I’m the Only One Who Can Put the Tyrant To Sleep

Chapter 47 “Someone you’re meeting?”Caesar’s eyebrow shot up. His expression was clearly displeased.“Who?”“That’s a bit difficult to say right now.”I smiled playfully, but Caesar’s face remained stiff and unyielding.“It’s not dangerous, is it? At least take Alvin with you—”“It’s nothing like that. I’m not even going outside the palace.”“Just because it’s inside the palace doesn’t mean it’s safe. And why can’t you tell me?”“I’ll tell you later. Later. You’re busy right now.”“I’m not that bus—”Before Caesar could press further, there was a knock at the door.“Looks like it’s time.”I let go of his hand and gave his shoulder a light pat, straightening his attire. Despite his disgruntled expression, Caesar quickly composed himself.“You have to tell me later.”Just before leaving the room, he added his warning. I smiled faintly.“Have a safe trip.”Caesar turned his back to me. I gazed at his broad back, where his shirt stretched taut.“I guess we need to have new clothes tailored for him.”  *****  Devit quickened his pace. Her violet hair fluttered in the twilight of the imperial palace garden.“I just saw her heading toward the main palace.”According to the maid assigned to monitor her, Evelyn was now near the main palace—an unusual occurrence.“She usually stayed in the Crown Prince’s palace and visited the Princess’s palace only once a week.”Devit hadn’t forgotten what Evelyn said earlier that morning. She mentioned showing someone a suspicious bundle of papers.“She went out of her way to retrieve something she had hidden deep in her drawer. It must be for the person she’s meeting today.”And whoever she was meeting today had to be someone she didn’t usually see—someone special for this occasion.Practically running, Devit arrived at the main palace in no time.“Where is she?”She glanced around quickly, scanning the area. While circling the main palace, she finally spotted Evelyn in the distance.“There she is!”Evelyn stood in the dark shadows behind a building without a single light. Devit crouched and cautiously approached her.Fortunately, it was dark, and there were bushes perfect for hiding. Peeking through the leaves, she could see Evelyn but not her companion. They were obscured by the building. However, their voices carried clearly.“Keep the papers safe. Everything is written there.”At Evelyn’s words, Devit’s heart pounded in his chest.“Those papers!”It seemed she had guessed correctly. Finally, she could obtain some concrete information. It had been so long since she’d had something substantial to report.“Will I be praised for this?”Although she felt guilty for failing to track Evelyn’s movements last night, this was an enormous breakthrough.“Last night? Of course, it was for business. That person has been entrusted with managing all the affairs.”“That person? Business?”Devit’s ears perked up like an animal, visibly focused.“Yes, it’s only a matter of time. But the problem is that we don’t have much time left.”Evelyn’s voice was higher than usual and carried a sense of urgency.“The other person’s voice isn’t audible…”Devit held her breath and listened intently. Suddenly, Evelyn let out a faint laugh, almost a scoff, and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.“There’s not much life left. The illness is very severe. At most, a few months. Perhaps only a few weeks.”“…Life? Did she say life?”Devit’s body stiffened as if frozen.“Whose life is she talking about? Who’s sick?”“The time to make a choice is approaching.”Her next words were too quiet for Devit to catch, but she could make out one word from her lips.“No way…”Devit had to fight to keep her legs from collapsing beneath her.“The Emperor.”The one Evelyn was speaking about—the one nearing death—was none other than the Emperor. ***** I led a rather busy life, all to nurture the seeds of doubt I’d planted in the Empress’s mind and help them bloom.By now, Devit’s words must have reached the Empress. However, there were no noticeable changes in the situation. It could be that Devit failed to convey the message properly, the Empress didn’t care much about the lottery business, or perhaps she was simply being cautious.“The real problem is that the Duke’s faction hasn’t made any moves either.”The ideal outcome would be for everything to proceed smoothly: the Emperor passing away and Caesar ascending the throne without any issues.With Duke Spiegel dead and the Duke’s family in decline, the aristocrats’ power had significantly weakened. Still, those who had once stooped to poisoning Caesar in an attempt to remove him wouldn’t sit idly by.“These were people who killed without a second thought in the original story.”Thus, I had tightened my guard even further. I repeatedly warned Caesar never to go anywhere alone, and I specifically asked Erinne and Alvin to keep a close eye on him. Yet, the unease wouldn’t leave me.“I should ask Katana next time if there’s some protective magic she can use.”“What are you thinking about, Evelyn?”A voice suddenly broke through my thoughts. It was Floria. Sitting across from me, she wore the same cheerful expression she always did, smiling brightly.I had come to the Princess’s palace to keep my weekly appointment with Floria.“Oh, I was just wondering how your assignments are going lately,” I said.At my question, Floria’s beaming face immediately crumpled.“Evelyn, do you really have to bring that up when we only meet once a week?”“Well, I was thinking that if you’re having a hard time, I could help you out again.”“Help me? How?”“Hmm, like this?”With a mischievous smile, I pulled out a cookie I’d hidden in my sleeve and offered it to her.“Evelyn!”Floria’s eyes sparkled with delight as she reached eagerly for the cookie. But just then, a sharp voice cut through the moment.“Snacks are not allowed.”The tone was icy enough to send a chill down my spine, cold and unyielding.“W-Well…”The owner of the frigid voice stepped forward and swiftly snatched the cookie from Floria’s hand with practiced ease. Though dressed in a maid’s uniform, she was unfamiliar to me.Yet, her actions didn’t seem like those of a mere novice. Her decisiveness, not to mention her audacity in taking a cookie from the Princess’s hand…“Can’t I just have one bite? Just one?” Floria pleaded.“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but this is by the Empress’s command. You’ve already had your allotted snacks for the day, haven’t you?”Though her tone softened slightly, the chill in her expression remained as sharp as ever.“The Empress’s command?”