I Sought Out the Tragedy’s Scheming Mastermind

I Sought Out the Tragedy’s Scheming Mastermind – Chapter 15

Was it an illusion?

Verkley looked at Eliana, almost disturbed.

Unaware of his internal battle, Eliana stared at him with a puzzled face.

Hera looked surprised, too.

‘Oh, I slipped up.’

It wasn’t that big of a deal.

Verkley was composed as he explained he felt a zap of “electricity.”

Then Eliana’s expression morphed into something different.

The words were practically written on her face. “A lie.”

She didn’t believe him at all.

She smiled as if she knew everything, and the unease behind her face was noticeable.

Verkley was flustered.

It was the first time. A clear sense overcame him that felt like just a moment’s delusion. 

That headache had been bothering him for the last 10 years.

It was extremely hard to bear a strong demon’s power inside a fragile human body.

Verkley had experienced the threshold of death several times without realizing it.

The raw pain of suffocation haunted Verkley every night.

But just touching her made him feel so refreshed.

Unfortunately, as soon as he separated from Eliana, his pain returned.

Verkley’s mind was chaos itself.

When Eliana asked if it was okay to hold his hand, Verkley slowly responded and reached out.

He held her hand tightly first, wondering if he could understand if he touched her again.

And then once again, clear energy wrapped around Verkley.

The demon’s power circulated inside his body, becoming relentless as it lessened.

It felt strange.

But the sensation didn’t feel bad. No, it was rather relieving.

Verkley fumbled to touch more of Eliana without realizing it. He didn’t have time to think it was rude.

Then she fixed his hand, put it on her forehead, and let go.

‘Ah…’

As her hand moved away, the pain came back to Verkley.

Verkley lowered his arm helplessly, like a wanderer who lost his oasis. There was no way to soothe his mind.

This woman Hera brought in was using some strange ability on him. In a good way, too.

All of Verkley’s nerves were directed at this mysterious woman named Eliana Mussieux.

Verkley thought that her words from earlier: “Not a human being,” might’ve not been an overreaction.

It really felt like she knew something.

When he reached this conclusion, he was suddenly interested in her.

Verkley wanted to take her hand and escape from this fraying pain immediately.

However, he restrained his reasoning. Then, he turned his head, acting disinterested.

Eliana was still staring at him with a strange expression.

In fact… she looked nervous.

Verkley paid her no attention because Hera was with them.

He didn’t know Hera’s intentions in sending Eliana.

‘I think you’re determined to come at me this time.’

“Marquis Demeter is showing his support for this girl.”

“Marquis Demeter?”

Verkley accidentally reacted to the name “Demeter.”

Marquis Demeter.

Although he was a neutral priest, he’d been getting closer to Hera recently.

There was a strong possibility that he was already on Hera’s side.

And a woman being supported by such a man might already be on their side as well.

But he let go of that theory immediately.

Eliana behaved just like a foolish noble girl.

Yes, she was like an innocent person who knew nothing.

It seemed she had no idea how many people died in this palace.

Verkley wanted to own Eliana before Hera did.

If she were by his side, he would be able to take his revenge as planned.

But judging from Hera’s sympathy, it did not seem she had yet revealed her position to Eliana.

‘She’s most likely testing Eliana.’

Verkley knew that Hera was very harsh at handling people.

It was also Hera’s specialty to slowly crush her opponent’s spirits.

Verkley felt that this moment was an opportunity.

The sudden appearance of Eliana Mussieux may be the key to fulfilling his earnest desire.

‘From a family of little importance, with late abilities, and was abused until recently…’

He couldn’t help but resent her father.

Count Mussieux originally held the title of a baron but was raised in rank thanks to his wife.

He said his wife died of a chronic illness, but it seemed necessary to look into it again.

Verkley smiled with satisfaction.

He had no intention of letting her go now that she stepped foot into his life.

He wanted to discover her step by step. Who was she?

“You will be in my care now, so make yourself comfortable”

To Verkley, meeting Eliana was like a gift.

* * *

Verkley struggled with the occasional guilt.

He still hasn’t forgotten what happened 10 years ago.

The events of that day were still vivid and shattered his peaceful daily life.

With the death of his parents, he felt hopeless, knowing he could no longer see the world he’d taken for granted.

Verkley knew exactly what a snake Hera was.

On that day 10 years ago, Hera was smiling. In rapture at the sight of the dying emperor.

His mother had long been dead, and his father had to painfully watch his dying mother.

Hera also stumbled after drinking the poison.

In his flickering vision, Verkley stiffened at the sight of her smiling face.

He felt a great sense of betrayal.

At the same time, he was sure.

Hera was the main culprit behind the poisoning.

Verkley gritted his teeth as he glared at Hera, but she wasn’t even interested in him.

When he opened his eyes again after that, the whole catastrophe had already ended.

Hera was also free from accusations because she drank the poison to avoid suspicion.

Verkley recalled the day he opened his eyes.

‘Your Majesty, you’re awake. I’m so glad.’

Hera grasped onto Verkley’s hand and sobbed abominably.

Disgust overcame him as if insects were crawling all over his body, but Verkley held it in.

It was more unsettling to see it was dark everywhere.

‘Why did you turn off all the lights?’

‘…Your Majesty, the lights are on.’

‘Empress Dowager, it seems His Majesty has gone blind in the aftermath of the poison.’

‘Gone blind?! He is the last of this royal family’s bloodline. Fix him by any means possible. Or I’ll have your head!’

‘Empress Dowager, calm down. You are also still recovering.’

Hera was a snake.

She’d poisoned herself, so she spoke to the doctor in case he noticed.

‘I have something to tell you.’

He had told the maid that usually attended to his needs that Hera poisoned herself.

But the maid didn’t believe him.

‘Your Majesty, do not doubt the Empress Dowager. Out of everyone, she was the most eagerly waiting for Your Majesty to awaken.’

‘What?’

‘The doctor said the poison causes temporary brain defects. Your Majesty must have been mistaken.’

She thought he was going crazy. He knew the truth, but no one would believe him.

On the contrary, if he continued with this, he’d be condemned for going crazy because of the poison.

And the most unbearable thing in the midst of all this…

‘Your Majesty, don’t worry. This mother must protect your position on the throne.’

Without Hera’s support, he was in a weak position where he couldn’t even succeed on the throne.

As if being dragged around by her, he began to act as her puppet.

Did God himself feel pity?

Verkley found an unexpected relic in his mother’s things.

It was an ordinary ring, and it was one of the heirlooms his mother always kept in her jewel box.

At that time, he was deep in a sense of loss and loneliness. He left as if he were the only one left in the world.

He could only be desperate, hoping to die as the days passed.

Verkley touched the ring, knowing he wouldn’t feel the warmth of his dead mother.

When he slid it onto his index finger, he thought it was a little loose, but then it shrunk to fit him perfectly.

Surprised, he tried to take off the ring, but it wouldn’t budge as if it was stuck.

At that moment, his previously blue eyes turned red as a bright light poured out.

‘I am Mach. The sixth demon chosen by the great god, Else.’

‘Are you treating me like I’m crazy because I’m blind? A demon from Itdeoni mythology. How ridiculous.’

‘If you do not believe me, I have no choice but to make you believe.’

The power the demon demonstrated along with his words was overwhelming.

Just facing its existence made him feel like a sinner, his hairs standing on edge.

‘I like your desire. Let me buy your desire.’

‘My desire…?’

‘Listen, Verkley. Even someone as miserable as you wants to take revenge for all this humiliation. Correct?’

‘…’

‘I like your desire for revenge. I could even make it bigger. What do you say? Can I help you?’

It was true that the demon’s whispers were irresistible.

Verkley was unable to reject his offer.

Now that he thought about it, it was an impulsive choice.

Perhaps Mach drove his heart to do so.

But he didn’t regret it. Rather, Mach’s appearance felt like an opportunity.

He wondered if there was a ray of light in his life like that.

He thought that if he signed a contract, he could seek revenge by using his power freely.

But the reality was harsh.

Verkley was still taking the demon’s test 10 years later.