The Abandoned Empress

“Well, Lady Jena. She told me about the ins and outs of Duke Jena’s ambush plan. In fact, she saved your life.”

“Really?”

I opened my eyes wide. I was shocked about what he revealed to me. As if he understood me when I was confused, he briefed me kindly about what happened.

On the day I was ambushed by the masked men, Jiun visited the Imperial Palace again as she did the previous day. Although she went there to confirm her request to see the emperor, she was told that the emperor rejected her request for an emergency meeting. As a last resort she wanted to see the two dukes or my father, but they could not because of the case of Marquis Mirwa.

At that time the noble faction was devising a plan to overturn the decision at the big conference. As it happened, Duke Jena set up a plan to kill me and shift the blame to Marquis Mirwa on the occasion of his disappearance. After she heard it by mistake, she went to the palace again after agonizing about what to do. She was on the horns of a dilemma for fear that something bad might happen when she told somebody who she could not trust.

‘Oh, I remember she told me she had something to say to me at that time…’

Looking at me when I was biting my lip after belatedly realizing it, he continued to explain.

According to him, Carsein discovered her who was wandering around in confusion, so asked her why. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he gave a royal knight convey his message to Duke Lars, then hurriedly headed for the ambush area with Jiun. After learning from the knight about the situation, the emperor and my father hurriedly ran to my location.

‘Oh, I see. That’s why Carsein came to me faster than the reinforcement unit, and that with Jiun. Right. That’s why the masked men charged toward her to kill her desperately, confirming that she betrayed them.’

His explanation quenched some of my curiosity, but I had another question.

Why did Jiun try to save me? Didn’t she confront me everytime to become the empress? Was it because she discovered Duke Jenna’s rebellion and knew that she could not survive if she was involved in it? Was she trying to strike a deal with me for her life?

When I kept tilting my head, the duke continued to explain the situation.

When I was attacked by Sir Spia, everyone said I was going to die. My organs were badly damaged and I bled so much that even the royal doctor shook his head, confirming that my pulse stopped.

Then, how did I survive? The fact that my pulse stopped was tantamount to saying that I died.

“Are you surprised? Well, I was, too, when I heard it. Even now I’m still surprised.”

He then paused a bit, then caught his breath slowly.

“As I wasn’t there, I couldn’t see it myself, but fortunately the High Priest arrived belatedly…Um?”

The duke stopped talking at that moment and stared out somewhere fiercely. There was a government official walking around as if to look for somebody.

The duke walked toward him, raising his glasses. I also followed him after hesitating for a moment.

“Investigator Inves, why are you here instead of investigating the suspects?”

“Oh, you’re here, Duke Verita. In fact, I’ve been looking for you because I have to report something to you urgently.”

“Really? What is that? ”

“Well…” Squinting at me, the female investigator drifted off as if it was difficult for her to talk to him in my presence.

So, I said goodbye to him and left the place first.

I was agonized while walking in the long corridor. Why did Jiun try to save me? Was she really trying to make a deal with me for her survival?

No matter how hard I thought about her motivations, I could not figure out the exact reason until I came back home and sat down on a sofa.

Why did the duke stop speaking at that moment? Who could tell me about it? I felt it awkward to ask my father or the emperor about it. Did I need to go and ask Jiun directly?

While I was pressing on my stinging head, a maid cautiously came in and informed me about the High Priest’s visit.

‘That’s good. Anyway I was going to see him and thank him tomorrow. ‘

When I stood up gladly, I saw the young man in a white robe coming in.

“May the blessings of life be with you! You’re awake, Lady Monique. What a relief!”

“It’s been a while, Your Eminence. I’m sorry to have you worried about me.”

“Oh, don’t say that. I’m very happy to see you safe. I was a bit afraid that as you’re so beautiful, you might be taken away by our lord Vita.”

‘You’re at it again!’ When I let out a sigh slightly, he made a faint smile at me and closed his eyes, wrapping my hands in his. In no time, I heard him praying, then I saw a white light coming out of his hands.

“You are in good shape except that you have become weak. I think I can give you blessings only this time.”

“Really? Thank you for your consideration.”

“You’re welcome. Praise the beauty given by the Father of life. I give you the blessings of our lord Vita. ”

Now, the familiar flower scent wrapped me up. I slowly bowed my head and thanked him, then opened my mouth after he sat down.

“I owe it to you that I have survived this time, too, Your Eminence. I don’t know how I can express gratitude to you.”

“Well, it wasn’t me who saved you. Graspe treated you.”

“Pardon? What do you mean…”

“It is exactly as I said. It is Graspe, not me, who treated you.”

I opened my eyes wide. What the heck is he talking about? Then, does it mean she used her divine power, leaked Duke Jena’s ambush plan, and saved me? It’s strange.

Duke Verita clearly told me the High Priest treated me.

“How is that possible? I understand that Lady Jena’s divine power doesn’t work for people. ”

“Really? Well, it’s true that her divine power has that problem.”

“Then, I really don’t understand it. How did she save me when she had no ability to treat a human?”

When I looked at him with a perplexed expression, he said with a pensive expression, “On that day, I headed to the scene, stunned to hear you had collapsed. Although I arrived there as fast as I could, you were beyond hope when I got there. You were exhausted, and I couldn’t feel your pulse.”

“…”

“It was really a harrowing scene. The criminal was laughing insanely while bleeding, and your father was staring at you, grabbing the bloody sword… And the emperor was screaming, holding you in his arms. The royal doctors and royal knights were at a loss about what to do, and the wounded were moaning here and there. Graspe, with her face turning white, was squatting on the ground… But nobody paid attention to you. Even I was helpless.”

“I see…”

When I replied, refraining from moaning, he said, nodding lightly, “Although I knew it was useless, I used my divine power. At that moment someone suddenly approached me. It was Graspe. She was blankly muttering something I couldn’t understand. At that moment, a dazzling white color surrounded you. It was a very strong divine power that I have only seen once in my life. ”

What is that? That means she could use divine power from the beginning!

When I frowned a bit because of his contradictory remarks, he smiled at me faintly, then stood up. He bowed his head slowly and said, “You seem frustrated. Good. Let me give you a clue. Graspe can no longer display her divine power to anyone. She lost it for good.”

“What do you mean?” Only

“Oh, it’s time I took care of Sextus. Then, Lady Monique, see you next time. ”

Although I asked quickly, he left the room, saying something beyond my understanding.

Dang it! What did he mean by that? I just can’t understand what he is talking about. Is it so important to take care of the baby High Priest? …Ugh? Baby High Priest?

At that moment, the conversation I had with him around this time last year came to my mind, let alone my recent conversation with the blonde High Priest. They told me that although the High Priests had to realize the will of Vita from their birth to their death, they had just one opportunity in their whole lives to realize their own wish rather than Vita’s. And when they realized their ‘wish,’ they would lose all their divine power for good.

Then, did Jiun make her wish?

I shook my head when I suddenly thought about something. How could she do that when she didn’t know anything about what the High Priest meant by the ‘wish’?

I was perplexed, but I leaned my head against the sofa, shaking off my complicated thoughts. I was going to take a nap until my father came back.