I Sought Out the Tragedy's Scheming Mastermind

“It’s been a while.”

“…!” 

A familiar voice.

Eliana turned her head with a hard face, and the white-haired man was already looking at her.

It was Viero Valkyrie.

His smile was suspicious. “I’ve had a hard time, thanks to you.”

Marquis Valkyrie stepped closer to Eliana.

The aftermath of her magic still lingered on his cheek.

Seeing that he had a speech impediment, his cheeks and tongue must have frozen.

Eliana staggered backwards. “I didn’t expect to see you here, marquis.”

“I didn’t expect to see you here either. Yes, does it feel like you’re ruling the world, staying beside the dying emperor?”

Marquis Valkyrie grabbed Eliana’s shoulder and threatened her.

Her shoulder tingled.

What kind of old man is so strong?

Eliana grabbed him by the wrist and said, “Let go of me!”

“Ha, just thinking of what you did to me makes my blood boil. You just wait a bit. I’ll fix you up.”

As if Marquis Valkyrie could not contain his anger, he brushed away her bangs with his other hand.

Her body flinched, feeling the death of her life.

It was terrifying he chose to reveal his true nature in public without showing any signs of a plan.

Eliana tried to give strength to her struggling body.

There was no reason to fear him.

Their engagement had already been broken, and the marquis slapped her first that day. She wasn’t the first to pick a fight.

Eliana warned him in a very serious tone.

“Let’s be careful with our words. There are a lot of people watching.”

“You wretch!”

Marquis Valkyrie roughly shoved her shoulder, tired of intimidating her.

Eliana’s body staggered by the strong force.

In order not to fall, Eliana tried to steady her feet, but something touched her back.

A refreshing scent lingered at the tip of her nose.

Immediately, a sweet voice rang from behind her.

“I’m late.”

“I am in the presence of the Sun of the Empire. I am Viero Valkyrie.”

As soon as Marquis Valkyrie saw Verkley, he quickly became respectful.

Very different from how overbearing he had acted until now.

Valkyrie bowed his head and muttered a low curse.

He was so swept away that he didn’t even notice the emperor approaching.

He’d just barely gotten away with it.

Verkley looked arrogant as he shifted his gaze in the direction of Marquis Valkyrie’s voice.

Marquis Valkyrie still stood with his head down.

Verkley acknowledged him in a slow voice.

“Oh, it’s you.”

“Thank you for remembering…”

Marquis Valkyrie lifted his head and stopped talking.

The Marquis’s gaze found Verkley’s arm, which was placed on Eliana’s shoulder.

The Emperor’s hand was naturally resting on Eliana’s shoulder.

He began to laugh silently after staring at them blankly.

He sneered, thinking Verkley could not see him.

Had he known the emperor’s eyes were fine, there was no way he would’ve made such a rotten expression.

“It appears as if the rumors are true. Count Mussieux’s young daughter is acting as a mistress.”

However, Marquis Valkyrie was worse than expected.

Maybe he got used to the habit of being ignorant, so he provoked her recklessly.

Marquis Valkyrie finished his words and looked down at Eliana with contempt.

Eliana’s face automatically hardened.

Because she knew what he meant.

Eliana’s shoulders trembled with hatred.

Her former classmates immediately came to mind, and she remembered Soo-hyuk, who remained a spectator because he couldn’t stand by her.

She was even more furious since she couldn’t say anything.

Because unlike in the past, when she suffered unfairness, she voluntarily stayed by his side.

At that moment, Verkley patted Eliana on the shoulder.

It was to comfort her, acknowledging that he knew she was angry.

Eliana stared up at Verkley blankly.

His face was hard. It was an unusual cold expression.

“The rumors are incorrect, Marquis Valkyrie. Eliana is not my mistress.”

“Ahh, I see. She’s a waste of a mistress as well.”

It was obvious that his tone was mocking Eliana.

Eliana couldn’t control her expression because of her clear hostility.

Her hands were trembling, but there was nothing she could do.

She was the daughter of an infamous count.

In other words, it meant that she could not stand against the famous marquis.

“Yes, a waste of a mistress,” Verkley smirked, agreeing with Valkyrie.

Eliana’s heart sank.

Never in her wildest dreams did she think that Verkley would agree.

It felt like thorns pushing against her stinging heart.

Marquis Valkyrie’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected that.

Suddenly, a gentle smile pulled at the marquis’ mouth. It was a blatant sneer.

Eliana stared at Verkley in disbelief.

Feeling her gaze, Verkley turned his head.

Eliana’s eyes shook violently, and his face grew closer and closer.

A second later, his lips lightly touched Eliana’s forehead before he moved away.

“…Your Majesty?” Marquis Valkyrie said, wondering what he was doing.

Eliana was also confused.

In front of the two, Verkley had a peaceful look on his face as he murmured,

“Eliana is going to be my empress. I’d like you to have some respect.”

“Huh?” Eliana exclaimed, startled.

“T-That!” Valkyrie shouted.

Eliana was so shocked it was as if she’d been hit by something.

She didn’t expect his words “a waste of a mistress” to mean this.

She was upset just a few moments ago, believing he was degrading her, but now she was embarrassed to see him lifting her so high.

Eliana never wanted the position of empress. She just wanted to live a long, simple life.

Besides, the empress’s position was obviously a thorny path.

While Eliana stiffened, Verkley continued.

“So, if another rumor spreads, you clarify it. She is not my mistress. She is to become my empress.”

“…” 

“If I hear the same rumors again, I’ll believe you have neglected my wishes.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Marquis Valkyrie replied, frowning heavily.

His expression told her that he’d been talking about the rumors but didn’t know who spread them.

If similar rumors circulated after this incident, it’d be the fault of Marquis Valkyrie.

Eliana’s lips twitched as she watched the entire interaction.

It was satisfying watching Marquis Valkyrie alternatively turn between pale and red.

Marquis Valkyrie sharply glanced at Eliana’s twitching mouth and coughed.

Of course, Eliana quickly schooled her expression.

It would seem Marquis Valkyrie did not like to be humiliated.

‘The Empress!’ 

This has never been mentioned before.

Eliana twisted her head up again to see what Verkley was thinking.

A satisfied smile hung on his lips.

On the contrary, Eliana’s expression gradually darkened.

She was just trying to placate Verkley so that he wouldn’t kill her.

‘I didn’t expect a great position like the empress…’

The most worrisome thing now is that Hera won’t accept this.

Eliana whispered so quietly that Marquis Valkyrie could not hear her.

“Are you serious?”

“Does it look like I’m joking?” Verkley whispered back with a smirk.

From the look on his face, it didn’t seem like he was saying it to avoid the situation.

She shut her mouth and got lost in her thoughts.

Verkley fully turned his head toward Eliana.

Even though his eyes were out of focus, his clingy gaze seemed to be filled with all sorts of emotions.

His face drew nearer by the second, and he whispered in her ear.

“Why are you so surprised? You were the one who said you’d stay by my side.”

His voice was so flat that Eliana shuddered without realizing it.

Verkley chuckled at her.

It was true. She did ask to stay by his side, but not like this.

She didn’t even know this was what he meant when he told her to stay next to him.

Eliana stood blankly, with no answer to his question.

She was just trying to not be killed by the scheming mastermind…

Eliana smiled awkwardly and blinked.

How should she overcome this difficulty?

She dodged his gaze.

The hand touching her shoulder was so cold that her body kept trembling.

“I’ve caused you much trouble. Then, I’ll return to my seat.” Marquis Valkyrie spoke in a stiff tone and scurried away.

Eliana wriggled her fingers, not paying him any mind.

Then after a while, she clasped her hands together and spoke as if she’d remembered something.

“Ah, that’s right! The Princess had called for me. I’ll be right back! See you at the banquet!”

Eliana quickly escaped from him with exaggerated gestures.

She was too embarrassed to be next to him.

Verkley silently watched Eliana as she moved away.

A gentle smile crept onto his lips.