sight. If he had gotten there a little later…”

“It’s hard to imagine. Count Castle Rock must be very upset.”

The noble ladies talked about this day and night, and the powerful noblemen also exchanged their opinions on the incident.

“Tsk. It doesn’t matter if she has the royal family’s blood. My common sense doesn’t really understand how she could do that to the Count, who has protected Castle Rock silently for the royal family.”

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

“There may have been some reason…”

“Even if Marlin Young-ae’s attitude was disrespectful, how could she throw boiling tea? In fact, we are talking between ourselves, but Her Majesty Charlia’s maids look terrible. You can see how her usual behavior will be. There must be a citizen to have an Empire… How can she treat people below her like that…?”

“His Majesty will be very upset, too.”

“Actually, he said he drank wine that he doesn’t like last night, so how heartbroken he must be… When he heard the news that the First Princess had changed, I remember him being happy. It would have been better if he hadn’t had such expectations.”

Even the Eight Seats of the Empire, who were only trusting me, were inquiring about it, so I wouldn’t have to explain what my position would be like.

“I’m just talking about it, but… Is this okay? Even if I look at it, the atmosphere doesn’t look good… If I take a step out, don’t hate me too much. I’ll trust you will explain it well to Cha Hee-ra. Oh, of course, it doesn’t mean I’m doing it right now, so please rest assured.”

“If you have any other plans or anything we can help with, please tell us.”

Even if Dawan’s Wi Ran and Cheon Gwan-wi said this, I had nothing to say.

One of the reasons I was bothered was that Kim Hyunsung was busy moving while I was having a hard time.

Our lovely returner left everything to me and started wandering everywhere, but it was hard to find out where and what he was doing.

When I first laid the foundation, he supported me, but it seemed like something else was happening at the time.

In Cha Hee-ra’s case, she didn’t really see it as a big deal if I failed in this or not,

Certainly, those who weren’t very interested in politics seemed to think that it wouldn’t have much damage if I failed.

Actually, they weren’t all that wrong.

Even if Charlotte became the Empress without much difficulty, it wouldn’t affect us directly.

To be precise, it would not cause any physical harm. They wouldn’t cut our throat for treason, and we wouldn’t rot for life in prison. However, in my case, the story was a little different.

Getting on the wrong line once meant the loss of the political grounds that I considered most important.

Charlotte, who had already recognized me as an enemy, would do her best to cut off my limbs, and I would have to start all over once again.

No one would want such a hellish situation.

‘Strong bitch.’

Of course, this situation was hell for me.

It was not that I did not try to contact Charlotte again, but the Second Princess seemed to be thinking about aiming at my back by being openly hostile rather than being subtle about it.

Perhaps unfortunately or fortunately, the nobles at the Second Princess’s camp also gave me a warning.

‘We shouldn’t say this in the first place, but… this is in consideration of Honorary Bishop Lee Kiyoung. It would be better to stay quiet for the time being.’

Something was indeed happening.

My nobles’ connection was gradually being cut off, and all that was left was all the people with whom I had been close from the beginning.

Of course, I went around meeting people, but it was difficult to achieve good results.

As a result, the only place where I could go was to the Emperor, who could die at any time.

It was the reason why I had to go to the Emperor’s room, thinking if I really should develop an elixir.

‘I will serve you with all my heart, Your Majesty.’

The loyalty that had been for Charlia for a while was once again transferred to the Emperor.

The most important thing was that the Emperor must be healthy until all of these events subsided, and I re-establish my foundation.

The Emperor’s maid greeted me, and the door began to open from the inside.

It was a face I often saw these days, but nevertheless, it looked more tired than yesterday.

Naturally, drinking alcohol like that would put a strain on his health.

The insane behavior of the First Princess was paving the way for the Emperor’s road to heaven.

The Emperor’s presence was precious to me as he was the only one I had a chance of winning back at this point.

“Ooh… You’re here.”

“Your Majesty, are you okay?”

“I’m always the same… I’m okay…”

“You must recover your health as soon as possible.”

“Hahaha… I am always healthy… Rather, Honorary Bishop Lee Kiyoung.”

“Yes… Your Majesty.”

“Did you… come after meeting Charlia today?”

I froze.