Murderous Emperor’s Inconvenient Behavior

“I’m tired, so tired.”

Claire spent a whole day doing errands before she could make it to the mansion.

She would have quickly passed out if a bed had been placed in front of her.

However, she was required to report back to the office after completing her errands.

She went across the corridor, up the stairs, and into Alicia’s room on the second level.

The maid, she hoped, would be waiting for her there.

Instead, she heard a loud cry out of nowhere.

“Alicia! Aliciaaa!”

Mrs. Stanton was approaching quickly, shouting her daughter’s name. Her hair was uncombed and she looked like she had just gotten out of bed. The maid was right on her heels.

After shoving past Claire, they opened Alicia’s bedroom door.

“Alicia! Wake up!”

Alicia was awakened by the loud sound of Mrs. Stanton’s voice.

“What’s going on?”

Claire entered the room hastily.

Despite everything going on around her, Alicia managed to still be sleeping.

“Miss, please wake up.”

The maid woke Alicia up by shaking her.

“Wake up, Alicia!”

Mrs. Stanton yelled in Alicia’s ear at last.

“Mom?”

“Wake up, right away!”

“Why are you yelling at this hour of the morning?”

“The day has begun!”

Mrs. Stanton slapped her chest in frustration.

Alicia opened her eyes groggily at her mother’s nagging.

“Could I get a few more hours of sleep?”

“How can you sleep at a time like this?”

“The war is over, as you well know.”

“That’s the problem!”

“Oh, my head hurts. Stop yelling, please.”

Alicia grumbled and put her hands over her ears, at which point she began to cry.

“Look at this! It’s a letter from the palace!”

Mrs. Stanton’s hand, which was shaking and clutching a crumpled letter, reached out.

Her emaciated fingers held the crumpled letter.

Reluctantly, Alicia opened the letter and began reading. Her eyes widened as she read.

“This is impossible.”

Her cheeks whitened in horror. She had Mrs. Stanton’s shaking hand.

The letter fell from her grasp and landed gently at Claire’s feet.

“Why is everyone so shocked by the contents?”

Claire knelt, picked up the letter, and began perusing its contents.

<To Katarina:

As you may know, Grizmen has become a colony of the Immortel Empire, and the Empire demands tribute to maintain the Grizmen regime. I cannot help but condemn the Empire’s heinous acts, but if we fail to fulfill this condition, the future of Grizmen will be bleak beyond measure. 

Therefore, I, Jake Albert Grizmen, hereby demand that you send Alicia to the Immortel Empire.

It was a heartbreaking decision, but I believe Alicia will respond actively for the country.

The fate of the country is in Alicia’s hands.

I ask you again and again to prepare thoroughly so that Grizmen’s name doesn’t fall into place.

-Jake Albert Grizmen>

One section of the letter in particular stood out to Claire.

“Alicia as a hostage to the Empire?”

Claire, startled, accidentally made a remark.

“Who are you?”

Mrs. Stanton grabbed the letter, and her voice was filled with anger.

“I’m Claire Mcllroy, the maid who was tasked to be the personal maid of Miss Alicia.”

“Claire?”

Mrs. Stanton gave Claire a stern look.

“Why am I dressed as a maid?”

Alicia’s cheeks paled as she said the words.

She seemed completely out of it, caught between disbelief at seeing Claire and the news in the letter.

“We share a resemblance.”

“There is absolutely no resemblance between Miss Alicia and her.” 

The maid emphatically emphasized.

“If that’s the case, I’d sooner die than be a maid than be sent as hostage which is terrifying in and of itself.”

Alicia moaned incoherently as she lay on the bed, face down, looking every bit the tragic heroine.

“It’s ridiculous to send someone as a hostage!”

Mrs. Stanton raised her voice in a rage.

“It’s over for me now; I’m as good as dead once I’m hauled to the Empire.”

Alicia’s voice was laced with anguish as she spoke.

“Poor Alicia, this mother of yours will make sure that never happens.”

Mrs. Stanton hastened to the bedside of the sobbing Alicia and gave her a hug.

“I heard he’s a war maniac, a killer. What can you do against someone like that?”

Mrs. Stanton was unable to continue speaking and could only wipe Alicia’s back.

“Maybe it’s just hearsay.”

“His face is so horrible that anyone who sees it would be strangled on the spot, therefore he constantly covers it up with a mask.”

In Mrs. Stanton’s arms, Alicia wailed hysterically.

A mask?

Claire’s attention was piqued.

The man she’d met on the way to the Valles Convent, who was likewise dressed in disguise, came to mind. The dude, though, was rather attractive. Actually, he would have had good looks. It was pure conjecture, but his face didn’t appear hideous enough to require concealment.

That man also couldn’t possibly be the Emperor. The Emperor wouldn’t go into the woods without bodyguards.

“Just relax; I’m going to the palace right now to see the King…”

When a soft voice came from behind, Mrs. Stanton was comforting Alicia.

“It’s pointless; the noble assembly has already decided on it.”

Richard turned around and leaned back against the door, arms folded.

“Richard, please explain yourself.”

“It conforms to the letter in every respect.”

He bypassed Claire and went straight to Mrs. Stanton.

“Get up and quit sobbing, Alicia.”

To help Alicia up, Richard perched on the side of the bed.

“Brother… I don’t want to be a hostage.”

“It’s for Grizmen’s own good.”

“Aren’t you worried about me? If I go to the Empire, I will die. The Emperor will kill me!”

“The Emperor himself cannot deliberately endanger the hostage.”

“It shouldn’t be me; it should be the prince or princess!”

“The value of your work cannot be overstated, Alicia.”

Richard put his arms around Alicia and talked to her gravely.

Alicia’s sobbing was interrupted by Richard’s strange behavior.

“The Emperor of the Empire must approve of you, so do anything you can to gain his favor.”

“I don’t know why I should feel obligated to bow down to the Emperor.”

“It would be a great triumph for our family if the Empire could no longer claim Grizmen as a colony.”

Alicia clammed up when she heard that it would be a great honor for the Stanton family. She couldn’t accept the situation as it was, she thought; it was unjust.

“Brother, the Emperor has a hideous countenance and is very vicious…”

She looked at him pitifully, hoping to get his pity. Richard, though, groaned and cocked his head.

“Alicia, you are so superficial in your judgment of others.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“It’s simple to take advantage of someone who is affection-starved because of their deficits.”

“But what if I don’t make it?”

“That won’t happen. You will do well.”

Despite Alicia’s hysterical protests, Richard got to his feet. He then addressed Mrs. Stanton directly:

“When the Emperor finally shows up, we’ll have a big party to celebrate.”

Mrs. Stanton stared mournfully into her son’s face.

“Alicia will be presented to the Emperor at that time; get her ready to make a good first impression.”

Richard walked out of the room, leaving Alicia and Mrs. Stanton in disbelief.

“Mother, what am I supposed to do?”

Alicia sobbed again as she clutched Mrs. Stanton.

Mrs. Stanton could only offer Alicia her condolences.

She could complain to the king all she wanted, but it wouldn’t do any good.

He seemed relieved that Alicia had been sent instead of his own kid.

Mrs. Stanton’s head was pounding and she couldn’t find an exit.

Claire, on the other hand, was baffled by their replies.

Even though they seemed like they were having a terrible time, she didn’t think being a tribute was as dreadful as they made it out to be. In reality, Alicia may benefit greatly from this situation.

Claire finally spoke out, hesitantly at first, as Alicia’s sobbing intensified.

“It’s not like everything is terrible.”

“To utter such gibberish is uncharacteristic of you.”

Mrs. Stanton sent Claire a scornful look.

“Simply become the Empress”

“What?”

At Claire’s comments, Mrs. Stanton’s face contorted into a ludicrous look.

“This is your chance at glory; your chance to rule the Empire as its Empress.”

This idea came to her as soon as she listened to Richard.

Get on the good side of the Emperor.

That’s the same as being crowned Empress.

However, the two were missing the forest for the trees because they were preoccupied with the thought that they may be kidnapped by the cruel and evil Emperor.

“Stop rambling and give us some context.”

Mrs. Stanton’s pupils contracted.

“To become the Empress by gaining the favor of the Emperor.”

“…”

“It would be beneficial for both Grizmen and Miss Alicia if that were to occur.”

“How is it good?”

“The Emperor will not abandon a nation controlled by the Empress as a colony, hence Grizmen can obtain independence if Miss becomes Empress.”

The eyes of Mrs. Stanton expanded.

“Miss will have unlimited access to wealth and glory.”

“But Claire, the Emperor is rumored to be hideous; no one in their right mind would want to marry someone like that.”

“Miss, really. You won’t be spending your life just tearing faces apart.”

“But…”

Alicia’s voice cracked as she tried to speak, her eyes watering.

“Their youth is fleeting, and they will all age, and…”

“And?”

“What’s the big deal? A spouse is a husband, and a lover is a lover. Go get yourself a decent and attractive partner.”

Claire spoke out as she recalled a fantastic book she’d read in the past.

She would be called out for saying such things in the real world, but here it should be okay.

“But I don’t believe in myself.”

“Why is that?”

“But Emperor Eiden is cruel in his desires.”

“Ei… den?”

Claire stopped moving, her lips moving just to repeat the name.

It was quite unusual. As soon as she heard that name, her entire body went cold. Her thoughts stopped and she had the sensation that someone was choking her with a chilly hand.

“Claire?”

Alicia observed Claire’s pallor and shaking as she stared at her.

“Eiden…”

Backward, Claire’s body went.

Thud.

“Oh, Claire!”

Claire blacked out at Alicia’s scream.

* * *

<Not… me?>

<…>

<Why can’t I answer? I’m saying no!>

A voice, cold as ice, cut through her thoughts.

<…>

As a result, Claire had a hard time.

She tried to get free, but the hand around her throat just tightened.

I am completely clueless.

Please… let me go.

Her mental scream for help went unheard by him.

<Useless…>

Hurts a lot.

<If we ever see one other again, don’t try to get my attention.>

A scream, accompanied by the harsh voice, shook the woods like an earthquake.

“Ugh!”

Claire tried to stand up despite her shortness of breath.

She gulped in air as she clutched her throat.

What she had witnessed was a reenactment of an event from the past.

She felt as if she, and not Claire, had direct experience of the event.

“That man jogs my memory.”

Claire had a nagging feeling that she had met someone at that exact spot in the forest before, maybe the masked knight from the day before, but she couldn’t place their face or name. She had brushed it off, deciding it wasn’t important enough to remember. 

However, she recalled it now.

This happened three years ago.

They had first met in the wooded trail leading from the Valles Monastery to the Duke’s estate after her expulsion. 

At first glance, he made quite an impact.

Hair that cascaded over his forehead, deep eyes framed by thick eyebrows, delicately curved lips, and a straight bridge of the nose and brow. He was a young man of striking good looks.

He was stunningly attractive, almost divinely so, but just gazing at him gave off a chill.

Such savage charm.

That’s a great way to put it; it fits him well.

She knew she’d never forget that face, so why had she let so much time pass without remembering it?

‘You threatened to murder me if we ever crossed paths again.’

Claire made an unnecessary touch to her neck.

Her imagination brought to life the chill of the solid grip closing around her throat. The murderous purpose in his eyes was palpable.

Maybe it was too much of a shock for her to remember that man.

Anyone would be shocked if a total stranger had assaulted her with the intent to murder.

Perhaps she had suppressed the memory herself out of dread of experiencing the same level of terror again.

“But why would he want to kill me?”

Three years before, on the same wooded trail, she had met that man for the first time. There was no justification for him to have ill will against Claire.

Claire’s emotions were all over the place. The sense of hatred was unpleasant. Even more so when the motive was unclear.

“I wish I hadn’t run into someone like you!”

Claire yelled into the void as if the man were there before her. She was attempting to express the sadness she was experiencing.

It was times like this that made her appreciate her job as a maid. Working as a mouse was a fantastic way to make a living.

“Wait, why am I here?”

Her sleeping quarters were a tidy little space.

The memory of passing out in front of Mrs. Stanton and Alicia came to her just now.

Goodness!

She had no idea what would happen to her if she caused a commotion.

Claire hastily jumped to her feet and unlocked the door.

She started to run out the door, but stopped dead when she saw who was waiting outside.

“Madame?”

Mrs. Stanton fixed her focused gaze on Claire.