I Sought Out the Tragedy’s Scheming Mastermind - Chapter 41

8-11 minutes

Translator and Editor: nieye

Chapter 41

‘I always feel this way, but it’s strange to see that enraptured look on his face every time we kiss.’

It felt like she had given him something incredible.

If she had to express it, did this mean she’s become an incredible person?

Eliana bowed lightly as she stepped back.

“I’ll be back.”

“Sure.” Verkley waved her off without hesitation as if she had completed her job.

Eliana shrugged her shoulders with a calm face and left the bedroom.

Their relationship was strange, but they also had a reasonable distance between them.

It was also a big no-no for her to add emotions into the mix.

Eliana briskly walked to the place where she would meet Mary.

* * * 

A rose garden inside the Main Palace.

Mary arrived before Eliana and was savoring the tea.

Eliana approached and greeted her warmly.

“It’s been a while, Princess.”

“Welcome!”

As soon as Mary saw Eliana, she welcomed her with a small yet lively voice.

As Eliana sat down with a big smile, Mary immediately apologized with a guilty look.

“I’m sorry for having you waste so much of your time.”

Her eyes made her look pitiful, like a puppy staring at you with its tail curled softly.

Eliana, who saw Mary timidly gazing at her, quickly shook her head.

“No! It was bound to happen. You don’t have to worry about it. Really, I was fine.”

“I received your present well, too. I had fun trying it.” Mary said brightly, holding out her basket as Eliana fussed.

In the basket, she had an unfinished piece of work that she knitted using the book Eliana gave her.

As Eliana was the one who gave her the gift, she was satisfied that she was enjoying it.

Eliana smiled brightly. “I knew you’d like it.”

“I’ll give you one as well the next time I complete it!”

“Huh? You said ‘as well,’ so I don’t think I’m the first one you say that to.”

“That… I wanted to give one to Kallius first.” Mary blushed and murmured softly.

How cute is that?

She wanted to tease her a little more, but she held back.

Eliana waved her hands and reassured her. “I’m kidding. Of course, the duke comes before me.”

“But then I’ll give you one next time! You taught me this hobby, Eliana, so I’d like to give you something before Cherdi.” Mary smiled shyly as she spoke in a strong voice.

She was really pretty.

‘My heroine, I hope you don’t lose that smile and remain happy as you are now.’

Eliana thought of Mary in the novel, soothing her troubled mind and putting on a mischievous expression.

“Wouldn’t Young Lady Pepper be upset if she heard?”

“Cherdi suggested it.”

But Mary did not panic and answered with a bashful smile.

How can she speak so beautifully?

Eliana kept thinking that she would have lived a bright life if it weren’t for this tragedy novel.

Eventually, Eliana changed the subject.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Young Lady Pepper.”

“Ah, my mother needed her for a while,” Mary replied in a faint tone, picking up a macaron in front of her and taking a bite.

“I see.”

“I think they called her separately because of the ceremony that they’re holding again. It’s my first time leaving the palace, so I guess I have a lot to worry about.” Mary spat out the words without anyone asking.

It was an innocent attitude, like a child telling their mother about their daily life.

Although she was grateful for her lack of vigilance, she was somewhat worried, so Eliana asked a question in a concerned tone.

“Are you going… to the ceremony?”

“I have to go. I can’t stay like this.” Mary smiled bitterly. She looked a little gloomy.

Her dispirited appearance showed she was doing this reluctantly.

She smiled broadly, but as the shadows faded, the gap between her happiness seemed even bigger.

Eliana knew she was being nosy but asked, “You don’t look so energetic. Do you have any concerns?”

“Um…” 

Mary looked around. She seemed to be worried that someone might hear.

Hence, Eliana dropped the teacup under the table.

Clink!

As the shrill noise resounded, Eliana spoke deftly,

“Ouch! My hand slipped.”

“I’ll be right back.”

The maid standing next to her dissuaded Eliana from picking up the shattered teacup.

Then, she carefully placed the shards of broken glass on a tray and disappeared.

When the maid was completely out of sight, Eliana leaned her elbows on the table and rested her face in her palms.

It was a so-called “flower cup pose.”

“Now you can speak comfortably.”

“Did you do that on purpose?”

“It’s like you’re walking on eggshells, Princess. Can you tell me now that it’s just the two of us?”

When Eliana smiled, Mary shook her head as if she couldn’t stop her, lifted her upper body, and came close to Eliana.

She could’ve just said it, but it seemed quite serious if she was trying to whisper.

Eliana lifted her upper body and brought herself closer.

Mary’s clear voice softly tickled her ear.

“The truth is…”

“…”

“It’s a secret.”

With revealing those words, Mary sat back down again.

“…?” 

Eliana stared at Mary, blinking.

Mary looked proud with her chin raised as she pretended nothing was wrong.

Her expression was coy, and it didn’t suit her.

Eliana didn’t know Mary could pull such a joke, so she remained frozen, unable to react immediately.

As the silence lingered, Mary coughed loudly, as if she was a bit embarrassed.

Eliana licked her lips and then burst into a fit of laughter.

“Hahaha!”

Mary’s expression grew even more triumphant.

At the sight, she laughed even more and couldn’t stop.

‘Ah, she’s so cute I think I’m going to die.’

Eliana gripped her heart.

Even if she suffered from heart failure at this rate, she had nothing to say.

After a short while, Eliana barely managed to stop laughing and wiped away her tears.

“Princess, where did you learn to pull these types of tricks? You fooled me.”

“Hehe. I wanted to try it out.”

Only then did Mary smile so bright that her gums were exposed, giving her a mischievous expression.

Eliana shook her head, knowing she couldn’t stop her and continued. 

“You don’t have to tell me if it’s too hard. I asked because sometimes it’s comforting to listen to someone else’s concerns.”

Mary replied in a slightly calmer voice to Eliana’s words.

“Actually, it’s not hard to say. It’s just a problem that I have to solve. I don’t want to burden you, Eliana.”

“If that’s what the princess wants, I’ll cheer you on.” Eliana declared, clenching her fists as if cheering her up.

Mary followed Eliana’s movements, clenching her fists as well.

The two looked at each other and then laughed again, finding each other hilarious.

Once they laughed, they could easily laugh even more at the puniest things.

After their laughing session, the atmosphere became warmer.

Eliana stared at Mary intently.

Her face was a little gaunt, but Mary seemed to have made up her mind.

Would Mary have been happy if this novel wasn’t a tragedy?

As a tragedy novel, Mary’s life in [ The Princess Who’s Blind to the Emperor ] settled on a thorny path.

Her mother, Hera, tries to kill her half-brother Verkley; Meanwhile, Verkley tries to kill Hera, too.

‘If Hera had been less greedy, there would have been a better way.’

Hera has already crossed the ethical line.

She killed the emperor and the empress, and now she’s trying to kill Verkley.

Hera acted even more viciously because she was labeled as a lowly dancer.

Her sense of inferiority was so immense that she could not even be satisfied with the high position of empress.

Verkley suffered the damage of his revenge, and it may be a natural step in the story.

Will Hera be able to stop her greed if Eliana prevents Verkley’s revenge?

‘If she was the type of person who could let go of her greed in the first place, she wouldn’t have driven the situation to such a catastrophe.’

Eliana recalled Hera’s willingness to cut the cat’s fur before her and try to suffocate her with clever tricks.

She could no longer be stopped.

Hera continued to exert a bad influence on her daughter, Mary.

In the meantime, it was inevitable for Mary—who grew up bright—to be both commendable yet pitiful.

As a third party, it was hard for Eliana to know the whole truth and imagine Mary’s despair as she smiled without a clue.

“What do you think of His Majesty, Princess?”

“His Majesty is my brother.” Mary smiled a little bitterly and turned toward the roses.

Mary’s blue eyes sank deeply.

Eliana could not guess what she was thinking, watching her slowly close and open her eyes.

Mary, who had been silent for a while, murmured, “I heard you’re quite close to His Majesty.”

“It seems that the rumors have reached the princess as well.”

As Eliana scratched her cheek awkwardly, Mary’s gaze returned to her.

After a moment, Mary asked in a cautious tone.

“How is His Majesty doing?”