Chap 14
Of course, Henry had a first love, and Ermedillin, being a villain who couldn't possibly love anyone, made it a hopeless case from the start.
Henry didn't even spare a glance at Ermedillin from the moment she entered.
But when entering, he kindly offered his hand as an escort.
Since people were watching, Ermedillin also politely responded, overlapping her hand on her husband's.
Trying to hide her trembling heart, Ermedillin's movement naturally became stiff.
The royal hall was already full of nobles and commoners.
Seeing the linedup people, Ermedillin began to tremble to the point where she was almost breathless.
'Ugh. I really hate going out. Is this real?'
Biting her teeth hard to keep from fainting, the moment she took a step, she stumbled.
She almost screamed, but Ermedillin barely managed to hold back.
Because she saw a faint smile on Ballier's face, who was standing near the throne.
She had stumbled, but it was only a slight sway, so Ermedillin quickly regained her balance and took the next step.
But the unexpected mistake added to her already stiff body, causing even more tension, and this time she truly stumbled.
Her whole body swayed this time.
'Ah, no!'
Faced with the catastrophe of falling in front of everyone, Ermedillin closed her eyes tightly.
But strangely, her offbalanced body did not crash to the ground.
"Are you all right? Why are you so nervous?"
"??"
Opening her eyes, she saw Henry's face, befitting the title of the most handsome man in the empire, with his dazzling beauty.
His blue eyes, holding both concern and mischief, could be mistaken for those of a tender husband.
"Ah, I was a bit nervous."
Ermedillin barely managed to rise to her feet and sat in the high chair prepared for the emperor and empress.
Aside from the emperor and empress, everyone else was standing with their heads bowed, and at that moment, Ermedillin finally understood what it meant to look down on others.
'Huh? If I sit here, I naturally look down on others.'
At the emperor's signal, the people in the room one by one lifted their heads.
They all wore expressions of admiration for the otherworldly harmony of the sun and the moon.
'It seems oddly contrived.'
Ermedillin, who had been watching the people's expressions, caught eyes with Vallier, who was standing close by.
Her face wore a gentle smile, but within her pale eyes lay an unmistakable deep blue jealousy.
If it was a false smile, Ermedillin had her own judgment too.
The fake smile she had mastered while dealing with annoying customers without getting upset, whether at the counter of a convenience store or serving in a bar.
'I see it here again. Yeah. You must be feeling bad too. You can't marry your first love because of the difference in status. The woman who's the wife of that first love is a terrible X. But in the novel, you win in the end, so bear with it a little. I have no attachment to this position.'
She whispered sincerely, but the silent sincerity would not reach the other person.
Soon, the audience began.
Perhaps because the epidemic was still rampant, the emperor and empress were listening to the announcers from quite a distance.
At first, it was the turn of the nobles who had come up from the provinces.
Listening to their stories, it seemed that not only the capital but also the provincial nobles were suffering from the epidemic in the capital and the turmoil in the border areas.
The novel had mainly dealt with the palace's stories, so there were no detailed descriptions of what was happening on the border.
It was only mentioned a few times in passing through Anri's mouth.
'It seems there's quite a serious problem in reality.'
It seemed there were bandit groups occupying the border areas, as well as military provocations from the enemy nation.
"They acted like trained soldiers! They are not ordinary thieves! People think they are deserters from the capital!"
The announcers all appealed to Anri, the emperor, with their own situation.
No one looked at the empress.
'Well. Even in the novel, she was avoided as if meeting her eyes would curse you.'
At first, Ermedillin felt a bit wronged by this fact, but as she got used to it, it became more comfortable.
In a place where she didn't really know what was going on, she didn't need to respond, and could just focus on listening intently.
'I was worried at first, but this audience is surprisingly helpful. It's not often you get the chance to hear such diverse opinions.'
"Deserters from the capital?"
At Anri's question, a young lord who had come from some province sweated profusely, glancing at Ermedillin.
"I, because of the epidemic… There are more deserters…"
His words brought a moment of silence to the room.
Everyone turned their heads, but Ermedillin knew who the hidden criticism in their silence was directed at.
'It's me again. I've looked through the diary and the magic book! There are many ways to cause an epidemic, but there was nowhere that said how to calm it down. I'm really frustrated too!'
Anri broke the oppressive silence that had filled the room, asking in a leisurely voice.
Sitting deep in the throne and sending a subtle glance, his attitude was clearly looking down on his opponent.
"What do the people think of this? What does the Empress think?"
"...."
Ermedillin was at a loss for words at Anri's question.
Certainly, the first outbreak was caused by Ermedillin cursing the well.
Of course, she didn't know the exact cause of the second and third infections that followed.
But isn't it a matter of confessing to a crime she didn't commit here?
"The outbreak of the epidemic in the capital is very regrettable. Even though I purified the cursed water source, the infection continues to spread, and I am deeply concerned."
"So, what should the Empress do about this situation?"
Don't you know the answer since you started it? A provocative look that asks outright.
'I wish I knew a real way to end it. You can't even tell me to develop a vaccine!'
"First of all, since we don't know exactly whether it's transmitted through bodily fluids or through the air, it would be best to avoid gathering many people in such crowded spaces at once. Just maintaining cleanliness and avoiding unnecessary contact with others will greatly reduce the infection rate...."
"Now, did you say bodily fluids?"
Type "I Possessed" at