A Trap (10)
T/N: Please read on rubymaybetranslations.com.
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“I don’t intend to deny anything. This is indeed mine.”
Her straightforward acknowledgement took the Queen by surprise.
Even among the people watching, there was a commotion.
‘It really belongs to the Princess Consort?’
‘Then the Princess Consort is really the poisoner?’
‘But would she say it like that if it was true?’
Amidst the commotion, the Queen hid her surprise and gave a composed smile, “Oho, so you admit to your crime. You say you came here for peace, but you do such a thing behind our backs? Why have you tried to assassinate His Majesty, the King of Irugo?!”
The queen’s roar echoed throughout the hall.
She was using the fact that Aristine was an outsider to apply pressure on Aristine. It was easier to plant hostility in people’s hearts when the treacherous criminal that dared to assassinate the king was a foreigner, not an Irugoian.
However, Aristine didn’t bat an eye.
“Your Majesty, I only said that this belongs to me. I never said I committed a crime.”
Aristine calmly pointed out the facts.
“Is Your Majesty the Queen claiming that I tried to kill His Majesty the King with this poison?”
The queen frowned, not liking Aristine’s calm response.
It would be better if she was trembling in fear, unable to speak properly, but as expected, the princess was not an easy opponent.
“This is not a claim, but a conclusion made after investigation. And that poison is the very proof.”
“I believed that Your Majesty would clearly reveal the cause of this outrageous accusation. But to think it is such a hasty investigation.”
“What?”
“First of all, it is possible that the poison found in my residence is an attempt to frame me. Someone could have secretly put poison in my belongings so it can act as false evidence. However, Your Majesty overlooked that, and concluded that it is undoubtedly mine.”
“Didn’t you say with your own mouth that it was yours?!”
“Yes, but I think the order of things should be to check if it is really mine before calling me a criminal.”
The queen shut her mouth.
Honestly, she also suspected that Dionna secretly put it in Aristine’s residence, so for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.
Whether Aristine was being framed or not, she purposefully covered everything up and accused Aristine as the poisoner, but she never thought that Aristine would respond like this.
While the queen faltered, Tarkan took the chance to speak up, “Does this mean Your Majesty the Queen concluded such an important matter without verifying it?”
The queen softly bit the flesh in her mouth.
Now this couple was being annoying together.
The people watching grew restless and began whispering among themselves.
‘I thought it was already verified since she accused the Princess Consort from the beginning.’
‘They should have at least asked the princess consort if it was hers or not.’
Hearing the whispers, the queen straightened her spine and spoke coercively.
“Princess Consort Aristine, do not try to obscure the point. You personally admitted that the poison belonged to you.”
“How am I obscuring the point by pointing out the vagueness of the investigation?”
Aristine asked calmly and the Queen’s eyes trembled in return.
She really wanted to order them to drag this arrogant thing to her knees immediately.
Right now, it was if the queen was being interrogated, rather than Aristine.
At that moment, Hamill, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward.
“It’s not that a verification was not done. A witness appeared, who said that the item belonged to the Princess Consort.”
It was only then that Aristine’s gaze fell on Hamill.
When those purple eyes that had been ignoring him turned towards him, Hamill felt like his parched lips were drenched with cold and sweet spring water.
“A witness?” Aristine questioned.
The queen’s face revitalized.
She proudly opened her mouth while inwardly praising her clever son, “Indeed, there is a witness.”
At those words, Aristine’s gaze turned back to the queen, and Hamill felt a greater thirst than before.
He felt anxious seeing Aristine’s expression, like she didn’t care about him in the slightest.
“Lady Dionna.”
“Yes, yes?”
Dionna, who had been silently watching the situation, replied to the Queen’s call with a start.
Feeling countless gazes fall on her, she reluctantly stepped forward. She never planned to draw attention to herself in this situation.
After all, she was famous for yearning after Tarkan for a long time, so there might be gossip about her ratting out the princess.
“Dionna is the witness?”
Hearing a voice as sharp as a blade, Dionna’s breath caught in her chest.
Tarkan was glaring at her.
No, the look in his eyes couldn’t just be described as a glare.
Even the icecaps of the Icethorn Mountains which were said to have never melted would not be colder than this.
A fiery anger was sealed within his cold eyes that seemed to freeze everything in its reach.
‘How, how could you look at me, Dionna, like that…!’
Was Aristine that precious?
A normal person would have collapsed with shivers the moment they received such a gaze.
However, the anger, betrayal, bitterness, and sorrow made Dionna withstand it.
“Tarkan, are you intimidating the witness?”
“What intimidation. I merely asked,” Tarkan replied with a chuckle.
The Queen’s eyelids fluttered at his lax attitude.
But she didn’t question Tarkan any further and turned to Dionna.
“Lady Dionna, did you not testify to me that the Princess Consort had poison?”
At the queen’s words, Dionna lowered her head.
She wanted to feign ignorance but after biting her lips, she raised her head.
She couldn’t back down like this.
She was going to make Tarkan regret causing her so much pain.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I definitely said that.”
The queen turned to Aristine with a look that said, ‘See?’
Since a witness had appeared, it invalidated Aristine’s claim that the Queen didn’t verify anything.
However.
‘She’s smiling?’
Aristine was smiling. And it was a very satisfied smile at that.
But in the next second, her smile disappeared like a mirage.
‘What was that?’
Although Aristine’s face was expressionless now, as if a smile was never there, the Queen found it hard to believe that she saw wrong.
Translator’s Corner:
**Please note that my translations will always be free to read in the end. Patreon is just a means of support towards me and what I do. I feel the need to mention this intermittently. I truly truly appreciate a simple like, or comment on my translation. Of course, I appreciate my patreons too. Thank you all!
-Miss Ruby.
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 67 - December 21, 2024
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- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 66 - December 14, 2024
Thanks for the update 🙂
I loathe a cliffhanger. But at the same time, I like how it made me excited to wait. Hamill’s little reaction was gold fr. Also, thanksies Ruby. This is a great start to my day 😉
I have to admit that it’s so satisfying to see Rinneh ignoring Hamill, I was not happy with him feigning ignorance while mumbling about friendship lol
these updates always make my day, thanks so much ruby!!
As always fantastic translation!
In love with this chapter! I cannot wait to see how Dionna will fall. Love your updates miss Ruby!
Thank you so much, Miss Ruby! I’ve gotten my biweekly dose of Aristine ❤️.
There’s so much to check on this such as if the investigation has confirm the effects of the poison and if it matches the symptoms of the king, how much poison is needed, and if the amount left in the vial is correct. So, so much more. 🤓
Had fun reading this out loud.
The conversation and exchanges is so crisp and entertaining.
Looking forward for the next chapters.
Thank you so much, Miss Ruby.
Thanks for the translate Ruby nim…
Will always waiting for the next chapter…
Its not easy.. But i am okey… 🤗🤗🤗
Wish you always be healthy Ruby nim, thank you so much for this wonderful translation..
One day… i might die with all these cliffhangers and i hold ruby accountable. 🥲
Thank you Mss Ruby
Aristine shoulds click her tongue or shake her head to show disappointed after she said “But to think it is such a hasty investigation”. To deal critical damage.
Satisfying!!!! That mirage -like smile from Aristine worked better than anxiety medication for me reading this. Now I’m happily looking forward to see things unfold.
Thank you for the chapter Miss Ruby 💖
Ooooh. I really like Hamill. What a pity this novel doesn’t include the double partner (I don’t know how is it actually called) ending.
Woahhh I’m fangirling for Aristine right now XD
Thank you for the chapter<3
Thank you for the update (≧◡≦)
I’m looking forward to the next chapter
I think Aristine poured out the poison and poured something else into the vessel. And now she will drink it and say that it is something like her own medicine
Thank you!
I think it would be great if they made Dionna drink it. I think I remember Aris saying her poison is supposed to kill instantly
Thank you so much for the translation miss Ruby ❤️
Great, show ’em whose the reaaaaal boss Aristine!!! Our real Queen~
How dare that bytch Diona try to frame you. Can’t wait to see her demise fall soon!
And keeeeeep thirsty Hamill, keep thirsty because that’s all what you got.
Thanks Ms Ruby 🥰
Çeviri ve paylaşım için teşekkürler 🥰 çok sevdiğim ve çok az bölümü çevrili olduğu için uzun süre aradığım bir seri, hatta bir ara kendim çevirmek istedim ama kaynak bile bulamadım 😅
Tekrardan teşekkürler 🌼
I’m happy that Hamill is sad that Rineh doesn’t pay attention to him
He’s so thirsty and she’s already married
Go awaaaaay dudeeee
Thank you so much for the updates !
Ahhh, I need to read how our rineh will be taking the lead in this problem 🖤. The satisfaction in this will be that the queen and dionna will fall down together in this 🖤🥰
Thank you so much for your time Miss ruby 🖤🖤
My guess is that she poured away the poison and what is inside the vial currently isn’t poison. And she will drink it to prove it hahahaha
Thanks so much for the update! Are we going to get the bonus 15 with the next chapter?
Bonus 15?
hamill why tf are u tripping??? this man has me positively seething. bro is sooooo pathetic ur literally thirsting over a taken woman who has expressed zero romantic interest in you after a completely crooked, misguided, selfish play at friendship. why would she look like she “cared about you in the slightest”??? u’ve known her for two seconds sit down 💀🤡 all while piping up just to say dw thErE’s aCtUaLlY a WitNeSs to support ur mommy’s takedown of rine (and tarkan by extension) to ultimately get you the throne. the audacity I-
ruby you are kind and one of the best trasnlator thank you for hard work otherwise non korean like me can not read Lucia, a good web novel. and other will say paytroen will different than free but you here say all free and honestly saying paytron is good too thank you