Chapter 10: The False Golden Path and the True Golden Path (1)
Verkley showed no reaction to Eliana’s radiant smile.
He simply sat there, pretending to be blind, as if she were invisible.
“I told you last time that I’d bring someone to assist you. Did you like that?”
Hera spoke to Verkley in a soft voice.
Verkley smiled, turning his eyes toward the sound of her voice.
His slow voice echoed calmly.
“Since she’s your choice, she must be good, Mother.”
“I’m grateful that you always trust me.”
“I’ll do my best to take care of you, Your Majesty.” Eliana bowed.
As expected, he didn’t acknowledge her.
‘Looking at him up close, Verkley really isn’t human… How can someone look like this?’
For some reason, she was captivated.
Now, Hera introduced Eliana to Verkley.
“She’s a girl with powers, though she acquired them recently. Marquis Demeter is showing his support for this girl.”
“Marquis Demeter?” Verkley echoed the name.
‘Isn’t Demeter the one who volunteered to support me instead of Hera?’
Eliana didn’t know exactly who ‘Demeter’ was, so she just listened.
He was a character who never appeared in the original novel, so it was strange to hear him mentioned repeatedly.
“I heard that Eliana was mistreated by the Count, so he wanted to support her. He has a lot of compassion. He is, after all, a man of God.”
“Mistreated…” Verkley trailed off.
Eliana’s expression stiffened as Hera suddenly revealed her family history.
She had never been abused, but she wasn’t thrilled about the situation being exposed to others.
While Eliana sat silently, Verkley offered her heartfelt consolation.
“You must have suffered greatly.”
Eliana responded with a bitter smile.
“It’s all in the past now.”
She could have been a target of that abuse if she hadn’t left the Museau estate as quickly as she did.
Verkley whispered to her with a gentle smile.
“You’ll be under my care now, so be at ease.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“You must have taken a liking to Eliana, Your Majesty. As a mother, I’m delighted.”
Hera smiled with relief at Verkley’s reaction.
Both were smiling, but neither trusted the other.
Eliana feared that the sharp blades hidden behind their smiles could turn against her at any moment.
Neither Verkley nor Hera made her feel at peace.
Eliana Museau spent that day in a room adjacent to the Emperor’s bedroom.
The proximity allowed her to rush to the Emperor whenever he called.
And so, Eliana began living a precarious life with a man who could easily kill her.
* * *
Royal life was perfectly decent.
Perhaps because Eliana held a higher rank than Verkley’s exclusive maid, her duties were easier than doing household chores.
The maid wasn’t assigned a separate job, but there were no complaints since no one was taking care of Verkley.
There was only one thing Eliana had to do.
Look after the Emperor and stay by his side.
Her role was to be his eyes and assist him with every step.
To call her, Verkley would ring the bell connecting their rooms when necessary.
But this didn’t happen often. Honestly, it felt like Eliana was a secretary on call 24/7.
After ten years of ascending the throne at eighteen, Verkley still couldn’t erase Hera’s shadow.
It was natural to proceed only after obtaining Hera’s permission, rather than Verkley’s.
“Have you fallen again? At this rate, you’ll tear all your clothes.”
Hera scolded Verkley without clear reason.
“Your Majesty is so frail that I’m deeply worried about the future of this empire. A man who stumbles over a stone because he can’t see what’s in front of him.”
Making snide remarks, criticizing Verkley for being blind.
And each time, Verkley repeated the same response like a parrot.
“I’m sorry.”
As Eliana observed from behind, she felt Verkley was remarkable for being kind to people despite their mistreatment and disregard.
He was completely hiding his strength.
Occasionally, she heard him groan in discomfort, but she couldn’t approach unless he rang the bell.
Perhaps he was in pain all night because he couldn’t control his power.
Verkley gritted his teeth just so Eliana wouldn’t hear, but unfortunately, she could hear well through the thin wall separating their rooms.
On the other hand, she felt sorry for him.
Perhaps it was easy to sympathize with him because he hadn’t threatened her yet.
* * *
“It’s a beautiful day. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Verkley smiled, exhaustion evident on his face.
Although he was the villain in this story, it seemed the demon’s power was overwhelming him.
Even in the novel, Verkley suffered more and more as he used his powers.
‘In the end, to reduce the strain on your body, you created a clone of yourself to separate from the demon’s powers, didn’t you?’
It was somewhat pitiful to think that this pain followed such a ruthless mastermind.
Verkley extended his hand to Eliana without hesitation.
Eliana took his hand naturally.
Verkley often asked for her hand, likely because he had to pretend to be blind.
When she held his hand, it was as if he craved human affection, as he caressed her hand with his thumb.
But lately, his pain seemed to have lessened slightly.
While thinking about him, Eliana suddenly spoke up.
“Don’t you feel frustrated?”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh… with how others ignore you.”
“I suppose I do seem frustrated.”
“I didn’t mean to be rude. I was just wondering how you felt…”
Eliana felt like she’d gone too far and wanted to bite her tongue.
What was she doing, speaking without thinking first?
She hadn’t meant to say that when she asked if he was frustrated.
Her words could be interpreted differently. Asking if he was sharpening his blade, waiting for the right moment to strike and reveal his secret.
Naturally, he didn’t know what she meant.
Honestly, Eliana didn’t agree with his method of revenge in the novel.
His blade of vengeance seemed excessive, not just for his enemy Hera, but for her daughter as well.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Although this law had existed for a long time, the reason for its creation was entirely different from now.
Just as adultery is tolerated yet punished by law, this ancient law was used as a means to control a time ruled by reckless vengeance.
One tragedy could lead to revenge, but it could create something seven times worse, or perhaps seventy times worse.
In that sense, Verkley in the original novel was just as ruthless as a man who lived for revenge.
He forced Marie to wither even though she had done no wrong.
Verkley wished for Hera to feel pain greater than the wounds he carried.
Perhaps his revenge was seventy times worse.
Eliana felt uneasy not knowing the ending of [The Princess Who Blinded the Emperor].
Would the man before her be able to laugh after succeeding in his revenge?
And if he laughed, would he be considered mad or joyful?
She didn’t know enough about Verkley yet, so it was hard to read his intentions.
Verkley answered Eliana in a somewhat shy voice, as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“It’s not that it isn’t frustrating, but it’s somewhat safe.”
“Safe?”
“Yes, because even though I can’t see physically, I’m still one step ahead.”
“…”
Did that mean he was waiting for the right moment to take revenge?
When Eliana didn’t respond, Verkley changed the subject.
“I feel less lonely. It’s nice to have you by my side.”
“There are many other kind ladies who care實現
care for Your Majesty besides me.”
“But few people talk to me without hesitation like you do.”
“Do I talk too much?”
“It was a compliment.”
After his words, Verkley fumbled with his other hand until he found Eliana’s head, then patted it.
Eliana felt strange as his large hand gently brushed through her hair.
Perhaps because his words made her heart race.
The fact that no one spoke to him without hesitation meant no one had ever gotten close to Verkley.
Come to think of it, even at twenty-eight, Verkley had no Empress.
That was because of Hera. She wouldn’t allow an Empress for the frail Emperor, who was likely to die at any moment.
Marie could no longer ascend the throne the day she gave birth to a son before his death.
“Were you lonely?”
Verkley said quietly, with a sad expression.
“It’s a feeling I’ve grown used to.”
Eliana had no idea if he was acting or not, but she responded earnestly.
“I’ll stay by your side, Your Majesty. I’ll hold your hand like this whenever you need me!”
“Yes, thank you.”
Verkley pulled his hand away.
But he slowly stroked her hair before letting go.
* * *
It was a routine similar to all the other days.
Attending a morning meeting by Verkley’s side.
Returning to their rooms after a quick stroll.
Eliana always felt it, but their previous meeting wasn’t much different from the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
Just listening to those nobles bicker among themselves was enough to give her a headache.
Although the outside world knew Verkley was blind, the nobles’ behavior was absurd. They protested by shoving papers in his face.
He was even condemned for asking someone to explain the contents of documents they ordered him to sign.
