Episode 68: The Truth Revealed

“I am John Andric.”

“What is the reason you are standing here as a witness?”

“I… I… appraised the jewels…”

“He is a fence!”

Someone shouted loudly. Valérie, with a stern face, turned her gaze toward the source of the voice. Her green eyes, like snake scales, glowed like cold shards of glass. The murmuring grew louder.

“Do your duty as a witness.”

At Alec’s command, the man fumbled through the bag he had brought. The attendants brought a table to organize the items he was taking out. John Andric, with trembling hands, took out the gold ornaments. The nobles’ expressions darkened little by little as they watched.

“These are the things I received ten days ago.”

“From whom?”

“F-from the maid beside me, Miss Benji Morgana…”

“Bring them forward.”

John Andric, trembling, brought the gold ornaments before Alec. As he walked toward the emperor, he tripped and fell, causing one of the gold pieces to roll toward Lara.

Lady Rosyen picked it up. It was a gold brooch carved in the shape of a nightingale. In the center was a round sapphire, a gem supplied exclusively to the imperial family. She turned the brooch over and confirmed the imperial seal before murmuring audibly.

“V. Opreje Roencaster.”

At her words, the room erupted in noise once again. Valérie’s expression gradually darkened. Her delicate hands, resting on her rounded belly, trembled slightly, and the corners of her lips twisted.

The head maid standing beside her murmured a prayer, as if pleading for the safety of the imperial prince in her womb. Eilec paid no heed. The head maid’s actions seemed utterly foolish to him.

“Second Empress.”

Alec, having received the jewels from his attendant, called out to Valérie in a low voice.

“Step forward.”

At his command, Valérie began to move her heavy body. Unlike her usual cold elegance, her eyes were slightly reddened, making her appear like a vulnerable pregnant woman, just as her maid had described. She placed a thin hand on her swollen belly and whispered.

“My child. There is nothing to fear before your father. No one will harm you.”

Her reddened eyes were fixed on her round belly. Just as Lady Rosyen had intentionally spoken out loud, Valérie, too, seemed to be making a declaration for all to hear.

Dressed simply today, Valérie stood before Alec, appearing every bit a woman nearing the end of her pregnancy.

“Show proper courtesy.”

But Alec commanded as if he didn’t care what image Valérie presented. She briefly looked shocked before composing herself and clasping her hands neatly.

“I greet my husband. I apologize for not fully observing etiquette due to my pregnancy.”

Lifting her dress slightly, Valérie spoke in a composed voice. Lara cast her eyes downward at Valérie’s choice of words—she had greeted not the emperor but her husband.

“Benji Morgana.”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”

The maid, who had been taken down from the pillory, answered tearfully.

“Who gave this to you?”

“L-Lady Emma. A month ago, when she summoned me to the Second Empress’s palace, she handed them to me…”

The maid broke into sobs, unable to continue. Emma, meanwhile, sat on the floor, rubbing it absently as if in a trance.

“Continue.”

“I-I was told to clean out the First Empress’s warehouse and dispose of its contents so that Her Majesty the First Empress would be angered.”

“And?”

“A-and if I spread rumors that would damage Her Majesty’s reputation, I-I would receive even more rewards… I-I didn’t want to do it out of fear, Your Majesty. Truly, I didn’t. I tried to refuse, but—”

The maid looked completely deranged. She rubbed the floor, murmuring, then gasped and lifted her head.

“I-I was afraid this would happen, so I tried to refuse, but Lady Emma said… that Her Majesty the Second Empress would take responsibility for everything. That she was carrying the heir… That even His Majesty the Emperor treasured her…”

The maid, trembling, began revealing everything while stealing glances at Valérie. Emma’s face grew red with rage, while Valérie remained deathly pale, her expression unreadable.

“I-it was all for the Crown Prince, Your Majesty. For the future emperor… For the good of the empire… If I succeeded, I wouldn’t have to be a maid anymore. They promised me a great reward…”

The maid pleaded for her life with a tearful voice. Lara stared at Valérie. She stood still, as if she had nothing to do with any of this—or as if her soul was trapped somewhere far away.

“Did you hear that?”

Alec asked coldly, his gaze fixed on Valérie. His expression was one of sheer disgust, as if he wanted to crush her underfoot.

“My child…”

A shadow of sorrow flickered across Valérie’s pale face. She lowered her gaze and stroked her belly instead of answering him. Just as she seemed about to say something more to the child, Alec threw the gold ornament in his hand.

“Ah!”

The gold piece struck Valérie’s belly before falling to the floor.

“Do you think I am a man who would be swayed by blood ties?”

“Your Majesty.”

Valérie called out to him in a trembling voice.

“I have never promised anything to the one you carry in your womb. Defend yourself before you suffer even greater disgrace.”

“…I know nothing of this.”

“What?”

“I know nothing of this, Your Majesty. You may not believe me, but… I had no knowledge of it.”

Valérie spoke in a calm voice. Her expression was so clear and innocent that for a moment, it seemed she might truly be uninvolved. Emma lifted her head in shock.

“Benji Morgana claimed she acted on my behalf, but she never said she met me. And the assurance of safety for my unborn child—those words came from Lady Emma.”

“Then what are you claiming?”

“I have no involvement in this matter.”

Valérie answered solemnly, wiping away tears in a pitiful manner that appeared utterly genuine. Emma, standing beside her, stared in disbelief, her mouth agape.

“Are you saying your maid acted alone?”

“It is my failing to have poorly managed my subordinates. Even if my maid acted alone, it was my failure to notice and prevent it. I lower my head and beg forgiveness from my husband and Her Majesty the First Empress.”

She neatly placed her hands over her chest and bowed her head. Her ceaselessly falling tears hit the floor. Emma trembled violently as she glared at her.

“Is that really the case?”

Without even glancing at Valérie, Alec turned to Emma.

“I… I…”

“Did you conspire to tarnish the First Empress’s honor for the sake of the Second Empress?”

Emma bit her lip and cast her gaze downward, as if she couldn’t speak in this setting. Alec did not wait for an answer.

“Arrest her.”

The room fell silent.