It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 71

The Parmine Palace was the tallest structure in the imperial palace complex, located on the western outskirts where foot traffic was minimal. It was rarely used.

It served as the venue for trials involving high-ranking nobles, held only once or twice a year.

It was extremely rare for a high-ranking noble to stand as a defendant. Only other nobles of equal rank had the courage and power to sue them, and even then, they preferred backdoor deals over public trials that could damage their reputations.

A noble would only stand trial if they were accused of treason or similarly grave crimes, or if they had become mortal enemies with another noble who refused to settle matters quietly.

Today’s opening of Parmine Palace was for the former reason.

An attempted assassination of a royal concubine—Arne von Edelheit, the emperor’s most beloved consort and the only sister of Marquis Edelheit.

I was guided to the highest box seat overlooking the trial. Not because I was the victim, but for other reasons. I let out a tense sigh and glanced sideways. Erich’s face was unusually stiff.

Following the line of his straight shoulders down to his extended arm, I saw his hand still tightly gripping mine. It had been so long that my right hand was nearly numb.

How long had he been holding my hand like this?

Tracing back my memory, it had been since the moment I reappeared after being teleported during the final ritual of the winter hunt.

At the Edelheit estate, I contacted Perlo. Fortunately, he responded quickly, and by dawn, we were able to meet.

Perlo was astonished that Parsen knew a Motus crafting technique even he hadn’t heard of, but after witnessing a demonstration, he acknowledged it.

With Perlo’s involvement, our secret plan solidified. He was more cooperative than expected, and being a recognized expert across the continent made things easier.

Using Perlo instead of an unknown novice Motus craftsman was clearly the better choice. Though I had to fabricate a story about meeting him at an auction, which was exhausting.

After aligning our stories, we sent a message to Gilberan Forest just as the sun rose.

The first to arrive at the Edelheit estate was Erich. He looked just as he had during the final hunt ritual—same clothes, but his once radiant blond hair was dirty, and his face pale.

He staggered toward me as if he had ridden nonstop, embraced me without a word. He smelled of blood and sweat. I tried to pull away, but he held me like a rock—unyielding and strong.

Even as I couldn’t move, I searched for Giscal with my eyes. He stood silently, watching Erich and me.

Erich didn’t ask about Giscal’s injuries and immediately took me back to the imperial palace. From that moment, I couldn’t return to Arne Palace and had to stay in Verna Palace. Erich wouldn’t let me out of his sight. Even when I collapsed from exhaustion, he had me moved to a room next to his office and ordered a maid to stay by my side.

When I woke up, it was already evening. The first thing I saw was Erich’s blue eyes staring at me in the dark, unlit room.

Those eyes, once shining with pride when he captured a giant bear during the hunt, were now sunken in shadow. He held my right hand in both of his and said:

“Marquis Edelheit has named Count Leten as the suspect. The trial will be held tomorrow at noon in Parmine Palace.”

Apparently, Giscal had taken action while I was asleep. He hadn’t slept either—and had even been injured by that massive wolf. I was worried about him and stayed silent, prompting Erich to speak again.

“I’ll kill them.”

His voice was chilling. I looked up, my mind blank.

“W-Who?”

Surely he didn’t mean Giscal. I asked urgently.

“Now you finally look at me.”

Erich smiled seductively, staring intently into my eyes rather than answering my question.

“So that’s what you want. I was late because I was preparing to wipe them out. I’ll kill everyone who tried to harm you. You just need to wait.”

“W-Wait. You said there would be a trial?”

Erich was always extreme. Even if we named Count Leten, the outcome depended on the trial. And the emperor—Erich himself—was the one presiding. He was supposed to remain neutral. He shrugged casually.

“Yes, of course there will be a trial. As much as I want to tear them apart right now, I must be patient. Through the trial, we’ll uncover the forces behind Count Leten. Only then can you be truly safe.”

He gently touched the scratch on my hand. Though his touch was soft, the wound stung. I endured the pain and asked to confirm his intentions.

“There’s someone behind him?”

“Yes. There’s no way Count Leten would do something so heinous without the knowledge of Marquis Parmati, the leader of the high noble faction. I won’t let this end with just Leten’s death. I’ll bring down Marquis Parmati too.”

Just as we predicted. The assassination attempt was a chance to strike back at the high noble faction. And the key to that retaliation was Emperor Erich.

What judgment would he deliver in the end?

The answer was clear. Erich, who used Giscal and pretended to favor Arne to counter the nobles.

He had already declared war on them at the autumn banquet using the bracelet. Regardless of my near-death experience, he wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

Erich reviewed countless documents in preparation for the trial. I watched from the doorway as he read through hundreds of pages with bloodshot eyes.

Then I realized—he hadn’t slept since I disappeared either.

I closed the door and turned away. His behavior was expected. He couldn’t afford to miss this chance to crush the nobles.

That was the only reason.

I returned to bed but couldn’t sleep easily.

Many people likely had sleepless nights.

Perhaps that’s why—

At noon, as people entered Parmine Palace, their expressions were uniformly grim. Whether they were from the noble faction or the emperor’s side.

Among the crowd filling the lower seats, I quickly spotted Giscal. With a splint on his arm, he sat expressionless at the plaintiff’s seat. Opposite him was the defendant’s seat.

Count Leten stood there, biting his lip under countless gazes. He was visibly displeased with the situation.

In Parmine Palace, the plaintiff and defendant sat at the lowest level—like gladiators facing off in a coliseum.

They had to present their case and defend themselves from the circular floor below, surrounded by nobles of certain ranks.

The last to enter was Marquis Parmati. He exchanged a glance with Count Leten before slowly taking his seat.

Once everyone was seated, Count Melton, speaking on behalf of the emperor, shouted:

“Silence!”

In Parmine Palace, the emperor only spoke when delivering the verdict. It was a tradition to maintain impartiality and uphold imperial dignity.

From the highest box seat, Erich raised his right hand. Count Melton nodded and began:

“During the final ritual of this winter’s hunt, someone secretly placed a Motus shard in a cup, causing the Third Concubine to be teleported.”

Though everyone knew this, the nobles gasped or feigned surprise. Melton observed their reactions and continued.

“Fortunately, Marquis Edelheit rescued the concubine, but had things gone wrong, it could’ve been a tragedy too horrific to speak of. Marquis Edelheit has named Count Leten as the perpetrator, and thus this trial is convened.”

The first to respond was Count Leten.

“I deeply regret the concubine’s misfortune, but I had nothing to do with it. I have no idea why I was singled out.”

Giscal didn’t even look at him and spoke calmly.

“By tracing the Motus residue left on the blood-splattered shard, we discovered that Count Leten had used that Motus.”

Leten immediately retorted.

“That’s absurd! That Motus no longer functions—it’s just a stone. How could you trace anything from it?”

“Ordinary Motus craftsmen couldn’t, but the one I hired could.”

Giscal continued matter-of-factly.

“He said the last person to use that Motus before Arne was someone else—just hours earlier. That person was you. You must’ve used it to exhaust its remaining charges.”

Giscal curled one side of his lip and stared directly at Count Leten. His red eyes glinted with coldness.

“Your attempt at perfection ended up being your downfall.”

Support