I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 52

“I didn’t do anything.”

A growling voice burst out sharply.

As the eyes filled with suspicion turned toward her, the woman clenched her teeth and barely managed to suppress her anger. It was an incredibly unjust situation for the woman, as she really had done nothing.

“I was planning to follow the plan. But then that Lindel or whatever just went and took the potion all on her own.”

However, no one believed the woman. Seeing their mocking gazes blaming her failure, the woman found it increasingly difficult to hold back her anger.

‘Why not just flip the whole thing over?’

As the woman was contemplating, someone’s voice finally broke the silence.

“What kind of potion was it?”

The polite tone matched the calm voice well. The man’s eyes smiled as the woman’s bright yellow gaze turned toward him.

“Muros. I believe you. I’m just curious about what kind of potion she took.”

The woman recalled what she had seen. It was a color she had never seen, and a smell she had never smelled before, but she could easily guess what it was.

“Poison. It was definitely poison.”

There was no way it could have smelled like that otherwise.

At the woman’s confident answer, those who had remained silent until now began to show interest.

“Poison? You mean poison?”

“A knight only takes poison when they’ve given up on the fight.”

“But she didn’t seem like she was giving up.”

Curiosity was evident on the faces of those adding their thoughts.

The woman sneered at them as she responded confidently, “It was a potion I’d never seen before, but I’m sure of it. It had a horrible smell, and even she hesitated when she took it. It was definitely poison.”

Her additional remark was sharp.

“Isn’t she sick? Maybe she just wanted an easy death.” A small boy with an innocent face interjected.

The man who had supported the woman shook his head. “I don’t think that’s it.”

“Then why would she take poison? Humans aren’t immune to poison.”

“Indeed, it’s quite strange.”

The man’s eyes curved into crescents, and he spoke in an intrigued voice, “It almost seemed like she did it on purpose.”

“Did what on purpose?”

“Show her suffering. Or her weakened state.”

The man’s speculation brought silence to the room.

“Isn’t it strange for her to make such a choice in front of an audience?”

He pointed at the woman with his finger.

“Moreover, the act of taking the potion was only shown to Muros. The fact that there was no mention of it in the rumors spread by the humans is proof of that.”

“That’s right.”

Those listening nodded in agreement.

In fact, those gathered here had also believed that the woman, Muros, had attacked Lindel Bodebachne. The information about the potion had been heard for the first time from Muros’s own lips.

“Doesn’t that mean she deliberately framed it as though Muros attacked her?”

Muros’s face twisted in response.

The man crossed his legs as he withdrew his finger. “To make such a judgment in such a short moment—it’s impressive for a human.”

It was clear that she couldn’t have known about their ambush beforehand, yet she had orchestrated the situation in such a short time. It was truly an extraordinary display of judgment and boldness.

The man’s handsome face sparkled with amusement.

“Then why did that human do such a thing?”

A man with mismatched eyes, impatient, stepped forward. The man’s leisurely demeanor seemed to annoy him, and he urged for a response, but the man merely shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know.”

Only the boy sitting next to the man tilted his head. “Did she have a purpose?”

“No one would do such a thing for no reason, especially risking their life by taking poison,” answered the man with a smile.

Given that Muros had a sense of smell several times more sensitive than the average human, there was no possibility that it wasn’t poison.

The room grew noisy once again. Realizing she had been used, Muros blushed in anger, while the others gossiped about Lindel Bodebachne.

The man, resting his chin on his hand, watched the scene unfold until, suddenly, the door opened, and two people entered.

The man rose leisurely, paying his respects to the new arrivals. There was a fleeting sneer on his bowed face.

“You’ve arrived, Your future Imperial Majesty.”

“Enough with the pleasantries.”

A cold voice urged the man to continue.

“Now, go over what you were just talking about. What did the emperor’s knight do?”

“-Sire.”

The escort who had followed in called out to the cloaked figure. Even so, the sharp face beneath the hood remained focused solely on the man, demanding an answer.

The man couldn’t contain his amusement at the entire situation.

‘Lindel Bodebachne, was it? I wonder what’s going on in that small head of hers.’

The man’s eyes shone with curiosity and greed as he smiled.

Things were about to get even more interesting.

***

‘I’ll kill her. I swear I’ll kill her!’

I repeated the same thought over and over. Biting my lip, I couldn’t calm the flames of anger that were burning inside me.

“Ugh-!”

“Lady Lindel!”

“Ugh, argh-“

As I seethed with rage, my stomach churned once more. Though the nauseating scent had long since faded, just thinking about it was enough to make me retch. It was definitely something I never wanted to experience again.

Lying in bed, groaning like a zombie, only made the faces around me grow more somber.

“Perhaps we should call the priest back?”

“You don’t look well at all.”

“…I’m fine. And I never want to see that medicine again.”

The very thing I trusted betrayed me, and in such a spectacular fashion. I never imagined she would give me something so horrible, thinking it was medicine.

It wouldn’t have been so upsetting if at least it had been effective.

Remembering what happened yesterday made my anger rise again.

Ugh-!

When I had first woken up, I still believed in Laroche.

‘Right. Good medicine is supposed to be bitter!’

Despite the terrible taste and outcome, I at least trusted that it had indeed been medicine. I had no doubt that the red powder was supposed to help suppress the heat within my heart.

So, the moment I opened my eyes in bed, I decided to test it—full of anticipation.

But the result of my faith was disastrous.

While the priest and Sionel were discussing my condition, I tried to draw up my aura. Having just woken up, I wasn’t fully in my right mind, so I acted recklessly. I didn’t even consider that I could test it later.

Naturally, the heat within my heart responded violently, but even then, I thought nothing of it.

‘Ooh!’

I drew out my aura cheerfully, and the heat engulfed my heart.

I only realized something was wrong when I turned my head and met Sionel’s gaze.

By then, it was already too late.

“Kugh!”

“Lady Lindel!”

Sionel, who belatedly sensed my aura, rushed over, but it was all useless.

Seeing the blood trickling from my mouth, Sionel’s expression was as blank as mine.

I could feel the sticky blood on my lips, and my entire body went limp. There wasn’t even the slightest bit of improvement.

There was chaos around me, people asking what had happened, but I just stared blankly at Sionel, unable to move.

And after a moment, I cried.

…Out of sheer frustration.

As a result, I had to endure the misunderstanding that I was crying from pain.

That frustration eventually turned into a murderous intent toward Laroche.

‘I will kill her!’

“Lady Lindel.”

As I was thinking about Laroche, Luna’s voice brought me back to reality. Hearing her worried tone, I looked up to see everyone watching me with equally concerned expressions.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked why you keep refusing the medicine. The priest said your recovery would be slow without it.”

The mere mention of medicine made my face contort.

Just hearing the word “medicine” made a bitter taste rise in my throat.

“Trust me, if you were in my situation, you’d hate it too.”

Luna sighed at my gloomy response.

Leaving Luna’s sigh behind, I tried to get up from the bed.

The moment I started to rise, someone approached me as if on cue.

“Here.”

“……”

For a moment, I stared blankly at the back in front of me. With both arms stretched behind him, the posture clearly indicated I should climb on.

I blinked a few times.

“You want me to get on your back?”

“Allow me to assist you.”

The one offering his back was the knight who had been escorting me since my time in the imperial palace. Having followed me to the empress’s palace, we had become quite close recently, but I had never received this kind of treatment before.

“Aren’t you overdoing it? You shouldn’t push yourself too hard.”

I knew he was only acting out of concern for me, but it was a bit much. Unfortunately, I was only heading to the restroom.

“I’m just going to the restroom.”

The broad back in front of me seemed to flinch in embarrassment.

It appeared that even he found it awkward to carry me to the restroom, as the knight awkwardly rose from his position.

As I tried to pass by him and stand up, a maid hurriedly blocked my way. Just like the knight, she turned her small back to me.

“Then I’ll assist you!”

“No, I said I’m just going to the restroom.”

I chuckled softly, as if I’d heard a funny joke. But no one else laughed along.

Only then did I sense something was off. Everyone’s expression was dead serious.

“You really want me to get on your back?”

Luna, supporting my arm, added her input, “Internal injuries are often more dangerous. You need to be extra careful. Please, let us help you.”

“Internal… injuries.”

The term hit me like a blow, but no one seemed to understand how I felt.

The maids lined up beside me all nodded in agreement. Seeing their sincere faces, I was at a loss for words. With a sour expression, I could only answer reluctantly.

“…I’ll go to the restroom later.”

As I lay back down on the bed, satisfied expressions followed. Though I felt uneasy, I thought it would only be temporary.

“You need to rest to recover. Please, try to sleep a bit more.”

The hands that eagerly pulled the blanket up to my chin left me no choice but to close my eyes. An ominous feeling brushed the back of my neck.