Chapter – 19.
Let Me Live for You
“The Hausen Merchant Company?”
Siegfried scoffed.
“Never heard of it in Norden.”
“That’s because they don’t operate under the Hausen name.”
Josephine replied nonchalantly.
“Maybe not in this continent, but in the five continents out there, the name of the legendary navigator Blake is more well-known than Hausen.”
“Ah.”
Finally seeming to understand, Siegfried nodded.
“So, they’re Blake’s descendants? That makes things quicker.”
He picked up a piece of dried fruit that Josephine had placed as a decoration in the room and said.
“Well, it’s not like the descendants of such a great navigator and adventurer would all live spotlessly clean lives.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Josephine tilted her head in confusion. It was no surprise, as she only knew Blake as a great pioneer from the Lenoir continent.
“Blake was famous for purely loving adventure and navigation, right? So, there was a strict rule one had to follow to become a member of his crew or company.”
Siegfried popped a freeze-dried strawberry into his mouth, crunching it.
“Do not interfere with the political situations or interests of any individual, group, or nation.”
The strawberry crunched loudly, shattering in Siegfried’s mouth.
“And do not take sides with any ideology, political force, or faction to harm or attack others.”
“So that’s why the members of the Blake Company couldn’t use their own names and were all called Blake.”
Josephine stared sharply at Siegfried, who seemed to know more about Hausen’s Blake Company than she did.
“You’re acquainted with the people of House Hausen, I see?”
“Seems so. The one who kept me from starving when I was a prisoner of war is the current Baron Hausen.”
This was news to her. Josephine’s expression hardened involuntarily.
“So, you’re saying you owe your life to Baron Hausen, Elizabeth’s father?”
“You could say that.”
Siegfried smiled brightly, as if he finally understood.
“I wondered why an enemy noble would show me such favor out of the blue. It was because he’s the head of the Blake Company.”
He then brushed it off casually.
“Well, the Blake Company has close ties with our royal family too, so showing basic favor to a First Prince like me isn’t that strange.”
His attitude, almost gleefully revealing this fact, was suspicious.
“He’ll probably have a fit when he finds out his daughter tried to sell me out from the very start.”
“So, you trusted Elizabeth, Baron Hausen’s daughter, and conspired with her.”
Josephine stated flatly, convinced. Siegfried just stared at her expressionlessly. Surprisingly, he seemed to readily admit it.
“That’s why you secretly reported Elizabeth, the mastermind behind this incident, to me at the banquet that day. Right?”
After all, her goal in saving him was also to confirm this part.
“You must have anticipated that Elizabeth would betray you at the end of the plan. So, that day, you asked for my help, suggesting we push Elizabeth into a corner together, didn’t you?”
Siegfried smirked.
“Not exactly.”
When he swung his legs off the bed, Josephine tensed for a moment.
“I was just curious to see how far the ripples from the stone I threw would go.”
The cold passion in his red eyes was directed solely at her.
“Are you satisfied, I wonder?”
Before Josephine could even feel indignant about being made his plaything, her hands began to tremble.
“Yes. Very.”
Siegfried grinned widely.
“Now it finally feels like you’re struggling to live.”
Josephine was astounded.
“You did all those ridiculous things because of me? Do you expect me to believe that?”
It was also deeply meaningful. The way he had been acting as if he’d known her for a long time.
“Why? You still hate those people, don’t you?”
Siegfried deliberately put on an innocent expression and retorted.
“That’s why you hurt that Hausen woman and even saved someone Henryus hates, provoking him.”
“You’re mistaken about one thing. I didn’t save you out of pity. I just couldn’t let an innocent person die.”
Josephine firmly denied.
“And, inadvertently thanks to you, I’ve now gained the responsibility to successfully lead these peace talks.”
She walked away and returned holding something.
What she brought was a single, round, black pill.
“For that purpose alone, I intend to make you hover between life and death, just as the rumors say, until the day of the talks.”
“What is that?”
“A drug that puts a person in a comatose state for a set time. I concocted it myself.”
Josephine answered.
“Made from a living herb that only grows in the Bari forests of the northern continent, Alraune. Here, it’s also called the Devil’s Herb.”
Siegfried tilted his head.
“Is it alright for an Empress like you to handle that directly? What if the church people here brand you a heretic?”
“I have no choice. This was the only way.”
Josephine was calm, without a trace of regret.
“Besides, this Devil’s Herb is also used here as an anesthetic or painkiller, so they won’t be too strict about it.”
There was one reason Josephine made this drug herself.
She couldn’t entrust the making of a drug for Siegfried to anyone else.
Fortunately, having minored in pharmacology since her academy days, Josephine was very knowledgeable about medicines.
“Alraune is highly toxic. The leaves cause hallucinations and paralysis, but the roots are a powerful stimulant that doubles pain.”
She split the pill in half right in front of him.
“This is made by diluting that several dozen times.”
Then, she emptied all the powder from inside the pill into a glass of water.
“Dissolving it in water will weaken the toxicity further, but it will also spread through the body faster, so the effect itself will remain.”
As she did, the powdered medicine fizzed, releasing bubbles and dissolving in the water like a firecracker.
In an instant, the drug vanished completely, leaving only clear water.
“What happens if I drink that?”
Siegfried, who had been staring at the glass, asked.
“You’ll feel dizzy and nauseous, but you’ll fall into a coma with as little pain as possible. However, only one glass a day. No more.”
“What if more?”
Josephine almost scowled. His tongue, poking only at uncomfortable spots, was unbearably mischievous.
“…You could risk complete organ paralysis and death. Satisfied?”
“Very knowledgeable about medicines.”
Siegfried smiled with a satisfied look.
“I suppose so. I had my reasons to be.”
Josephine couldn’t bring herself to smile back at that.
“Anyway, this is the best I’ve thought of. To make them believe the rumors, it’s better if you’re in a coma.”
Siegfried stared blankly at the glass of water Josephine had prepared with the drug and asked.
“What if I refuse to drink it?”
“If you remain completely uncooperative, then I’ll have to knock you out by force, even if I have to make you take this drug.”
“How?”
“Using my authority as Empress to subdue you. Even if I have to call my family’s private soldiers.”
An uncomfortable silence fell. Even this discomfort belonged solely to Josephine.
“Is this really the only way?”
Siegfried asked again, as if double-checking.
Feeling her eyelids grow heavier under increasing pressure, Josephine affirmed.
“This is the only way. To save you.”
No matter what sweet words she might say, the fact that he must be sacrificed remains unchanged.
Overcome by a belated pang of conscience, Josephine finally averted her gaze from him.
“And saving you… this is as far as it goes for me. Once the talks end successfully, we’ll be nothing to each other.”
Contrary to Siegfried’s earlier boast that she would need him, Josephine had no intention of involving him in this revenge play.
The owner of this cursed life—she alone was enough.
She didn’t want to place Siegfried on this wreckage alongside her.
“That’s not enough.”
But the moment she finished speaking, Siegfried shook his head.
Josephine couldn’t believe her ears.
“What did you just say….”
“Bring me a stronger drug. That way, it’ll look more like you’ve been abusing me as the rumors say, Your Majesty.”
