I’m the Only One Who Can Guide the Tyrant to Sleep - Chapter 20
Not making proper commands meant that the Empress could withdraw her support at any moment.
If something went wrong, everything would be Meriette’s fault. The Empress had only said to take good care of the Crown Prince, after all.
Meriette chuckled triumphantly.
“Stealing the sweet snacks meant for His Highness the Crown Prince under the guise of health, and secretly taking expensive fabrics for the sake of showing austerity to the imperial citizens. How delighted do you think Her Majesty the Empress will be when she learns of such facts?”
“Umm… Sure.”
Now, a hint of a smile, almost mocking, seemed to hover on the maid’s face. Meriette, perhaps spurred by the maid’s lukewarm attitude, continued to reveal more of what I had done.
“Just a few days ago, I also snatched a bouquet of flowers from him, even when he claimed it was for his mother’s death anniversary!”
“Really?”
“It’s hilarious how he can’t even say anything in response.”
The maid’s altered reaction, whether out of amusement or some other reason, prompted Meriette to burst into laughter.
She hadn’t received threats or even orders from the Empress. Was it just because she wanted to do everything, to impress the Empress and show her initiative?
I clenched my fist. There was no need to hesitate any longer. I suddenly emerged from behind the pillar, startling both Meriette and the maid at her side.
“What… Who are you?”
Meriette wore a puzzled expression.
In retrospect, this situation was an opportunity gifted by fate. There was no inadequacy in executing the plan I had conceived earlier.
“Excuse me, but are you Meriette?”
I clasped my hands together and widened my eyes, as if admiring Meriette.
“But who are you?”
“Well, I have something to discuss with you.”
I signaled to the other maid to leave the spot. She understood the request to vacate the area and promptly disappeared.
Now that only the two of us remained, Meriette regarded me with a skeptical gaze.
“So, who are you, and what do you want to talk about?”
My demeanor was quite imposing.
“In fact, I’ve come under the Empress’s orders.”
“What?”
Meriette exclaimed in surprise.
“The Empress has instructed me to convey a message to Meriette of the Crown Prince’s palace.”
I said politely, nodding my head. Upon hearing this, Meriette’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“So? What’s the message?”
“Well, you see…”
I spoke with a hidden smile.
“The Empress intends to summon you for an audience.”
“An audience? Why all of a sudden?”
Suspicion crept into Meriette’s eyes. It was only natural for her to doubt my sudden appearance and words.
“Actually, it’s about the bouquet.”
“The bouquet?”
“Yes, right. It’s a matter of etiquette. You remember the bouquet with various shades of blue and yellow flowers, right?”
“You… How do you know about that?”
Meriette’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.
She and Caesar were the only ones who knew about the bouquet he had made. Meriette must have realized that, given my sudden appearance, there was every reason to be suspicious.
“Because it was meant as an offering to the previous Empress.”
“Exactly! That’s why I destroyed it!”
“Yes, that’s right. Due to that, Her Majesty the Empress was extremely pleased. It was because it’s as good as indirectly insulting the previous Empress.”
“I knew it! I knew that the Empress has been watching me all along!”
“Of course. Her Majesty the Empress is always watching, Meriette, no matter when or where.”
I said with a significant smile, and Meriette’s face paled. She seemed to be unaware that the trembling in my voice had subsided.
“So, what… What reward did she offer?”
Meriette, now visibly excited, asked.
“She said that Duke Spiegel would like to meet you.”
“What?”
Meriette’s face turned even paler. She was now covering her mouth with both hands.
Duke Spiegel, the most influential figure among the nobles, and was the de facto head of the noble faction.
It was an open fact that the Empress had joined hands with the noble faction, and practically anyone knew about it. However, information about who the leader of the nobility was still a secret.
Unless one had a close relationship with the Empress, like Meriette, it was not information that an ordinary maid like me could obtain. Therefore, the statement I just made at least proved that I had a connection with the Empress as strong as Meriette’s.
Of course, my knowledge of this fact was all thanks to the original work.
“Introducing me means that… perhaps…”
“Yes, it’s almost like acknowledging you, Meriette. But there are conditions before that can happen.”
“Conditions?”
“Yes, no matter how much the Empress values you, she cannot introduce just anyone to Duke Spiegel, right?”
“That’s true.”
Meriette nodded without any suspicion.
“To introduce you to him, there needs to be evidence that the maid who will do it is capable. Don’t you think so?”
“So, what should I do?”
Meriette asked impatiently.
With a sly smile hidden beneath the surface, I thought to myself that I had just set a brilliant trap.
“Starting from now, all you have to do is follow my instructions.”
