PPCTD 6

chapter 6

The place Leto took me to was the imperial family’s private lounge. The moment the door closed, he let out a deep sigh.

“I misjudged you.”

“……”

“I thought you were fairly clever. To think you couldn’t even understand something as simple as staying quiet and still.”

This wasn’t coldness or mockery. He was genuinely angry.

“I didn’t speak, and I didn’t move from my seat.”

“Don’t play word games. Leave the banquet hall right now and go to the annex palace.”

If I went there? He would send someone to kill me. Quietly, without a trace. Make it look like a natural death. Leto was more than capable of that.

I can’t just hand over my life like this.

“Please, just hear me out.”

Leto turned away coldly, as if he had no interest in my reasons.

I ran up and grabbed his arm.

“Baron Parham’s symptoms are a type of skin disease. Tea tree has properties that help calm it. I couldn’t speak, so that was the only way I could show it.”

“What nonsense.”

Leto easily shook my hand off. I tried to grab him again—

At that moment, he seized my wrist.

“You have quite a talent for insulting the imperial family in various ways. Who gave you permission to touch me?”

His eyes burned with anger. The intensity of his gaze made my body go numb.

“You say you were calming a rash? Were you pretending to be some kind of goddess—or acting under orders from the High Priest?”

Orders from the High Priest? That was absurd.

Of course I was terrified—so much I couldn’t hide my trembling. But even so, I had to speak.

“Then do you truly believe Baron Parham’s illness is a curse of the Goddess?”

“…What?”

“If it’s not a curse but just a skin condition, then shouldn’t you be relieved? Instead of suspecting me first.”

For a moment, Leto seemed speechless.

Just then, there was a knock, and the door burst open.

It was Yuton. He froze, sensing the tense atmosphere. Leto asked in a low voice,

“What is it?”

“Your Majesty, you must come to the banquet hall immediately. Baron Parham’s rash has subsided.”

“…!”

Leto’s grip faltered. I twisted my hand free from his hold. My wrist throbbed, flushed red.

“…”
“…”

We stared at each other briefly. My breath still trembled, while confusion filled his eyes.

“Let’s go. To the banquet hall.”

I stepped forward first.

The banquet hall buzzed with amazement and excitement. Parham stood surrounded by people.

“Your Majesty!”

Parham approached me. The rash on his right hand had clearly improved. Compared to his left, the difference was obvious.

“The rash, the spots… even the itching has started to disappear. Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress.”

He spoke, holding back tears.

I glanced at the High Priest. He was gripping the table, staring this way—clearly flustered.

Our eyes met. I could practically see calculations racing through his mind. Soon, he approached me with a reverent expression and shouted loudly for all to hear,

“It is the Goddess’s… miracle!”

As if on cue, the priests knelt. Then the nobles followed.

“The resurrected Empress has bestowed the Goddess’s grace!”
“It’s divine grace! A miracle!”
“Long live the Goddess! Long live the Empress!”

Even the young ladies who had been whispering about me were now lying flat on the floor, trembling.

From Livia’s perspective, it was satisfying. But I couldn’t let the High Priest gain power like this.

I should tell everyone—this isn’t a miracle. It’s just the anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree working.

“This is—”

Just as I began to speak, Leto grabbed my hand and whispered in my ear,

“Shh.”

“…!”

I looked up at him.

“Not now.”

Why not? Telling the truth would benefit him too.

“Livia!”
“Livia!”

Just then, Shawn and Louis approached. Louis said in disbelief,

“We just arrived after dealing with matters in the territory. Judging by the situation… did another miracle happen?”

Instead of answering, I simply smiled. Shawn wrapped an arm lightly around my shoulders and sighed.

“What on earth happened to my sister?”

“I’m fine, brother.”

“By the way, everyone’s staring at you.”

Louis was right. People were still looking at me with awe.

…This is burdensome. At this rate, the festival won’t even continue.

“I think it would be best if I returned now.”

“…Yes. That would be wise, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll escort you, Livia.”

Louis extended his arm, but Leto stepped in.

“I’ll escort the Empress.”

“You will? Escort Livia?”

Shawn asked, surprised. Leto had never done such a thing before.

“Is there a problem, Shawn Matrion?”

“N-no… not at all.”

“Then it’s settled. Let’s go, Your Majesty.”

Leto extended his arm. I had no choice but to take it.

We walked silently toward the annex palace. The flowers in the garden glowed pale under the moonlight.

I watched his broad back ahead of me.

…But I still couldn’t read him at all.

Why did he stop me from revealing the truth? He had wanted to keep the High Priest in check.

We reached the courtyard of the annex palace. Just as we passed the fountain, Leto suddenly stopped and slowly turned around.

I tensed.

What now?

His expression seemed calmer than before. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke.

“Parham is someone I value greatly.”

“……”

“So I think I lost my temper earlier.”

He took my hand and lifted it slightly. A bruise had formed clearly on my wrist.

“I’m sorry about this.”

“Ah.”

“And for getting angry before hearing you out.”

That was unexpected. So he could apologize. And even look genuinely sorry.

“It’s fine.”

It would fade with time anyway. I’d never complained over something like this.

“…It’s fine?”

He looked more surprised than I did.

“Is it not supposed to be?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“You apologized. And it was a situation that could cause misunderstanding.”

“You really are…”

He trailed off, then said instead,

“…unusual.”

I accept his apology, and that’s what I get?

Whatever. That’s not important.

“There’s something I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you stop me from telling the truth?”

“If you revealed it, it would feel satisfying. You could even embarrass the High Priest. But what happens after that?”

“After that?”

“Who do you think the High Priest would target next?”

…Ah.

If I had revealed the truth, I would have earned the High Priest’s hostility. I would’ve become his next target.

Leto had protected me.

Just like he tried to protect Parham.

I let out a small sigh of relief. At least I’d cleared myself of suspicion.

“So you no longer doubt me.”

“I saw it with my own eyes—how you improved Parham’s condition. And I saw the High Priest’s stunned face.”

“……”

“I only believe what I see.”

Simple, but clear. It was his principle.

And yet, hearing the word “believe” from him…

I felt a little relieved.

But I can’t relax yet. Leto could take my life at any time. I need to make myself indispensable.

I grabbed his arm.

“Your Majesty. I am a very useful person.”

He looked down at my hand.

Ah.

His words came back to me—

“Who gave you permission to touch me?”

Just as I let go, he suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me closer. I stumbled a step toward him.

Leto smiled—intrigued.

“Really? And what use might that be?”

I swallowed nervously. I didn’t expect him to ask so directly.

Being Empress alone wouldn’t be enough. Then…

“I will try to create medicine to cure Baron Parham—if you give me time.”

I couldn’t be certain. I didn’t even know if the ingredients existed in this world.

But I had to try.

Leto still held onto me. His deep, ocean-like eyes studied me for a long time.

I can’t read him at all. Maybe he thinks I’m talking nonsense…

“If I can find the ingredients, somehow…”

“If you can do that,”

Leto said quietly,

“I might grant you the Empress’s position fully.”

My eyes widened.

What did I just hear?

Become the true Empress?

Absolutely not.

The Empress is one of the busiest people in the Empire, burdened with immense responsibility.

And he expects someone who died from overwork to take that role?

I shook my head firmly.

“That would be difficult.”

“Why?”

“I have my own conditions.”

“Fine. Let’s hear them.”

He smiled leisurely, as if he’d accept anything.

Taking a deep breath, I said,

“In one year, please divorce me.”

His smile vanished instantly.

“Haah…”

I collapsed onto the bed.

I couldn’t even tell how the day had passed. But the Founding Festival went well—and I managed to stay alive a little longer.

Promising to make medicine for psoriasis had been a perfect move. It could help Parham and break the idea of the “Goddess’s curse.”

The problem is the ingredients…

Still, at least I’d bought some time.

Before we parted, Leto had said:

“You don’t need to make the medicine immediately. Parham will come to assist you soon. You can start then.”

“But—”

“It means you should rest. You look like you haven’t slept properly in ten days.”

He definitely had someone reporting my every move. I had barely slept since arriving in this world.

“By the way… how do you even rest?”

I turned over in bed. I had never truly relaxed before—how would I know?

But perhaps it was the soft bed…

Or the relief of surviving…

For the first time in a long while, I fell into a deep, sweet sleep.