Chapter 7: The Undying Emperor

Chapter 7

【 The Undying Emperor 】

The reception hall had descended into chaos. Guests clutched their wine glasses, unable to bring themselves to drink, their hands trembling visibly.

“I’m not sure who they were targeting, but it was a close call. It’s a good thing I drank it.”

The gazes of many, including Evening, fell upon Margrave Flam.

He couldn’t immediately reprimand them for their unpleasant stares.

It wasn’t that they suspected him of attempting to poison the Emperor; rather, in this unforeseen situation, they were merely searching for the person in charge.

Of course, there were likely some who, out of idle curiosity, watched to see how the Margrave, known for his poor relationship with Erich, would react.

“Everyone, please calm down and do not touch your wine. My apologies, Your Majesty. For such an incident to occur at the reception…”

However, Margrave Flam appeared just as flustered as anyone else. His concern, though, wasn’t for the Emperor, but for his daughter, Evening, who stood beside him, her face pale with shock.

He steadied Evening, who had stumbled and barely managed to rise.

“You’re startled, Eve. Come here. Have some honey water.”

“Yes, yes, yes…”

Still reeling from the shock, Evening floundered. As her future father-in-law led her away, Erich directed an arrogant remark to his retreating back.

“It’s rude to leave before the reception concludes, but I cannot leave the Empress in such a dangerous place, so I shall return promptly.”

But he couldn’t argue. The Emperor had just died and come back to life.

Evening, still dazed, was led out by her birth father.

****

“See? Lord Erich is far more ruthless than you imagine.”

As soon as they were alone, Margrave Flam’s expression turned grim. Evening, who had been pulled along in a daze, was startled by his unexpected words.

“Because he died and came back to life? That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand. Dying and returning to life wouldn’t be an ordinary experience.

One might expect a person to be utterly distraught, perhaps even to hide in a corner to avoid further harm, yet he remained chillingly composed.

‘However, to accuse someone who had ingested poison, died, and then revived of being ‘ruthless’ would surely make *them* seem less than human.’

“You’ve been deceived by His Majesty too.”

Margrave Flam’s grim face deepened with more wrinkles.

As if comforting his foolish daughter, he gripped Evening’s shoulders.

“Who would dare poison His Majesty at a reception I’m hosting? The Emperor orchestrated this himself.”

“An elaborate hoax? Is that even possible?”

‘He ingested poison and died, didn’t he?’

His words were as chilling as suspecting a politician of faking an assassination attempt.

“Yes! It was a hoax. Food management was handled meticulously, and no one else collapsed except His Majesty. We even fed the wine His Majesty drank to dogs and horses, but there was no reaction. Only in one place—the goblet His Majesty was holding—was poison detected.”

“So…”

Evening knew this herself, having been present at the reception. Erich had personally chosen a suitable goblet from the tray.

If someone else had presented the goblet, it could be considered a plot targeting the Emperor, but that wasn’t the case.

“The only person who wasn’t searched was His Majesty himself.”

The Margrave, his face flushed with fury, ground his teeth.

It was his beloved daughter’s engagement ceremony.

Although it was an engagement, the actual wedding would take place in the capital, making this, for the people of the Margraviate, effectively the wedding itself.

To prevent any unfortunate incidents, even the Emperor’s guard had been forbidden from touching the food carelessly.

Yet, poison had appeared, and so the Margrave’s arrow of suspicion was aimed squarely at Erich, the only one who hadn’t been searched.

If he were to argue that someone else had put it there, there was no tangible evidence to support it.

While there weren’t advanced security systems like CCTV, there also weren’t intelligence agencies skilled enough to evade human surveillance. The struggle between those trying to prevent and those trying to penetrate would have been evenly matched.

“But what reason would Lord Erich have to poison himself?”

“Why wouldn’t he? It’s a power play, to assert dominance. He wants to put me in his debt. Perhaps he even wanted to showcase how chilling it is to die and then revive.”

“He’d do something like that just to assert dominance? That’s insane.”

“Exactly! He’s truly mad. It’s not out of vengeance, but simply because his temperament is so twisted—it’s unbelievable. That’s why we can’t entrust the throne to him.”

‘It sounded like he just uttered ominous words hinting at rebellion, but I’ll pretend I didn’t hear them.’

Nevertheless, she understood his indignation.

The nobles, led by Margrave Flam, didn’t view the Emperor unfavorably solely out of a desire for power.

Most of it, they said, was a sense of crisis, believing the country could not be entrusted to such a tyrant. Rumor had it that even before his ascension, everyone had hoped his younger brother would inherit the throne instead.

That sentiment—wishing for the third son, Prince Chungnyeong, to ascend the throne over the eldest, Prince Yangnyeong—Evening could fully grasp.

“Surely not. Could it have been an allergy, rather than an assassination attempt? People don’t often realize it, but severe allergies can be fatal.”

But regardless, now that Erich had ascended to the throne, shouldn’t one be careful with their words? Evening tried to think favorably of Erich.

Indeed, Margrave Flam’s hypothesis was truly terrifying.

The Margrave’s theory was far more frightening than the idea that someone had simply put poison in the food to assassinate the Emperor.

Even if one could revive, a person who would willingly ingest poison and die once just to assert dominance was truly ruthless, and someone who would suspect a ‘resurrected’ person of orchestrating a hoax was equally formidable.

She truly disliked the idea of becoming the wife of such a man. And living as the daughter of such a man wasn’t much better.

As she tried to distance herself slightly, the Margrave pulled Evening into a hug, his expression filled with pity.

“So naive. You see the world too kindly. You used to be the most clear-headed child… It seems the burden placed upon you was too great. I’m sorry.”

His melancholic voice instantly filled her with a sense of apology.

In the original novel, Evening was such a minor character that she couldn’t recall what kind of woman she was, but it seemed the original Evening had been proud and astute.

She had transmigrated into that body and offered the rather unconvincing excuse of amnesia due to shock.

Though they must have accepted it out of necessity, unable to disbelieve her outright, the Margrave’s gaze when he occasionally looked at Evening seemed tinged with sadness.

“I worry that your kind heart will be wounded. And I’m even more concerned that you might come to harm. Remember my words: do not underestimate His Majesty.”

Though the root of his idea was sinister, the father’s expression, as he pitied his daughter, was earnest.

“This necklace was specially commissioned to wish you good fortune. Never take it off. Wear it even when you sleep.”

The Margrave fastened a sapphire necklace around her neck, its bright, refreshing green-blue hue shimmering. A large sapphire gem sparkled beautifully. It was a color that seemed to perfectly complement Evening’s fair, fine platinum blonde hair.

“This… for me?”

Evening’s heart, susceptible to emotional parent-child moments, wavered.

“Of course. My beloved daughter, even if you suffer far away, please endure steadfastly. If you persevere, good days will come.”

At his loving farewell, her chest tightened, and tears welled up. Evening bit her lip, clenching and unclenching her fists.

‘The daughter he loved was already gone, and all that remained was a stranger wearing her skin. Thinking of that, she couldn’t bear the pity she felt for him.’

“It’s alright. I’ll be careful. You take care of yourself too, Father.”

Letting go of her hesitation, Evening reached out and wrapped her arms around the Margrave’s waist.

To her, these people were virtually strangers, making it difficult to embrace them comfortably.

While her brother and lady-in-waiting were similar in age, the Margrave was an unfamiliar man nearing fifty.

However, seeing the Margrave’s pained expression as he prepared to send off a daughter who had lost her memory and changed in some way, she couldn’t pretend not to care.

A month had passed since she transmigrated into Evening Flam’s body.

Though it was a short time, considering the affection they had shown, this embrace felt as warm and familiar as one shared with a close uncle.

For those who had genuinely cared for Evening, feigning amnesia for a month, such feelings were only natural.

“Your brother will come to help you soon. But if things get too difficult, remember that you come first.”

Evening suppressed the rising emotions and looked up at him.

Even while held in the Margrave’s embrace, she didn’t feel uncomfortable. The people she had felt compelled to acknowledge, despite feeling like strangers, had somehow grown as dear as family.

In this unfamiliar land, they were the only ones who still cared for her. Even if their affection was for the physical body, the Flam family was Evening’s family.

“I’ll do well. I’ll never lose to any other woman; I’ll become the greatest Empress.”

“There’s no need for that.”

“If I’m going to do it anyway, I should be the best. I’ll conquer everyone and earn His Majesty’s recognition, so don’t worry.”

“No… You really don’t have to.”

The Margrave genuinely rejected his daughter’s resolve.

“No! Just trust me. I will become His Majesty’s loyal subject and absolutely clear our family’s name!”

However, to Evening, who had already steeled her resolve, no words penetrated.

For the Flam family, who had treated her with kindness, she burned with loyalty and a competitive spirit.

“What in the world are you talking about? Did you even hear me? His Majesty is dangerous!”

‘A precious maxim taught by her birth parents echoed in her mind.’

[If your superior dislikes you, rattle your tambourine with all your might.]

Above her now stood a dangerous Emperor.

He was the nation’s most powerful man, a man who could die and yet revive. The novel’s villain and tyrant. A scoundrel and a man of fickle moods.

He was an endlessly perilous individual, yet, nonetheless, he was her husband and her superior.

“Don’t worry. I’m a professional at rattling tambourines.”

‘Avoiding danger is a third-rate tactic. I am a first-rate player in this game.’

Whether Margrave Flam turned pale or not, Evening clenched her fist, resolute in her pursuit of victory.