Is it wrong for me to like seeing the villain suffer [29]
I noticed the sudden change in Martha's eyes and smiled internally.
'I was sure she would be interested.'
Because I knew why she had gone to the capital, I took the bait, and Martha, as I expected, did not let go.
She said, trying to sound composed, and narrowed her eyes after clearing her throat:
“Hmm... His Majesty the Emperor is sick, you say? This is unreasonable... A few days ago, he met with the nobles in an official council. If he were sick, most of the people of the empire would know, as the rumor spreads quickly.”
She seemed to be speaking indifferently, but I knew she was trying to hide her excitement.
'She's testing me.'
So I pretended not to understand. And here I secretly thanked Lizzie's innocent form; It helped me hide my purpose.
I continued with a worried face and a calm tone:
“The truth is that very few people know. I heard that His Majesty stressed keeping the matter secret so that the news would not leak out.”
Martha did not answer, so I continued:
“He appears to be concerned that the issue of succession will be raised before the Crown Prince’s influence is established.”
“Is that so...” murmured Martha.
This information was not strange to her, but she just wanted to verify my honesty. Now that she knew I knew something, it was her turn to lure me into more confessions.
As she expected, she scratched her chin and asked with feigned coldness:
“So, where on his body does the Emperor suffer from the disease?”
She was trying to pretend not to care, but her inner turmoil was clear to me. This is exactly the reason that prompted her to go to the capital:
'Knowing the nature of the Emperor's illness.'
She recruited one of the palace ladies-in-waiting, and through her got word that the Emperor was suffering from mysterious pains that troubled him every night.
Neither doctors nor magicians were able to diagnose the illness, so the emperor secretly assigned them to find a cure, whatever the cost.
Martha saw this as a golden opportunity to win the emperor's favor, as once the love of the throne joined the ranks of Caen, it would only be a matter of time until she took control of the empire.
For this reason, she did not miss the opportunity and traveled herself to the source of the news, the capital.
But no matter how much she searched secretly, she could not find the name of the disease nor even the exact nature of the symptoms, because her maid’s influence did not exceed that limit.
While she was beating her chest in anger, a loophole suddenly opened before her that she had not thought of:
'And it's me.'
“In fact, a palace doctor once came to me because he thought my ability might help His Majesty.”
That was a lie I made up to justify my knowledge. Since Martha had originally kidnapped me for my healing powers, she believed my story.
She asked me in a tone of hidden hope:
“Did your ability help him?”
I hung my head sadly and replied:
“Unfortunately, no… His Majesty’s illness cannot be cured by my powers.”
She said surprised:
“What? There is a disease that even holy power cannot cure?”
“Yes. His Majesty’s illness is not physical, but rather caused by a curse.”
Martha shuddered slightly.
“Curse?!”
I nodded seriously:
“From what the doctor explained to me, it became clear that they were effects of black magic. I sensed in his descriptions a malicious energy that would not be mistaken by someone who possesses sacred power like me.”
My words were improvised, but I delivered them with an artificial sincerity that left no room for doubt. She muttered:
“Wow… Holy Power is truly majestic. So what curse has befallen His Majesty?”
“When the Emperor recently went out on a campaign to clear Mount Chrome…”
Mount Crom in the north of the empire was home to monsters, and people who worshiped demons gathered there.
Although such matters were usually left to governors or imperial knights, the size of the gathering there was such that it was a rebellion, prompting the Emperor to go out himself.
After a fierce battle, he returned victorious.
However, the problem was the 'swag'. An ancient relic was found among the possessions of these people, so he ordered it to be transported to the palace.
However, it was in fact a sacred relic that represented a protector for that people, and was charged with black magic.
'It is natural for the Emperor to be cursed because he possessed it.'
Since he was an honest man, it did not occur to him that this effect could be the source of the calamity.
After listening to everything I said, Martha remained silent, her eyes slowly turning absent-mindedly. Then she asked in a low voice:
“So do you know how to break that curse?”
"Yes."
“How then?”
Martha asked with a twinkle in her eye, but I contented myself with a long sigh without saying a word.
'You think I'll give you this information for free?'
This is my trump card, and I cannot give it away for free.
With my continued silence, Martha seemed a little worried, so she asked:
“Is there a problem?”
“Actually... I don't know if it's appropriate for me to say this...”
"Didn't you claim that you wanted to take me as an example? Then listen to my advice. If I were you, I would tell the truth about what I know."
The harsh coldness with which she used to confront me whenever I talked about my admiration for her has disappeared.
'This is the real Martha Cain.'
Despite her outward calm, similar to that of Arkell, in reality she is the most ambitious, sharpest, and quickest of the people of Ayin.
This in particular was one of the qualities I loved about her ever since I read the original story.
She was a different heroine; No romance or rosy dreams, but a woman who only sees money, glory and work in life.
As for the hero, Jane Alheim, he was exhausted by his feelings for her, while she did not even realize that she was the cause of his suffering.
Rather, her encounters with him often occurred when her head was overflowing with pressure and pent-up desires due to excessive preoccupation.
'Truly... she was a unique hero in every way.'
So, when I told her that I wanted to use her as an example, I wasn't entirely kidding. Her iron determination to accomplish what I set out to do, regardless of the circumstances, is what gave me hope one day while I was bedridden.
However…
“But does not Martha herself do anything without gain?”
"…correct."
She answered calmly, seeming to sense what I was going to say.
“So, as someone who considers you a role model, I should follow your example in this as well.”
“……..”
“I will tell you the method of treatment, in exchange for you fulfilling only one request.”
Martha was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing:
“…I should have known about it the moment you left the cage unharmed.”
“Hehe…”
She smiled a little sarcastic, but she didn't look angry.
“Well, what is the condition then?”
“It is not a condition... but a hope.”
“Call it whatever you want, the important thing is that you tell me.”
That decisive character was not lost from her voice.
I smiled a little and said:
“To trust me.”
"What?"
"To believe that I'm only doing this because I truly respect you. I...I want to be like you."
I faced her eyes directly. I could not escape the sparkle of her purple eyes, close to red, that color that distinguishes the people of Cayenne and gives them enough prestige to terrify anyone who meets them.
I felt so tense that my throat became dry and I swallowed my saliva with difficulty.
'Do you think I'm messing with her? Am I kidding when I make “trust” the only requirement? What if she sees this as a trivial and unworthy condition?'
It was not uncommon for Martha Cain to respond dryly and say, “Name something of real value.”
But she remained silent, staring at me with an unreadable face.
Then I had the idea that if I had asked for gold it would have been easier.
“I'm serious, but if you find trust to be a trivial requirement...”
“I trust you.”
Her cutting voice suddenly sounded.
“I trust that you respect me. This is not hard to believe. I trust you... and I believe in you.”
“Martha...”
“Now hurry and tell me the treatment method. I have fulfilled your condition.”
‘…Yes, this is the real Martha Cain.’
Once again I found myself captivated by her quick wit and wit. I don't know if she was really serious about what she said, but at least I had a clear line to walk in front of her.
“Among the tribes recently subjugated by His Majesty, there was a black magician... who was said to have escaped and was not captured. The only way to break the curse was to arrest him and force him to remove the magic from the trace.”
“……”
“This is the only solution.”
The truth is that this information was not revealed until years later when the palace began gathering knights from all over the country to track down the magician, and then the offer to participate reached Arkell himself.
'Martha was inevitably supposed to bring him to the mission, but she did not because of the sharp divisions among Jane's followers at the time.'
Martha sighed, stroking her jaw anxiously.
She may have thought about trying what I said, but she realized that the matter was much broader than she expected, and that the truth of the information had not yet been confirmed.
'Well, after this, she won't have any doubts about my words.'
So I quickly added:
“It is true that the curse will not be completely lifted, but… the rosemary leaves will ease His Majesty’s pain.”
@What?!"
“Yes. It helps soothe the pain caused by black magic. Try conveying this advice to His Majesty first.”
In fact, the one who discovered this truth and took credit for it was a house of nobles hostile to the Cayenne family... However, as long as the circumstances are right, there is no harm in me anticipating events and making the credit my share.
***
My translator friends and I opened a special channel to leak novels, chapter announcements, events, and also requests and promotions...and if I disappear, you will find me there.
Here is the channel link. Take a screenshot and go to Google Lens from it:
https://t.me/+OedqgPvPKXoyZDFk