Emperor's Alternate - Chapter 37
Vengeance isn’t always a searing rage. Truth be told, Lecan was someone I wished to regard not as an adversary but as an ally. But it only reminded me of what the Empress said in the past.
“If my son ascends to the throne, you, too, would wield tremendous power. Can you assure me you won’t change?”
“My goal will always be revenge.”
“Revenge…”
The Empress’s gaze, strangely distorted, gently met my clasped hands.
“All the power bestowed upon me will be used for vengeance.”
“…Sometimes it is a relief to know that I am not your enemy.”
The Empress laughed, awkwardly my composed gaze with a faint smile.
She must have already guessed who the object of my vengeance was. But she was a woman who had gone so far to link the lives of her son and my deathly ill brother to keep me bound. She even encouraged bloody revenge, as long as it served her ambitions to climb the social ladder.
‘It would be troublesome to have her as an adversary.’
It was late afternoon when I returned to the palace the next day. Most servants were just about done with their duties. Lost in thought, pacing the corridors, I inadvertently caught snippets of gossip among the maids wiping the columns. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but a familiar name stopped me in my tracks.
“Have you heard about Lord Lecan at the ball? The highborn ladies caused quite a stir.”
The ball. I remember it all, even my drunken half-*ssed remarks to Lecan.
“They say the Princess was the most talked-about. Rumor has it she hasn’t talked to anyone since the ball.”
“I heard she suffers from unrequited love. Lecan is undoubtedly handsome, but not eating just because of that—it’s a bit too much. But I’ve never experienced unrequited love, so I suppose I could never understand.”
“What’s there not to understand? Weren’t you swooning over Lord Lecan until recently?”
“Oh. That was… admiration, not love. Do you believe that someone like me, a palace maid, could have a chance with Lord Lecan?”
“Why? Can’t even dream about it? You never know.”
“Oh, shut up.”
The princess, Teiles I’s cherished daughter.
The princess’s unrequited love was quite well-known. Not only the princess, but others also harbored feelings for Lecan.
Turning away from the maids’ giggling voices, I went on my way. The sky outside the window was tinged with the hues of dusk as I walked pass the Empress’s chambers. I worried that rumors might circulate about Lecan rescuing a maid in distress. Although I wasn’t too worried about attracting the ire of nobility as I was inconspicuous enough as a palace servant. If there was anything I feared, it was the attention and desires of the Empress. Nothing good ever came from being the subject of gossip.
“Welcome, Miss Leyesha.”
Strangely enough, I was more recognizable in my maid outfit. I nodded, expressionless. Leaving the maids who bowed in courtesy, I entered my room. Wary of spies, I scanned my quarters. There didn’t seem to be anything out of the order, however…
‘Perhaps Lecan took all the documents that disappeared at that time.’
The mere suggestion of Lecan’s presence deep within the palace was enough to put me on edge. Had I been adept at handling mana, I might have been able to decipher traces left by a spy. Yet, not knowing immediately was also acceptable.
‘…If you are watching me, then I intend to use it against you.’
Right now, I could feign ignorance and leak vital information at a crucial moment to throw Lecan off. However, Lecan was astute enough to see through that. Instead of resorting to such obvious tactics, I opted to employ the spies to relay information to Lecan.
As soon as I returned, I seated myself at the table. I wrote down a list of personnel who I could have appointed had I put my mind to it—an imperial reshuffle, with most of Lecan’s forces removed. It was meant to intimidate him, to give him an idea of the extent of my power.
A warning, a foreshadowing of what I would do if he tried to keep Benedict as his own. The surprising equity of the first reshuffle was a reward for Lecan’s silence in allowing my mistress to be crowned Empress—all while giving warning and allowing him to gracefully give up Benedict.
“…This is as clear as it gets.”
Setting down the fountain pen, I exhaled slowly. Leaving it placed on the table would ensure that the spies Lecan planted would collect it and pass on the message. A letter of inquiry does not always have to be a direct statement.
This was more than enough to convey my intentions.
Flap.
As soon as I opened the door, a piece of paper slipped through the crack and fell.
‘A response, I presume.’
I instantly realized. The scroll I’d deliberately left for them yesterday was gone. Leaving the watching maids behind, I casually entered and shut the door. At the moment, I wasn’t immediately curious about the identity of the spy.
Picking up the paper from the floor, I couldn’t help but make a puzzled face.
Applicant: 6th Prince
Major: Political Science
Rank: (1/42)
…
Beneath it, there were rows of grades, but there was no need to read further. I already knew enough.
“…So this is how it’s going to be.”
The paper crumpled in my hand. Tension crept into my grip.
I threatened Lecan, and the same threat came back. This was meant to remind me that he had knowingly turned a blind eye to the fact that I had been the Sixth Prince’s alternate during the admission exam.
