~Chapter 13~
“Telling me not to love a child who will soon die means she plans to kill him.”
‘She told me to carefully judge which line is the golden line. That must mean Verkley isn’t the golden line.’
But Eliana knew which side she should be on.
At least, not on Hera’s side.
The last scene of the novel before it went on hiatus was Hera’s miserable death.
But only Eliana knew this.
Still, right now, Hera looked like the strongest person.
Eliana didn’t have enough of Verkley’s trust to rely on him.
‘Even if I’m in danger, Verkley wouldn’t help me. He wouldn’t risk himself just for a servant.’
So, she had to walk this thin line all by herself.
Just like she decided, Eliana stood up from her chair and knelt at Hera’s feet.
The action was sudden, but Hera just smiled and asked,
“What are you doing?”
“The golden line I chose is you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
“Oh?”
Hera looked down at Eliana with a pleased face, surprised at how steady her voice was.
Eliana knew Hera’s personality well.
If she sided with Verkley here, she’d never leave this room alive.
She’d just be thrown away like useless chaff.
Eliana remembered the situation leading up to this.
‘No one saw me coming to meet Hera.’
The hallway was too quiet. Only Sophia brought Eliana to the main palace.
Even if someone did see her, no one would help her against Hera, the most powerful person right now.
Hera had called her while Verkley was away on purpose.
Hera was testing Eliana.
She wanted to see if Eliana would join her side, or if she’d act bold just because the Emperor liked her.
Hera lifted Eliana’s chin with her well-manicured finger.
“It seems Verkley likes you.”
“He’s just being kind to someone at his side.”
“Even if it’s just kindness, you need to turn that into affection.”
Eliana asked innocently,
“…Is that my job?”
“That’s just the beginning. Win Verkley’s heart as soon as you can, and then find out who is backing him.”
“Backing him?”
Eliana was surprised, so Hera smiled slyly.
“It seems someone is helping that child. I’ve sent assassins to scare him a few times, but the traces disappeared without a clue.”
“Oh…”
“From what I’ve seen, it’s not a very dangerous person, but I like certainty.”
“Leave it to me, Your Majesty.”
Eliana’s determined face made Hera smile, taking her hand away.
It seemed she passed the test.
Hera slowly helped Eliana to her feet and patted her with a cold smile.
“I have high hopes for you.”
Hera’s voice echoed in Eliana’s mind.
Yes, this was reality.
Eliana realized again just how dangerous this place was.
“Life in this novel really is harsh.”
“Did you just come back?”
Eliana greeted Verkley with a bright smile as he came in from his bath.
Hera made sure Eliana returned just as Verkley came back, so he never noticed she’d been gone.
Hera told her she’d be called again soon and to stay by Verkley’s side without showing anything was wrong.
Eliana let out a quiet sigh.
‘I was only worried about being killed by Verkley, but I forgot Hera could threaten me too.’
In the original story, Eliana was just a minor villain’s helper, so there weren’t many details about her.
She didn’t know exactly how Hera used Eliana.
It only said that Eliana swore loyalty to Hera, and that was it.
But now… Hera would bring up her wounds about her father, treat her a bit better but also scare her sometimes.
All of it was bothersome.
She was sure the panther was part of it too.
Hera wanted to scare Eliana by showing her a wild animal, making her feel like she could be eaten at any time.
Last time, hearing a kitten’s whiskers being cut and its claws pulled out was probably the same.
In the original, Hera slowly made Eliana depend only on her, using sweet words and clever tricks.
Eliana had always suffered abuse and neglect growing up.
If someone gave her attention and affection but also scary discipline, Hera would easily become someone she couldn’t refuse.
‘Poor thing. But I’m not going to be fooled like the original Eliana.’
Just like Hera said, Eliana already knew which line was the golden one.
Verkley Owen.
She didn’t know what happened after the end of the original story, but for now, the safest place was beside Verkley, not Hera.
After this, it was even more clear.
Hera could get rid of Eliana at any time.
If she stayed with Hera, Verkley might kill her. If she stayed with Verkley, Hera might kill her.
So she had to pretend to be on Hera’s side, keep her calm, and win Verkley’s favor.
She needed to survive at least until Verkley showed his strength.
Luckily, Hera’s order gave her a reason.
Now she could get closer to Verkley with all her effort.
If anyone doubted or questioned her, she could just say everything she did was because Hera ordered it.
Verkley held out his hand, and Eliana grabbed it and placed it on her forehead.
He was holding his cane in one hand and said,
“What were you doing?”
“Oh, I was a bit tired, so I was resting.”
It was true—her face looked exhausted.
Just being with Hera had drained her.
She thought it was just an excuse, but…
Verkley suddenly took his hand away from her forehead and then touched her forehead with his palm.
His hand was very cold, like putting an ice pack on her forehead. The new feeling made Eliana flinch in surprise.
Verkley didn’t care and looked at her with worry.
“Life in the palace must not be easy.”
“Oh, no, I just couldn’t sleep well last night…”
“It seems like you have a slight fever.”
Verkley leaned his cane against the wall and used his other hand to feel his own forehead.
It seemed he was comparing their temperatures.
She didn’t have a fever, but he was still worried, which felt strange.
The cool touch of his hand wasn’t unpleasant.
“Your hand is cold.”
“Your forehead is hot.”
Verkley smiled as he replied to her.
Even though he looked at her with unfocused eyes, it felt like he could see right through her.
How could she really be on Verkley’s side?
Eliana stared at him.
Actually, to Verkley, she was a target for suspicion.
She was someone sent by Hera.
Someone who could be thrown away by Hera at any time, and could betray him at any moment.
That’s what Eliana Musieux meant to Verkley.
So she had to make sure he didn’t doubt her.
If the day came when his doubt became certainty, she’d die quietly.
‘At least I have to show I’m on his side.’
Eliana made up her mind, took the hand on her forehead, and gently held it.
“Your Majesty, I lied.”
“…Lied?”
“I wasn’t just resting. I went to see the Empress Dowager.”
When Eliana said the words “Empress Dowager,” Verkley’s expression stiffened.
He tried not to show it, but Eliana noticed the small change.
She didn’t want Verkley to doubt her because of some useless lie.
Knowing the story, she wanted to do everything she could to avoid being killed by Verkley.
She’d already died unfairly in her previous life.
She remembered being used like a pawn by someone above her.
She was never going to let that happen again.
But she also wouldn’t stupidly fight back against someone who only saw her as something to use and throw away.
She’d just hide like a pawn, and at the critical moment, stop the master’s move.
She wanted to be a useless piece that could still turn the tide and make the master lose.
That’s the best thing a pawn could do.
She wasn’t going to die like in the original, and she wasn’t going to let these two control her.
She’d pretend to follow along, but really, she’d lead the game.
‘My life is mine. I won’t let anyone else decide it.’
“She probably called you just to ask how you’re doing.”
Just then, Verkley calmed down and smiled softly.
Outwardly, Verkley and Hera had no problems, so he said the obvious.
Eliana didn’t correct him and just nodded.
If she told him that Hera asked her to seduce him, it would be too risky.
They weren’t close enough for her to share everything. She still needed to keep secrets.
To Hera, Eliana was someone useful, but to Verkley, she wasn’t.
To be honest, there was nothing special about a powerless count’s daughter.
So for now, she had to show, little by little, that she wasn’t on Hera’s side.
Hera told her not to show anything, but Eliana didn’t have to listen completely.
Hera was just using her, so she could use Hera in return.
Verkley sat down on the bed with Eliana’s help and quietly asked,
