I’m the Only One Who Can Guide the Tyrant to Sleep - Chapter 16
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the maid replied cautiously and, after walking out from the curtains, carefully entered the room.
It was the same handmaid as before, the insolent one who had roughly grabbed Caesar’s wrist on a previous occasion.
“Your Majesty.”
Caesar spoke cautiously. The Empress’s eyebrows twitched.
“Do you also want to stay longer because you want to see the Emperor suffer?”
“That’s not it. I’m just worried…”
“If the Emperor falls, it is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who should continue his position. It’s difficult if you’re acting out like a baby.”
‘Acting out? That didn’t seem to be the case at all.’
If anyone’s showing that, it was Floria, who was sobbing on the Emperor’s chest.
Caesar was simply making a very reasonable request.
In such a critical situation where his father could pass away any moment, who wouldn’t want to be the first to enter the room?
Floria’s words came to mind—when she mentioned that the Empress disliked the Crown Prince. It seemed that this was indeed the case.
Moreover, it appeared that she didn’t even feel the need to hide that fact.
The Empress signaled the handmaid, Meriette.
“Go on, Meriette.”
The maid, as impertinent and brash as before, grabbed Caesar’s wrist, and he was visibly irritated.
‘Wait, her name is Meriette?’
Something was odd. The Empress knew the name of a maid working in the Crown Prince’s residence.
It wasn’t strange for her to know the name of someone who was taking care of her son, but what was odd was that she didn’t seem to recognize me, the closest companion and confidant of Floria.
There were only two possible explanations for this.
First, the Empress cared more about Caesar than Floria did. Second, the maid Meriette had a pre-existing relationship with the Empress.
The latter option seemed much more likely.
I clenched my jaw. Of course, the second option was more plausible. She must have been doing something to merit the Empress’s recognition.
Meanwhile, Meriette was already leading Caesar out of the room.
‘To blatantly disregard the Crown Prince like this…’
It was more than just an awkward situation; it was outright disrespectful. He was just a fourteen-year-old boy. There was no way he could have done anything to deserve this treatment.
It all came down to the position of Crown Prince itself. The Empress coveted that position.
Perhaps it wasn’t just about coveting. She might already be doing something about it.
Meriette… The Empress was acquainted with the maid.
‘If she’s using her to mistreat Caesar…?’
I couldn’t help but have a bad feeling about it, even as I thought, ‘No way.’
Just moments ago, the Empress’s attitude had been crystal clear. She wished for Caesar not to ascend to the throne.
If the Emperor were to die and Caesar were to ascend to the throne, the Empress and her daughter, Floria, would be sidelined, or worst case, eliminated.
‘If she’s even considering killing him to ensure her safety and her daughter’s…’
The problem was, there was nothing I could do even if that were the case. I was just a mere handmaid.
Besides, this wasn’t about personal emotions. The Empress was just doing what they all did in the palace – kill or be killed.
‘Even if I want to take revenge on the Empress or the handmaid, it wouldn’t change anything. I’d better find the Guide as soon as possible.’
Finding the Guide was a pressing matter. If Caesar awakened safely, he would possess extraordinary abilities. He could potentially become a great Emperor.
That was the only thing I could do for Caesar.
Up until now, my only goal had been to ascend him to the throne for my own survival, but witnessing the current situation, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of sympathy.
I need to act quickly, for both of us.
***
On the other hand, Meriette was heading toward the Crown Prince’s residence, gripping his thin wrist.
“…Let go.”
Caesar shook his arm up and down, but Meriette’s grip didn’t budge.
He might not be tall for his age, fourteen, but that didn’t mean he had the strength to outmatch Meriette, who was in her mid-twenties.
Above all, she refrained from giving him enough food, claiming it was for his health during his growing years. Caesar had a slightly thinner compared to his peers.
“Your Highness, you need to walk properly.”
“I can walk properly.”
“You say that, but then you end up going somewhere.”
“Where would I go?”
“These days, you’ve been going to the garden every day, did you think I wouldn’t know?”
Caesar pressed his lips tightly together.
‘Well, I guess that’s true.’
Meriette looked down at the young prince, still small and frail. Although he had received an education and lessons in politics, it was clear who held the upper hand between them.
The Crown Prince had been surrounded by no one since childhood.
His mother, who gave birth to him, had passed away, and his father immediately brought in a new Empress.
The Emperor never showed any affection to his son.
As the legitimate heir was unjustly pushed aside, the imperial power weakened even more.
The Emperor was ruthless and ineffective. He couldn’t stop the noble faction from coveting the throne.
‘And the fact that an unloved son, who never received any parental affection, is growing up as a powerless boy, that couldn’t be stopped either.’
Meriette smiled meaningfully.
‘To ascend to the throne, it should be Princess Floria, not this frail boy. And I’ll make sure to secure my position firmly.’
To achieve that, she could do anything, even if it meant trampling over the young boy.
