Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 85 “Who came?”As soon as she returned to the Imperial Palace, the Empress frowned at the news of an uninvited visitor.The servant sensing her mood, offered her something.“Ma-Marquis of Melkes says you must see this…”The servant held out her brother’s cufflinks, bearing the Duke of Eaton’s coat of arms.The Empress clutched the cufflinks in recognition and nodded reluctantly.“Guide me to the drawing room.”“Yes.”The Empress, who wore a shawl over her dressing gown, which she had changed a while ago, left the room with a feeling of reluctance.Upon entering the drawing room, the Marquis Melks, who was sitting on the sofa, jumped to his feet.“I see the Empress.”“It’s been a while, Marquis. Why did you come all the way here?”“I have come to bring good news to Your Majesty the Empress.”“… Please sit down.”The Empress gestured for Marquis Melks to take a seat, and only after she was sure that the room outside the door was quiet did she speak.“What’s the good news?”“I have met the Duke of Eaton.”“…….”The Marquis of Melkes pulled out the letter in his arms. The Empress’s eyes visibly shook as she recognized her brother’s handwriting at first glance.She picked up the letter with trembling hands.“The Duke of Eaton has asked me to tell your Majesty that he is sorry.”“And ho-how is he?”“How can he be well in that poor place; he is so broken that I can hardly see with my eyes open.”At the words of the Marquis Melks, the Empress managed to open the letter.Anthony Eaton’s letter, scribbled on worn paper, was almost unreadable without tears.“From what I’ve heard, the food is terrible and the guards are abusive, but how can they treat a man who was once a duke like that.”“…….”“His Majesty has gone too far. No matter how much he may be at fault, it’s unthinkable that you would punish Her Majesty’s younger brother so severely.”“…….”“But he didn’t even show any signs of resentment, and as I’m sure he wrote in his letter, my heart ached at how sorry he was for hurting Her Majesty and His Majesty the Crown Prince.”After reading the letter to the end, the Empress wiped her eyes with the cuff.“It is unavoidable. Who can I blame?”Marquis Melks’ eyebrows twitched at the unexpected answer. He encouraged the Empress again.“While I was there, I also met the Duchess of Eaton and her son, and the situation was pitiful. A person who had been a noble all her life became a commoner overnight….”“Haley’s parents didn’t help them?”“Rather than helping, they ended the relationship, saying it was a disgrace to the family.”Hah. Taking a long sigh, the Empress untied the bracelet she was wearing and held it out to the Marquis.“Please give it to Haley.”“I will.”Taking the bracelet, the Marquis of Melk’s tongue snaked out again.“It is really sad and unfortunate. How can a man as loyal as the Duke of Eton be maligned in such a way…”The Marquis Melks glanced at the Empress’s reaction.The Empress looked down and did not open her mouth.“I knew that the Duke of Anthemion was a scary person, but I never thought that he would even touch Her Majesty’s younger brother.”“……”“I heard that they defeated the Duke of Eaton, but even mobilized the nobles to intimidate Her Majesty.”“…….”“After all, isn’t the Duke of Anthemion the one who benefited the most from the fall of the Duke of Eaton? It is clear that he intends to increase his power in case the Crown Prince ascends to the throne in the future.”“Marquess Melks, what do you want to say?”The Empress, who had only listened quietly, asked directly. The Marquis Melks quickly brought up the topic.“If he stays like this, he will become a big obstacle to the future of His Majesty the Prince. Please condemn Duke Anthemion as soon as possible and relieve Duke Eaton’s injustice.”The Empress sighed once more, fiddling with her brother’s letter.“Marquis, thank you for delivering the letter, but I don’t want to bother with this any more.”“… What do you mean?”“I also checked the investigation report. My brother’s fault was clear and there were no major problems in the investigation process, so there is no change in looking at the case again.”“You do realize, that Duke Anthemion set a trap to frame Duke Eaton, don’t you?”The Empress, who was looking at Marquis Melks, smiled bitterly.She got up from her seat and burned the letter in the candlelight.“Does the Marquis want me to write my brother’s sins out of my mouth?”“Yo-Your Majesty.”“It is already over. There will be a ceremony for Fred the Crown Prince soon, and I don’t want to make the Imperial Palace needlessly noisy.”“Even for the sake of His Majesty the Crown Prince, this is not a matter to be taken lightly. If not the Duke of Eaton, who can help the Prince?”“Marquis.”“Your Majesty, you just have to say the words. The rest is between me and the Duke of Eaton-”At that moment, the drawing room door opened.Marquis Melks looked back involuntarily, and jumped to his feet.“Yo-Your Majesty.”“Marquess Melks, what are you doing?”The Emperor’s gaze quickly scanned the drawing room.Empress with a bracelet and paper burning on the table.The Emperor, who immediately noticed what kind of conversation was going on, frowned.“It had been forbidden to visit someone who was sentenced to life in prison.”“Oh, I just heard from the guard.”Marquis Melks stammered, excusing himself. Of course, the Emperor was not fooled.“If you intend to disturb the Empress’s mind in this way, please do not enter the palace again. Marquis Melks.”“Your Majesty, I just…”“I know you had a bad relationship with the Duke of Anthemion. But I will not allow you to use me and the Empress to exact your revenge.”The Emperor said in a cold tone.The Marquis clenched his teeth when he realized that the plan to use the Emperor and Empress had gone awry.“Your Majesty, you must not trust the Duke of Anthemion.”“I know his loyalty, so there is no reason not to believe it.”“He is a person who values family more than the Imperial family.”“Who wouldn’t? I’d rather be as honest as the Duke.”The Emperor’s will was strong. Marquis Melks realized that the Emperor’s heart had been completely turned to Helios.“One day you will remember my words, Your Majesty.”The Emperor widened his eyes at the words that were nothing more than a curse.“Marquis Melks, be glad that the Duke of Anthemion did not investigate your mansion.”“…….”“Never come out to visit the Empress like this again.”“… I’ll take my leave.” ***** ‘Damn it.’Marquis Melks breathed harshly as he stormed out of the drawing room.His plan to kill Helios and take over Escal and the Dukes of Anthemion went awry, as he’d impulsively taken advantage of the Empress, who’d lost her brother and her family at once.The Emperor, who was dissatisfied with Helios before the Empress’s birthday, also trusted him blindly.‘Bastard!’Marquis Melks couldn’t contain his boiling anger. ‘It can’t end like this, father, never, never!’ The figure of her daughter, who had been crying desperately, flickered before his eyes.It’s all because of Helios Anthemion and Lenia Evelyn. If it wasn’t for those two wretches, his daughter as pretty as a flower would not have reached that point.He could never forgive the two people who had made his daughter that way and lived happily ever after as if nothing had happened.However, as long as Helios gained the Emperor’s strong trust, there were not many realistic ways to get revenge.The Marquis Melks got into the carriage and pondered.There is no way to defeat the Knights of the Duke Anthemion with his own power.Marquis knew well that he and the Duke of Eaton had fallen, and that no one except the Emperor could stand up to Helios.He closed his eyes and pondered the conversation with the Duke of Eaton. ‘Even if dirt gets into my eyes, I will surely kill that bastard, Helios.’‘How are you going to kill him?’‘Tell my sister to kill that bastard and relieve my injustice.’‘Will the Empress agree?’‘Will my sister let the bastard who made me this way live?’‘Even if Your Majesty the Empress approves, isn’t it in vain if His Majesty’s permission is not granted?’‘Damn it, then let’s do this.’ Marquis Melks pulled out the signet ring he had received from Haley Eaton. ‘Meet my wife and get her seal, then find a guy named Harriet Tuffman. He’s a man who can do anything, so it should be easy to arrange things.’‘Is he trustworthy?’‘He’s been following me since he was little, so if you give him my orders, he’ll help Marquis.’‘I see.’“Harriet Tuffman…”First of all, finding him was a priority.