It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 78

It was because Erich’s damp voice, his trembling shoulders, and those fear-stricken eyes didn’t seem like a lie.

Could the emperor of a nation utter words like “weak” and “afraid” just for the sake of acting? Could someone who saw me as a mere tool kneel so low to the ground just for a performance?

There wasn’t anyone else in the room besides me.

Erich was kneeling, bent over, gathering the red fibers of the carpet with both hands. The sight of the emperor of the empire crawling on the floor like a slave left me stunned.

“I imprisoned you out of my own fear, so I dare not ask for forgiveness. But… but please, don’t leave me. I swear this will never happen again. If you would just stay in the palace as promised, then I…”

Moisture spread across the red carpet, darkening its color. Unable to believe it, I slowly sat down beside Erich.

Tears were streaming down his cheeks, his gaze still fixed on the floor.

I simply stared blankly at Erich as he cried. I couldn’t ask what the old promise was, but at least right now, it was hard to believe his actions were false. So, without thinking, I reached out and wiped his tears. The hot, salty sensation on my fingers wasn’t an illusion.

I chose my words carefully.

“First, please tell me what happened. If the misunderstanding is cleared up, there’s no reason for the promise to be broken.”

“R-Really? You’ll keep that promise?”

Erich suddenly raised his head and clutched both my hands, pleading.

What could have happened in the past for Erich to cling to me so desperately?

Putting all questions aside, I nodded. Erich sighed in relief, like a traveler in the desert who had just found an oasis and drank a sip of water.

Gasping for breath, Erich began recounting what Marian had confessed.

I sighed deeply, pressing my forehead.

“So it was Marian after all…”

“Then the one who met with Perlo was the fourth concubine? Arne was merely present?”

“Yes. If I really had that kind of relationship with Perlo, would we have met in the imperial library? I have my own palace. And the same goes for Marian. She absolutely didn’t have that kind of relationship with Perlo. They were just…”

“There’s no need for Arne to mention Perlo Shanaire or the fourth concubine. I’d prefer you not speak that man’s name.”

Erich refused to hear anything about Marian and Perlo’s relationship, obsessively focusing only on mine with Perlo. After asking enough to be satisfied and hearing my firm denial, a faint smile finally appeared on his lips.

“I caused Arne unnecessary suffering because of my own fears without investigating properly. I promise this will never happen again.”

Erich made another vow. He seemed to believe my words—that Marian’s confession was false. As if to prove his trust, he pulled something from his coat.

I recognized it immediately. It was the Dimotus crafted by Perlo, won at the auction.

“I’ll return this to you.”

I accepted the Dimotus with slight hesitation.

“I investigated and found that this Dimotus was never used for transport. It’s the symbol of the first vow you and I shared, so I couldn’t bring myself to destroy it. Would you accept it as a token of forgiveness?”

Since it was meant as a gesture of forgiveness, I couldn’t refuse. I took the red Dimotus and placed it on the table. Erich exhaled with a relieved expression.

We had a moment to breathe, but there were still unresolved matters.

“Then what will happen to Marian and Perlo? They did violate the palace’s teleportation barrier, though I did too. If punishment is due, I should be punished as well…”

“What are you saying? Arne being punished? That won’t happen.”

“Then will you not punish Marian and Perlo either?”

Erich paused before asking,

“Do you wish for them not to be punished?”

“To be honest, yes. But wrongdoing should be addressed. I just hope Your Majesty considers the circumstances and gives them a light sentence.”

“Understood. If that’s what Arne wishes, I’ll do so.”

His answer was surprisingly agreeable. I was so surprised I asked again.

“Really? Won’t the high nobles object?”

Erich narrowed one eye and twisted his lips.

“They have bigger problems. They dared to falsely accuse you, so their crimes must be dealt with severely.”

Erich clenched his fist. A chill settled in his icy blue eyes.

“I’ll eliminate the first concubine and her father. Once I deal with Count Reten and then Marquis Parmati, the so-called high noble faction will be a joke.”

Marquis Parmati was the head of the high noble faction. If he fell, their power would likely collapse.

“I’ll begin with Marquis Parmati tomorrow. I’ll crush his entire family so they never see the sun again. Even the witnesses they brought must be dealt with.”

“Witnesses?”

“Yes. After the first concubine falsely accused you in court, she brought several imperial library scribes as witnesses. They testified that you and Perlo Shanaire met secretly in the restricted archives and had an inappropriate relationship. In quite vivid detail…”

Erich didn’t elaborate, but his pale cheeks told me enough.

I had met Perlo in the restricted archives, but nothing inappropriate happened. Likely, Rose Del had coaxed them into exaggerating their testimony. Probably paid them well, like the priestess in the previous incident.

“They gave false testimony, so they must be executed. No, all the imperial library scribes must be executed. When I personally went to the library to ask the truth, no one spoke up. They must pay the price.”

A lot had happened while I was confined in Arlin Palace. I understood why the scribes remained silent despite Erich’s questioning.

They had nearly been imprisoned and fired because of me. Their resentment must still linger. If silence could torment the perpetrator, I might have joined them too—unless I were someone kind like Lean.

“Wait, was there a scribe named Lean in the imperial library?”

Lean had sent me a letter. On the day I went to the autumn hunting grounds, he said he’d return to the imperial library. That meant Lean was likely there when Erich visited.

Did he stay silent too? No way…

“Please find Lean from the imperial library immediately. Find out where he is, if anything happened to him. No—I’ll go myself!”

I jumped to my feet, and Erich followed. As we left the room, Louis standing outside widened his eyes.

“Louis, I’ll explain later. I need to go to the imperial library right now.”

“B-but…”

Louis glanced at Erich. Erich barked,

“Follow Arne’s orders immediately.”

“Y-yes, understood.”

While Louis hurried to prepare, Erich and I left the palace. The guards surrounding Arlin Palace looked awkward seeing me walk out with Erich. Hans ran over and asked,

“Your Majesty, what’s going on?”

“Withdraw all guards. Arne no longer needs to be confined in Arlin Palace.”

“Then…!”

Hans exclaimed with joy. But Erich wasn’t one to be gentle with his knights.

“Send a knight to the imperial library to find a scribe named Lean. Arne and I will go there ourselves, so prepare accordingly.”

Hans and Louis rushed off to prepare the carriage. It was the emperor’s command, so the carriage arrived swiftly, cutting through the garden. Urged by Erich, it sped toward the imperial library. Inside, Erich kept asking who Lean was, but I couldn’t answer properly, worried about what might have happened.

And that worry became reality with the knight’s report upon arriving at the library.

“Scribe Lean is currently at Rose Palace.”

I asked urgently,

“Rose Palace? Why?”

“Lady Rose Del, the first concubine, brought a scribe to help design a new study. That scribe is Lean.”

Rose Del had clearly conspired with the library scribes and took Lean to Rose Palace under the pretense of decorating a study—because he refused to give false testimony.

“Let’s go to Rose Palace.”

Erich suggested immediately.

“I can guess what happened. Lean must be the one who refused to lie.”

Even without my explanation, Erich had already pieced together the situation. No further words were needed. We changed course and headed to Rose Palace. Rose Del, startled by the emperor’s sudden visit, came out to greet us and frowned upon seeing me.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. But… why is someone who should be in Arlin Palace visiting my residence?”

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