Chapter 3

"His Majesty himself ordered me to do this job. Now, don't resist and let's start the interrogation. Did you sleep with the Titrisian man? How was it? Did you enjoy it?"

Gasping for air, Elise propped herself up on the ground.

"Speak up. They say barbarians are exceptional at night. Were you so bewitched by the pleasure that you betrayed state secrets?"

Elise clenched her fist. Her nails scraped the ground, making an unpleasant noise.

"I never did that."

"Never did? Letters from the Titrisian prince were found in your room. They were quite passionate."

Gabriel threw a bundle of letters in front of Elise. She swallowed hard and unfolded a letter.

Written in unfamiliar handwriting, the content, at face value, seemed to confirm their suspicions.

But Elise had never received such letters.

However, Elise knew who favored this pink stationery.

'Iris… Did Iris set this up?'

Elise bit her dry lips. Cracked, they split, oozing blood.

"Let's make this quick. Admit to the charges of assassinating the former His Majesty and collusion with the Titrisian prince. Just nod. I'll take care of the written confession."

Gabriel tapped Elise's foot.

"Let me see His Majesty. I'll tell him everything."

"You really don't get it, do you? Well, I have no choice but to make you understand, even if it means drilling a hole in your ear."

Gabriel rolled up his sleeves, and the beating began.

After thoroughly beating Elise, Gabriel left. He forced the weakened Elise's hand to stamp the confession he had written himself.

Regaining consciousness half a day after Gabriel's departure, Elise felt pain all over. Her ankle, apparently broken, wouldn't move properly.

She forced her immobile body to curl up.

"Huuh."

Tears flowed ceaselessly. Elise leaned her head against the wall and cried endlessly.

It was unjust and infuriating.

The charges of assassinating the former king and colluding with the Titrisian prince were fabrications.

Her only interaction with Karan, the Titrisian prince, was a few words exchanged for the subjugation of the evil dragon Ragnaros.

But who would believe her?

The sentence for Elise was clear.

At best, exile; at worst, execution.

"It's a misunderstanding. I just need to explain it properly."

It's common for many unexpected issues to arise before a wedding.

Elise tried to think positively.

"His Majesty is just angry and has imprisoned me, but he'll come back soon."

Elise repeated this like a mantra.

Chase would come. The misunderstanding would be cleared, and in a week, she would walk down the aisle with Chase, wearing a white bridal veil.

And indeed, late at night, as she had hoped, Chase came. But he wasn't alone.

"How foul."

Chase frowned as soon as he set foot in the dungeon.

"Do I really have to hear it myself? She's a condemned person anyway."

Elise was a piece to be discarded. A blemish on his hard-won throne.

"Your gracious Majesty."

Then, a delicate hand rested on his arm. The fair hand gently caressed Chase's forearm.

"Isn't she a pitiable child? We should at least greet her."

Iris, with her gentle smile, melted Chase's heart.

Her name, synonymous with flowers, she was called the kingdom's treasure, the Ivory Tower's hope, and the Rose of Bedroca.

And she was the only woman who made Chase restless.

Once desiring her, Chase had approached the Warton family for marriage, but ended up with Elise instead.

For a while, Chase was content with Elise. Though he was displeased with her flaws, there was no alternative.

'Had Iris not made her decision.'

But Iris acted courageously and claimed her place by his side.

Chase grimaced at the thought of a future without Iris.

"Does merely thinking of Elise disgust you? That girl can really drag one's mood down. I'm always amazed by your patience, Your Majesty."

Iris empathized with Chase, misreading his emotions. Though incorrect, Chase nodded in agreement.

It was okay for him to overlook a small misunderstanding from the woman who had killed her husband, David, to come to him.

'Unlike what Elise said about never being able to kill.'

Iris had dropped a blot of black ink into her pristine life for him.

Therefore, he should remove anything harmful from her future.

"I'm the one moved by your kind heart. You, who were dragged down by your sister's husband."

Chase was overwhelmed with emotion and couldn't continue speaking. Iris pressed her chest tightly against Chase's arm.

"Do you love me? It was always you from the start. If only my father hadn't opposed. I was so worried it was too late."

Chase's lips quivered. He finally had everything. The title of the greatest swordsman, the throne, the most beautiful woman in Bedroca.

The subjugation of Ragnaros was a concern, but with Iris actively helping, there shouldn't be a problem.

Military, money, plans – Elise had prepared it all.

'Just need to carry it out.'

Once he grasped the title of a hero, the entire continent, including Bedroca, would kneel at his feet.

Chase's heart swelled with anticipation.

Chase and Iris descended to the dungeon.

The closer they got to the prison, the clearer the sobbing became.

He felt a heavy pain in his chest but dismissed it as the stale air in the dungeon.

"Elise."

At Chase's call, Elise, who had been lying down, struggled to her feet.

"Ah! Chase! Your Majesty!"

Elise crawled on her knees to the bars and clung to them. Chase clicked his tongue at her disheveled appearance.

"Your Majesty, I knew you would come…"

Elise, who had eagerly approached, closed her mouth upon seeing Iris standing next to him. She clenched her teeth.

Instead of shouting why Iris was there, she spoke the words she had prepared.

"Your Majesty, I have never betrayed you."

Her voice trembled badly, but it was a necessary and truthful statement.

"Shut your mouth. All that comes out of it are lies. Did you sully yourself with that barbarian?"

"Your Majesty, I have never had a personal affair with the Titrisian prince."

"Have the gall to lie blatantly. How shameless."

Chase coldly dismissed her.

"Give me time, and I will reveal everything. I will reveal all…"

"Why? To come out and fabricate evidence? Isn't that what you do best? Creating false rumors and fabricating evidence underhandedly to take what belongs to others."

Elise was speechless.

Chase was right. Among the things she did for him, there were such actions.

But it was all for Chase.

Yet Chase called it a grave sin, enjoying the sweet fruits of her deeds.

Tears streamed down Elise's cheeks.

Her breath became rapid, her head dizzy from hyperventilation.

Elise wiped her tears with her torn hands.

Her life was too pitiful to end like this.

"Please, just spare me, Your Majesty."

Elise prostrated herself on the cold stone floor, forehead against the ground, begging abjectly.

Realizing Chase's heart had completely departed, it was the only action Elise could take.

She was not foolish enough to hold onto the changed heart of a man and utter love.

Instead of clinging to his love, Elise appealed to his reason.

"Your Majesty, I have many businesses that I have built up. If I disappear, there will be great turmoil in the businesses, and it will affect the subjugation campaign. I will work until the subjugation campaign is complete. After that, I will disappear from your sight and live quietly. Please, Your Majesty, have mercy…"

"Elise, I will take good care of your businesses."

Iris cut Elise off.

"Accept it, Elise. There's nothing more you can do. There's no place for you."

Elise looked up to meet Iris's eyes. Iris smiled brightly.

"Your place was always there."

Iris pointed to the underground dungeon. Elise's anger surged to her head. Iris leaned towards the trembling Elise.

"The dungeon suits you."

"You… you did this to me."

"Only realizing now? I gave you plenty of hints."

Elise clenched her eyes shut. Then she remembered the rumors she had ignored.

Rumors of Chase and Iris meeting often, Iris starting to manage the king's maids and stewards, people who got business rights through her.

She had asked Chase about it, but each time it felt like he was drifting further away, so she had to keep silent.

The times she had covered her eyes, ears, and mouth came back to haunt her like a dagger pointed at her.

"Could you step aside for a moment, Chase?"

Iris nuzzled her face against Chase's chest.

"Are you sure?"

Chase asked tenderly. His smile at Iris was filled with affection.

"Of course, Your Majesty. Elise can't do anything, you know. She can't use magic. Even if she could, she wouldn't be able to touch a hair on me."

"But she still has her mouth. I'm worried she might say something that hurts you."

Chase stroked Iris's face. She snuggled into his large palm like a cat.

Their affectionate interaction was painfully etched into Elise's retinas.

Chase kissed Iris's forehead before leaving. He showed no consideration for his former lover.

Elise glared at Iris.

"Since when?"

"Does it matter?"

Elise lunged at her in response to her innocent reply.

But her hands were stopped by the bars, failing to even touch the hem of Iris's dress.

Would it have been different if she could use magic? Elise ground her teeth.

Iris laughed slyly and sat on the floor. She gently caressed Elise's cheek with her white hand.

"Everything has returned to its place. Don't resent me. You were too greedy, and that's why this happened."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

Elise's voice broke.

"You're just in the way. No grand reason."

Iris spoke with a lightness as if she were sweeping away trash. She then grabbed Elise's hand, lying on the ground.

Iris placed a small vial in Elise's palm.

It was odorless, colorless poison.

"I made it. It's very effective. I've already tested it, so don't worry about its efficacy."

Elise's eyes shook rapidly. Could it be…

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This novel has been translated up to chapter 30.

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