“Lie down… you say?”
She had only come to borrow a few books, but suddenly found herself committing the outrageous act of lying down before the emperor.
“Yes.”
Carlos extended his large hand to support her shoulder. Without using much force or coercion, Mercedes was naturally laid down on the cushion.
His hot hand covered her eyes.
“It’s darkness, Mercedes. No one can see you. Consider it a comfortable darkness.”
His soft yet rough baritone voice tickled her neck as it resonated nearby.
A comfortable darkness, he says.
How could this situation possibly be comfortable?
But his hand was so large that it truly blocked out the light completely. She did feel, a little, as if she had really been left in darkness. And the cushion, however it was arranged, cradled her body just right.
Mercedes felt the warmth emanating from his hand, heating her eyes and spreading throughout her body, and curled her toes.
The feeling was strange.
“Are you a bit more comfortable now?”
“…I’m not sure.”
It was truly an ambiguous state. The unfamiliar warmth was uncomfortable, but she liked the darkness. She couldn’t explain what this state was.
“Hmm. You don’t like the darkness?”
“I’m not sure if anyone could be comfortable lying down before the master of the empire, Your Majesty.”
“My aides often lie down.”
“…Pardon?”
“It’s true. This sofa is quite popular among the aides. They say it makes them drowsy when they lie on it. I’ve had to stop them from trying to steal it into their offices several times.”
Indeed, the Room Empire is unique. Or perhaps Shaim is too rigid?
She couldn’t be certain of even this.
It was because her world was too narrow. She had only questions about even the smallest things, unable to obtain answers. In the darkness before her eyes, she saw a thick, high wall like an illusion.
It was her own limitation.
“Anyway, I suddenly had a thought.”
Whether he knew or not that her mood had sunk, the man continued in a kind and relaxed voice. Mercedes listened to his words in the darkness.
“I thought that if I just handed you books, you might read all night without knowing how to properly absorb the information, immerse yourself in studying, harm your health, and trouble your maids again.”
For a moment, Mercedes felt a bit guilty.
He was right. She had been ignoring the maids’ concerns.
“So I asked. If you’d rather learn properly.”
Though she couldn’t trust him, the word ‘learning’ resonated very temptingly with her.
All her life, she had only learned embroidery, simple musical instruments, how to manage a household, and how to support a husband.
It would have been no different for other noble ladies in Shaim. That was the norm. Commoners didn’t even have the opportunity for education.
The books she had managed to read were only enough to build basic general knowledge.
Women read novels, and at most, newspapers if they wanted to know more. Even newspapers didn’t contain much meaningful knowledge.
In a small country like Shaim, the only things worthy of newspapers were scandals of nobles, dancers, and actors, or shocking crime news.
She hadn’t felt much dissatisfaction with this. Because she had thought it was natural.
But recently, as she pondered ways to get revenge on Cromwell, she realized. Her world was far too narrow and woefully inadequate.
She needed to learn.
She needed to know the world she didn’t know. Only then could she find better ways for revenge.
Perhaps, if Mercedes dug deep. Even if not brilliantly intelligent, if she persevered and worked hard.
Could she not make Cromwell suffer as much as she had?
“Your Majesty. Could you remove your hand?”
“Of course.”
Mercedes sat up straight as soon as he removed his hand. But this time, rather than a posture stiffened by tension, she seemed somewhat excited.
“How can I learn? Will I have a teacher?”
At the same time, her voice noticeably rose.
“You’re quick to understand. And quite eager too. More so than when I offered to start a war for you.”
“While Your Majesty was away, I felt my limitations. I want to do anything.”
“Should I take that as acceptance?”
“I’m infinitely grateful.”
Even though she couldn’t trust Carlos, this was enough to call a favor. It was that much of a welcome offer.
Carlos stared blankly at her for a moment, then chuckled.
“As for a teacher… well, how about me?”
“What? Your Majesty, *cough*, you?”
The identity of the teacher was quite shocking. Mercedes felt her throat suddenly tighten.
“I have several advisors, but in the end, the decisions are mine. As a result, I’ve come to dominate the continent and brought all the surrounding island nations to their knees. I also have battlefield experience. I don’t think there’s a better teacher than me.”
“But for Your Majesty to take the time to teach me…”
“Am I not qualified enough?”
The man chuckled. Mercedes was truly confused.
“Your expression has softened a bit.”
“My expression…”
She couldn’t imagine what her face looked like now. Having been accustomed to an expressionless face for so long, it was difficult to picture herself with emotions showing.
The emperor turned around and brought a small mirror, holding it out to her.
“You still look good. Take a look.”
Mercedes took the mirror with trembling hands and looked at her reflection.
Though still stiff, her lips were oddly twisted, her eyebrows raised, and her eyes wide open.
It was a face she saw every day, yet it looked like one she had never seen before.
“I apologize for the prank. I have a bit of a mischievous nature.”
She couldn’t respond to the emperor’s apology at this honorable moment.
The one who was criticized daily for looking no different from a corpse now had quite a human-like face in the mirror.
It was quite a shocking thing.
She stared blankly into the mirror. Although her facial muscles, accustomed to expressionlessness, began to stiffen again.
The memory of her face with expression wouldn’t fade.
It felt like a moment that would be etched in her heart forever.
Carlos looked at her while pretending not to notice. He thought it would be an insignificant moment, but her eyes changed once again.
Her eyes contained more light than he had expected. Truly beautiful.
“My desire to teach you is sincere, but the truth is I’m too crushed by work to have the time. So I’m thinking of assigning you one of my capable aides.”
He turned his gaze away from her and spoke leisurely. Only then did Mercedes come to her senses.
Of course. There was no way the emperor would have such time, and no way he could pay so much attention to her.
She exhaled as if relieved.
“I see.”
It was fortunate. No, was it fortunate? The feeling was strange.
“I know your aides are also very busy. I don’t mind as long as I can learn. Please assign anyone to me.”
“Alright.”
“And…”
She hesitated before opening her mouth.
“Please take something in return from me.”
“What?”
“I’m not used to only receiving. You’ve shown me kindness, so please take something in return. Anything will do.”
Mercedes thought that if he was truly infatuated with her, she wouldn’t mind if he took her in return for treating her well.
If that was the way she could stay by his side and continue her revenge.
Carlos could see right through her intentions. Does this woman know what she’s saying? No, she must know. Mercedes has nothing else to offer.
She’s just trying to use him.
Yet he kept feeling bothered by her words.
“Mercedes. You shouldn’t say such things carelessly.”
“Even so, I must say it.”
“…You’re quite stubborn indeed. Haa. For now, let’s slowly consider my wish while watching your lesson progress. ‘Something in return’ sounds too rigid, it makes me a bit sad. Mercedes.”
Carlos smiled crookedly.
Mercedes bowed her head.
What a strange person.
“I know of a suitable candidate, so I’ll assign them to you. Now, shall we have lunch?”
“Yes. Ah, Your Majesty. I’ve revised the secret letter… could you perhaps look at it?”
Mercedes asked hesitantly. The emperor immediately extended his hand to her.
The paper she handed over was crisp.
The secret letter had changed significantly from what she had shown at dawn. It seemed she had tried to organize it neatly, but there were still one or two traces of erasing and rewriting.
“…It just needs a little polishing of the sentences. This is impressive, Mercedes.”
Surprisingly, it was a secret letter that reflected his advice quite well. Carlos unknowingly praised her sincerely. This was the person who had been frustratingly clueless about everything.
Yet she had managed to accomplish this by clinging to the advice given at dawn.
He thought she might be a woman of considerable perseverance. Of course, he also thought she was still just as difficult.
“I’ll have my aide polish it and send it right away. The timing of sending a secret letter is also important, so we shouldn’t delay any longer.”
At his praise and subsequent words, Mercedes’ ears turned slightly red. She stood up abruptly and bowed.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Truly.”
Whether she trusted him or not.
For the first time, she had accomplished something. She had been able to see a different side of herself.
This was an expression of gratitude that belonged to the proper etiquette.
* * *
Duke Rohas, the center of one of the two factions dividing Shaim. Lately, he had been keeping an eye on the king.
The funeral was over, and it was a period of mourning, so one would think he’d stay still… but he felt uneasy.
Nevertheless, he was frustrated by the lack of information.
This cursed country had a dirty lack of useful talent. Every person he hired to gather information would either leave traces or end up murdered.
Moreover, because the city gates were locked due to the mourning period, he couldn’t enter or leave the palace, nor could he meet the king.
The information war between factions was at a truly elementary level and childish. Ironically, because of this, it was hard to see what each side was hiding.
Amidst all this, the reason for Duke Rohas’ uneasiness was simple. If he were the king, he would probably try to do something during this quiet mourning period.
Because when the mourning period ends, the power struggle will intensify, and he wouldn’t want to appoint an unwanted heir swayed by that struggle.
And to him…
“Your Grace. A carrier pigeon we’ve never seen before has arrived. The sender is not written, but the recipient seems to point to Your Grace, so I’m reporting it.”
“A carrier pigeon?”
“Yes. After checking, there were no dangerous elements such as blades hidden between the papers.”
“Hmm, bring it to me for now.”
Mercedes’ secret letter had arrived.
A secret letter containing the truth that could shake Shaim – that the king was already moving the 3rd and 4th princes and deciding on an heir.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
