CH 141

‘Goodness gracious!’ Cecile gasped in shock. She’d forgotten to keep up her act! Slowly turning to look behind her, the empress was greeted by a sea of sparkling eyes from the crowd. ‘I’ve really gone and done it now.’ Cold sweat ran down her back.

Estian had previously recounted the stories of how the other women before her met their untimely deaths. “Poisoning the food was the most basic approach. Sometimes, it was smeared on bookshelves. Then, there were ambushes outside and even inside the palace…” Recalling those stories made her involuntarily shudder.

Not to mention, Cecile had diligently worked to earn infamy with her crazy deeds. For what purpose had she tossed priceless jewelry and climbed atop Estian in front of the imperial court? Why had she put in so much effort until now? It was all to live a long, safe life! ‘No, no. I refuse to have the plan ruined here!’ As the acts of her dark past flitted through her mind, it steeled her resolve.

Staring out at the crowd, who looked ready to cheer if she so much as lifted a hand, she wondered how best to trample the admiration sparkling in their eyes. How could she snuff it out so they’d never again express any goodwill towards her? While she racked her brain, Richard stood next to her with a look that said ‘What’s your plan?’ It was then that inspiration struck.

“Ahh, Lee! You’re the only one for me! You saved me!” Cecile exclaimed in a thrilled voice.

Lee? Who’s that? As everyone looked around for the person the empress was addressing, the eyes of the handsome boy standing at her side widened in surprise. Richard glanced at Cecile in bewilderment with a look in his eyes that said ‘Me?’

“What are you doing not coming closer?” She continued with a languid smile. Her eyes narrowed, pressuring the mage lord to obey now and ask questions later. When he obediently approached her, she reached out and gently slid a finger along his jawline.

“Goodness!” Voices of astonishment broke out among the onlookers. The empress was acting inappropriately intimate with the boy, and they felt their faces redden.

As her finger reached his chin, she tilted it up towards her and cooed, “My night canary, your kiss has saved me.” The moment she uttered those words, Richard and the others recalled a scene they had already forgotten.

‘Come to think of it, that boy kissed Her Majesty’s dice before she tossed it! But what does she mean by “My night canary”?’ The same thoughts were running through the heads of the confused onlookers.

“What am I to do with you? Is there anything you wish for? Shall I hand over this casino to you, considering it was won with your help?” Cecile continued. Letting go of his chin, she wrapped him in her arms. “Ahh, go ahead and name your desire… but in exchange, I wish to hear that beautiful voice of yours tonight as well. You are prettiest when you are chirping.”

‘What? Chirping? Pretty? At night?’ The onlookers struggled to comprehend what they’d heard, and when the meaning finally dawned on them, their jaws dropped open in astonishment. ‘So, the empress, with that boy… At night… Making him cry…‘ The empress’s shocking statement made the salacious nature of their relationship unmistakable. Disastrous thoughts filled their heads.

While the people were still frozen in shock, the boy wrapped in the empress’s arms tearfully pleaded, “Y-your Majesty… Please, not the whip… I beg of you to spare me that alone.”

‘Whip?’ The conversation had made a sudden turn into dangerous territory! While some saw the boy flinch, others noticed him seemingly gnash his teeth. Before anyone could react, the empress suddenly lowered him to the ground and turned.

“I shall return to the imperial palace now! Ready the coach. Quickly!” Cecile commanded. Her attendants and the hotel employees sprang into action at the sudden command. In short order, an attendant informed the empress that the coach was ready and she immediately began striding off.

“Ah! Your Majesty. Slow down!” The young boy cried pitifully.

“Do I look like I have the patience right now, my canary?!”

The empress appeared to be in a great hurry, as she urgently dragged the boy with one hand. Oddly, it almost appeared as if she had him by the collar. The minute they boarded the coach and the door closed behind them, the pegasus unfurled its huge wings. It was then… Clang! Suddenly, the sound of something heavy connecting against another object was heard from within.

“What was that sound?”

“I’m not sure, but don’t you think it sounded familiar?”

“Wait… Wasn’t that the sound made when Her Majesty slammed the scepter on the ground a little while ago…?”

“You’re right…?”

While the onlookers discussed amongst themselves, more sounds could be heard from the coach. Clang! Clang! Clang! It certainly sounded like something was being bashed… but the only ones inside were the empress and the young boy, and the only item that could create such a sound was the scepter. They imagined the empress swinging the scepter around, but quickly shook their heads to dispel the notion. How could that be? In any case, the coach was soon pulling away. As they watched the departing carriage, murmurs broke out in the crowd.

“My night canary, she said.”

“Whip, he said.”

That night, the episode of the night canary and the whip was the talk of the town in the capital. It was a topic of discussion ten times juicier than that of the empress’s victory over Princess Yuliana, who had already vanished from the people’s minds.