MTIHVH 05

#5

The next day, I requested an audience with the Empress.

Despite her busy schedule, she made time for me.

“Come in, Melisa.”

“Ah.”

When I entered her office, I stopped in surprise.

There was an unexpected man there.

“Nice to see you again, Count.”

“Yeah.”

The man, calmer than before, scrutinized me as if he were observing me. As far as I knew, the Count was the one most opposed to this marriage.

‘It seems the Empress didn’t even tell him the reasons for this marriage beforehand.’

The Empress seemed to dislike sharing Ruslan’s situation with the Count.

In my past life, I thought the Count had become indifferent to Ruslan after the divorce, but after seeing him the other day, I realized I was wrong.

The Count still cared deeply for Ruslan.

“Sit here.”

The Empress nudged the Count’s side and guided me to a seat.

The Empress sat at the main seat, with the Count sitting to her right. I sat on the left, nervously fiddling with my fingers.

“So, what do you want to say?”

“Martin, speak up.”

The Empress gave a slight reprimand, and Martin sat up straighter, forcing a smile.

“What do you want to say?”

His tone softened, but it didn’t seem to change much.

I awkwardly smiled and spoke up.

“I want to be more proactive in treating the Prince.”

“Ruslan’s?”

Both their faces brightened. They probably didn’t want to force me to use my holy power, but after yesterday, I was sure.

It would be hard to treat him without knowing his condition better than the maids who were taking care of him.

I needed to know more, not just for his sake, but for my own survival.

“Yes. So, I’d like to move rooms—next to Ruslan’s bedroom.”

Originally, that was my assigned room, but after the shocking sight of Ruslan on our wedding day, I begged for a different room, and I was given one on a different floor.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

The Empress, who knew everything, asked cautiously.

“I touched His Majesty and nothing happened. I’m fine now.”

It’s a curse, so there’s no chance it will transfer to me.

“If you think so, then do it.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

I bowed, stood up, and turned to leave. Just then, someone tapped my shoulder.

I turned around to see the Count standing there.

“Is something wrong, Count?”

He scratched his cheek and furrowed his brows.

“I don’t think I thanked you properly.”

“Ah.”

He bowed politely and said,

“Thank you for helping my son.”

“It’s nothing. He’s… my husband as well.”

I stumbled on the word “husband.” The Count’s expression didn’t look too pleased either.

“Still, it’s something to be grateful for. I’ll repay you for this someday.”

With that, he went back to his office.

For some reason, I felt a strange heaviness in my chest.

When I returned to my room, Nana and the maids were packing things up, though there wasn’t much to pack.

The Count’s family wasn’t wealthy, so they hadn’t sent me off with many valuable things.

‘The only thing worth anything is this ring left by the late family head.’

It was too big for me, so I was sorry for the gift, but it was the only thing I had.

The dress was from the royal family, and the former maids had secretly taken anything valuable, leaving nothing behind.

“Everything’s ready, Your Highness. Shall we head upstairs?”

“Okay.”

I followed Nana upstairs. A maid with a stern expression was standing at the top of the stairs.

It was the same maid who had blocked my way last time.

“I’m the Prince’s nurse, Betty.”

She gave me a look that clearly showed she didn’t like me. Nana must have sensed it because she stepped forward.

“How dare you speak to Her Highness like that? Even if you’re the Prince’s nurse, she’s still the Princess. How dare you speak first without being asked?”

“Sorry, I know it’s rude, but I was in a hurry…”

Betty bowed awkwardly and apologized insincerely.

“So, what is it you want to say?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking what you want to say after being so rude to me.”

Betty’s gaze wavered. It seemed she underestimated me after seeing me back down last time.

“Well, I mean… I don’t want you to see His Highness today.”

“Why not? I heard from the palace staff that his condition is good today.”

“Well, um…”

It seemed like she didn’t expect me to know about Ruslan’s condition and was caught off guard.

“I don’t want to see him.”

Betty continued to make excuses, but I stepped forward and moved closer to the small boy hiding behind her.

I looked into his clear eyes.

“Nice to see you again, Your Highness.”

Ruslan looked at me silently, then quickly turned and hid behind Betty.

“I don’t want to see you. Go back to your room.”

I stood firm and stopped him again.

“I don’t have to go back to my room. It’s right next to your bedroom now.”

“Who said you could sleep in the room next to mine?”

Ruslan, caught off guard, stumbled over his words.

“His Majesty the Emperor decided.”

It was an advantage to argue with a child—they didn’t expect it. Of course, my reasoning wasn’t the most honest, but it worked.

“I, I!”

“Princess! How dare you speak to His Highness like that!”

Betty rushed in and shouted, pushing me aside. I was thrown off balance and fell to the floor.

“Princess!”

“Princess, are you okay?”

The maids, who had been coming up behind us, rushed to me in panic. Betty, however, looked completely flustered.

“Your Highness, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Nana, checking on me, glared at Betty.

“I’ll report this to the Emperor. How dare you lay hands on the Princess, even if you are His Highness’s nurse?”

“I…!”

Betty, flustered, turned toward Ruslan.

“See? I told you not to come!”

Ruslan, still holding Betty, shouted at her. It seemed the Emperor wouldn’t be able to deal with her easily.

I walked confidently to stand in front of Ruslan.

“What’s going on?”

Seeing this, Betty’s eyes flashed with anger, and she tried to lunge at me, but the maids quickly stepped in to stop her.

I gave Betty a quick glance before whispering in Ruslan’s ear.

“If you quietly come with me to my room, I’ll pretend nothing happened today.”

“What?”

“If I go to the Emperor and tell him Betty pushed me, and I feel like I might die, they’ll throw her out of the palace.”

Ruslan looked at me in disbelief.

“You’re lying.”

“Want to check if I’m lying?”

Ruslan bit his lip, clearly torn. Logically, he should listen to me more than anyone else, especially since I’d been in the palace for only a month.

But he was just a child. He wasn’t thinking that far ahead.

“Ugh.”

Fuming, Ruslan puffed up his cheeks and spun around, heading toward his room.

As he opened the door, I glanced at Betty, who looked like she had lost something precious and was biting her lips in frustration.

“I’ll let today slide. But not again.”

With that, I slammed the door shut.

I was becoming more and more frightened by Betty’s obsessive behavior.

She wasn’t acting normal. I couldn’t leave her near Ruslan like this.

While I was thinking about what to do with her, I heard Ruslan grumbling.

“You used to cry and throw a fit when you didn’t want to see me. Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

The more things changed, the more they stayed the same.

Ruslan, clutching a pillow, glared at me.