Madelyn could not keep up with the sudden flood of dire news.
[The soldiers in the Crown Prince’s palace have been released.]
[The main bases of the Imperial Palace have been taken over.]
[The Imperial Palace gates are open.]
She had expected a tough fight, but she didn’t expect to be overwhelmed. Although Madelyn was born into a family that historically produced great generals, she herself had no experience in battle. She had overestimated the difference in power between her and Oliver, and found it difficult to navigate the constantly changing battle conditions.
‘I could have made Leon emperor with just a little more time!’
A few days more, and she could have pushed the nobles to the coronation ceremony. But Oliver ruined everything, just when she was only one step to victory.
‘…I should have killed him from the start.’
Madelyn loathed Oliver’s existence since the beginning. She loathed his mother, a mere palace maid who conceived a son before she did. Howard, for a time, did not even pay attention to Oliver, and the mother would always prostrate herself before Madelyn. Until Howard appointed Oliver Crown Prince all of a sudden.
‘He gets in the way of everything.’
Everything that had not worked out for Madelyn was all because of Oliver, and she was determined to deliver him the miserable death he deserved. She didn’t want to see him as heir to the throne, and whenever Oliver showed off his intelligence, Leon was inevitably compared to him. Madelyn would not be satisfied until Oliver’s blood was spilled on the floor before her.
Oliver kept on surviving, however, and continued to hold on onto Madelyn’s ankles until the very end.
‘Was it the Crown Princess who saved Oliver thus far?’
Madelyn had been informed of what happened on the cliff, and discovered that Amanda was secretly a woman of battle. Madelyn had doubted the news when she heard it at first, but as she mulled over the information, she realized it was possible that her plans were foiled because of Amanda.
‘It can’t end like this. I’m going to kill the both of them with my own hands somehow.’
A cruel gleam blazed in her eyes. Leon, who was sitting next to Madelyn, looked at his mother nervously.
“M-Mother, since the palace gates are open, shouldn’t we flee?”
“Yes. Firstly—”
Madelyn was about to answer, when suddenly—
Bang!
The door burst open and Cassana rushed inside.
“Your Majesty, there is great trouble.”
“What’s going on here?”
“This just came in—”
Cassana handed Madelyn the paper she was holding. Madelyn’s and Leon’s eyes flew towards the message.
[Cesare, head of the Anita family, has died.]
Madelyn’s eyes widened and her body crumpled, and Leon reflexively held up her body and spoke hastily.
“We need to get out of here quickly. What if we’re found here too!”
Madelyn turned on Leon with a look of fury.
“You’re thinking of running away just from news of your uncle’s death?”
“I—”
Leon couldn’t answer, and Madelyn shook her head in frustration. Leon didn’t have to be as smart as Oliver. If her son had just half the intelligence, she wouldn’t be so angry.
Madelyn stared at the paper with grief-stricken eyes, then dropped it to the floor. There was no time for idle sentiment. Leon was right; if they did not leave the area as soon as possible, they might be captured and killed by Oliver.
“Did you bring what I told you to prepare?”
“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”
She quickly showed the garments she was holding in her arms. They were the uniforms worn by the maids and servants of the Imperial Palace. Cassana had hastily retrieved them, and not only was it dirty and shabby, it also stank and was stained with blood.
Madelyn grimaced at the clothing, but she quickly picked them up and held one out to Leon.
“Hurry up and change.”
“Mother! This is a dress worn by servants! How can I dress like this…?”
“If you want to live, wear it fast!”
“That, that…!”
Leon looked stunned by Madelyn’s unyielding stance, but he had no other choice considering Cesare’s death. Under these circumstances, the both of them could not escape from the palace with any dignity. At least if they were disguised as servants, they could slip past any searching eyes.
Madelyn quickly changed into the clothing, and even she bit her lip when she saw herself reflected in the mirror.
‘…I was not going to be humiliated like this.’
Madelyn, born from the powerful Anita family and ascended to the position of Keith Empress, had never found herself in a position so humbling. Dressed only in dirty clothes and no jewelry, she felt like she would explode at the injustice of it.
However, she suppressed her seething mind and spoke in a steady voice.
“Cassana, take us to the Grand Duke of Edel.”
Leon flinched in surprise.
“Mother, you’re going to ask Grand Duke Edel for help?”
“Yes. It will not be easy for us to get out of the palace by ourselves anyway. Our last remaining hope is to entrust ourselves to him for a while.”
“That’s a great idea, Mother!”
Leon’s face lit up with joy. Madelyn shed her imperious air for a moment and looked at Cassana with vulnerable affection. She handed the lady-in-waiting the jewels she had just taken off.
“Cassana, there will be no other path for you if I die anyway. If you can safely take us to Grand Duke Edel, I will not forget your services.”
Cassana replied with a gentle nod of her head.
“Yes, Your Majesty. You can trust in me.”
Cassana took the lead and looked around, and Madelyn and Leon followed closely behind.
Madelyn did not notice the smile on Cassana’s lips.