Chapter 55
[For the weak who pursued desire.
The Emperor, Livius Fer Destroca, was a sovereign rarely seen in the empire’s history, and at the same time, he was born with unparalleled might.
From birth, he was perfect. In politics, law, strategy, swordsmanship, and the studies of kingship—he lacked nothing.
He had a fiancée for a political marriage, and at twenty, when he ascended the throne, he obtained the perfect empress.
But the emperor was still human. He fell in love with a woman.
A woman who lived in a crumbling hut in a remote place.
Ten years earlier, while hunting, he was ambushed by an elite unit of a neighboring enemy nation. That day, he was saved by the woman.
His wounds were so severe that he could not move for a month.
But the woman cared for him diligently and faithfully.
Using a peculiar herb, he was healed in just ten days. It was the herb of witches.
That woman had been born cursed.
Where her hand touched, life withered black. Where her foot stepped, the earth cracked dry.
So she always wore thick gloves and shoes to hide herself from the world.
The woman was a ‘witch.’ The very being he despised, loathed, and considered an enemy that must be purged.
Once his wounds healed, he had planned to kill her. He acted kindly. He wore smiles.
And so he sharpened his blade in his heart, counting the days until he would take her head.
But even after ten days, he could not raise his sword. The man made excuses.
That his body had not yet fully recovered.
Ten days became twenty. Then a month. And in that time, he witnessed…
Her beauty, her kindness, her resignation, her affection, her longing—
Her… life equal to his own.
Like dye seeping into white cloth, it was a slow change. But he changed, and she changed too.
Though closest to death, she loved life more than anyone.
As long as her skin did not touch, death did not spread, so she always kept her body covered.
They fell in love.
They shared saliva.
They shared fluids.
They craved to prove their love.
The woman loved him. He loved the woman.
Thus, she used herself as a test subject. She altered her cursed body, so it could conceive when it never should have.
She seemed to succeed—she became pregnant. He rejoiced and immediately made her his concubine.
But what she bore could not be called human.
The woman despaired.
Endlessly she fell into hopelessness, into resentment.
And so she went mad.
Her powers worsened, growing uncontrollable. Even without touch, things began to wither and die.
Once calm and restrained, she lost all control.
She harmed people.
At last, he locked the woman he loved in the tallest tower and cast out cruel words, sharpening his heart again.
He could no longer go near her.
Surely, she hated him now. He decided to forget her.
For he was an emperor, the ruler of the land, who must live for all and be human yet beyond human.
And yet… he still thought of her.
What she was doing. How she was living. What life she now endured.]
Esther, unusually calm, read through the long parchment.
The emperor had spoken meanwhile, but seeing the parchment, she could already guess what he must have said.
“Yes! When I come to the Imperial City, I’ll make sure to visit Your Majesty before going home!”
“…Yes, this time of day will be best.”
“Okaaay!” Esther answered brightly.
“If there is any other reward you desire, speak now.”
“Then…”
Instead of refusing, Esther beamed and held out both hands.
“Give me money!”
“…What?”
“A blank check!”
Isn’t there such a thing in the human world?
At her brazen demand, the emperor fell silent for a moment, as if at a loss for words.
Either way, it seemed one more troublesome task had been added to his list.
Esther decided she would visit the Imperial Palace three times a week.
But she soon ran into an unexpected obstacle.
“That is not allowed.”
“…Huh?”
Esther’s eyes went wide. Blocked from such an unexpected place, she blinked.
“Eh, why not?”
“Because you’ve had no proper education. And yet you claim to be the emperor’s conversation partner? You?”
Marie Egbert scoffed with an incredulous snort, face twisted in disapproval.
“The emperor mocks me.”
Esther, watching the old woman’s sudden outburst, blinked innocently.
“Nooo, His Majesty said he wanted to talk with meee.”
From her pocket, Esther fished out a black card and held it out.
It was the emperor’s blank check—or rather, blank card.
Stamped with the imperial crest, it was valid throughout the empire.
The emperor had told her she could buy anything with it.
“…This is the Imperial Black Card, is it not?”
“Yup, I already got paid.”
Esther grinned ear to ear.
Marie Egbert’s frown deepened.
“Hehe, Grandma!”
Esther threw her arms wide and smiled so brightly. Seeing the child giggling, Marie Egbert pressed her forehead.
“You…”
Folding her arms, she scowled.
“Do you think that blushing cheeks and sparkling eyes could make my displeasure vanish? Your cheeks are so chubby—like a newborn baby! And that yellow dress—how many times will you wear the same thing? You look like a chick, not regal in the slightest.”
Honestly, Esther couldn’t tell if the woman’s words were insults or compliments.
“I also made a friend.”
“A friend…? Who in that place could possibly be your friend?”
“Um… it’s a secret.”
After a moment’s thought, Esther smiled sweetly.
Marie Egbert’s wrinkles twitched, and she quickly turned her head away.
“Do as you please, then.”
But somehow, she looked a little displeased.
“Filthy bastard.”
“I told you not to show yourself. Why did a monster like you come here?”
“Everywhere you step becomes dirty, and we have to clean again.”
A sharp, contemptuous voice filled with malice rang out.
Esther, on her way past the palace and toward the spire, turned her head.
There was a boy.
Kneeling like a sinner, head bowed, silently enduring.
Despite the taunts, his face was expressionless, lifelessly calm.
His shabby, tattered clothes were covered in dust and dirt.
With such a dead, indifferent face, one might think nothing was wrong at all.
Two other boys stood before him, clad in fine garments.
One looked about twelve, the other perhaps nine.
Esther’s eyes narrowed.
‘Not many dare act so arrogantly in the Imperial Palace.’
They must be princes—or even the crown prince.
Not only their behavior, but their appearance made it obvious. Honey-golden hair and blue eyes—just like the emperor.
Miniature versions of him.
‘Neither of them look promising.’
So she wasn’t interested.
On closer look, the older seemed to be the crown prince, the younger just a prince.
‘And they’re bullying my prey.’
Esther scowled and strode over.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
She stood before them, leaning lazily on one leg, arms folded short across her chest.
“…Hey?”
“Yup, hey.”
“…Who are you? You look like an ugly slime.”
One prince wrinkled his nose, glaring at her.
Glancing down, Esther saw Sidereus looking at her in shock.
“Why are you touching what’s mine?”
“Your tone’s awfully short, isn’t it?”
“So is yours?”
Esther widened her eyes and tilted her head. The crown prince frowned deeper.
“Do you even know who you’re speaking to so rudely?”
“And who are you, then?”
“I am this nation’s crown—”
“Ah! Right, I brought this. Candy.”
Esther cut him off lightly, pulling out a few fancy candies wrapped in a handkerchief.
She held them out to Sidereus, still on the ground.
A bribe, of course.
“You…!”
“Why are you messing with my stuff?”
Esther lifted her head.
A rare one, with a black exclamation mark.
Precious prey indeed.
‘Don’t crumble, little one.’
She pretended to comfort Sidereus.
“Which family are you from! How dare you block my path! Do you wish to die?!”
“Nope. I want to live.”
Esther grinned cheekily.
Her smug look was so infuriating that the crown prince raised his wooden sword high.
“You’ll regret this!”
“Really?”
“You’re cursed with misfortune! Hah!”
Esther pressed her chubby palm against his cheek.
“If you swing that stick, you’ll trip and—”
“How dare you mock me…!”
Just as he swung his sword at her—
The crown prince’s body lurched, and suddenly he stumbled forward, crashing face-first.
Esther smirked.
