Chapter 06
“Then how about this? I happen to know the truth about the fire incident that drove the former Empress to her death.”
When Melina whispered as if sharing a secret, the Grand Duke’s eyes trembled faintly. The former Empress had been his mother.
“If you accept my proposal, I will clear Her Majesty of the false accusation that she tried to kill the Empress’s son out of jealousy.”
Melina smiled faintly and leaned back in her chair with ease.
“Are you trying to blackmail me using my mother’s affairs? You’d do well to drop such pathetic tricks.”
The Grand Duke leaned toward her threateningly and glared.
“Blackmail? How could I dare? I’m merely proposing a deal to Your Highness. And offering my help, as well.”
“There is no secret behind the fire incident. It’s true that she injured the prince. She was a gentle person and couldn’t bear the guilt—that’s why she took her own life.”
Shortly after the current Emperor was born, the Empress Consort had been confined to the tower for scalding him with hot tea. That was the infamous fire incident.
The Empress’s son had been injured, and not long after, the Consort took her own life. The Empire had been thrown into turmoil for quite some time.
“Do you truly believe that?”
At Melina’s question, the Grand Duke’s gaze wavered like a ship that had lost its direction.
But only for a moment. When he closed and reopened his eyes, the confusion had been suppressed.
“That is the truth. There’s no hidden story.”
“I heard Her Majesty insisted she was innocent. Do you not believe her words either?”
“She likely meant it wasn’t intentional. But even if it was a mistake, she gravely injured the prince. There was no escaping responsibility.”
The shield of rationalization he had built up over the years was sturdier than expected.
After all, he had only been four when it happened. What could a child have done?
Moreover, who would have bothered to tell the truth to a prince who had lost imperial favor? He must have needed some explanation to accept why his mother had suddenly been confined—why she had to die.
Otherwise, he would never have remained sane.
Just as Melina herself had created reasons not to question the whereabouts of her birth mother.
Just as she had rationalized her father and the duchess’s coldness, her sibling’s contempt—telling herself it was only natural, since she was illegitimate.
Seeing her own foolish past reflected in him made her both pity and angered. At the same time, she felt an urge to shatter the defensive wall he wore.
“There was no escaping responsibility? If the Empress hadn’t reacted the way she did, things wouldn’t have escalated so far.”
At the time, the prince’s life had not been in danger, yet the Empress had tearfully claimed the Consort tried to kill him. The wet nurse and maid present testified that it had been deliberate, leaving the Emperor unable to cover up the matter.
In the end, the Emperor confined the Consort and withdrew his affection from her son as well.
“Don’t you feel wronged? Aren’t you angry?”
“Wronged…? I’ve never thought of it that way. I only feel sorry for my mother.”
The way he spoke—like someone who had accepted everything and resigned himself—made Melina feel as though flames were rising inside her.
She had lived like that too. Enduring, keeping her head down. And in the end, she was betrayed and killed.
No one rewards patience. They only trample you further.
“You should feel wronged. You should be angry.”
“…Why should I be angry? What does this have to do with you?”
The Grand Duke looked at her with a peculiar expression.
Only then did Melina realize she had become too emotional. She inhaled slowly.
“I suppose I got carried away.”
He said nothing, simply watching her.
“Her Majesty committed no crime. You can likely guess who was behind it, can’t you?”
At her firm tone, he fell silent, his face troubled.
“…Do you have solid evidence?”
She had expected him to dismiss her again.
“The maid who was holding the teapot that day is under Temno’s protection.”
Berta’s father, the former head, had been even more meticulous than Berta. To protect Temno from the imperial family, he had thoroughly investigated and monitored them, collecting anything that could become leverage.
That maid was one such piece.
“…Where is she? Can I meet her?”
He had tried to convince himself it couldn’t be helped—that it was his mother’s fault. But in truth, he must have wanted to know.
At the tremor in his voice, the turmoil in Melina’s chest eased slightly.
“I’ll arrange it. If you marry me.”
At the renewed mention of marriage, his face hardened.
“It’s not a loss for you. I’ll clear your mother’s name—and even give you the throne. Isn’t that a fair bargain?”
“And if I get everything I want and then demand a divorce?”
“Your Highness, I don’t make losing deals. Naturally, this marriage comes with conditions.”
Melina smiled meaningfully.
“You propose a one-sided deal and still add conditions?”
He let out a hollow laugh.
“First, there will be no divorce. Second, the position of Empress must be mine.”
She counted them calmly on her fingers. His brow furrowed.
“Reopening the fire incident and siding with Her Majesty means directly opposing the current Emperor. For Temno, that’s troublesome. Risky.”
She pressed her temple as if already burdened.
“And dethroning the Emperor? That’s no small risk either. If I take that risk and you divorce me afterward, wouldn’t I be the only one losing?”
In her previous life, she had lived as her father and the Emperor wished—and received only betrayal and death.
She refused to be used and discarded again.
She had come too far for that.
The Empress’s seat was hers. She would not give it to Nora, nor Layla, nor anyone else.
That was why she chose the Grand Duke. He was next in line to the throne. And more importantly, he provided legitimacy to depose the Emperor without branding Temno as traitors.
She could not think only of revenge. She had promised Berta to protect Temno.
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll find someone else.”
“I’m the only one with succession rights.”
“All that’s needed is imperial blood. Dig through the collateral branches—surely one will do.”
She had no other candidate prepared, but she acted unbothered.
“Are you saying you’ll compete with me for the throne?”
“Why not? You have no support base. Someone backed by Temno versus someone who isn’t—who would win?”
His face twisted at her confidence.
“Or perhaps we could replace the imperial family entirely.”
He let out a disbelieving laugh at her casual mention of rebellion.
“Think carefully. Clearing your mother’s name would restore not only her honor but your standing as well. Do you intend to remain the tragic prince forever?”
His eyes wavered.
Before the incident, he had been the leading candidate for Crown Prince. Afterward, he was forgotten—known only as the ill-fated prince.
“Do you wish to continue living under constant assassination attempts? Aren’t you tired?”
Fatigue darkened his expression.
“Take my hand. I’ll free you from all those threats.”
She extended her hand.
He stared at it for a long time before speaking.
“May I ask one thing?”
She nodded.
“What debt do you owe the Emperor?”
Melina hesitated.
How could she so easily speak of her own death?
Even now, she could not forget the Emperor’s amused expression as she coughed blood.
She steadied her breathing and suppressed the surge of emotion.
“The Emperor killed someone I loved.”
The Grand Duke stiffened.
“…You had someone you loved?”
She gave a faint, knowing smile.
“Yes. My beloved younger sibling.”
She could not say the Emperor had killed her.
“Who was your sibling?”
“…Melina Renotor—the late Empress.”
His eyes widened.
“Wasn’t Baron Essen executed as the assassin? How can you say it was the Emperor?”
Baron Essen had been a scapegoat—eliminated under the pretense of avenging the Empress.
“I heard it directly from Her Majesty. Ah, don’t ask how I entered the palace. I can’t explain.”
He closed his mouth and asked instead, “Why would the Emperor eliminate the Empress? The Renotor Duchy hadn’t lost power.”
“I thought the same.”
She smiled bitterly.
“The Emperor had a lover. And to the Duke, the Empress was nothing more than an illegitimate child.”
She explained the details, her composure wavering at times.
“Ha. They’re worse than beasts.”
His curse made her chest feel lighter. There was comfort in knowing someone felt anger over her death.
“Do you believe me?”
“It would be an absurdly detailed lie. And frankly, both the Emperor and the Duke are capable of such things.”
She laughed softly.
“More than that, I’m curious how you and Her Majesty became like sisters.”
“I had ties to her birth mother. As Temno’s head, I couldn’t associate openly, but we cherished each other like true sisters.”
A lie—but unverifiable.
“Temno’s network truly is unfathomable.”
He shook his head slightly.
“I’ve shown you all my cards. Now it’s your decision. Will you take my hand?”
After a long silence, he lifted his gaze.
“I will. The marriage.”
At his crisp answer, Melina clenched and unclenched her fist behind his back.
“When shall we hold the wedding?”
“As soon as possible. I must enter the palace before the Emperor installs a new Empress.”
“Then we’ll be busy. Are you certain no outsider has seen your face?”
“Certain. Not even the Emperor has. With a disguised identity, he won’t recognize me.”
The imperial family and Temno had long been at odds.
“Do not underestimate the Emperor. He’s meticulous and insidious—especially regarding me.”
As if she didn’t know.
She smiled faintly.
“I’m well aware. Which is why we must prepare thoroughly. Your Highness, from now on, you’ll need to act.”
He raised a brow.
“If you suddenly announce a marriage, suspicion is inevitable. We need a convincing reason.”
“A convincing reason?”
“Trite, perhaps—but irrefutable. Love.”
“You expect the Emperor to believe I’ve fallen in love?”
“He will. Love changes people. Didn’t he poison the Empress for his lover? It will work.”
Of course, the Emperor would suspect. But he could not openly oppose it.
Love was not something one could prove.
“Though it all depends on how well you perform.”
She emphasized “well,” and the Grand Duke’s expression twisted strangely.
