NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 8
Chapter 8 “His Majesty the Emperor! His Majesty is in serious condition!”The ribbon in Floria’s hand fell to the floor.She quickly ran out of the room without asking anything, followed by the maid who delivered the news.‘Is Your Majesty in serious condition?’I, who had been dazed without knowing what to do, quickly came to my senses and followed.Floria was often concerned about the health of her father, the Emperor. Because she did, she knew there was something wrong with the Emperor’s body, but she didn’t know the details.Because the health of the imperial family was top secret.‘The situation seems quite serious.’We hurriedly ran down the hallway, and soon arrived at the Imperial Palace.The maid who guided us opened the door again this time. Still, no one stopped her.I realized that things were going to turn urgently. Every second was rushed.Finally we stood in front of a door full of gilded gold.“I have brought the Princess.”The maid of the Imperial Palace barely managed to clear her rough breathing.“And this one?”The gatekeeper’s gaze turned to me. Her eyes widened, as if she hadn’t realized I’d followed her.“She’s my maid, let her in.”Floria clutched my hand. Her body was shaking violently. The gatekeeper hesitated for a moment, but then nodded.“The emergency situation is over, so you don’t have to worry too much.”He added as he opened the door. Perhaps she was relieved, Floria’s trembling had subsided a little.Soon after, the heavy door opened silently.“Your Majesty, I have brought the Princess.”Without waiting for an answer, Floria moved forward. A large bed with his drapery was inside the room.She didn’t let go of my hand, so I suddenly went to bed with her. Near the bed were several soldiers who appeared to be guards. There was a gloomy atmosphere.One of them, who was wearing particularly shiny armor, nodded, and a female soldier came out and quickly inspected Floria’s body.Are you worried about assassination even in such an emergency? It seemed that the Emperor’s power had fallen to the ground more than I thought.We dropped the jewelry we were carrying, and since we had nothing else, we were easily passed.Finally, the veil was lifted.“… Your Majesty!”Floria covered her mouth with both hands.The Emperor was lying on the bed, but at first glance he was not in good condition.He certainly wasn’t that old, but his haggard face looked like an old man on his deathbed.I stiffened in shock.‘How could he be in such a critical condition?’The content of the novel hit my head. Shortly after Caesar’s death, the Emperor died, and the throne was contested.‘He died of an illness.’“Are you here, Floria?”A woman in fancy clothes was sitting around the bed. The woman was beautiful and full of intimidation.Despite the urgent situation, she did not lose her elegance. She was Floria’s mother, the Empress.“Mother!”“I see Your Majesty the Empress.”I bent her knees in a curtsy. Her brow furrowed. She must be displeased that a mere maid had come to the emperor’s bedroom. Floria wrapped her arms around me.“I-I came with her because I was so surprised.”“… I see.”The Empress clicked her tongue and turned away, a small head emerging from behind her.I couldn’t tell because it was covered, but Caesar was there. Well, he was the crown prince, so it was natural.If the Emperor died, he was the one to take over. He was, after all, the person who deserved this position more than anyone else.‘Should I greet him?’Before she knew it, Floria had rushed to the bed and was talking to the Emperor, while the Empress spoke gravely to what appeared to be the doctor.Caesar and I were the only ones doing nothing. He glanced at me gently. I also nodded my head slightly.We saw each other every day in the garden, but it would be inappropriate to show it here. We remained silent, but at that moment, the Empress frowned and called out to someone.“Hey, there.”‘I should have greeted him?’I looked up in surprise, but It wasn’t me she called out to. She was shouting through the veil.“Where is the maid who brought the Crown Prince?”“It is me, it is me. Her Majesty the Empress.”The veil parted slightly and a slightly frightened-looking maid poked her head in.“Bring the Crown Prince back to his palace.”“… Yes?”“Have you not heard? I told you to bring back the crown prince. He must have been astonished that His Majesty the Emperor had fallen. Now that the emergency is over, take him to the palace and help him rest.”At first glance, the Empress’s words seemed to care about Caesar. But something was off.‘If you’re worried about him being shocked, what about Floria? Why doesn’t she tell me to take her?’There she was, glaring at Caesar, and it wasn’t concern in her eyes, but annoyance.I could see it in my gut. She was trying to drive him away.“What are you doing? Take the Crown Prince with you right now.”“Yes, Your Majesty.”The maid pulled the veil and entered cautiously.It was the same handmaiden. The cheeky maid who pulled Caesar’s wrist violently the other day.“His Majesty the Empress.”Caesar opened his mouth cautiously. The Empress eyebrows rose.“I want to stay a little longer.”“Do you want to see His Majesty’s suffering even more?”“It’s not like that. I’m just worried….”“When Your Majesty the Emperor falls, it is the Crown Prince who must take his place. It’s difficult if you act foolishly.”‘Foolishness? I didn’t feel that way at all.’If anyone was a fool, it was Floria, who was rubbing her tear-stained face against the emperor’s chest.Caesar was simply making a common-sense request.Who would want to go to the room first when their father is in an emergency situation that is about to die?Floria’s words came to mind. She said that the Empress hated her brother.It seemed that it was probably true. She didn’t even seem to feel the need to hide it.The empress glanced at the maid.“Come on, Marriott.”The handmaiden grabbed Caesar’s wrist as ruthlessly and arrogantly as the last time, enough to make him frown.‘Wait, Marriott?’Something was strange. Does the Empress know the name of the maid who works in the Crown Prince’s palace?Of course, if she was a mother who cared for her son, it was no wonder she knew the name of the dedicated maid. The problem was that it didn’t look like that at all.Moreover, she didn’t recognize me, Floria’s best friend and maid.That fact meant only two possibilities.First, it turns out that he cares more about Caesar than Floria. Second, his handmaiden named Marriott and the Empress already know each other.I keep my mouth shut. Of course, the second was much more likely.Suddenly, Marriott dragged Caesar out of the veil.‘To disrespect the Crown Prince so openly.’It wasn’t just the lack of blood that made me feel awkward.He was only a fourteen-year-old child. He couldn’t have done anything to earn a grudge.So the reason the Empress ignores him is probably because of his position as Crown Prince.She was coveting the place. Maybe she wasn’t just coveting it. Maybe she was already doing something about it.Marriott… The empress knew the handmaiden.‘What if she’s using her to abuse Caesar?’Maybe, but a bad feeling crossed my mind. The Empress’s attitude was clear from what had just happened.She didn’t want Caesar to become Emperor.If the Emperor dies and Caesar ascends to the throne, the Empress and her daughter, Floria, would be an afterthought. At worst, they would be killed.‘If you’re even thinking about killing him in advance to save yourself and your daughter from dying…’The problem was that there was nothing I could do about it. Because I was just a maid.Besides, these were not private feelings. The Empress was just making a way for them to live. The palace was a place like that. A place where you kill or be killed.It wouldn’t make any difference if I avenged the empress or the maidservant. I’d rather find a guide at that time.’So if Caesar awakened safely, he would have great powers. He will be able to rule as emperor.That was the only thing I could do for Caesar.Until now, I was only thinking of putting him on the throne for my own life. But now that I saw the situation, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy.I had to hurry. I had to make Caesar emperor as soon as possible.For me, for him, for both of us. ***** Meanwhile, Marriott was heading to the Crown Prince’s palace, clutching his little wrist.“… Let go of me.”Caesar waved his arm up and down, but the gripping hand did not move.He was fourteen and not small, but he didn’t have the strength to overpower Marriott, who was already in her mid-twenties.Caesar was a bit thinner than his peers, as he hadn’t been fed any snacks during his growth spurt, mostly for health reasons.“Your Majesty must walk straight ahead.”“I can walk straight.”“Then you know where you are going.”“And I know where you’re going.”“Nowhere.”“Did you think I didn’t know you’ve been out in the flowerbeds every day lately?”Caesar kept his mouth shut.‘Heh, so it is.’Marriott looked down at the young prince, still small and fragile. He studied and listened, but it was clear who held the upper hand in power between them.The Crown Prince had no one around him since childhood. The mother who gave birth to him died, and his father immediately took a new Empress.The Emperor gave his son no affection. He was heartless and incompetent, unable to prevent the aristocratic factions from making their own claims to the throne.‘And he couldn’t prevent his unloved son from growing up to be a helpless boy.’Marriott gave a meaningful smile.‘The throne should belong to the Empress, not this weak boy, and I’m going to make sure I get my share.’To do that,she would do whatever it took. Even if it meant trampling on the little boy.