3.5 Marigold: Happiness That Will Surely Find Its Way

It was true that his heart had been shaken by the Duke's aggressive courtship, but since the Empress also held power, he did not immediately cast aside his suspicions. Nevertheless, the reason he agreed to the deal with the Duke was that, as the man had said, their goals ultimately aligned toward the downfall of the Emperor and the Crown Prince, and the proposal was a way to handle the matter without lifting a finger. It would have been better if the man had realized early on that every sweet-looking bait contains poison. For Hyeon, however, it worked out well—much like how his honey trap had been more effective than expected.

“We have arrived.”

Thanks to the Crown Prince installing a gate right in the palace backyard, Hyeon reached the funeral hall without much trouble. The funeral hall, created by decorating a shrine within the Imperial Palace, was grand yet filled with empty formalities. What a waste of resources for someone who's already dead... Looking at the mountains of flowers sent by noble families across the country, all trying to flaunt their connections until the Emperor's final moment, Hyeon clicked his tongue at such extravagance.