Emperor's Alternate - Chapter 6
“And who might you be?”
The moment I heard the consort’s voice for the first time, I instantly understood why the Emperor had been captivated by her. It was a heavenly voice, the kind that could make a person famous just by singing.
Her appearance was in stark contrast to the rumors. She had a gentle, kind look. Her long, flowing silver hair cascaded down to her shoulders in gentle waves, and her large, clear eyes resembled those of a deer. Her skin was so translucent and white that it seemed as if the slightest touch could leave a mark.
She held her precious child close in her arms, the child who would eventually become the sixth prince. I intentionally kept my younger brother in my embrace as well. The consort’s eyes briefly narrowed and then softened.
“Shall I clear them out?”
“No, stay as you are.”
At the question of her escort knight, she raised her gloved hand. The knight followed the consort’s orders. With a bit of clumsy aristocratic etiquette, the consort sat on the red sofa. Still clad in tattered robes, I sucked in a breath.
With trembling hands, I removed the robe covering my face. I allowed the consort’s gaze to fall upon my blonde hair and blue eyes, exposed under the light. I was now staking my life on this moment.
It was a gamble. No, it wasn’t just my life at stake. My younger brother’s life hung in the balance, and the spirits of the deceased Rotea Ducal House were seemingly resting on my shoulders.
“You’re…”
“I greet you, Your Majesty.”
In principle, the title “Your Majesty” should not be given even to a consort who hadn’t become an Empress. But I didn’t care about principles. Winning the consort’s favor was the top priority. As I greeted her with the etiquette fitting for royalty, the Emperor’s mistress seemed a little surprised.
I cut to the chase.
“…If you save my brother and I, we will pledge our lives in loyal service..”
“Did you sneak into the apothecary to say that, and wait for me all this time? How did you know I would show up here?”
As the consort had mentioned, I had hidden here until she appeared, like a mouse. I didn’t feel sorry for myself; I had my own conviction.
Rumor had it that the crown prince had recently been consuming a nutritional potion that was said to be good for his hair. All the educated noblewomen of the islands had gone to the apothecary to have the same potion prescribed for them. The Emperor’s mistress was no exception.
“Dare I say that you would do anything for the advancement of ‘His Highness the Crown Prince.'”
“…? Ah, ahahaha!”
Looking at me calling her son who hadn’t even received his title as the Crown Prince yet, ‘His Highness the Crown Prince,’ the consort appeared briefly bewildered before bursting into laughter.
After laughing for quite some time, the Emperor’s mistress wiped away her smile with the back of her hand and asked coldly.
“I know who you are. You’re the child of a family that was banished for treason not long ago.”
“…Yes.”
“Your names are Winter and Lucian, right? Do you understand how dangerous it is for me to save you? I’ve heard that the lady of your house is clever, but I’m surprised to see her so unharmed after losing her entire family.”
“…”
“Do you realize that I am losing the Emperor’s favor, and if I accuse you two, it is unlikely that he will spare me again. Walking into the lion’s den like this, it seems the rumors about your cleverness were unfounded.”
I lowered my eyes.
“Your Majesty, I will be your servant.”
“What? …my servant? …What can a little girl like you do? Ahahaha! Did you come here with the intention of amusing me to death?”
“I will see to it that His Highness the Crown Prince becomes the Emperor.”
“Hmm….”
The consort seemed to grow serious with my straightforward statement. I could feel her scanning me with the eyes of a snake that had its prey right in front of it. Behind her virtuous appearance, I could sense a strangely twisted ambition.
“You have the blood of a traitor, and every word you speak dares to question my loyalty.”
Suddenly, the faces of my dead family flashed before my eyes. The family’s disgrace was due to a false accusation. The words ‘blood of a traitor’ froze me in my tracks.
‘She’s trying to provoke me.’
As the books had taught, responding to provocation in a fight meant stepping into the opponent’s ring, and even if you won the fight, you would remain in the subordinate position. They would always have the advantage.
From the beginning, it was said that I wouldn’t step into their ring. I needed to pull the consort into my ring.
I lifted my head and spoke slowly.
“I have the ability to never forget what I’ve seen. I can memorize a book as soon as I’ve read it.”
“…….”
I purposely adopted the accent of a higher noble because I judged that it would be more advantageous in gaining the consort’s favor. Whether she sensed something or not, the Emperor’s mistress remained quiet for a while. Her eyes fixed on me, as if trying to read my mind. She was not foolish. I had everything riding on that fact.
‘I must somehow make this person my protector.’
I had to survive. A single report from her and I would lose my life instantly.
When I didn’t divert my gaze, the consort looked at me expressionlessly. After a while, she pointed with her red-tipped fingernail at a book on the desk. It was titled < The Lost Secrets of Ancient Magic>.
“Open it.”
“…….”
“Now read.”
I understood the consort’s intentions and, holding my younger brother close, unfolded the book page by page, absorbing the contents with my eyes. It was difficult to call it the “act of reading.” It was more like merely “seeing.” The urgency of time left me with no other option.
“Close it.”
I walked over to the Emperor’s mistress without being asked and handed her the book I had finished. She looked at me with suspicion.
“What’s the second sentence on page 138?”
I took a slow breath in and out. I slowly turned the pages in my head. Until I came to page 138.
“…….”
“Why don’t you answer?”
“…….”
“It was a lie. How dare you lie to me….”
As the consort’s expression began to contort, my lips finally opened.
