Chapter 7 : I Married a Sick Husband
Translated by Tam
Edited by Kat-9
“I can cure your illness.”
As the words poured out of Meredith’s mouth, both the Emperor and Felix looked at her with a look of disbelief, as if they had heard her wrong.
“…”
For a while, it was silent in the blood-soaked room.
“…I think you are under some misunderstanding.”
A cold smile flickered past the Emperor’s face.
“You won’t be saved by saying things at random.”
“I didn’t say anything I don’t mean.”
Meredith responded, struggling to stop her voice from trembling.
“I can cure your illness, Your Majesty.”
“My illness…”
The Emperor laughed as if he were having fun.
Then he slowly tilted his head to make eye contact with Meredith.
Meredith felt her heart shrink at the sight of his eyes that lacked all signs of warmth.
However, she tried to hide her fear and maintained a firm posture.
“Of course, if you want to cure me, you must know the name of my disease, right?”
He asked with a sharp-eyed look.
“So, what kind of disease is this, Empress?”
“Your Majesty—”
Meredith slowly opened her mouth.
“Even though you’re weak enough to collapse during the day, you’re unaffected at night. You can even dispose of a few assassins who infiltrated your bedchambers.”
“…”
“But I don’t believe it’s an act to look like you’re in pain.”
“…”
“Your sickly pale complexion during the day didn’t look like a lie.”
“Keep talking.”
“Weak during the day, but healthy at night—”
After reaching this deduction, Meredith felt strange.
‘Is there such a disease in the world?’
Meredith was interested in medicine and had read a number of related books.
However, she had never heard of a disease with the Emperor’s symptoms.
It didn’t make sense in the first place; there was no such disease in the world.
Then there’s only one answer left.
“—I’m afraid it has been caused by black magic.”
“…Black magic?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, it seems that someone has put a curse on you to inflict harm.”
“Is it the work of the Empress Mother?”
“I don’t know. I’m not the one who cursed you.”
“But was it really caused by black magic?”
As if he did not believe Meredith’s words, the Emperor narrowed his eyes at her in suspicion.
“Is there anyone in this country who still uses magic?”
It was understandable to have doubts. King Eustian IV, emperor of the Baltic Empire 200 years ago had banned all use of magic, and executed existing magicians for misleading the people and manipulating society.
This is why most people think that magicians are extinct in the Baltic Empire.
“Of course it’s rare, but they still exist.”
There are exceptions everywhere.
“It sounds like you know someone like that.”
“Yes, me.”
Meredith confessed calmly.
“…You’re a magician?”
“I don’t know how to use powerful magic.”
Meredith was a healer.
“That’s the kind of person that Baltic Jane would count on.”
And she just wanted to make sure that this man wasn’t one of them.
But Meredith was already convinced that the one who had used black magic on the emperor had considerable mana.
It was because black magic was taboo even when magic was allowed, as it was usually used for negative purposes, such as curses.
But she also thought so because a magician’s body could be destroyed without sufficient mana.
‘I can do it—’
Meredith was nervous, but now was not the time to question whether she could do it or not.
Even if it was beyond her ability, she had to pretend to do it.
The Empress mother and the Emperor, if she wanted to live, she needed to avoid being on either side.
“So the Empress Mother is a magician, too?”
“I can’t say for sure whether that’s right or not.”
Meredith opened her mouth with a thoughtful expression.
“Even if she did have magic, she couldn’t have cursed Your Majesty by herself.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Black magicians are not common, and I know that if you cast a black spell to cause a person to fall ill, you’d have to recover for at least a month.”
“Then—”
“It’s possible she found a black magician and paid them. I think this is the most likely explanation.”
After saying that, Meredith hesitated for a moment.
“But I don’t think she would have cursed you to keep you tied up during the day. Maybe—”
“Maybe what?”
“There’s a high possibility that she would want to kill Your Majesty. But for some reason, the curse doesn’t seem to have worked.”
“Is that possible, too?”
“You’re healthy.”
Meredith nodded.
“Because above all else, you are a descendant of the Baltic. If you weren’t a direct descendant, maybe…”
Meredith didn’t continue.
It was obvious what would’ve happened without saying the rest.
The atmosphere turned solemn.
Meredith quickly turned away.
“Have you ever had a medical examination from the court?”
“There’s no medical problem.”
“Then I can only think that it is from black magic.”
“Can you cure it?”
The Emperor asked with a suspicious look.
“You’re not going to worsen my condition, are you?”
“Is there any benefit for me to do so?”
Meredith looked at the Emperor with a serious expression and replied.
“When you die, I’ll become a widow. If the Empress mother was the one who cursed Your Majesty, and if she was eager to be in power, would she welcome the existence of two empresses in one imperial palace?”
It can’t be. If there are two people in power, the power must be divided.
“Even if I’m in communication with the Empress mother now, after your death, they will choose to kill me without a care.”
Meredith then realized at that moment, that the Duke of Schwartz had calculated her position as empress.
Her life didn’t matter to the Duke of Schwartz.
That is the value of an illegitimate child.
Meredith struggled to swallow her dry saliva.
“Your Majesty, you may not believe it now, but we are in the same boat.”
“The same boat.”
“Yes, I cannot guarantee my safety without you by my side. Don’t you think so?”
“…”
“By more importantly, I’m the only one who can cure you of your curse. It’s rare to find a healing magician like me.”
The room was silent for a long time after Meredith spoke.
The Emperor seemed to be deep in thought.
Nevertheless, Felix, who had been watching from the side, did not appear to trust Meredith, and he was worried that the Emperor would fall for her ‘evil’ trick.
“…Okay.”
It was not until some time had passed that the Emperor spoke again.
“I’ll spare you.”
“Your Majesty, no!”
Felix hurried to stop the Emperor.
However, the Emperor seemed to have made up his mind.
“Even if the Empress dies here now, the Empress mother is likely to send another back for her liking.”
Unfortunately, in the Baltic Empire, it was customary for marriage to be by the will of the parents.
Even if the parents did not share a single drop of blood with them.
“But—!”
“You don’t have to complicate things. And—”
The emperor stared at Meredith.
“—It’s not easy to get a magician, especially a healer.”
“Your Majesty!”
“I think we need to clean this place up for now.”
The Emperor smiled and looked back at Felix.
“My Empress has been very surprised since a while ago.”
Meredith was dumbfounded when she heard that.
Of course, she was surprised to see the assassins bleeding out on the floor, but what shocked her more was the Emperor, who pointed a sword to her neck.
Meredith wanted to point that out, but she decided to stay quiet in case he changed his mind about sparing her life.
“Let’s move rooms. At dawn, I’ll have the servants clean it up.”
“Shall we?”
The secret of the Emperor’s unique illness: weak during the day, but healthy at night, was only known by Felix, a close courtier, and the Emperor himself.
The Emperor stared at Meredith while she bit her lips.
A woman who confidently expressed a reason to save herself in front of the person who wanted to kill her.
‘Is that woman really the Empress mother’s puppet?’
He hadn’t completely let go of his doubts yet.
‘Maybe it’s all a part of their strategy, as Felix had said.’
However, regardless of whether she was an enemy or not, her calm yet bold disposition was admirable.
He raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said to Meredith,
“Follow me.”
Chapter 7 : I Married a Sick Husband
Translated by Tam
Edited by Kat-9
“I can cure your illness.”
As the words poured out of Meredith’s mouth, both the Emperor and Felix looked at her with a look of disbelief, as if they had heard her wrong.
“…”
For a while, it was silent in the blood-soaked room.
“…I think you are under some misunderstanding.”
A cold smile flickered past the Emperor’s face.
“You won’t be saved by saying things at random.”
“I didn’t say anything I don’t mean.”
Meredith responded, struggling to stop her voice from trembling.
“I can cure your illness, Your Majesty.”
“My illness…”
The Emperor laughed as if he were having fun.
Then he slowly tilted his head to make eye contact with Meredith.
Meredith felt her heart shrink at the sight of his eyes that lacked all signs of warmth.
However, she tried to hide her fear and maintained a firm posture.
“Of course, if you want to cure me, you must know the name of my disease, right?”
He asked with a sharp-eyed look.
“So, what kind of disease is this, Empress?”
“Your Majesty—”
Meredith slowly opened her mouth.
“Even though you’re weak enough to collapse during the day, you’re unaffected at night. You can even dispose of a few assassins who infiltrated your bedchambers.”
“…”
“But I don’t believe it’s an act to look like you’re in pain.”
“…”
“Your sickly pale complexion during the day didn’t look like a lie.”
“Keep talking.”
“Weak during the day, but healthy at night—”
After reaching this deduction, Meredith felt strange.
‘Is there such a disease in the world?’
Meredith was interested in medicine and had read a number of related books.
However, she had never heard of a disease with the Emperor’s symptoms.
It didn’t make sense in the first place; there was no such disease in the world.
Then there’s only one answer left.
“—I’m afraid it has been caused by black magic.”
“…Black magic?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, it seems that someone has put a curse on you to inflict harm.”
“Is it the work of the Empress Mother?”
“I don’t know. I’m not the one who cursed you.”
“But was it really caused by black magic?”
As if he did not believe Meredith’s words, the Emperor narrowed his eyes at her in suspicion.
“Is there anyone in this country who still uses magic?”
It was understandable to have doubts. King Eustian IV, emperor of the Baltic Empire 200 years ago had banned all use of magic, and executed existing magicians for misleading the people and manipulating society.
This is why most people think that magicians are extinct in the Baltic Empire.
“Of course it’s rare, but they still exist.”
There are exceptions everywhere.
“It sounds like you know someone like that.”
“Yes, me.”
Meredith confessed calmly.
“…You’re a magician?”
“I don’t know how to use powerful magic.”
Meredith was a healer.
“That’s the kind of person that Baltic Jane would count on.”
And she just wanted to make sure that this man wasn’t one of them.
But Meredith was already convinced that the one who had used black magic on the emperor had considerable mana.
It was because black magic was taboo even when magic was allowed, as it was usually used for negative purposes, such as curses.
But she also thought so because a magician’s body could be destroyed without sufficient mana.
‘I can do it—’
Meredith was nervous, but now was not the time to question whether she could do it or not.
Even if it was beyond her ability, she had to pretend to do it.
The Empress mother and the Emperor, if she wanted to live, she needed to avoid being on either side.
“So the Empress Mother is a magician, too?”
“I can’t say for sure whether that’s right or not.”
Meredith opened her mouth with a thoughtful expression.
“Even if she did have magic, she couldn’t have cursed Your Majesty by herself.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Black magicians are not common, and I know that if you cast a black spell to cause a person to fall ill, you’d have to recover for at least a month.”
“Then—”
“It’s possible she found a black magician and paid them. I think this is the most likely explanation.”
After saying that, Meredith hesitated for a moment.
“But I don’t think she would have cursed you to keep you tied up during the day. Maybe—”
“Maybe what?”
“There’s a high possibility that she would want to kill Your Majesty. But for some reason, the curse doesn’t seem to have worked.”
“Is that possible, too?”
“You’re healthy.”
Meredith nodded.
“Because above all else, you are a descendant of the Baltic. If you weren’t a direct descendant, maybe…”
Meredith didn’t continue.
It was obvious what would’ve happened without saying the rest.
The atmosphere turned solemn.
Meredith quickly turned away.
“Have you ever had a medical examination from the court?”
“There’s no medical problem.”
“Then I can only think that it is from black magic.”
“Can you cure it?”
The Emperor asked with a suspicious look.
“You’re not going to worsen my condition, are you?”
“Is there any benefit for me to do so?”
Meredith looked at the Emperor with a serious expression and replied.
“When you die, I’ll become a widow. If the Empress mother was the one who cursed Your Majesty, and if she was eager to be in power, would she welcome the existence of two empresses in one imperial palace?”
It can’t be. If there are two people in power, the power must be divided.
“Even if I’m in communication with the Empress mother now, after your death, they will choose to kill me without a care.”
Meredith then realized at that moment, that the Duke of Schwartz had calculated her position as empress.
Her life didn’t matter to the Duke of Schwartz.
That is the value of an illegitimate child.
Meredith struggled to swallow her dry saliva.
“Your Majesty, you may not believe it now, but we are in the same boat.”
“The same boat.”
“Yes, I cannot guarantee my safety without you by my side. Don’t you think so?”
“…”
“By more importantly, I’m the only one who can cure you of your curse. It’s rare to find a healing magician like me.”
The room was silent for a long time after Meredith spoke.
The Emperor seemed to be deep in thought.
Nevertheless, Felix, who had been watching from the side, did not appear to trust Meredith, and he was worried that the Emperor would fall for her ‘evil’ trick.
“…Okay.”
It was not until some time had passed that the Emperor spoke again.
“I’ll spare you.”
“Your Majesty, no!”
Felix hurried to stop the Emperor.
However, the Emperor seemed to have made up his mind.
“Even if the Empress dies here now, the Empress mother is likely to send another back for her liking.”
Unfortunately, in the Baltic Empire, it was customary for marriage to be by the will of the parents.
Even if the parents did not share a single drop of blood with them.
“But—!”
“You don’t have to complicate things. And—”
The emperor stared at Meredith.
“—It’s not easy to get a magician, especially a healer.”
“Your Majesty!”
“I think we need to clean this place up for now.”
The Emperor smiled and looked back at Felix.
“My Empress has been very surprised since a while ago.”
Meredith was dumbfounded when she heard that.
Of course, she was surprised to see the assassins bleeding out on the floor, but what shocked her more was the Emperor, who pointed a sword to her neck.
Meredith wanted to point that out, but she decided to stay quiet in case he changed his mind about sparing her life.
“Let’s move rooms. At dawn, I’ll have the servants clean it up.”
“Shall we?”
The secret of the Emperor’s unique illness: weak during the day, but healthy at night, was only known by Felix, a close courtier, and the Emperor himself.
The Emperor stared at Meredith while she bit her lips.
A woman who confidently expressed a reason to save herself in front of the person who wanted to kill her.
‘Is that woman really the Empress mother’s puppet?’
He hadn’t completely let go of his doubts yet.
‘Maybe it’s all a part of their strategy, as Felix had said.’
However, regardless of whether she was an enemy or not, her calm yet bold disposition was admirable.
He raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said to Meredith,
“Follow me.”