The moment I realized my mistake after shouting at the top of my lungs and bit down on my lip, a knight hurried over to report to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, there really is an unidentified silver substance floating in the fountain."
"It's not an unidentified silver substance—it's the blood of a silver dragon! When it mixes with water, it releases poisonous fumes!"
Supporting the woman who was barely clinging to consciousness, I pointed toward the garden with my chin.
"Those large leaves over there! Bring me Erva leaves! Crush them and mix them into the contaminated water—the toxins will be neutralized!"
The emperor gave a subtle nod to the hesitant knight.
As the knights rushed out to gather leaves, maids poured into the hall and helped the collapsed young ladies to safety.
Who knew my experience hunting the silver dragon with the villagers would come in handy like this?
I let out a long sigh of relief.
For three years, every time we ventured into the dragon's lair and hacked and stabbed at it, people were poisoned by the blood it shed. The knowledge that Erva leaves could purify the contamination had been bought with countless lives.
"You. Your name."
The emperor had approached without a sound.
His sudden question startled me so badly I nearly hiccupped. For a moment, I forgot even my own name. Then I hurriedly copied the way nobles had introduced themselves at the celebration banquet for the heroes.
"...Merial of Evergreen."
"Your knowledge has been of great help."
"You flatter me, Your Majesty. When my village and I dealt with the dragon, we used this method to cleanse the polluted land and water—"
"There was a silver dragon living in Evergreen territory?"
Realizing my mistake, I pressed my lips tightly together.
Tilting his head slightly, the emperor bent down to meet my gaze.
"Why aren't you answering?"
Just as he began questioning me in earnest, the knights returned with armfuls of Erva leaves and threw them into the fountain.
The effect was immediate.
"Your Majesty! The water is clearing!"
The silver liquid floating on the surface like oil was rapidly absorbed by the leaves, leaving behind crystal-clear water.
As breathing became noticeably easier, exclamations of amazement spread through the crowd.
But the emperor's expression only darkened.
He's suspicious of me. Of course he is. I recognized a poison no one else knew about—and then I admitted it came from our territory...
The emperor seemed to notice my tension.
Just as the corner of his mouth curled slightly, the captain of the imperial guard—his face pale as death—rushed over.
"Your Majesty. We've received reports that the same poison has been found in the kitchens."
At those quiet words, the emperor whipped his head around and glared at the captain.
The moment he straightened to leave, I grabbed the edge of his cloak.
"You mustn't go."
A gaze colder than ice fixed on me.
But I only tightened my hold on both the woman in my arms and the emperor's cloak.
"It's a trap, Your Majesty."
I spoke with conviction.
I had my reasons.
After all, I was supposed to get caught up in an assassination attempt targeting the heroine.
Once the emperor and the knights leave the banquet hall, only the young ladies will remain. That's when the assassination will happen.
And if I was wrong?
Well...
If the emperor decides I'm a nuisance and has me executed, that still fulfills my goal of dying.
At the same time, another thought crossed my mind.
...Actually, maybe I should've let him go. That would've created the perfect opportunity for me to die naturally.
But it was too late to say, "On second thought, perhaps you should inspect the kitchen."
Saving everyone's lives came before my desire to die quickly.
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I continued calmly.
"I believe this was meant to lure Your Majesty and the knights away."
"Your evidence?"
"The poison in the fountain was too diluted."
"......"
His crimson eyes gleamed with interest.
Meeting his gaze, I thought back on the long years it had taken to finally sever the silver dragon's head.
When silver dragon blood touched flesh, it melted skin and bone.
When it touched water, it produced fumes so toxic they burned the nose and throat.
"Look around. Your Majesty suffered nothing worse than a headache. The young ladies merely lost consciousness for a short while. This was a shallow disturbance—something easily contained. The real goal was to draw Your Majesty away from the banquet hall and stage the true assassination—"
Before I could finish, the captain who had delivered the report drew his sword.
The imperial guards wearing golden brooches followed suit, raising their blades all at once.
"How dare you!"
"Your Majesty! We drew our swords to protect you! We cannot allow a Falkenstein to become a member of the imperial family again!"
As if rehearsed, everyone's eyes turned toward the woman in my arms.
Huh? Then this woman must be the 'Falkenstein' they mentioned.
I didn't know what had happened between House Falkenstein and the imperial family.
But judging by the situation, the blonde beauty leaning against me was a daughter of House Falkenstein, and someone opposed to her receiving the emperor's favor.
The more I pieced things together, the more certain I became.
She was the heroine.
The future empress.
Wait... doesn't that make this the perfect moment for me to die? If I die protecting the heroine, it'll raise the stakes and give the emperor a reason to become involved with her.
There was only one way to die naturally without anyone else getting hurt.
Say something righteous in front of armed men and get stabbed.
If I could clear up the misunderstanding between the emperor and the knights before dying, even better.
"Step aside. Hand over the daughter of Falkenstein."
The guard's sword pointed directly at me.
Still holding the woman tightly, I shook my head.
"This isn't loyalty to His Majesty."
"What?"
"You're being used. Someone is exploiting your devotion to undermine the emperor's authority."
"...What do you mean?"
"Think about it. The emperor's personal guards are pointing their swords at a candidate for empress without his permission. Can you imagine a better way to diminish the authority of the imperial family?"
The knights surrounding me stiffened.
"Every noble in this hall is watching. Do you really want rumors to spread that the emperor's guards feared House Falkenstein so much they drew their blades at a gathering of noble ladies?"
The captain's face grew darker.
"Your Majesty, before punishing these men, you must find the real culprit. Discover who approached them and planted these ideas. Find out who poisoned the fountain."
I met each knight's eyes in turn.
Thinking that if anyone had to die here, it should only be me.
"Your Majesty, please give the order. Only you can uncover who manipulated your loyal knights."
Drawing a sword against a guest without one's master's command was a grave crime.
As I looked at the countless blades pointed at me, I thought of the villagers back home.
I wished they were no longer being manipulated by others.
Just as I was trying to save these knights from making a terrible mistake, I hoped someone had protected my people as well.
"Are you all not entertained?"
The emperor's quiet voice cut through the suffocating silence.
Too stunned to answer, everyone merely exchanged nervous glances.
"I found this selection banquet rather dull and tedious, so I prepared some special amusement. Yet none of you seem to be enjoying yourselves. I am deeply disappointed."
The captain inhaled sharply and turned toward the emperor.
Without a change in expression, the emperor's crimson eyes glinted dangerously as he addressed his loyal retainer.
"Captain."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"This is entirely your fault. The performance lacked excitement. There wasn't nearly enough tension."
"......"
"You have failed to amuse our honored guests. That offense will be dealt with accordingly. The play is over now. Sheathe your swords and return to your places."
The guards obeyed immediately.
Their captain dropped to one knee, his voice trembling.
"Your Majesty!"
"I told you to return to your places. I don't recall telling you to kneel."
Ignoring the captain's overwhelmed expression, the emperor walked toward me and spread his hand elegantly toward the guests.
"You have my personal apology. Next time, I shall prepare more entertaining festivities. I hope you look forward to the next banquet."
As he approached, he signaled to a servant.
The servant rushed forward and carefully took the woman from my arms, handing her over to the maids.
Everyone's safe now, right? So now the emperor executes me for my insolence and it's all over?
Trying not to show my anxiety, I stole a glance at him.
"You said your name was Merial of Evergreen?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Thanks to your presumptuous insolence, I managed to save face. My authority remained intact, and I avoided owing House Falkenstein a debt. In fact, I may even appear to be a wiser and more just ruler."
Is this man insane? Did he really just say that out loud?
I swallowed the insult that nearly escaped my lips and bowed even deeper.
"Merial von Evergreen."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Send a letter to your family head. Tell them to prepare for a wedding and attend with all the dignity befitting the bride's house."
I blinked in confusion.
Something was wrong.
I was supposed to die.
"Do you understand? From this moment forward..."
The emperor's lips curved into a smile.
"...you are my empress."
